In Mississippi, Ruling Is Seen as Racial Split (Open Primary System)

[Sgent]

Source: NY Times

JACKSON, Miss., July 13 — A federal court ruling in June that forces voters to register by party could return Mississippi to the days of racially polarized politics, as many white Democrats warn that thousands of white voters will now opt definitively for the Republican Party.

Republican-leaning voters in Mississippi have long been able to cross party lines in primaries, voting for centrist Democrats in state and local races while staying loyal to Republican candidates in national races. But political experts here say that by limiting these voters — almost all of whom are white — to Republican primaries, the ruling will push centrist Democratic candidates to the other party, simply in order to survive.

Most black voters in Mississippi are Democrats, and black political leaders have been pushing for years to prevent crossover voting in Democratic primaries. Black leaders say they want to end precisely what white Democrats here seek to preserve, a strong moderate-to-conservative voice in the Democratic Party, and in the process to pick up more state and local posts.

The ruling last month by Judge W. Allen Pepper Jr. of Federal District Court allowed the legal remedy sought by black leaders. Judge Pepper said the Democratic Party in Mississippi had a right to “disassociate itself” from voters who were not genuine Democrats. Most other Southern states also have open primaries.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/us/18south.html?ex=1342411200&en=0ea48533ebd6ca97&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[XemaSab]

1. It makes sense that it would have the opposite effect too

Instead of allowing white right-wingers to stack the democratic deck by voting for dixiecrats, it might allow the REAL democrats to get in REAL candidates.

What's the point of electing right-wing democrats? That's what got us Joementum, and if this is construed as me calling out the state of Connecticut, so be it. :P

If something smaller than Siskiyou County, California, can get 2 senators, I have every right to bag on them.

(ps I have no qualms with Dodd. :hide: )

[Sgent]

2. Yea

but as bad as Lieberman is -- he's 10x better then people like Lott and Cochran.

W/O old line democrats, this state will be dominated by Neo-con repukes.

[bluestateguy]

3. I favor party registration, but what business is it of a court?

As a policy matter, I'm for registration: party primaries should be only for people who have the fortitude to consider themselves members of that party.

But states should have the right to have no party registration if that is what they want. What the hell business is it of a federal court to make the state have party registration? There is no constitutional issue, or VRA issue that I can see.