(That's the Lincoln Memorial at left.) This weekend, a local newspaper columnist (unavailable online, sorry) suggested that the U.S. Democratic Party should embrace Stephen Colbert's candidacy in South Carolina. One of his reasons was that having Colbert address the Democratic Convention, especially as an actual candidate in South Carolina, would get people to watch the convention coverage.
I think the columnist is confused about what happens at the nominating conventions in the U.S.: that is, basically, nothing.
In Canada, leadership conventions like the one the Liberals held last fall are actual deal-making events. Last year, it took several ballots before the Liberal party elected its current leader--the man who will be Prime Minister if the Liberals ever get enough members elected during a national election. At the convention, at least four candidates were considered to be serious contenders going into the event. Delegates were solemnly polled before and after each speech and each vote. Candidates ceremonially threw their support to front-runners. The whole thing was a big deal, and I sat in front of it for the entire weekend because both of our "good" 2.5 channels covered it, start to finish. I can't say this often enough: It was a big deal.
In the U.S., each party's candidate is a known quantity by May, at the latest, for the November election. The convention is in August. The early decision tradition may be relatively new--since JFK--but it's as firmly entrenched as the "red state/blue state" labels. In fact, it's a sign of problems in a party if the candidate ISN'T obvious soon after the earliest primaries, which will be in February of 2008.
That's why states keep trying to get their primaries earlier and earlier in the year--so they can get attention and be part of the selection process. There's nothing less interesting to the members of a political party in a state than to vote in a primary, after the party's candidate has, essentially, been selected already.
So, let's pretend the Democratic National Convention in August of 2008 is something other than a giant pep rally for the upcoming election season. Let's say that two votes are required to select the next nominee for President of the U.S. Guess how the media would cover it? The story would become "the Democratic Party is in serious disarray--they can't decide who will be the best candidate for the most important man in the free world."
Yes, American news reporters do actually talk like that; it's easier than finding real news.
Besides, the Democrats can invite Colbert or Jon Stewart or the members of Monty Python to address the Convention. Nobody has to be anybody to get an invitation to speak. Not that the Conventions will get much TV time anyway--there are pre-season NFL games to watch, for crying out loud!
And as for the newspaper columnists's allegation that Hillary Clinton is humorless? That's not funny.
Just kidding, sorta--but it is a topic for another day.
