Howard Schultz Campaign
April 23, 2019 at 1:36 a.m.
By -
Former Starbucks CEO and possible independent presidential candidate Howard Schultz and the backlash against that possible candidacy with a boycott of Starbucks highlights a common criticism of third-party or independent candidates. That being a vote for a third-party or independent candidate is a wasted vote and that it "siphons votes" from one of the two major party candidates. The possible run of Howard Schultz has gotten a response from activist groups from the Democratic Party "who have already put Starbucks on notice that if Schultz .... does run as an independent in 2020 the company will pay a stiff price" in the form of a boycott. The reason being the fear that such a run will "siphon away voters from the Democratic nominee and will help Trump win a second term." (Starbucks braces for itself as Howard Schultz mulls 2020 run, prepares for Democratic backlash; by Charlie Gasparino; published April 12, 2019; www.foxbusiness.com/politics/starbucks-braces-for-backlash-if-howard schultz-runs).
Whatever Mr. Schultz's final decision is remains to be seen. The real issue for third-party or independent presidential runs is the following. Neither major party pre-owns the general public's vote, so the notion that a third party candidate is "siphoning" or "stealing" these votes by running a legitimate campaign is one that needs to finally be put to rest. Voters will decide who is the best candidate out of the field and are not owned by either major party or expected to reflexively stick with either. Genuine third-party or independent candidates who run actual campaigns do have the right to be heard and have influence over the process. Third-party candidates have been part of the presidential election process throughout the history of our republic, with noticeable results in the elections of 1832, 1848, 1856, 1860, 1892, 1912, 1924, 1948, 1960, 1968, 1980, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2016.
There is a solution that would work for all parties, that being an expanded electoral college that awards electoral votes based on the nationwide vote in addition to the current winner-take-all votes at the state level and additional electoral votes awarded at the congressional district level and for the state popular votes. It is also time to start requiring a run-off if a simple majority of the nationwide popular vote cannot be achieved.
Readers of the Times-Union may be interested in the following books below for further research on this subject.
Sources of Information
1. “Politics at the Periphery: Third Parties in Two-Party America”
2.” America's Third-Party Presidential Candidates”
3. “Third Parties in America: Citizen Response to Major Party Failure”
4. “The Other Candidates: Third Parties in Presidential Elections”
5. “Outsiders and Openness in the Presidential Nomination Process”
6. “The Perot Legacy: A New Political Path”
7. “Spoiling for A Fight: Third-Party Politics in America”
8. “Three's A Crowd: The Dynamic of Third Parties, Ross Perot, and the Republican Resurgence”
9. “Third-Party Matters: Politics, Presidents, and Third Parties in History”
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Latest News
E-Editions
Former Starbucks CEO and possible independent presidential candidate Howard Schultz and the backlash against that possible candidacy with a boycott of Starbucks highlights a common criticism of third-party or independent candidates. That being a vote for a third-party or independent candidate is a wasted vote and that it "siphons votes" from one of the two major party candidates. The possible run of Howard Schultz has gotten a response from activist groups from the Democratic Party "who have already put Starbucks on notice that if Schultz .... does run as an independent in 2020 the company will pay a stiff price" in the form of a boycott. The reason being the fear that such a run will "siphon away voters from the Democratic nominee and will help Trump win a second term." (Starbucks braces for itself as Howard Schultz mulls 2020 run, prepares for Democratic backlash; by Charlie Gasparino; published April 12, 2019; www.foxbusiness.com/politics/starbucks-braces-for-backlash-if-howard schultz-runs).
Whatever Mr. Schultz's final decision is remains to be seen. The real issue for third-party or independent presidential runs is the following. Neither major party pre-owns the general public's vote, so the notion that a third party candidate is "siphoning" or "stealing" these votes by running a legitimate campaign is one that needs to finally be put to rest. Voters will decide who is the best candidate out of the field and are not owned by either major party or expected to reflexively stick with either. Genuine third-party or independent candidates who run actual campaigns do have the right to be heard and have influence over the process. Third-party candidates have been part of the presidential election process throughout the history of our republic, with noticeable results in the elections of 1832, 1848, 1856, 1860, 1892, 1912, 1924, 1948, 1960, 1968, 1980, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2016.
There is a solution that would work for all parties, that being an expanded electoral college that awards electoral votes based on the nationwide vote in addition to the current winner-take-all votes at the state level and additional electoral votes awarded at the congressional district level and for the state popular votes. It is also time to start requiring a run-off if a simple majority of the nationwide popular vote cannot be achieved.
Readers of the Times-Union may be interested in the following books below for further research on this subject.
Sources of Information
1. “Politics at the Periphery: Third Parties in Two-Party America”
2.” America's Third-Party Presidential Candidates”
3. “Third Parties in America: Citizen Response to Major Party Failure”
4. “The Other Candidates: Third Parties in Presidential Elections”
5. “Outsiders and Openness in the Presidential Nomination Process”
6. “The Perot Legacy: A New Political Path”
7. “Spoiling for A Fight: Third-Party Politics in America”
8. “Three's A Crowd: The Dynamic of Third Parties, Ross Perot, and the Republican Resurgence”
9. “Third-Party Matters: Politics, Presidents, and Third Parties in History”
Alexander Houze
Leesburg
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092