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Discourse in decline
September 9, 2010 - Updated: September 10, 4:15 p.m.
M.W. Monroe’s letter in the Sunday Spokesman attacking Sen. Chris Marr is an especially ugly example of what politics can become.
Mr. Monroe is worked up about Senate Bill 5599, a bill that Sen. Marr co-sponsored. Monroe might have done us the service of explaining the bill, a simple agreement that Washington award its electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in presidential elections. He might also have pointed out that many other states are passing similar bills. But had he done that, he couldn’t demonize Sen. Marr with preposterous charges.
Reasonable people might oppose SB 5599, but to assert that “this heinous act” will cost us “our precious right to vote for president” is silly at best and at worst cynical and misleading.
Paul De Palma
Spokane
Dr. De Palma
Thank-you for taking the time to write a letter to the S-Review about SB 5599. Since there is a 200 word limit on letters to the editor, it was not possible for me to explain what SB 5599 does in significant detail.
SB 5599 really deserves an in depth objective analysis by a columnist as does any legislation that deals with our precious right to vote. SB 5599 was signed into law on April 28th 2009 yet I have found no in depth analysis has yet to occur by any media concern to date.
As I accurately stated, Chris Marr was a sponsor of SB 5599. He is directly responsible for this legislation being passed. Unlike other sponsors however, Chris Marr at the time was also the Senate Majority Whip which means his sponsorship had the momentum generated by the power of that office.
The 200 word limit did not allow for this detail however.
Your comment
“…explaining the bill, a simple agreement that Washington State award its electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in presidential elections.”
was an accurate summary of my concern.
Awarding our electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in presidential elections is the exact problem with the legislation and proves my accusation:
It does not matter who we vote for President in Washington State when this legislation is activated, our votes will AUTOMATICALLY be donated to whoever wins the popular vote for president of the United States of America.
If EVERY voter in Washington State votes for candidate “A” and candidate “B” squeaks out a win in the nation’s popular vote for president, ALL OUR ELECTORAL VOTES GO TO CANDIDATE “B” automatically; we have effectively lost our votes as I stated.
It does not matter how we vote, thanks to SB 5599 and Chris Marr.
SB 5599 legislation is indeed a heinous act and I stand by my letter. I believe it’s evident my accusations are merited and not a “preposterous charge.” as you stated in your letter.
Although you imply my letter is politically motivated, you neglected to mention what I wrote at the end. If Marr’s replacement does not revoke this legislation by 2012, vote him out as well.
This is not a partisan issue Dr. De Palma it is an issue of right and wrong.
Every legislator who voted in favor of SB 5599 should never be elected to public office again; regardless of party affiliation. A fitting punishment for people who quietly yet effectively methodically took away an entire state’s precious right to vote for president of the United States of America.
A right purchased with the blood, sweat and lives of our forbearers and those who followed.
A right that will not be passed down to future generations of Washington State citizens thanks to SB 5599, and the legislators like Chris Marr who voted for it.
Thanks again for taking the time to write your letter. I hope my comments clear up any misunderstands you might have of my intent and my goal in this matter.
Lets not forget Chris Marr was the lead cheerleader for the River Park Square parking garage which cost the taxpayers of Spokane tens of millions of dollars. Marr needs to be sent down the road packing. With his background, Marr can always get a job selling used cars.
In Gallup polls since 1944, only about 20% of the public has supported the current system of awarding all of a state’s electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each separate state (with about 70% opposed and about 10% undecided). The recent Washington Post, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University poll shows 72% support for direct nationwide election of the President. Support for a national popular vote is strong in virtually every state, partisan, and demographic group surveyed in recent polls in closely divided battleground states: Colorado— 68%, Iowa —75%, Michigan— 73%, Missouri— 70%, New Hampshire— 69%, Nevada— 72%, New Mexico— 76%, North Carolina— 74%, Ohio— 70%, Pennsylvania — 78%, Virginia — 74%, and Wisconsin — 71%; in smaller states (3 to 5 electoral votes): Alaska — 70%, DC — 76%, Delaware —75%, Maine — 77%, Nebraska — 74%, New Hampshire —69%, Nevada — 72%, New Mexico — 76%, Rhode Island — 74%, and Vermont — 75%; in Southern and border states: Arkansas —80%, Kentucky — 80%, Mississippi —77%, Missouri — 70%, North Carolina — 74%, and Virginia — 74%; and in other states polled: California — 70%, Connecticut — 74% , Massachusetts — 73%, Minnesota — 75%, New York — 79%, Washington — 77%, and West Virginia- 81%.
A survey of 800 Washington state voters conducted on December 2-3, 2008 showed 77% overall support for a national popular vote for President.
Support was 77% among independents, 85% among Democrats, and 68% among Republicans.
By age, support was 80% among 18-29 year olds, 76% among 30-45 year olds, 76% among 46-65 year olds, and 78% for those older than 65.
By gender, support was 84% among women and 69% among men.
http://nationalpopularvote.com/pages/…
Most voters don’t care whether their presidential candidate wins or loses in their state … they care whether he/she wins the White House. Voters want to know, that even if they were on the losing side, their vote actually was counted and mattered to their candidate.
MVYMVY
I looked on Gallup’s website and did a search on “Electoral College” and “direct nationwide election” and no poll as you mentioned came up. I sent Gallup an email requesting information on the subject and I will report back when they email me.
Your statement:
“In Gallup polls since 1944, only about 20% of the public has supported the current system of awarding all of a state’s electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each separate state (with about 70% opposed and about 10% undecided).”
Is interesting but this has nothing to do with SB 5599 or Chris Marr.
If Gallup does not get back to me it is irrelevant since it is off topic.
I also did a simular search on Kaiser Family Foundation website and did not find a study on national popular vote.
I also tried to go to the nationalpopularvote.com link without success. Perhaps their website was down for maintenance…
Please quote the source of the Washington State study you cited.
It is unfortunate that some folks misuse polls and polling ; as we have already found this election season in Spokane Politics. (One campaign manager claimed his candidate was ahead in the polls but latter confessed the polls did not exist in an S-Review interview.)
Working together seeking truth and exposing the hype leads to a more informed electorate.