Washington Post Op-ed: ‘Give the Elites a Bigger Say in Choosing the President’

The Washington Post is taking criticism for an op-ed published Tuesday by Marquette University political science professor Julia Azari, titled: “It’s time to give the elites a bigger say in choosing the president.”

Citing the “rocky start” to the Democratic Party’s presidential primary, Azari suggests that the process of choosing the nominee be taken from the people and returned to the politicians:

The current process is clearly flawed, but what would be better? … A better primary system would empower elites to bargain and make decisions, instructed by voters.

One lesson from the 2020 and 2016 election cycles is that a lot of candidates, many of whom are highly qualified and attract substantial followings, will inevitably enter the race. The system as it works now — with a long informal primary, lots of attention to early contests and sequential primary season that unfolds over several months — is great at testing candidates to see whether they have the skills to run for president. What it’s not great at is choosing among the many candidates who clear that bar, or bringing their different ideological factions together, or reconciling competing priorities. A process in which intermediate representatives — elected delegates who understand the priorities of their constituents — can bargain without being bound to specific candidates might actually produce nominees that better reflect what voters want.

Federal HR office pulls back curtain on sweeping NDA plan aimed at curbing government leaks

US and Iran reach ceasefire extension deal pending Trump’s final approval

Breaking: US and Iran Reportedly Reach Peace Agreement Pending Trump’s Approval

Husband’s phone GPS data prompts feds to search 25-foot-deep Bahamian waters for Lynette Hooker: sources

Judge hands Trump mail-ballot win for now as Democrats’ next move looms

Another One: Male LGBT Activist Arrested After Admitting Abusive Plan for 13-Year-Old Boy

1994 NBA Finals Clip Resurfaces Showing Trump at Knicks Game After Hochul Questioned His Fandom

US Military Prepared to Strike Cuba at Moment’s Notice: ‘When POTUS Says Go, We’re Ready’

Clarence Thomas puts Dems on clock as Alabama GOP emergency map bid stalled

Anti-ICE agitators throw wooden pallets, mattresses at federal agents during chaotic NJ detention center clash

Federal government’s landlord joins Vance fraud crackdown as White House widens hunt: ‘Critical force’

Al Green was a fighter for the Democrats. He lost his Texas primary anyway

Pentagon slashes NATO combat commitments as Trump pushes Europe to defend itself

US denies reports of evacuating US Embassy in Kyiv amid threats of Russian airstrikes

Ukrainian veterans are returning injured, broken, and angry. How can the government help them survive?

Azari suggests that the parties should use what she calls “preference primaries,” which would “allow voters to rank their choices among candidates, as well as to register opinions about their issue priorities.”

After a perfunctory voting process, wlites would be able to choose a nominee based on information about what the voters want.

She acknowledges that the idea is “labor-intensive and a little risky.”

The Post is owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, who is the world’s richest man. The paper’s slogan, adopted as an intended rebuke to President Donald Trump, is “Democracy dies in darkness.”

That phrase was trending on Twitter on Wednesday morning as readers reacted ironically to the op-ed.

The headline right below “democracy dies in darkness” is some A+ work

— Greg (@gwiss) February 19, 2020

>"Democracy dies in darkness"

>"Do people actually want more Democracy in their lives" pic.twitter.com/p7fPf5dFVX

— ｓａｌ🌹🏴🏴‍☠️ (@ProjektVayo) February 19, 2020