Past Destruction of the Political Party Process of Selecting Candidates

Bob McDowell

by Bob McDowell, Contributing Author: Well, we are now well into the campaign for the 2016 General Election, where a President, Vice-President, one third of the US Senate, and all of the 435 House members will be selected by ballot from the nominees primary or caucuses. In Oklahoma, we will be voting on one member of the Corporation Commission (aka, State Utilities Board), one half of the State Senate, and all 101 members of the State House. Plus, we will have retention vote on three Supreme Court Justices and some judges on the Courts of Criminal and Civil Appeals. And, then there will be votes on some State questions.

Now that the first GOP "debates" on Fox News is over and tonight is the GOP debate on CNN, it strikes me that the Republicans, are determined to commit. Also, looking at the Democrat Party candidates, I am forced to ask myself, what Democrat Party – everything is being played out in the news.

As for the GOP, it appeared to me that the ‘moderators’ from FOX were out to destroy some of the candidates by their accusative and their questions which were irrelevant to determining a candidate’s qualifications and plan for America. What little respect, I had for Fox News has ended. A political commentator on a late show pointed out that the majority of Fox News debate time was occupied by the three moderators and some of the candidates were definitely short changed and/or ignored.

My hope is that some day the Party officials will wake up and select the ‘moderators’ for future debates rather than letting the network news / commentators moderating the debate. Hopefully, it was not the desire of certain establishment’ GOP insiders to destroy certain candidates in order to have preferred ones come out victorious.

Regardless, in the Fox News debate, the apparent attacks on "The Donald" served to increase his popularity in the polls. He was quite capable of fending them off and it appeared that person asking the question was biased and crude.

I personally oppose the present ‘primary and run-off system of selecting party candidates. My memory recalls a remark by my paternal grandfather that “primary voting was the end of the Republic." Previously, candidates were selected by the party officials who had been elected by those who were willing to take the time to become informed and participate in the caucuses and conventions. It is unfortunate that today, the selection of candidates can be accomplished ‘uninformed voters’.

Then there is also vote fraud. Voter fraud was evidenced to me several times during my tenures as Precinct Chairman, County Executive Committee member, District Committeeman, and County Chairman.

Even now, rumors have come to pass that the Oklahoma Democrat Party will allow non-affiliated registered voters to vote in their primaries this election. To me, that is a slap at those registered in a Party and who took the time, effort, and expense to become informed and attend the meetings at the various levels and participate. It also opens the door for ‘cross over voting’ in Oklahoma since the deadline for candidate registration is six months before a primary and changing ones registration is only before 30 days of the registration.

In other states, they may not even register by Party. Or, they have the option to vote in any political party’s primary regardless of their political affiliation. In short, it is my opinion, that it is unfair to blame a Political Party for poor candidates/office holders when theses candidates are selected by voters who are not at all informed or active in that Political Party.
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Robert "Bob" McDowell, Jr. is a retired Professional Engineer and Geologist with over 50 years experience in creating drilling prospects, supervising drilling, well completion, production operation, and pipeline design for oil and gas including repair of problem wells. McDowell is a conservative activist and member of the Oklahoma Republican Assembly.

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