The two leading Democratic contenders for governor, Dillon and Bernero, have not even held their first debate for the public to see which is most competent and can run the ship of state. We don’t even know where these candidates stand on key issues or what they have in common.
Notwithstanding, the party in full throttle is moving ahead to tell voters one candidate is better and most equipped than the other without allowing a debate. This is tantamount to a deliberate hijacking of the democratic process because it denies voters the opportunity to hear the candidates for themselves, without going through carefully set up filters.
The electorate needs more information before deciding on the candidates. But for that to happen requires enough opportunity to research and assess the candidates based on what they are saying and have done in the past.
The process that will be taking place at Cobo is equivalent to asking a group of people to sign a piece of paper without knowing why they are putting their signature on a document.
Another interesting scenario is the Democrats’ choices for secretary of state.
On one hand Jocelyn Benson, a Wayne State University law professor and a voter rights advocate, is touting her knowledge on voters rights and campaign finance issues drawing from her work on Obama’s presidential campaign and research on the role of a secretary of state.
On the other hand Janice Winfrey, Detroit City Clerk, is pushing her credential as being in charge of the largest election department in the state, and her work of purging the once enigmatic voter rolls in Detroit, safeguarding the integrity of voters during elections and balancing budgets.
Benson and Winfrey are impressive candidates who bring different experiences to the campaign for secretary of state. But they have only debated once.
Neither has gone through the rigorous battles of facing the tough issues of campaigning that a series of debates would have provided. They have only been campaigning on their own and meeting with constituent supporters.
Each believes she is the most competent to take on the Republican nominee in November. But that decision should be made by voters in the August primary, not by party bosses, their surrogates, supporters and district members.
Let us allow the candidates to duke it out so they can appreciate the value of public service and the sacrifice that accompanies it instead of the planned “alleluia” April coronation.
Richard Bernstein and David Leyton are vying to be the nominee for attorney general. We will not hear both of these candidates on the same podium after April 17 because one would have been selected without tough public scrutiny.
I don’t know if the Democratic Party is underestimating this election or has made up its mind and closed its eyes to the divided house it is creating. The April function that is proudly been advertised on the website of the party certainly smacks of the night of the long knives. I wonder how many party leaders will show up with their knives to the meeting.
When the Democrats count their losses and discover that creating an early endorsement of the candidates, depriving voters of real debates, did more harm than good to the welfare of the party, it will be too late.
Judge Damon Keith, of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a landmark ruling said “democracies die behind closed doors,” and we can only hope that the Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention at Cobo Hall doesn’t become the slaughter house for democracy and the principles that attracted minority groups to the party and delivered an Obama presidency.
Watch senior editor Bankole Thompson’s weekly show, “Center Stage,” on WADL TV 38, Saturdays at 1 p.m. This Saturday’s program, March 21, will feature a special roundtable on a proposal for a regional transportation authority in Southeast Michigan. Paul Gieleghem, chairman of the Macomb County Board of Comissioners, State Rep Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak) and State Rep. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) will discuss several bills in Lansing to create the transporation authority and how it will be funded to help underserved residents of Southeast Michigan. E-mail bthompson@michronicle.com.
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