Handsome Donkeys Tell us How to Vote for President

I wrote earlier this week that the 3 million "Decline-to-State" (DTS) voters -- as independents are called here in California -- can change the outcome of the presidential primary here on Tuesday, just as they have in other states. But, as Jennifer Steinhauer reported in the New York Times, it's difficult for these DTS voters to actually vote for president.

Here's the deal: If you are a DTS voter -- and you want to vote for President -- you need to ask for a "Democratic Party ballot" from your poll worker. If you don't, you will be handed a DTS ballot that has a blank where the names of the presidential candidates would otherwise appear. Only the Democrats allow DTS voters to vote in the presidential primary; the Republicans cling to their idea of exclusivity, allowing only registered Republicans to vote.

At the Courage Campaign, we are determined to get the message out to voters that they can cast a ballot for the highest office in the land.

The best way to do that is video. We needed volunteers with talent; we hit a gold mine.

It shows just how "people-powered" this campaign season is becoming. I was having lunch with Peter Fisher, a very bright young man who had lost all interest in politics, but who has been totally re-energized and engaged this season. He asked how he could get more involved. Of course, I had an answer: we needed to do a funny video to get the message out to DTS voters that they have to ask for a Democratic ballot if they want to vote for president. Two days later, he hooked me up with four friends who run a comedy video production company called Handsome Donkey.

And two days after that, these talented artists finished writing, directing, acting in and editing this great video. Yeah, those donkeys are darned handsome, but wow are they talented! We'll all be seeing much more of these gentlemen in the years to come.

Meanwhile, have a look at our "Yes You Can...Vote for President" video, part of our ongoing voter contact and education work.

As you watch, try to figure out how many actors there are in the piece.

Comments

[TrustMeImASalesman]

I've read somewhere, either a blog comment or article that there should only have one Super Tuesday for the Country.

All candidates of all parties on the lists.

Top Four number of votes get to battle it out in their party platform conventions.

Independents who win the majority of votes can broker their winning votes to conservative, libertarian or independent parties.

Would this solve the problems of delegates going to the conventions? Each state assign delegats based on the number of votes not the candidates? Each state have same number of delegates? Could this be a leveler of the playing field?

[stdeclan]

This is news now because??? What California? In the Michigan primary we had to declare a party preference before receiving a ballot, no DTS, or whatever, ballot. And then to add insult to injury the list of voters were made the private property of the respective parties. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.

[janmB]

Independents are not allowed to vote in the primary in FLA
Now FLA isn't going to count anyway ?
I don't know WHY people aren't more adament about getting this outdated rules changed.
We need MORE campaign reform and the popular vote should be the one that counts for the presidency. We are ALL one country no matter where we chose to plank our butts.

[GhostOfSchlesinger]

As for me, I watched the Handsome Donkey, "Yes You Can" video and was most impressed with the young Harvey Fierstein sound-a-like.

Ellen Stewart would be proud!

[strangelet]

Geez -- this is news? "DTS" voters will find it REALLY hard to vote in the Republican primary -- they aren't allowed to. And to vote in the Democratic primary, they have to ask for a Democratic ballot. OMG!

Anybody that can't figure out they need a Democratic ballot to vote in a Democratic primary probably should not be voting, anyhow. What do you think is the right approach -- the poll worker should ask who they want to vote for, so as to give them the right ballot?

[BUSHsurvivor]

Yes, but do the DTS voters know that they currently are not voting for a "president", but are voting for the party's nominee for president?