Mainstream Media Proclaims Democrats' Race Over, but Ignores Undemocratic Primary Process

Robert Reich. (photo: Getty)

By Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Facebook Page

21 April 16
readersupportednews.org

 
s I predicted, the mainstream media this morning are saying the race is essentially over. But so far, no article I’ve read about yesterday’s New York primary mentions that independents weren’t allowed to vote in it. Yet 42 percent of American voters are now independent, and only 29 percent are registered Democrats (26 percent are registered Republicans), and we can assume a similar distribution in New York.

A significant portion of Bernie’s supporters across the nation are independent – for the obvious reason that Bernie’s candidacy takes on the establishment. In addition, most young voters are independent. Independents gave Bernie huge victories in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Washington, for example. And independents obviously will play a large role in any presidential election.

The inclusion of superdelegates and exclusion of independents from many Democratic primaries makes the Democratic Party far less democratic than many assumed. This is the prerogative of the Party, of course. But the mainstream media have a responsibility to let people know all this, for the purpose of assessing the significance of a given primary outcome.

What do you think?

Comments

+38 # tswhiskers 2016-04-21 08:41

The NY primary was a complex mess. Surely its rules for primaries were developed by Reps., and if not, the Dems. responsible should have overhauled them long ago. They should certainly be overhauled now, or if it can't be done before Nov., then ASAP after that. Hillary went into the primary with an incredible advantage over Bernie. I'd also like to see the party reform its use of super delegates. One of the most important facts we the public have learned this year is that "govt. of the people, by the people and for the people" is truly a lie.

-3 # rocback 2016-04-21 11:06

No one forced Sanders to change over to a Democrat less than a year ago and run for the DEMOCRATIC primary. He could have run in the Green Party, the workers party or any other number of parties.

He CHOSE to run as a Democrat and hoped to get all the accoutrements of it even though he has done squat for the party. It's all about himself.

The rules were set BEFORE he even qualified. Enough of the whining.

+3 # John Escher 2016-04-21 08:42

Bad news.

+22 # PaulK 2016-04-21 08:52

The undemocratic process appears to be nationally controlled, and it should continue next Tuesday. Expect long lines in Bernie districts due to the prepackaging of 10,000 voters into a district made for 1,000 voters. Expect yourself to be a registered Republican on primary day despite your protestations that you did nothing of the sort. Expect to not know where you are voting, fool. Vote an absentee ballot if possible unless you are voting in a rare Hillary district, in which case talk it up and get your neighbors incredibly angry for two hours in the line! Expect to sue your city this week or else you can't vote next week. Expect this all the way through California.

-31 # Shades of gray matter 2016-04-21 09:09

ALL THEY NEEDED TO DO WAS register, for god's sake. They are WALLOWING in victim status, WHINING when they should be Organizing. Whining's easier. "Movement" is harder. "Revolution" is way harder. I don't hear Trump's YUUGE share of that 42% whining. They're more onto winning. RR has reduced himself to pathetic pandering to crybaby wimps, self suppressors.
"THEY must deliver a high paying job I like to my doorstep, or I'll WHINE, WHINE, WHINE!" Today is Whine Testing, ALL DAY. Mostly WHITE whining. People of color VOTED, won. And some Red Whining. "I DEMAND free everything, NOW!" Or I'll pout, pout, pout.

+27 # jdd 2016-04-21 09:38

I regret your ignorance of the New York Primary process. Independents were not allowed to vote in the Dem primary. To do so would have required a formal switch of status by October 9, 2015, over 6 months ago. Most independents were caught off guard by this arcane rule, as were the 125,000 "scrubbed" from the Democratic voter lists in Brooklyn alone. Young voters, Bernie's base, registered "Ind" because of what they have seen from the Bushes and Clintons and rightfully want no part of it. STOP BLAMING THE VICTIMS.