Orig. Pub. June 6, 2020
“Let me now…warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally…The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism…and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”
This statement was released by President George Washington as a part of his farewell address on September 19, 1796. To make the statement plain, Washington is talking about partisan politics, the fact that political parties are not mentioned in the original Constitution, and, the treason that will surely occur if we create political parties.
By contrast on May 2, 2020, another President George, this one being Bush, concerned about the partisan politics that was our response to the pandemic while other nations (Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia, etc.) were bragging about having “effectively contained” the virus and reopening their economies, released this statement: “Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat. In the final analysis we are not partisan combatants.”
Anemic as Bush’s statement was, he is after all a Party animal, one could at least argue that his mere decision to speak to the issue is a testament to his putting “nation before politics” and indeed his patriotism. Nonetheless, considering the enormity of Washington’s statement and that partisan politics is now such an overt part of every question that comes before our government reps the ultimate question is when did parties begin and do we really need them?
As to their beginning, despite Washington’s warning political parties, or “factions” as they were called, were formed as soon as he left office. One faction was the Federalist led by Washington’s Vice-President John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. The second faction was the Democratic-Republicans led by Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Back then 70 Electoral votes were required to win the Presidency. The Electors were faction loyalists. They had to make two votes each. The Electoral vote result was 71 for Adams and 68 for Jefferson. Meaning Adams of the Federalist faction won the Presidency while his opponent Jefferson of the Democratic-Republican faction won the Vice-Presidency. Awkward. The quote commonly referenced for this vote and how it was worked out is they decided to work together “for the good of the nation.”
Still, the most profound result of that election always goes unrecognized. Namely it was here that the political parties begin hijacking the Electoral College process. Originally the individual state legislatures were to decide who the Electors would be. Those Electors would meet in their state capital in December to vote for the President. The only requirement was that the Electors could not be employees of the Federal Gov’t. However, what the Electors were is party loyalists. Today it has evolved to only the members of the party that won the general election go to the state capital to vote for the President. This is where partisan politics began.
For the election of 1800, the Electors were more sophisticated party loyalists so both Jefferson and his Vice-Presidential running mate Aaron Burr tied (73 Elector votes each), meaning there was a question as to which one was supposed to be President. Plus, with Adams coming in a close second (65 Elector votes) and the Constitution stating ties were to be broken by the House of Representatives. It was a chance for the lame duck Federalist’s who controlled the House, to play a role in supporting their man, Adams. Meaning partisan politics would be the decider not national interest.
As could have been predicted resolving the tie required 36 separate votes. Just so the House would finally agree, Thomas Jefferson would be President, and Aaron Burr would be Vice-President. Again though, there was another result that came out of that election. The Constitution had to be amended.
In 1804 the 12thAmendment was ratified. It created a subtle change in the Electoral College voting. Electors would still have two votes, but they were now required to tie the second vote to the first. That is, make sure the second vote is given to the vice-presidential running-mate of whoever the Elector gave his first vote to. However, because political parties were not mentioned in the Constitution nor the 12th Amendment, and because the individual states were now foregoing their legislative duty to pick the Electors, to defer to a practice of the only Electors being those who were members of the winning party, this was an amendment to the whole election process.
The irony of all of this is that the original purpose of the Electoral College was to ensure that some “radical” would not win the majority vote and try to end slavery. (For more such agreements see the 3/5 Compromise and the moving of the Capital from New York southward to have it parked halfway between Maryland and Virginia.)
Still, it was not until the year 2007 that this writer came to fully understand how big a problem our Political Parties controlling our elections is. It was at that time, while working as a campaign organizer in New York’s Nassau County that I walked into the local Board of Elections and learned there were two separate reception desks. One for Republicans and another for Democrats. Something I had never noticed in my home town of New York City, New York. Since then, every thought I have about how our partisan politics works is within the context of that reality. A reality that says it is okay to keep the Supreme Court at 8 Justices until the correct Party is making the nomination. A reality that the nominee is must be sponsored by the correct third party (see Federalist Society) which is not really a political party. A reality that the nominee knows it is okay to commit perjury during the hearing process because it’s just business as usual for both Parties. And, a reality that says every issue that comes before our legislators, must be Party caucused before a simple preliminary discussion can take place. In other words, a reality of treason.
Likewise, with the last impeachment. Contrary to Political Party, and media, rhetoric the impeachment went forward because it was required by the Constitution. Many Articles could have been used, but two Articles were settled on, Obstruction of Congress and Abuse of Power. Obstruction of Congress was the most important because Obstruction of Congress is obstruction of Oversight. Oversight is the most important power of the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, the House Managers spent 90% of their time on the Abuse of Power Article. Arguing for “more witnesses” to buttress the Abuse Article despite the one being impeached having already admitted to that Abuse.
Meanwhile, the Counsel for the defense was allowed by the House Managers, the Republican controlled Senate jurors, and the Supreme Court Judge to make the spurious and ridiculous argument that somehow the Executive Privilege used to Obstruct and Abuse was irrelevant. After which all the Republicans in the Republican controlled Senate voted, based on Party before Nation, not to convict.
So lost in Party Politics were the Senate jurors that the one Republican who broke from the others (emotional though he was) did so regarding the Abuse Article. The reason Oversight is the most important power of the House of Representatives is because it is for the direct protection of the people. It is the only bulwark the people have. It is Oversight that makes us “the shining (nation) on a hill.” So important a role is Oversight that even when the Oversight is questioned it is best to err on the side of the people. A society that does not have Oversight has, well, what George Washington said.
Ending political party control over our elections (including gerrymandering, voter suppression, and a multitude of election laws created solely to accommodate the parties) is the first step to ending the political divisiveness. And, it will not be difficult. We simply need to require our Board of Elections officials to be independent. Like we do with our diplomats.
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