Gage Skidmore

Politics

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Trump Cries Foul

When Donald Trump recently lost delegates to Senator Cruz, he cried foul and accused Cruz of using Gestapo tactics. Suddenly, thanks to Trump, the rigged political process in both parties has been brought to light.

Senator Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire by 20 points, 60% to 40% and was yet awarded fewer delegates than Secretary Clinton. Despite these results, the political establishment declared Clinton to be the presumptive nominee. These results on the Democratic side were ignored by Trump until now when he discovered that a win is not a win. Now, there are demands for reform.

The gap between Cruz and Trump is narrowing and all-important states like New York and California loom on the horizon. Plus, there is Pennsylvania, where Dr. Lara Brown, Director at George Washington School of Political Management, suggests that “candidates will escalate efforts to win over the voters and delegates.”

The so-called Keystone state could earn its moniker during this process, as 44 delegates from the state’s 18 districts are unbound. This means these delegates can go to the convention and vote for whomever they wish, regardless of who wins the state or even by how much.

Now compare this to the Sanders’ campaign. Bernie Sanders has won 8 of the last 9 contests, most by landslides, with the only outlier being Arizona, which is under investigation for their election practices. Additionally, the state of Nevada was originally declared a victory for the Clinton campaign and now, after investigation, it has been awarded to Bernie Sanders.

But this overwhelming trend in voter choice doesn’t seem to matter as a Clinton aide was quoted this weekend through CNN, saying essentially that the process is rigged in her favor, and despite Sanders’ sizable victory, “he only netted two delegates, if that.” This was published by CNN as if it were no big deal. Ho hum, the system is rigged to ignore the popular wishes. But this is the very thing that is causing those previously estranged voters to turnout in record numbers and turn the system upside down.

What’s interesting is that the energy behind the Sanders’ campaign is similar to that of the Trump camp. They differ on policy, but both have tapped into the swelling sentiment that the system is rigged and people want change.

I will admit that I am no fan of Donald Trump, but his megaphone is now directed at the systemic barriers to the democratic process. And because of this, I’m thankful that the media fawns all over Donald Trump and that he is a loudmouth with no filter. Perhaps something good will come out of his circus of a presidential campaign.