To join the Democratic or Republican party, all you need to do is register in that party. There are no tests of ideology, no entrance requirements, and no membership cards or dues. Nonetheless, in years past, party identification was an important aspect of many people’s identity.
People voted their party; split ticket voting was much less common than it is today. Voting for your party is the rational way to vote. Why would the voters of Pennsylvania elect a Democratic governor and Republican majorities in both houses of the state legislature? That makes no sense whatsoever. When you hear someone proudly announce, “I vote for the candidate, not the party,” ask that person, “Why would you do a stupid thing like that?”
I’ve also heard an equally ridiculous statement that the two parties are alike. Really? All you have to do is read the platforms adopted earlier this month. Check out the planks on gay rights, or abortion, or global warming, or Guantanamo or the minimum wage. You can get both platforms on line.
I also get angry when I hear Independents bemoan their inability to vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries. In a primary the party members are selecting their nominees. Why would either major party allow someone who doesn’t care enough or know enough to fill in a party preference on a registration form to help select that party’s nominee?
And why should the party voters be the only people qualified to select delegates to the presidential convention? Remember the party organization and the party-in-the-government, both important party components. Hence, Superdelegates. Right now the Republicans are wishing they had had a few more at their convention.
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