By Marcus Brown
Following the aftermath of the nearly 20,000 emails leaked by WikiLeaks outlining purposeful attempts by the Democratic National Committee to sabotage presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign, the fate of the Democratic Party appears to be quite uncertain, especially given the possibility of more incriminating information being released. Even with the resignation of DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the revelation of the group’s targeted undermining of Sanders’ campaign has done its damage.
As troubling as it is that the emails were leaked in the first place and the possible involvement of Russia in the matter, there are more immediate ramifications of the leak. If anything. the knowledge that members of the Democratic Party were working against one of their own candidates reveals the veiled deception of the American democratic process. The whole purpose of a democracy is to allow the people to decide on their own representatives, but the leaked emails reflect the operation of an oligarchy more than the democracy we supposedly possess.
Perhaps we have gotten too carried away with the idea of electing leaders as opposed to electing representatives. Ideally in a democracy, a person is elected to fill a position and carry out the intentions of those who elected them. They are elected to represent the people, and while that requires aspects of leadership, there is a difference between a leader and a representative. The DNC has effectively taken away the ability of the people to choose their representatives and as a result, has undermined the very foundation of democracy.
As we move forward, we must carry on with the proceedings knowing full well that our democracy is a fallacy and instead replaced with an ultimatum. These underhanded machinations have forced the hands of voters and candidates alike into choosing between the lesser of two evils, and Sanders’ supporters are right to object to being deprived of their right to choose their elected officials.
While the reality of the situation is that a divided Democratic Party could ultimately result in the election of Donald Trump, it does not justify the actions that led to such a situation coming about in the first place. Trying to force the unification of the party behind a single candidate has done more damage to the party than the opposition to the party, and that isn’t even exploring the ethical implications. I would say a combination of ignorance and apathy has given rise to the potential of a Trump presidency, but mistrust in the Democratic Party will be the final nail in the coffin.
It should be apparent that Trump being elected president is a calamity waiting to happen, but when choosing the lesser of two evils, it is important to know what the actual choices are. The intentions of the DNC appears to be to make the decision between Hillary Clinton and Trump, but with a plot against a potential candidate within the same party, the choice becomes between Trump and the integrity of the democratic process. Regardless if the goal is to avoid the greater evil, it is not the place of elected officials to decide for the people whom they wish to elect for their representation.
I do not support Trump as a presidential candidate, but I support the right held by American citizens to try to elect him. The importance of democracy doesn’t lie in who is being elected but how they are elected. That appears to have been forgotten by the DNC, and that lapse of judgment to me represents a greater threat to this country than Trump, which is really saying something.
