“A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand” – Abraham Lincoln, June 16, 1858
Introduction:
It’s election season in America. Obama-Biden and McCain-Palin bumper stickers and signs are everywhere. Supporters on both sides are making impassioned pleas for their candidate, and each camp is convinced that its candidate can solve the complex economic, environmental and security problems facing the United States.
In the midst of the heated debates, there are those who believe neither candidate can solve the problems. Some folks believe Obama and McCain both cater to large corporate interests and aren’t really that different from each other. Some of these voters plan to stay home on Election Day while others vow they’ll vote for whichever Green, Libertarian or “third party” candidate is on the ballot in their state. Still others will cast a vote for McCain or Obama, but their vote will be for whoever they consider the “lesser of two evils.” As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, Americans are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with both Republicans and Democrats and are seeking an alternative.
While doing some in-depth research on third parties and trying to form a focus for this semester-long blog, I came across a term I’d never heard of – transpartisanship. Those who advocate for this emerging field of political thought want to transcend existing political ideologies. Transpartisanship differs from both nonpartisanship and bipartisanship. Nonpartisanship seeks to avoid involvement with any political party, while bipartisanship seeks compromise between parties. Transpartianship advocates want to acknowledge the validity of liberals, conservatives and moderates, and form pragmatic solutions based on a variety of philosophies. I find this type of political thought intriguing, so I’m planning on researching the topic this semester.
My Knowledge/Interest in This Subject:
I’m not a political scientist by training, but I’ve been interested in politics and current events since President John F. Kennedy’s assassination – I was only five at the time! I keep up with current events and social issues. I also developed a keener awareness of political parties and government while working as a newspaper reporter and editor and an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Intended Audience:
- My JOMC 713 classmates and professor
- Family and friends
- American voters
- Citizens of other countries who have an interest in American politics and/or who can offer insight about major political parties in their countries.
Keywords:
- Transpartisanship, bipartisanship, American politics, political parties, third parties, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Bob Barr, Cynthia McKinney, Rosa Clemente, Ralph Nader
Questions I Want Answered:
- Can transpartisanship become a major force in American politics?
- Can transpartisanship really heal America’s red state/blue state divide?
Websites Pertaining to My Topic:
http://transpartisantimes.blogspot.com/2007/09/emerging-transpartisan-field-in.html
This website gives a definition of transpartisanship, history of the movement, emerging elements of the field, and links to other sites that discuss transpartisanship. It is written by Steven Barr of SGB Media Group.
http://www.libertycoalition.net/
The Liberty Coalition is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, that works to promote transpartisanship activities related to civil liberties and basic rights.
http://www.transpartisan.net/index.php
The Transpartisanship Alliance is a “networks of networks” working to unite people of all political affiliations into a unified voice.
http://donklephant.com/2008/05/01/bringing-independents-to-the-table/
I located this site through Technocrat. Marcia Ford blogs about the transpartisan movement. She mentions one instance where groups as diverse as MoveOn and the Christian Coalition have co-sponsored transpartisan events.
http://politicsofscrabble.org/?p=107
The Politics of Scrabble, a blog by Scott Payne, explains the differences between bipartisan and transpartisan political models. Payne believes that while Barack Obama isn’t a true “transpartisan,” his campaign rhetoric opens doors for discussion of this political thought.
