Have conventions outlived their usefulness?
August 21st, 2008By Julie
Next week, IPDI and its department at GWU, the Graduate School of Political Management, are releasing the inaugural issue of our monthly Polity & Pragmatics survey panel. The first edition asks our panel of faculty and Council on American Politics members if conventions have outlived their usefulness. Here’s a advance look at what we will publish next week.
POLITY & PRAGMATICS
September 2008
Each month, GW’s Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) surveys the members of its Polity and Pragmatics panel for their opinions about major issues and trends in politicking, policy, communications, and public relations.
The September 2008 Polity & Pragmatics survey tackles the role party conventions play in the American political process – now and in the future.
Have conventions outlived their usefulness?
Yes 33.3%
No 61.1%
Not yet, but they will in the future 5.6%
“Yes. Power is more diversified. It’s no longer just in the hands of a few party brokers.”
Nancy Bocskor, The Nancy Bocskor Company and Professor, Graduate School of Political Management
“Not yet, but they will in the future. All issues are basically decided before the delegates get there. Technology is now able to permit the delegates to transact any business that needs to be done without the expense of a convention. The event is a PR plus for the candidates so until that can be replaced it will stay.”
Tony Coelho, Former Congressman and Former Co-Chairman, Council on American Politics.
“No. The purpose of the national conventions has evolved with the times and will continue to do so. They have become over the past thirty years infomercials for the parties featuring celebrities, music, a few speeches, and lots of color. The rise of the Internet will make the Conventions relevant in ways we don’t yet imagine. But they will not go away.”
Greg Lebel, Director, GW Semester in Washington Politics Program
Is the trend of conventions outliving their usefulness a good thing or a bad thing?[1]
Good 60%
Bad 40%
“Good. Like other ‘good in their times’ but now obsolete items – typewriters for example — conventions should be replaced by new forms of electronic communication and interaction. Computers are far better than typewriters and today’s e-technology is much better than conventions. Witness how Obama plans to announce his VP selection.”
W. Dennis Thomas, Sr. Vice President, International Paper, Inc. and Member, Council on American Politics
“Bad. The conventions ought to be an opportunity for citizens to interact with other citizens from around the country to discuss politics.”
Julius W. Hobson, Senior Policy Advisor, Powell Goldstein LLP and Professor, Graduate School of Political Management
“Good. Let the campaigns talk to the voters in the increasingly targeted, deliberate, and innovative ways they do best. Prime time speeches to the faithful (in the arena/round) AND to the few and far between who may be watching is so 1960s. Be done with it, already.”
Shayna Englin, Principal, Englin Consulting, LLC and Professor, Graduate School of Political Management
Will there be a national primary in the next ten years?
Yes 12.5%
No 87.5%
“No, for several reasons: 1) The states guard their moment in the spotlight too jealously. 2) There are too many state and local officials involved in running elections who would lose jobs to national coordinators if that occurred. More likely we will see regional primaries (e.g., South, Northeast, etc.), organized on a state-by-state basis, but held on the same day. This would reduce the number of primaries, eliminate the ridiculously long and expensive campaigns we run now, and allow the candidates to consolidate their forces where they are strongest.”
Elliot Roseman, Vice President, ICF International and Professor, Graduate School of Political Management
“Yes, And I think it will be online.”
Nancy Bocskor, The Nancy Bocskor Company and Professor, Graduate School of Political Management
“No. The inter-state differences are as profound as the intra-state differences. The parties raise money, provide educational forums on how best to run for office, gather and store essential information for micro-targeting, and supply warm bodies to help organize - all useful functions. As someone smarter than I once said: ‘The two U.S. national parties are like two bottles with the same label - and both empty.’ Only the idealogues have been fooled by thinking either party has a role to play in advancing their ideas.”
Edward A. Grefe, Professor, Graduate School of Political Management
How much money will be necessary to win the party’s nomination in 2012?
$500 million to $750 million 40%
$750 million to $999 million 20%
$1 billion to $1.49 billion 26.7%
$1.5 billion to $2 billion 6.7%
More than $2 billion 6.7%
Is there an alternative to public financing?
Yes 68.8%
No 31.3%
“Yes. The status quo! The country is $10 trillion in debt – hard to put funding elections ahead of other national priorities.”
Laurence F. Lane, VP of Government Relations, Genesis HealthCare and Member, Council on American Politics
“Yes. Private financing.”
Robert Dove, Professor, George Washington University
“No. Only through a level playing field will candidates of sincere leadership abilities be willing to step forward. Currently those who are most qualified to lead opt out of the system since effective leadership requires balance and our presidential election process is the furthest thing from it!”
Kathleen Schafer, Principal, Leadership Connection and Professor, Graduate School of Political Management
“Yes. Continuing to raise money through private sources. Better disclosure and fewer abstruse restrictions would vastly improve the system.”
Rick White, Principal, The Woodbay Group and Member, Council on American Politics
“Maybe. I don’t believe that the American public can be sold on public financing at this point in time. The alternative is sunshine. Lots and lots of sunshine. Political contributions of any amount must be a matter of public record in a timely, complete, and accessible manner. This must include contributions to any independent group that seeks to affect the outcome of an election (a phrase that must be very specifically and carefully defined. It seems to me that with the right to free speech comes the responsibility to claim one’s voice. Anonymous infusions of cash into election messages do not meet that standard. Technological advances make speed, accuracy, and accessibility attainable goals. However, lack of political will continues to be the stumbling block to achieving this level of accountability.”
Greg Lebel, Director, GW Semester in Washington Politics Program
“Yes. The Obama model. Republicans will master it by 2012.”
Bill Black, Co-Chair, Fleishman Hillard Global Public Affairs Practice and Professor, Graduate School of Political Management
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The Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM, www.gspm.gwu.edu) seeks to make politics better by educating its students and professionals in the tools, principles and values of participatory democracy, preparing them for careers as ethical and effective advocates and leaders at the international, national and local levels. Its Polity & Pragmatics survey panel consists of faculty and members of its Council on American Politics.
Polity & Pragmatics takes its title from the Greek terms for city and citizenship. This ancient legacy of political participation, coupled with the GSPM’s pragmatic approach to politics and emphasis on effective communication reflect on GSPM’s values as a graduate institution and the panel members’ experiences in and visions for politics in the United States.
[1] Asked of those respondents who answered “Yes” to the question, “Have conventions outlived their usefulness?”
