Outsiders run GOP central committee

I am writing in response to the front page article in the Cd'A Press on Wednesday, July 24. I am an elected precinctman who was in opposition to Bjorn Handeen's resolution at the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee's monthly meeting, held at the courthouse the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and I strongly encourage all concerned citizens to attend.

Mr. Handeen proposed a resolution that would vet Republican candidates as to whether or not they are true Republicans who follow the "Republican philosophy," as he stated, not the Republican platform, as stated in The Press.

Mr. Handeen was asked numerous times to define what he meant by the "Republican philosophy" that he referred to over and over again in his resolution. He was even asked if it was the Republican Platform he was referring to and said nothing, looking very perplexed. His proposed resolution, which by definition is an expression of opinion, was to "hold an endorsement event in the 2014 Kootenai County Officer Election to urge candidates to abide by the party's endorsements."

Although I wholeheartedly agree that we as Republicans need to vet our candidates to make sure they uphold our conservative values, Mr. Handeen wants "to determine a candidate's willingness to promote the Republican philosophy" and that would hinge on whether or not we, the KCRCC, can endorse them or not. He never once referenced the "Republican Platform." This is because he is not a Republican. He is a Libertarian. He was in the last election, one of a handful of now elected precinctmen who held Ron Paul meetings at the Donut Shop in Hayden. In his proposed resolution he referred to a "vacuum that has been filled by special interest groups and the media, who often obfuscate a candidate's philosophy" ... again with the philosophy and isn't he a part of these "special interest groups?"

The facts are that Mr. Handeen is not a Republican. Why is he a Republican Central Committee precinctman and their appointed state committeeman? Out of the 70 Kootenai County elected precinctmen, only 43 ever bother to come to meetings. Out of the 43 who come, 30 are faithful to those who tell them how to vote, what to propose and how to treat the true Republicans. We true Republicans are made a mockery of, treated horribly, and are bullied as we leave these meetings.

All I stated to them were the facts, straight out of our Idaho Republican Platform, adopted June 23, 2012 in Twin Falls.

Article II Citizens Involvement in Government.

Sec 1. We encourage all citizens to educate themselves in constitutional government and to be full participants in the political process.

Sec 2. We seek to heighten the level of discourse by encouraging all officer holders, candidates and citizens to be civil, dignified, honest and forthright in their discussions, actions, statements and political processes. This includes the actions of special interest groups who provide support for or against any Idaho candidate.

Sec 3. We believe that Primary elections in the Idaho Republican Party should be open to all registered as Republicans prior to the primary election. To allow these who have no loyalty or allegiance to the Idaho Republican Party or its platform and Resolutions to select our candidates is simply not proper.

What Mr. Handeen proposes is that the KCRCC determines which candidates are true Republicans who follow "Republican philosophy," whatever that is. As a man who is not a True Republican, but rather a Libertarian, who is he to decide this? We the People need to stand up for our rights while we still have them. I encourage all of you to educate yourselves, get involved, and stop the madness.

Kellie Palm is a Hayden resident.