When did the Democratic Party stop believing in Democracy?
The political party that is supposed to be for the common man, the political party who litigated the hand count in Florida during the 2000 presidential election cycle, has morphed into a Chesapeake Bay version of a Latin American dictatorship where having political self-determination lasts only as long as they allow it.
On June 30th, the Congressional Districting Petition effort started by MCFR with logistical assistance from the staff of MDPetitions.com successfully filed over 65,000 petitions to the Secretary of State’s office. MCFR, Inc was created as a non-partisan group that pulled together a coalition of Democrats, Independents and Republicans who believe in good government through coherent and fair representation that is guaranteed to the citizens of Maryland through the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Maryland.
Last week, the Executive Director of the State Democratic Party released this statement,
“Pending the State Board of Elections’ determination that the validated petition signatures satisfy constitutional requirements, the Maryland Democratic Party will weigh all options to protect the integrity of the referendum process and ensure that every petition was completed and collected in line with Maryland laws and regulations.”
What do all options mean? Does the Democratic Party plan to pursue legal action against the citizens of Maryland? Over the past several months, in response to the overwhelming success of the In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrant Petition that successfully made it on November’s ballot, the Democratic Party and its allies filed a lawsuit to try to stop the voice of the people being heard. Last month, the Court of Appeals ruled against this heavy-handed use of legal maneuvering and ordered for the people to have the final say at the ballot box.
Mr. Sloan continues his comments by stating, “This November, we are confident that Maryland voters will once again resoundingly reject Maryland’s dead end Republicans, and will choose to move forward with President Obama and Democrats.”
This is fine political rhetoric but it does not ring true. If the Democratic Party was so sure that the Congressional Districting Map reflects Maryland’s diversity and creates more competitive districts then threatening legal action is not necessary. Mr. Sloan, if you are so sure of the fairness of the Congressional Districting Map, let the voters choose who their representatives should be in November.
In the State of Florida, the Obama Administration is suing the state because of Voter ID rules that supposedly keep citizens from casting their votes. How ironic that the people who support the President, who allow people to vote in Maryland without showing a picture ID, will stop at nothing to void every signature of legally registered voters to further their partisan agenda.
When did the Democratic Party stop believing in Democracy? It happened right after the people of Maryland started participating in their own governance.
Faculty, Department of Political Science, Towson University. Graduate from Liberty University Seminary.