[LD22exec] more on Presidential Preference Primary for WA

[debbypattin at thurstondemocrats.org]

Dear Thurston County Democrats: Today's newspapers are discussing the
presidential preference primary and this weekend's WSDCC discussion and
vote on this topic. Here is an editorial written by a rep. from the League
of Women Voters published in today's Seattle times:

 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003679660_primary25.html

Also, in the Olympian, there is an article on the Thurston Co. Democrats'
resolution:

 http://www.theolympian.com/112/story/88772.html

As a member of the WSDCC Rules Committee, and a proponent of the DNC
delegate selection option 2c 'presidential preference primary with post
primary caucus,' I want to clarify a couple of things.  1) six members of
the Rules Comm. who were present at the March 3rd meeting voted in favor
of the presidential preference primary, and others who were absent were
also in favor of it and will speak in support this weekend. More than six
were sympathetic to the arguments in favor, but voted against for fear
that the DNC wouldn't accept the plan. However, with the passage of the
new Primary Election statute, which was signed on April 13th,

 http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/5408.SL.pdf

true crossover voting is not a problem, because you can only vote for one
candidate and there is no other office on the ballot. More important for
the PPP from this session, is that they abolished the unaffiliated ballot.
You can only vote D and R now. This complies with the DNC rules.

2) There would still be caucuses....Delegate Selection  plan 2c calls for
a post primary caucus. At the caucus, Democrats would still be able to
bring their resolutions and platform planks.

And my last point is that as useful as caucuses may be for party building,
if 24+ states, including the big states of Florida, California, New York
and Texas, all hold their primaries on or before Feb. 5th, by the time the
WA state caucuses occur on Feb. 9th, it is likely that we will NOT get the
big caucus turn out we enjoyed in 2004. What is the incentive for people
to attend a caucus if the Democratic nominee is already decided by a
majority of pledged delegates from these other 24+ states?

I firmly believe that WA State Democrats should use the presidential
preference primary, as is the wish of the citizens of WA who established
this system in 1989, to allocate delegates, and that a post primary caucus
should be held to elect the individuals who will serve as the delegates to
the Democratic National Convention. Additionally, at the caucus, Democrats
would have the opportunity to present their resolutions and platform
planks. WA can have BOTH a primary and a caucus, be inclusive of those who
are unable to attend a caucus on Saturday afternoon, and most importantly,
allow for our active duty military members to receive an absentee ballot
so they can vote on their choice for their next Commander in Chief.

Respectfully yours,

Debby Pattin
Thurston County Democrats State Committeewoman