Washblog

Republicans were trying to make a point with primary vote

By emmettoconnell
Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 12:55:42 PM PST
Section: Washington State Topic: Repubs

When the Washington State Republicans were going to use 51 percent of the primary vote to choose their delegates next year, it seemed like they were making a point. Turns out they really are. Goldy somehow got a hold of a script of a television ad the Republicans plan to air attacking Gov. Gregoire for the vote the Washington State Democratic Central Committee made to ignore the results of the public primary.

What the ad really says isn't that Gregoire and the Democrats did something wrong. Actually, Gregoire had very very little nothing to do with the vote of the state central committee (which I happen to disagree with). The ad shows that the Republicans' decision wasn't based on wanting to do the right thing by the voters, but to make a political point.

Their decision to go with 51 percent feels weird because 51 percent seems like such an artificial number. Its sort of like they were saying (in a infomercial voice):

"How much do you think we'll let you choose? 20 percent? NO!"

"33 percent? NO WAY! More than that!"

"50 percent?"

"The Washington State Republican Party will let voters choose FIFTY-ONE percent of the delegates coming from the State of Washington to the Republican National Convention!"

"That is more than half, and tons more than those nasty Democrats!" 

Its a strange decision to go forward with an ad right now, or at any point. It makes you look cool and calculating. Especially now that they're getting some good press for their decision:

In contrast, the state Republican Party's central committee last weekend decided to embrace the primary's results to allocate 50 percent of its delegates to the national GOP convention. The rest will be determined by caucuses.

The GOP is more inclusive than the Democrats.

They may have voted to be inclusive, but the point wasn't to be more inclusive, but to allow the Democratic Party to look less inclusive and then make sure by taking credit for it. 

< Brian Sullivan: Progressive Democrat for Snohomish County Council | SOS: Save Our Sounders (or their Timbers) >
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Republicans were trying to make a point with primary vote | 26 comments (26 topical)
Emmett, the GOV had NOTHING!
to do with the state central committee vote.

by Particle Man on Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 01:28:07 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

For better or worse
   We (the party) knew this was a PR train wreck when we went into it. I'll be disappointed if we don't have some pro-active responses in the can for attacks like this.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 02:14:27 PM PST

* 4 none 0 *

Feb 19th
Sam's press release

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 07:48:37 PM PST

* 12 none 0 *

D's walked right into that swinging door
Now Sam is happy, and Luke is happy, and we're stuck with it.

by RonK Seattle on Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 08:15:04 PM PST

* 13 none 0 *

It's only 51% of ELECTED delegates
You'll want to look carefully at what the WSRP is planning.

They are only committed to selecting 51% of the elected delegates through the statewide primary.

They retain the same number of unelected party delegates as always. And if most Republican voters in the state forgo the precinct caucuses and only vote in the primary, they will effectively have less representation in the final delegation than Democrats in the state.

by Mark Cooley on Tue Jun 12, 2007 at 11:46:23 AM PST

* 15 none 0 *

Richard Pope does not post here, but..
here is a recent post of his on HA that details what a sham the GOP deligate selection process is. The sit up does not translate to sound bite so Ron who posted above was right. We are stuck with the Sam and Luke show for now.

Richard Pope says:

The Washington GOP national convention delegate process is a fraud and a sham.

The Democratic caucuses guarantee delegates chosen by the presidential campaigns at every step of the process -- precinct caucuses, legislative caucuses, congressional district caucuses, and the state convention. If Barack Obama gets 25% of the people attending precinct caucuses in the 8th CD, then Obama gets 25% of the delegates (who are chosen by Obama supporters) at each stage of the process, including national convention delegates.

The Republican caucuses -- which are much more sparsely attended -- are winner-take-all at each stage of the process. People do not attend to formally express a presidential