Counterpoint: Endorsement process matters

WINONA, MINN. – I've never met Judge Miles W. Lord, but as a new member of the party he and so many others worked to build, I wanted to respond to his thoughts (Opinion Exchange, Sept. 5) on the endorsement process I participated in for the first time this spring. I'm sure he's right that lots of people will vote for unendorsed candidates on Tuesday (which reminds me and should remind you: Don't forget to vote on Tuesday).

But as someone who had a first-hand perspective on the DFL endorsement process this year, I am puzzled by his assertion that "the grass roots have largely dried up."

On Feb. 5 of this year, more than 215,000 Minnesotans crowded into hot, sweaty rooms across the state to participate in precinct caucuses, the first step in the process that ultimately resulted in our endorsement of Al Franken for U.S. Senate. (I later learned that those rooms were so over-crowded because the previous record for participation was around 70,000.)

I guess that makes me one of the "party leaders" who made the decision to endorse Al Franken. And given that I'm only 22, I'm glad there were 215,000 other "party leaders" joining me, many of whom were long-time DFL activists, and many of whom were first-timers like me.

I'm also glad that we had the means to choose wisely.

After all, those who vote on Tuesday will have the chance to evaluate each candidate's positions, rhetoric, and résumés — filtered, of course, through the media. But when it comes to making real judgments about a candidate's character, his demeanor, his ability to win an election and serve in office, I can say proudly that there is no more informed voter — and no tougher critic — than a DFL delegate.

At my county convention, there were so many people who wanted to become state delegates that we had a "walking sub-caucus" — a truly weird way to get to know your neighbors. We talked about why we'd chosen to get involved. We argued about what principles should guide our endorsement decisions. And in the end, I was lucky enough to be elected out of the many who wanted to go to Rochester to participate in the state convention. So I took the responsibility of choosing which candidate I would support seriously.

In an era when, as Judge Lord notes, modern technology and political wizardry have changed the way we get to know our candidates, the candidates who chose to compete for our endorsement were judged in a decidedly old-fashioned way. We delegates carried on hours-long conversations with our candidates by phone and in person. We shared our concerns, asked probing questions, even got into the occasional good-natured argument.

I spent a lot of time learning about the candidates' stances on the issues, but what really sealed the deal was when Al Franken called me — on my cell phone — to talk about why he was running and personally ask me for my support. I don't know how many other voters get that opportunity.

At the end of the day, DFL delegates didn't endorse Franken because we knew his name. We endorsed him because, after welcoming him into our lives and, in many cases, our homes, we came to know his character.

That's why the DFL endorsement process matters, and that's why I think it's so important. And with tremendous respect for the contributions Judge Lord has made to our party and to our state, I would say that anyone who wants to run as a member of my party — and anyone looking for a more authentic democracy — should participate in our endorsement process rather than dismiss it.