Honestly, do any of you DUers think this sounds "corrupt?"

[derby378]

In one of the pro-gun Democratic regions of the blogosphere that I frequent, we've got this Republican campaign staffer who's encouraging Texas Democrats to consider supporting a Republican gubernatorial candidate in the primary against incumbent Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison, even if we wind up voting for Democrat Bill White on Election Day.

All I did was point out that if a Democrat votes in a Republican primary in Texas, that person cannot participate in any Democratic convention for the rest of the year - I believe Texas Republicans have a similar requirement concerning primary voters. The response I got from this staffer, however, was that this requirement is "one reason why the political party system is corrupt."

I know the party system gives all of us headaches once in a while, but this does not seem like an undue imposition on voters who identify themselves with a particular party. I know New York is a special case with its patchwork of minor party affiliates, and then there's the "Democrat/Farm/Labor" arrangement in Minnesota, but for the rest of America, does it seem at all unreasonable that participation in state party caucuses, primaries, conventions, etc. requires you to at least vote for the candidates of said party from the get-go instead of splitting tickets?

[el_bryanto]

1. it seems reasonable but it's up to the individual states.

I am not sure about your last sentence. Certainly I can see a moderate republican in the last election concluding that as a Moderate Republican, Obama is more likely to represent his views, compared to McCain. Party affiliation shouldn't be a straitjacket in how you vote in the general election.

That said changing parties to muck up their nominating process or simply participating in their nominating process, does seem highly questionable to me.

Bryant

[derby378]

5. I see your point about that last sentence

Personally, I have no problem with our current arrangement. I know a lot of people on Election Day will split their tickets, and if that's what they want to do, that's their right. But for participation in the party machine itself, I would like to think we have more pressing issues at hand to busy ourselves with screwing up Republican primaries.

[NoPasaran]

2. I don't think it's corrupt at all

But I'm not surprised that some half-baked supporter of teabagger Debra Medina would have such a distorted view of reality.

[geckosfeet]

3. Sure. The repubs ask you for your vote for a one issue repub and that

one opens the door for a parade of RW psychotics.

It is not necessarily the system that is corrupt. It is the people who deceive and lie to voters, the people who prey on the ignorance of voters who are corrupt.

[Gman]

4. This is exactly what was done in Pennsylvania for Arlen Spector

the last time he was up for reelection. Spector, as he was this year was having a hard time against Toomey. There were no critical Democratic primary elections that year. I think everyone in the Democratic primary that was up for reelection was either unopposed in the primary or the opponent had no chance. Spector got help in the primary from the AFL-CIO and other not-normally-Republican organizations. They had their members go vote in the GOP primary for Spector and Spector beat Toomey.

Is it corrupt to do this? Hell no. It's good strategy.

[invictus]

6. Republicans did this for Hillary in states like PA. Yes, it's corrupt.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. "Corrupt" has become an all-purpose term for...

"I don't like it."

Politics at its heart is corrupt by most definitions-- merit has little to do with winning an election, and never has had much to do with it. But, playing the system is an art, and if everyone does it most of the bad stuff cancels out.

However, bribery, intimidation, theft of the polls and all that other stuff is the identifiable and inexcusable corruption.

[madokie]

8. I like the way we do it here

just register as a Dem and vote for their preceived lesser of two evils in the primary then vote for their fellow puke in the general. Thats how the pukes do it here in ok. bastids anyway