State GOP may restrict primary to party members (CA)

California Republican Party leaders, in a move that could reshape state primary-election politics, are preparing a move to bar decline-to-state voters - now 20 percent of the electorate - from casting a GOP ballot in statewide and legislative primaries.

The proposed bylaw to the state Republican platform, which delegates will decide at the party convention next month in Indian Wells (Riverside County), has riled some business leaders and Republicans.

They say it could be disastrous for the party's future and could relegate Republicans in the state to "permanent minority" status by keeping independent voters from supporting Republicans in primary elections.

Flashreport.org publisher Jon Fleischman, the Southern California state party vice chair, said his proposal, which would take effect in 2010, would strengthen the GOP. It calls for extending a ban on independent voters in presidential primaries to all statewide elections, including the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races.

It "makes it clear that if you are a Republican, you're eligible to vote in the primary," he said. "We think we have great candidates - but it's not the role of someone who's not in the party to have a say in who that party puts forward."

But the plan is causing a stir among some business leaders and GOP insiders.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/22/BAOD19C08G.DTL&tsp=1

The base of the CA GOP is about as reactionary as they come. Knock yourselves off the playing field GOP. Works for me.

Parties should pick their own avatars. And if people are unsatisfied with what the parties bring to the table, then there should be more parties.

Although there was some tense moments in the general election, it was the primary that was the real election. And it was not easy for President Obama to win the presidency. And he earned the win.

This seems to be the pattern moving forward. With less and less support, many Republicans will try and run on no party tickets or even on Democratic tickets.

In the past heavy campaigning and grass roots movements for primaries were rare, this has to change as the new dynamic occurs. Going into 2010 and 2012, the primaries must be a crucial concern on the Democrat side.

By moving Independents into the Democratic primary, their will be an attempt to elect Democrats in the primaries that are actually Republicans. That is something that has to be watched and candidates that support all of American society needs to be supported.

Independents in the Democratic party, and even Republicans is not a bad thing, and actually helps against the far right that does so much damage. But going forward people must be as active in local primaries as they are in the general elections.

Studies have already shown that if an independent voter votes in one party's primary that they're extremely likely to vote for that party's candidate in the general election, even if the person who they voted for in the primary lost.

I must say though, I thought some GOPer in the state legislature recently pushed through jungle primaries a few months ago when California was having budget problems, I guess that didn't happen then based on this story.

But the party itself can't make those requirements if it involves using public funds to hold the elections. They would have to enact legislation for any rule to take effect and it would apply to any major party.

If they hold a convention paid for by the party then they could dictate their rules.