Idaho Values Alliance

Jim Fisher of the Lewiston Morning Tribune unwittingly confirmed the charges of social conservatives that open primaries encourage independents and Democrats to vote in Republican primaries, thus skewing results in a centrist direction.

Fisher ruminates on the possibility of former Rep. Bill Sali running in 2010 in what again could be a crowded GOP primary field. Sali has not made a decision with regard to 2010; his recent filing was necessary for technical reasons.
Of a closed primary, Fisher says, “If independents, Democrats and Republicans who do not want to go on record as party members are denied Republican ballots, a majority of those left voting might favor Sali no matter how many rivals he has.”

Fisher posits a veritable plethora of voters – independent, Democrats and Republicans who don’t anybody to know what they are – who likely would not vote in a closed Republican primary. If primaries are closed, all that will be left – horror of horrors! – will be social and fiscal conservatives. Can’t have them picking a Republican standard-bearer now, can we?

Republicans can be forgiven for saying, “Well, if you’re not willing to be publicly identified as a member of our party, maybe you shouldn’t be helping us pick our candidates.”

Democrats should – and in fact do – say the same thing. When the Democrats hold a presidential caucus, it is a decidedly closed affair. Republicans and independents need not apply. No one can or should blame them – it’s form of political insanity and suicide to do anything else.

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