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Editorial: Sanders’ supporters naive about process

Thu., March 31, 2016

The following are abridged versions of Northwest editorials. They do not necessarily reflect the view of The Spokesman-Review’s editorial board.

Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, March 28

Bernie Sanders was the big winner in Washington state as his supporters dominated the Democratic Party caucuses. Statewide, Sanders supporters outpaced Hillary Clinton supporters by a 3-1 margin. But let’s be clear: There is little about the way the two major political parties select their nominees to run for president of the United States that’s democratic.

Some Sanders supporters, however, are naively clinging to the belief that it is a democratic process and therefore their guy should be awarded about 75 percent of all the state’s delegates. They are irked the state’s 17 superdelegates (Democrats elected to office and party officials) are free to support the candidates of their choice – who is currently Clinton.

Being a superdelegate is a perk of power. Top elected Democrats and party officials are automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

The nomination process is not an election. Republicans and Democrats have different systems, but the basic premise is the same. Party members get together to talk through the issues and come to a consensus. The GOP, at least this year, will use the results of the May primary to allocate presidential candidate preference for delegates selected at the caucuses. It’s a hybrid approach. Democrats, however, use only the caucuses to determine delegate support for all but their superdelegates.

Is all this fair? Of course not. It was not designed to be fair by Democrats (or Republicans). It is a system – established by party officials – to nominate a candidate the party members will support and who they believe can be elected president in November. Democrats have superdelegates so party leaders can maintain some control at the National Convention this summer.

Don’t count on the party leaders to make any changes.

Yakima Herald-Republic, March 29

The news seemed almost anachronistic in this era of relaxed ordinances and attitudes about marijuana. Last week, law enforcement officials announced that illegal marijuana production in Washington state has plummeted – even though large numbers of plants still flourish on the state’s public lands.

But the cultivation, sale and consumption of marijuana are legal in this state, right? So why does it matter? It matters because not-so-savory elements are involved in the state’s massive illegal grows. It also matters to maintain the structure of the state’s marijuana legalization – given the flaws of a law that expands the availability of an intoxicating substance and runs afoul of federal law.

A Washington State Patrol spokesman says improved cooperation among state, local and federal law enforcement – along with increased air surveillance – led to the decline. The extra scrutiny has made things too hot for those growing illegally, and they have moved to other states.

Along with public safety concerns, the black market can undermine the still-evolving legal marijuana industry in Washington state. In 2012, we opposed Initiative 502, but it is the law.

A wide-open black market could unravel the legal pot setup and make a bad law worse.