Are Political Moderates Welcome in the Utah Republican Party?

With the resignation of Gov. Jon Huntsman, the Republican Party has lost its biggest moderate voice. Will anyone replace him? And without Huntsman, will moderates feel welcome in the party?

UtahPolicy.com invited both Republican and Democratic leaders to comment on whether moderates are welcome in the Utah GOP. Republican leaders, including some strong conservatives, say moderates are definitely welcome. But some of them acknowledge that the party has a problem because some moderates do not always feel welcome. No Democratic leaders responded to the invitation to comment.

It is unknown who will replace Huntsman as the leading moderate in the party, although it could be incoming Lt. Gov. Greg Bell. Bell was viewed as a moderate in the Legislature, but time will tell whether he maintains his moderate image as lieutenant governor.

Presented here are the views of SL County GOP Chair Thomas Wright, state party Vice-Chair Morgan Philpot, former state Vice-Chair Todd Weiler, and State Rep. Carl Wimmer.

Thomas Wright: During Ronald Reagan's 1966 campaign for Governor of California, Republicans established the Eleventh Commandment: "Thou shall not speak ill of any fellow Republican." 

The Eleventh Commandment was an attempt to avoid a repeat of the split in the Republican Party that occurred in the Presidential election of 1964 when moderate Republicans labeled Barry Goldwater supporters "extremists" for their "ultra conservative" positions.  The result of the split was a Goldwater loss to the Democrats. 

The result of keeping the Eleventh Commandment was Governor Reagan and later President Reagan.  The Eleventh Commandment was a reminder to Republicans that electing the Republican regardless of where they "fall on the scale" is better than electing the Democrat who is always further left than the moderate Republican.  For example, electing a Republican who shares 60% of your views is better than electing a Democrat who shares only 30% of your views.

Salt Lake County has lessons of its own to learn when it comes to violations of the Eleventh Commandment.  Almost 10 years ago, Republican bickering over the race for the 2^nd Congressional District helped elect a Democrat by the slimmest of margins.  In addition to having lost that seat for the last ten years, the popularity of this Democrat among voters has helped sweep Republicans from almost every seat in the legislature and County Council on the east side of Salt Lake County due to his "up ticket" popularity.

Fast forward to 2008.  Two effective hard-working Republicans for a legislative seat in Salt Lake County get into a heated primary where violations of the Eleventh Commandment occur.  Again, the serial violations of the Eleventh Commandment elect a Democrat to a seat that should be held by Republicans.  While it wasn't the only factor, failure to observe the Eleventh Commandment undoubtedly played a role in these and other losses. 

Too frequently, Republicans apply a litmus test of whether a Republican is a "true" Republican and in the process elect a Democrat that represents their views far less than the Republican who failed their test.  Republicans in Salt Lake County now hold only 10 of 30 legislative seats, 4 of the 12 Senate seats and 9 of the 18 possible county seats, including only 4 of 9 County Council seats.  

Our status as a minority party in Salt Lake County and the 20-year trend we have of losing seats should serve as a wakeup call, strongly suggesting that Republicans should give teamwork and inclusion a chance.  Yet, I have heard in Salt Lake County some Republicans say that it is better to elect a Democrat than a candidate they deem to be a RINO (Republican in Name Only) simply because they don't agree with that candidate on one issue they find important.

Republicans should welcome more moderates and engage them in a vigorous debate about various social issues.  But at the end of the discussion, all Republicans should support the platform and focus on making sure social policies are decided in a legislative process, not by appointed, unelected judges. 

Then Republicans can table their differences and put their energy into fighting for that principle instead of into purging Republicans we disagree with during the debate.

Different stances will be taken by different Republicans, but our common beliefs can create a coalition for the principles of freedom and smaller, more accountable government that we all hold so dear.

Morgan Philpot: Absolutely, political moderates are welcome in the Utah Republican Party.  

The 2008 rules of the Republican Party resolve "...That the Republican Party is the party of the open door. Ours is the party of liberty, the party of equality, of opportunity for all, and favoritism for none. It is the intent and purpose of these rules to encourage and allow the broadest possible participation of all voters in Republican Party activities at all levels and to assure that the Republican Party is open and accessible to all Americans." The Rules of the Republican Party (National Convention, 2008).

Additionally, the Utah Republican Party Platform invites "all citizens to join us in working together for a better Utah."

The big-tent philosophy is perhaps a good analogy wherein people with a variety of political viewpoints and ideologies unite within the Republican Party to advance a core of principles and ideologies.  That basic core in the Utah Republican Party is found in the Utah Republican Party Platform.

The question why some political moderates may not feel welcome in the Utah Republican Party is open to an innumerable number of guesses.  I would say that the most likely answer is that the Party itself or perhaps certain people within the party do not reflect or share the views and opinions of those who feel unwelcome. 

My recommendation to everyone, whether you feel welcome or not, is to stand firm on what you believe and stand fast in the liberty wherewith ye have been made free.

Todd Weiler: There is a holier-than-thou attitude within some circles of the party, usually elements the extreme right.  They perceive themselves as "worthy" Republicans and anyone not as conservative as them as "unworthy".  It is an entirely unhealthy attitude and does a lot to harm the party.  Fortunately, it consists of a fairly small percentage of the Utah Republican Party.

Carl Wimmer: Of course political moderates are welcome in the party.  Governor Huntsman was moderate on a few issues, and he was an effective, popular leader.

Many times, especially in Salt Lake County, we are lucky just to have a Republican in the seat.  Some districts are so evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, that a more conservative person could not be elected.  We should be proud to hold as many seats as we do, conservative or moderate.

It is well established that there have been some Democrats and liberal leaning people, who have switched to Republican in order to help move our party further to the left.

In addition, there are those Republicans who side with the Democrats more than they do their own party.  This is rightfully frowned upon, and has caused some discontent. 

Those who join our party are always welcome, if they want to move the party forward.  It is those who have switched for the wrong reasons that hurt everyone else.  The Republican platform should be the only "litmus" test. If you support it and are willing to work hard to move those ideals forward, I'm certain you will fit in.