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.

House rejects Democrat attempt to limit Trump’s Iran war powers

Trump says Israel, Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire

Tyler Robinson judge unseals ATF report in assassination of Charlie Kirk

Senate Candidate James Talarico Reports Eye-Popping Fundraising Haul – But We’ve Seen This From Democrats Before

Frat house turns into crime scene after member allegedly sexually assaults woman, police say

Breaking: Former Lt. Governor of Virginia and His Wife Found Dead

Didn’t file your taxes on time? Here’s what a tax expert says you should do next

Republicans bet higher tax refunds will boost midterm chances as blue states resist relief

S&P 500 Smashed Another Record Wednesday, Signaling the Markets Believe Trump That the Iran Conflict Is Ending

Democrats vow to block next Trump Supreme Court pick amid Alito speculation

Democratic Rep. Calls to ‘Eliminate the President of the United States from the Office Right Now’

Homeland Security official’s killing leaves agency ‘devastated’ as vetting breakdown exposed

Swalwell’s mounting sexual misconduct allegations threaten career beyond politics, experts warn

Trump Admin Moves to Wipe Out the Last Remaining Convictions from January 6, Specifically Regarding Proud Boys and Oath Keepers

Virginia redistricting referendum tightens into a dead heat as early voting surges

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