Kim Teeters's blog

On February 6, 2010 the Pennsylvania State Democratic Party voted to endorse specific candidates for the May 18, 2010 election and on February 13, 2010 the Pennsylvania State Republican Party followed their lead. "So what." you say. Allow me to add a few personal comments to the above facts. 

The purpose of the May 18th Primary Election is to allow the REGISTERED VOTERS to choose the candidate that they believe best represents their party's platform. Once a party endorses a candidate they put money and volunteers behind that candidate to assist them in winning the election.   This influx of money and help is of great value to the candidate.    I believe that the monies donated to these parties are meant to endorse a candidate who is facing opposition from the other party, not from within their own party.  When a state's political party chooses a candidate to endorse prior to the Primary Election they are telling all the registered voters in that state that they know better than the voters. They are also sending a message to the voters that says, "We are not willing to listen to what you think. We are spending your donated funds for the candidate of our choice, against others within our own party, whether you like it or not."  This is just another example of the Political Machine trying to drive politics, instead of allowing the voters the opportunity to get to know all the people running for the offices before the Primary Election. The Primary Election should be a key election, because it is the election where each party has a variety of candidates on the ballot. Competition is good. When a party makes their endorsements prior to the Primary they tend to limit the variety of candidates on the ballot because many candidates can no longer afford to keep campaigning.  We as voters really do need to be active and informed.  We need to educate ourselves about each candidate prior to the election. One of the best ways to learn about a candidate is by logging onto their website and looking at who is endorsing them. Whom they accept money from is a BIG indicator of who helps develop their policies or ideas.  The ultimate choice is up to us, the voters, on May 18 so educate yourself and VOTE.