GOP: Beware the revolution

North Idaho has a reputation for blended politics. Democrats, Republicans and Independents have always cast their votes for the person rather than for a party and they get along. That was until revolutionists within the Republican Party sued the state of Idaho last March claiming that the state’s open primary violated the Republican Party’s First Amendment rights and resulted in HB 351, allowing closed primary elections.

What this means is that in Idaho only registered Republicans can vote in the May 15 Republican Primary. Sorry, the Big GOP Tent has been closed to only card-carrying members.

Well, sure, but anyone is welcome to vote in the Democrat primary you say? This would be fine except for one thing: Most Idaho residents identify with the Republican Party. But what has the Republican Party become?

That is an interesting question because many new names have surfaced over the past seven or eight years. Names like Vick and Barbieri who were elected as Republicans, but who like Phil Hart represent ideals contrary to those of most Idaho residents. Last session for instance, Vito Barbieri, a transplanted attorney from California, supported a “Nullification Bill” that was quickly dropped by the State Affairs Committee. For good reason: Nullification was the lightning rod that helped spark the Civil War and is legislation supported by anarchists and the Constitution Party, not by Republicans. With Nullification the logical next step might be a “Sheriffs First” law, making it a crime for any federal agent to make an arrest, search or seizure within the state without first obtaining advanced, written permission of the local elected county sheriff. In other words, the county sheriff is the law and this was clearly anticipated and an attempt to overrule case law which is the fabric of our legal system and what makes America a great place to live, work and to do business. Do you really know who the sheriff candidates are? Understanding their backgrounds, their experience and their principles is really important in this election.

No doubt the Idaho Republican Party has splintered and the leadership of the Central Committee has literally been abducted and dominated by members who do not represent the values of many Republicans; even the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans are outcasts. Not Conservative enough for the Party revolutionists. With the Primary deadline looming voters need to educate themselves about what these newcomers stand for and about the implication of this closed primary. Likewise, Independents and Democrats also must consider what’s at stake and seriously consider membership in the Republican Party to help stop these candidates who do not represent our communities’ core values and who are financed by outsiders and well-heeled attorneys with ulterior motives in mind.

REID HARLOCKER

Hayden