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The Presidential Nomination Process: American Politics at Its Best
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14403 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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Date : |
6 / 1988 |
2,447 Words |
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Stephen Schneck
Stephen Schneck is a political consultant based in Washington,
D.C. |
Indicting the presidential nomination process is chic. Evidence of this fact is available in the op-ed columns of our daily papers. Nevertheless, the indictments are unfair and inaccurate. Indeed, the nomination process we have witnessed this year has proven itself to be robust, effective, and well suited to the needs of our political system.
To put this argument in perspective, consider the charges typically leveled against the nomination process. These fall into three rough categories. First, many charge that the nomination process does not work to select the best candidates. Second, critics claim that the process lacks sufficient support from the American people and thus that it lacks legitimacy within our framework of democratic political institutions. Finally, the process is indicted for undermining our political parties and the governability of the nation. On all counts, however, the indictment is wrong. The 1988 nominations truly meet the requirements of selection, legitimacy, and party, given the realities of today's politics.
Selecting great presidents
At least since Andrew Jackson's day, professional political critics have wondered, rhetorically, why great men are not elected president. The nomination process usually has been singled out for special blame, and the critics have a point. It goes almost without saying that the nominating process constitutes most of the sausage factory that produces our presidents. The critics see the process largely as a winnowing mechanism designed to cull the most unacceptable candidates until one survivor remains. With this notion in mind, critics are understandably chagrined with the process.
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