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Politics: An open book on 2016 vote

Turmoil has been the order of the day among leaders of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Listing all the many concerns of millions of voters who have been loyalists of either party would require a book.

But a book by Donna Brazile, formerly chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, makes one difference between the two parties crystal clear. It is that Democrat leaders, who frequently present themselves as the real voice of the people of America, are no such thing.

It was made clear more than a year ago that, despite the best efforts of many in the Republican Party establishment, GOP voters were in the driver’s seat. That happened when Donald Trump won the party’s nomination for president. Later, he went on to win the general election, largely because his message that “the swamp” in Washington needs to be drained resonated with many voters.

Contrast that to what happened to Democrats. Their nominee was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She was selected by the Democrat establishment, which made certain upstart Sen. Bernie Sanders had no chance of winning the nomination for president.

Brazile’s new book, “Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdown That Put Donald Trump in the White House,” fills in some of the blanks. Brazile makes it clear that right up until a couple of months before the general election, Democrat leaders considered dumping Clinton and replacing her with someone else.

Both parties richly deserve the cynicism many voters feel toward them. At least Republicans retain the reputation of being controlled by their voters.

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