The Undemocratic Democrat Party

Written by Peter Serefine

The Democratic Party’s handling of its presidential primaries over the past three election cycles has raised significant concerns about the internal democracy of a party that prides itself on democratic principles. The cases of Bernie Sanders in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and Biden’s forced step aside in 2024 exemplify a pattern where the party’s leadership has moved against the will of its members, leading to accusations of undemocratic practices.

2016: The Sanders-Clinton Controversy

In 2016, Bernie Sanders mounted a formidable challenge against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Despite his strong grassroots support, Sanders faced substantial obstacles from the Democratic National Committee (DNC). A class action lawsuit filed against the DNC and its then-chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz alleged that the DNC violated its own charter by showing a clear bias in favor of Clinton. Emails leaked by WikiLeaks appeared to show that DNC officials had conspired to undermine Sanders’ campaign.

Donna Brazile, a former interim chair of the DNC, later confirmed these allegations in her book, revealing that a joint fundraising agreement between the DNC and the Clinton campaign effectively allowed Clinton to control the party’s finances and strategy long before she secured the nomination. This arrangement compromised the party’s integrity, as it violated the DNC’s promise of impartiality.

2020: Biden’s Rise Amid Rules Changes

In the 2020 primary season, the Democratic Party again faced allegations of manipulating the process, this time to the benefit of Joe Biden. Initially, Biden’s campaign struggled, but a sudden consolidation of moderate candidates around his candidacy, combined with changes to party rules, helped him secure the nomination. For example, the DNC modified debate qualification rules, which some argued was intended to exclude outsider candidates like Michael Bloomberg while bolstering establishment favorites.

The quick alignment of party leaders and former candidates behind Biden following his South Carolina primary win was seen by some as a strategic move to prevent Sanders, who once again represented a challenge from the left, from gaining further momentum.

2024: Biden Pressured to Step Aside

In 2024, despite winning over 90% of the primary votes, President Joe Biden faced unprecedented pressure from the Democratic Party leadership to step aside in favor of a new candidate. This move was motivated by concerns over Biden’s age and health, but it disregarded the overwhelming support he received from the party’s base. Such an intervention by the party leadership highlights a recurring theme: the prioritization of strategic decisions over the expressed will of party members.

Implications and Consequences

The pattern observed in these three election cycles suggests a troubling trend within the Democratic Party. By intervening in the primary process, party leaders have repeatedly placed their strategic preferences above the democratic choices of their members. This raises fundamental questions about the democratic nature of the party itself and its commitment to fair and transparent electoral processes.

These actions not only undermine the trust of party members but also contradict the principles upon which the Democratic Party is supposed to stand. For a party named after democracy, the repeated subversion of its members’ will is not only ironic but also detrimental to its legitimacy and cohesion.

Moving forward, the Democratic Party must address these concerns and implement reforms to ensure that its primary process is genuinely democratic and reflective of the will of its members. Only then can it restore faith among its base and uphold the democratic values it claims to champion.

This article was originally published at AFNN.us

Peter Serefine is a Patriot Academy Constitution Coach, Instructor for Institute on the Constitution, Author, Navy Veteran, and PA State Constable