I still have hope! Even though the recent election in Mississippi has left me feeling troubled, I can’t help but see the bigger picture.
The primary election that appeared to be clear-cut as State Sen. Chris McDaniel ran against the incumbent Thad Cochran who, amid numerous gaffes –“ we do certain things to animals” and allegedly supporting flyers for his campaign stating that “Tea Party won’t let blacks vote in the next election”– still won the election by less than 1 percent.
Why is this election so important to an Ohioan? Why is this election NOT important to an Ohioan? As an informed citizen, as many of you are who are reading this editorial, you too, enjoy freedom and the rights that our Constitution upholds. I implore you to research and educate yourself these next two years about the political events that surround not only Ohio but the Nation.
In Mississippi, Democrats were allowed to vote in a Republican primary. I am sure that you, no matter which side of the aisle that you fall, understand the conundrum of allowing another political party to vote in a primary. The Mississippi election proves that this law doesn’t make sense. Thad Cochran, who was down in the polls just a week before the primary election was able to win by less than a percent.
As ignorant flyers and reports of registered Democrats being bussed in to vote in the Republican primary gained momentum, the effects of the race fell in the favor of the incumbent 80-year-old Republican. Again, why is this important to an Ohioan? We, too, have fallen prey to laws of precedent as our own Dan Phillip was just informed Tuesday that he is NOT allowed to run against the unopposed, incumbent Republican for Congressional District 7 in the November 2014 election.
Though he had enough signatures, filed his paperwork, and followed the rules of the FEC, he registered as a Republican in the May primary, thus he cannot run as an independent.
I am appalled that our system is one, relying on case law, that prohibits a candidate to run as anything than what they are registered. Yet, we will allow other parties to vote in specific party primaries! This situation brings to light the overwhelming, suffocating power of the two-party system that allows for no other voice to be heard.
Though Dan Phillip could continue to campaign as a write-in candidate for the 2014 election, he will prepare for 2016. I still have hope. Why? There are citizens of the United States who still believe in the Constitution, Common Sense, and Responsibility…no matter what “party” of which you belong. We must rely on our laurels; we must rely on the success of the past—the only free country in the world that has risen out of the tyranny of another; we must educate ourselves, be involved in our communities, create a future of which we will be proud; we must take responsibility!
As Samuel Adams said, “It does not take a majority to prevail…but rather an irate, tireless minority” with a desire to kindle passion in the hearts and minds of the men and women of this United States of America.
Respectfully and with hope,
Regina Theisen