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.

Norway’s King Harald dies peacefully at 89, son Crown Prince Haakon to succeed him

New Hampshire man allegedly steals rescue truck from firefighters battling his burning home

Federal judge again blocks Trump’s mail ballot order just before midterms

California authorities identify final unknown victim of ‘Happy Face Killer’ Keith Jesperson after 34 years

New York Gov Hochul rejects Trump’s ‘Lake America’ renaming with blunt message

Maine meteorologist suffers giggle attack on live TV after prank backfires spectacularly

Defense Claims Lindsay Clancy ‘Never Did Anything Wrong in Her Life’ in Closing Argument

Report: Trump Admin Nearing ‘Massive’ Venezuelan Oil Deal

RNC threatens legal action against New Jersey officials over noncitizens on voter rolls: ‘On notice’

Social media erupts after cops reportedly raid home of Ilhan Omar’s son: ‘Not a good look’

Gov Shapiro sues Trump administration over ‘lifesaving reproductive care’ in escalating abortion battle

Watch: Hegseth Rights Another Biden Wrong – Upgrades Abbey Gate Heroes’ Awards After Previous Admin Wrongly Downgraded Them

DHS hits back at James Talarico after Democrat claims ICE ‘kidnapped’ 5-year-old boy deported with father

Lutnick stumps for Trump’s Kennedy Center rebrand outside key court hearing

Restaurant Hands Dessert with Painful Birthday Message to Wheelchair-Bound Diner After Kitchen Staffer Misunderstands Instructions

See also Dolly Parton dies at age 80

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