(DailyVantage.com) – During a CNN panel discussion, Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank made waves by claiming the Democratic Party has circumvented the traditional nomination process, specifically alleging that Kamala Harris was effectively “chosen” by party elites, not through democratic means. O’Leary drew comparisons to the 2016 primaries, suggesting a similar situation occurred when Hillary Clinton was perceived to have been selected over Bernie Sanders, who had robust grassroots support.
O’Leary highlighted reports that, just 90 days earlier, Nancy Pelosi approached President Biden and urged him to step aside in favor of Harris, allegedly sparking concerns from Biden about whether Harris was the right choice to carry the campaign. O’Leary’s comments implied that party heavyweights like Pelosi and possibly former President Obama influenced the decision without involving the party base. As he tried to continue his point about what he sees as a pattern of undemocratic choices, panelists pushed back, with CNN’s Abby Phillip interjecting that Hillary Clinton had, in fact, won a primary election, thereby legitimizing her nomination in 2016.
Phillip clarified that the Democratic Party’s nomination process does not legally require a primary, meaning the party could technically choose its candidate at any time, as long as they meet the state deadlines for ballot placement. Other panelists downplayed O’Leary’s concerns about party decisions impacting voter sentiment, questioning whether the internal nomination process truly matters to the average Democratic voter.
Despite the pushback, O’Leary defended his stance, asserting that dedicated Democratic voters would indeed care if they felt their party was sidelining the democratic process for elite decision-making.
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