Latest / Commentary - TJ Meadows / Manchin Wants to Change Elections; Don’t Forget the Presidential, Joe

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Manchin Wants to Change Elections; Don’t Forget the Presidential, Joe · Commentary - TJ Meadows

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  Speaker 1: Joe Manchin is no longer a United States Senator, but
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  Speaker 1: he may have found the issue that defines his legacy,
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  Speaker 1: fixing the way Americans choose their candidates. Manchin says the
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  Speaker 1: system is broken, and the numbers make his case. Too
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  Speaker 1: many congressional districts are effectively decided before voters ever reach
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  Speaker 1: a competitive general election. His answer is an open primary.
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  Speaker 1: Let everyone run, advance the top four or five candidates,
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  Speaker 1: and use a runoff to make sure the winner earns
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  Speaker 1: a true majority. That would create real competition, give independence
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: and moderates a meaningful voice, and force candidates to appeal
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  Speaker 1: beyond the narrowest slice of their party. That idea deserves
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  Speaker 1: serious consideration. But presidential primaries need an even more fundamental reform.
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: Why should New Hampshire or any small group of early
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  Speaker 1: states narrow the field before most Americans get a vote.
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  Speaker 1: If New Hampshire wants to be known for something, let
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  Speaker 1: them be known for maple syrup, not presidential wine tasting.
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  Speaker 1: Look at twenty sixteen, seventeen Republicans sought the nomination. New
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  Speaker 1: Hampshire helped push Chris Christy, Carly Fiorina, and Jim Gilmore
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  Speaker 1: from the race. South Carolina came before Jeb Bush's departure.
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  Speaker 1: Then Super Tuesday helped clear out Ben Carson, Marco Rubio,
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  Speaker 1: Ted Cruz, and John Kasick. By the time West Virginia
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  Speaker 1: voted on May tenth, Donald Trump was the only viable
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  Speaker 1: Republican left. Trump probably would have won West Virginia anyway,
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  Speaker 1: let's be honest, but beating a full field would have
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  Speaker 1: strengthened that victory. More importantly, West Virginians would have had
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  Speaker 1: the same meaningful choices as voters in Iowa, New Hampshire,
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  Speaker 1: and South Carolina. And remember this is not about punishing
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  Speaker 1: the candidate who eventually wins. A victory earned against the
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  Speaker 1: full field is stronger, not weaker. The reform simply gives
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  Speaker 1: every American the opportunity to vote while the choice is
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  Speaker 1: still genuine, rather than merely ceremonial. So hold a real
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: Super Tuesday. Every state votes on the same day, Let
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  Speaker 1: the top two candidates move forward, and let the Electoral
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  Speaker 1: College take over in the general election. Critics will say
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  Speaker 1: candidates cannot connect with an entire country at once. Hogwash.
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: It's twenty twenty six. Technology has made the world tiny.
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  Speaker 1: Candidates will adjust, so will voters. If the parties refuse
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  Speaker 1: to play ball. They should stop pretending every voter as
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  Speaker 1: an equal hand in choosing their nominees. Go back to
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  Speaker 1: the smoke filled rooms and own it. But we still
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  Speaker 1: believe voters should choose. Then give all of them a
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  Speaker 1: meaningful choice. It's time go get them Joe, and by
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  Speaker 1: the way, New Hampshire. Nothing personal, I'm sure the maple
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  Speaker 1: syrup is just terrific.