I have been a member of the Democratic Party since I first registered to vote in the Presidential Election of 1972. And I have voted for the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in each of the nine presidential elections that have occurred since 1972. But today I have changed my voter registration from that of Democrat to that of No Affiliation.
As a 9 year old boy, I was inspired by these words of President John F. Kennedy in his 1961 inaugural address: "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." As a young man in high school, when I studied American History I revered the words of The United States Bill of Rights and The United States Constitution.
During the events of the 2000 Presidential election, I was appalled that so many of Florida's voters were disenfranchised by the actions of their various state's officials and the eventual outcome of the election results in that state which resulted in the Republicans taking the White House! And that is why I was aghast when the Democratic National Party disqualified the ballots of millions of voters in the states of Michigan and Florida in this past spring's presidential primaries in those states! How dare they?!?!? Especially after the debacle of the 2000 Presidential election! Oh sure, on May 31st the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to seat all of Florida's and Michigan's delegates, with each delegate having half a vote. But, I maintain that the DNC's actions were every bit as much an egregious assault on the rights of the citizens of Michigan and Florida as were the actions of Florida's officials and the actions of the United States Supreme Court in the aftermath of the 2000 Presidential election that in effect disenfranchised all of those American citizens who cast their ballots in November of 2000! After all, the voters of Michigan and Florida had no control over the actions of their respective state's Democratic Parties which decided to move up the dates of the primaries in defiance of the DNC's rules. Why then should they be denied their most basic and cherished right to cast their ballots in the good faith that their votes would be counted?!?
For this reason, I can no longer be a part of the Democratic Party. After all, how can I possibly support any entity that would deny any American citizen's vote from being counted?
3 comments:
Though it may seem like a huge step right now, having been a Dem your whole voting life, being an independent--which I have been my whole voting life--is actually quite liberating in many ways. Of course, you're limited to voting only on referendums during the primaries, but that has never really been a big issue for me. Another benefit to being an independent is you're not quite as liable to get pigeon-holed by debaters. Enjoy the freedom!
Thanks Mel. I appreciate your response. In case you weren't aware of it, PA State Rep. Chris King has sponsored H.B. 2462 which would allow independents and non-partisan voters to vote in state primaries. We should support this bill by asking our state legislators and senators to support it. Here are the details:
HARRISBURG, April 9 – State Rep. Chris King, D-Bucks, has introduced legislation (H.B. 2462) that would allow Pennsylvanians registered as independents and non-party voters to vote in state primary elections.
Under current state law, residents must be registered as either a Democrat or Republican to vote in a primary. Additionally, they may only vote for candidates of their registered party. This means residents registered non-partisan or affiliated with third parties, such as the Green Party and independent voters, cannot vote in the state primary election.
"This year’s presidential primary race has influenced an increased level of registered voters in Pennsylvania," King said. "Not all of our voters are registered in one of the two major parties. My bill would make it easier for all Pennsylvanians to vote and give many more voters the chance to have their voices heard in primaries."
King said that under his bill, third-party voters would still need to select which party ballot to vote on in the primary.
Additionally, a voter’s choice of parties in one primary election would not prevent that voter from choosing a different party in a later primary election.
IN 2004 12% OF PENNSYLVANIA'S VOTERS WERE REGISTERED AS INDEPENDENTS, AND 40% OF THE NATION'S VOTERS WERE REGISTERED AS INDEPENDENTS.
I understand your choice to go non-affiliated. Both of the major parties are not focused on the concerns or objectives of their memberships. They are, unfortunately, like many unions and only concerned about the sustenance, perpetuation, and aggrandizement of those in upper level positions of the organization.
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