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As you know, because it has gotten a lot of play here on Kos and in the media, Virginia is facing a tough race for the Senate. It's an important race, because a Democratic win just may be the cause of Sen. George Allen's demise, and ruin his chances of reining as President Georgie the King number two. Yes, this is the same George Allen who has a penchant for the Confederate flag, doesn't really care for African Americans, and enjoys dragging his sister down the stairs BY HER HAIR. Our primary is on June 13, 2006, and on that day, Virginians will decide whether they would like James Webb or Harris Miller to run against "Mr. I Vote along the lines with Bush 96% of the time." Remember, and I cannot stress this enough; a George Allen win for Senate will only solidify his chances at winning the Presidency. Essentially, this isn't just about Virginia, folks. This is about all of us.
I am very concerned about the fate of our primary, which is the focus of this diary. As most of you know, here in Virginia, anyone can vote for any member of any party in the primary. Some people think this is great, and they are right. Some people think this is atrocious, and they are also right. Supporters of this idea of "open primaries" feels that it gives people the opportunity to vote for a person, and not a party. If you voted for a Republican in 2004, say George Bush, and you are for some reason disappointed with his job (a-HEM), then you have the opportunity to pick a Democratic candidate for the primary, and vote a different way. Great, right? Not every year...
This year, as you will see by combing through some conservative blogs and websites, there is a NEW strategy in place which will focus on the use and abuse of the open primary system. As most readers here know, James Webb has been lauded and endorsed by some major political and military figures. Today on the Bill Press show, Harry Reid, without mentioning any names, also made a prediction about the future of Virginia politics.
Bill Press: As I understand, it's what, five or six seats that Democrats have to win to take control of the Senate?
Harry Reid: We have to pick up six. And if the election were held today, we would win in five of those states. And we're in really good shape in two other states, and we're moving into a third and that's Virginia. So we have a real shot at it.
Harris Miller, James Webb's opponent, has also been endorsed and approved by some figures and groups. Now, let me be absolutely clear: this is NOT an anti-Miller diary. This instead, is a PRO-DEM WIN diary, and facts are facts. The fact is James Webb is clearly the frontrunner. And George Allen, a man who never served living in a very pro-military state, is afraid. Virginia Republicans are afraid. Not only has he hired a young man named Pickles to follow Webb around with a video camera and tape his every move, his staunch supporters and volunteers have now found a new way to attempt to ruin Webb's chances of a win. Apparently, some sneaky, conniving, punch to the back of the head deserving Republicans are going to be attending this open primary in droves, in order to make sure that Webb does not win. While I cannot say I am surprised, I can definitely say that I am disgusted and insulted by their lack of respect for our voting system and the future of our country.
Now here is where I pull out the soapbox, and in a very bittersweet manner climb on to it. I feel that the only fair option for Virginia progressives, liberals, Democrats, true conservatives, recovering Republicans, and Independents is for Harris Miller to take stock of the dire situation at hand, and pull out of this race. While I commend him on a good run for senate, and I feel that there may be some areas in which he could work to help the Democratic Party and its future, the issue at hand is already tumultuous, and his stubborn choice to remain in the primary will only hurt the people he hopes will vote for him. Miller has already gotten into some trouble with a pretty prominent Democrat; in reaction to Miller's public negativity towards James Webb, Chuck Schumer reprimanded Harris Miller, and demanded that he stop.
Although Webb has concentrated his fire on Allen, Miller attacked Webb until Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and hates primaries, told him to desist. Over the years Webb has made impolitic pronouncements against allowing women in combat and warning that some affirmative action had become "state-sponsored racism." Today, Webb endorses affirmative action but not for mere "diversity" reasons. He says that as secretary of the Navy he tripled the number of women in "operational billets" and that he has been endorsed by the only woman to make it through the Special Operations course.
My friends, this November, Virginia has a chance to become a bluer state. A Democratic win over George Allen will no doubt set a standard for the rest of the country. Jim Webb is the only person who can beat George Allen, and THAT should be the focus of all supporters of a change for America, including Harris Miller himself. I stand firm on this belief; I have made my decision.
I am calling for a Democrat to step down, and remove himself from the primary election before June 1, 2006. I hope that some of you are with me. Again, let me be clear: this is not personal, this is strictly business. Our goal is to win back as many seats as we can, and it is time to play hard ball in order to achieve our goal. Let's work together, and take this country back from those who stole it; let's bring Democracy to America, and let's start with Virginia.
But yeah, lets just win the damn primary and be done with this.
In fact, my husband and I are longtime opponents of open primaries for just that reason. Unless you oppose a two party system, it's absurd to support an open primary for precisely this reason, it's so open to abuse.
Besides, primaries are for members of a party to choose the person who will best represent their party. If you are not a member of the party, why should you have a say in the party's internal decision?
It doesn't deprive anybody of a fair vote. If a candidate is not a Democrat, say, they should run in the other party's primary. Or, if they want to be an independent candidate, they should run in the general election as such.
Look, this is not a difficult concept. If you're not a Democrat, you shouldn't have a say in the Democratic Party. And if you're not a Republican you also should not vote in their primaries.
Maybe this analogy will make it clearer. I don't vote in Mexico's or Canada's elections even though those countries are my neighbors. The reason is because I'm not a citizen of those countries. That doesn't deprive me of a fundamental right. I shouldn't be voting in other countries' elections. And U.S. citizens wouldn't want non-citizens picking our leaders because we couldn't be sure they'd be voting for our best interest rather than for what's good for their own nation.
And Republicans shouldn't be voting in Democratic Primaries for the same reason. They wouldn't be doing it based on what's best for the Democrats but would be voting for what would help them in the general election.
Hard D's and hard R's are not going to cross over to vote - you can bet on it.