Closed primaries help protect voters

This letter is in response to Democrat Senator Stennett's comments on closed Republican primaries in Idaho. There is an ole' saying, "It's the hit dog that yelps." We Republicans must certainly be doing something right, since the Democrats have come out so vocally against us on this issue.

Maybe I misunderstood the Senator's letter, but it seemed to me that he did not grasp the reasoning behind closed primaries. Let me state it: Closed primaries are the only way for Republican, Democrat, Green, or Libertarian parties to select candidates that truly represent their party and in turn truly represent the people in those parties. We as Republicans believe members of each political party should determine who is going to be representing them in the general election. We don't want Democrats or any other party deciding for us.

Democrat Senator Stennett felt that closed primaries would likely weed out his chance to vote for a "moderate" or "liberal" to represent the Republicans. My answer to the Senator on this point is, "You're right!" This is exactly the problem we are trying to fix.

It is ridiculous for any political party to allow members of opposing parties to select their candidates for office. Wal-Mart would never allow Target managers to stock its shelves and decide what products it was going to carry.

You may recall when Boise Weekly's Bill Cope (a life-long liberal Democrat) trumpeted his intention to vote in the GOP primary in 2006, in order to put the most liberal Republican candidate on the general election ballot. Said Cope regarding cross-over voting, "I've done it plenty of times. In fact, when it comes to primary elections, I've probably voted Republican more often than Democrat. And I know I'm not the only one. There is somewhat of a tradition among Idaho Democrats to go Republican in the primaries and it goes back many election cycles."

I believe that we Republicans have an outstanding platform. The principles clearly detailed in it are conservative, which is why we have chosen to be Republicans! A "moderate" or "liberal" Republican is a Republican in name only. Was Ronald Reagan an exceptional President because he was a Republican? Of course not! He was remarkable because he boldly stood for the platform upon which our party was established. We want voters to know when they vote for a Republican in Idaho they are voting for someone who actually believes this platform and will vote consistently with it. They are not voting for a Democrat or Libertarian pretending to be a Republican just to get elected. Closed primaries protect voters from this deception.

Once each party has selected their candidate in the primaries, we can all vote in the general election for whomever most accurately exemplifies our convictions. And yes, if our Democrat or Libertarian friends see the light, they are more than welcome at that time to cross over and vote Republican!!

If you haven't read the Republican Platform lately, I encourage you to do so. www.idgop.org

State Representative Curtis Bowers, District 10