Who really chooses the Republican nominee?

People usually blame the news media for picking the party candidates, especially since one candidate emerges as the candidate before all the states have voted in the primaries.  I, however, think that it may be our culture that is to blame.  How many are saying that if Mitt Romney wins the South Carolina nomination, the Republican party should rally behind him, making him the Republican candidate when South Carolina is only third out of 50 states to have their primary election? 

The very fact that all of the states have their primaries at different times seems to encourage this crowning of a winner before most members of the party (and in some states, most voters regardless of party) have even gone to the polls.  It would make so much more sense to hold the primaries all at once, but there is no question of changing to that.  The only changes in when state primaries are held are changes that attempt to place a state's primary ahead of the others.

It is not as though the news media is not contributing to this mess.  How many small budget Republican candidates are being completely ignored, like Buddy Roemer?  Ron Paul came in third in Iowa, second in New Hampshire, yet he is still barely mentioned.  When he is, it is almost in passing, and as though his only supporters are some far out extremists-- yes, because there are enough extremists in three states to get him third and second place.  When he is focused on, it is usually with derision.  Mitt Romney is cast as a "moderate," a title I am not all that sure he deserves.  He is also cast as the candidate best suited to beat Obama in the general election.

This is the key.  The candidate best suited to beat the other party's candidate is the one the party wants.  It doesn't matter if the candidate is the best for the job, or will do what is right for the country, or will stick to his principles unless compromise is what is best for the country.  What matters is if he can beat the other side's guy.

So if Mitt Romney becomes the Republican candidate after only three primaries, before you get to vote, don't blame the media, even though they played their part.  Blame the Republican party, who just like the Democrats, don't care what you think.  They only care if they can win.