Michigan legislative leaders are talking about rushing a bill through the legislature that would say that anyone discussed in the news media must be on the presidential primary ballot, unless the candidate signs a statement that he or she is not running for president. Many other states already have similar laws. This would force Democrats such as Barack Obama and John Edwards to be listed on the January 15 Michigan Democratic primary ballot. Under current law, they have the option to refuse to be listed, and they have refused, since the national party doesn’t recognize Michigan’s primary.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
Let me get this straight…
The Michigan Democratic Party’s Primary isn’t recognized by the Dem National? Ok. How about their Delegates to National Convention? What point is there in sending any, given the weight now placed on the Primary process by that party? Whose policy is this, anyway? How exactly is it justified?
As an old conservative Democrat who is never, ever going home again, but still remembers his roots and what went before, I ask if there are any Michigan Democrats left who have an actual backbone left to fight this? I also want someone to explain to me what point there is in Michigan Dems even having anything to do with the Democratic Party beyond Michigan’s borders, given the outright shabbiness of this. They should send a Delegation to the ’08 National Convention just long enough to deliver divorce papers, and then walk out for good. But we all know that it won’t happen…
If there was ever an example of why these United States need new political parties, there is no better one than this.
Charles Foster
Immediate Past National Committee Chairman
Reform Party of The United States