Is the Tent Big Enough?

Check out this interesting article on UtahPolicy.com "Are Political Moderates Welcome in the Utah Republican Party?" It features insightful commentary from four GOP perspectives. I thought the most thoughtful was from Thomas Wright, Chairman of the SLCO GOP.

Thomas notes Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment - "Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican." Good advice for any team, family, business, or any organization really. As a member of any team I think it's important to show a united front.

As I read the article I was reminded of my New Mexico days. I was a staffer on (former) Congresswoman Heather Wilson's reelection campaign a few years ago. Last year, she ran for US Senate when Pete Domenici announced his retirement (I did a graduate internship and was a staffer in his office as well - all back in the day). Heather represented Albuquerque which was 60% Democrat and she walked a delicate line as a conservative representing a left-leaning area.

Her Republican colleague in the southern part of the state was Representative Steve Pearce. Steve's district was much more conservative and he himself had a strongly conservative record. Well - to make a long story short - they both ran for Senate in a tough primary, beat each other up, Pearce narrowly wins in a Republican Primary then goes on to get totally trounced by Democrat Tom Udall (an inactive Mormon with Utah ties by the way) the liberal leaning Congressman from the northern part of the state. Both Heather's and Steve's former districts go Democrat.

So really - if the GOP were thinking strategically it would have been a better play for each of them to run again as incumbants in the House and both unite behind another strong GOP player -OR- to elect Wilson in the Primary where a moderate record would have played better to a largely Democrat state. Would Heather have won? You never know. With Obama on top of the ticket it was probably tough for any GOP to win there, but the odds would have been much improved with her on the ticket vs. Pearce. Fast forward to next year - Pearce is likely to run for his old seat and Wilson is rumored to run for Governor now that Bill Richardson is term-limited out.

In the end, disagreement and discussion are vital to the health of any organization but when we cannibalize our own it's shortsighted and harms the overall cause. I hope there is room for various positions in the party. With shifting demographics (see Salt Lake County) I hope it's more real than talk or we'll find ourselves in the minority soon enough.