This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In 1998, the Republicans in Congress impeached President Bill Clinton to enforce the laws of the nation.

Members of the Republican Party were right to do so. We live in a nation of laws. If we as a nation ignore our basic laws then this country becomes a country of chaos.

One of the most fundamental rights we have as a nation is the right to free and fair elections. Our republic would be in jeopardy if the day came that our citizens believed that the electoral process did not follow its rules.

This is why the decision of the Utah Republican Party to attempt to unbind our national delegates from Mitt Romney is very chilling.

The national party rules require states to have rules in place prior to their selecting of national delegates. Under Utah party bylaws passed in 1999 and ratified in 2007, Utah's delegates to the national convention must cast their votes for the candidate who received the highest number of votes in the presidential primary.

In February, Utah Republicans went to the polls and gave Mitt Romney more than 90 percent of their votes for the Republican Party presidential nomination. They did so with the belief that their votes would be counted.

The Republican and Democratic primaries were funded by Utah taxpayers and cost the state $850,000.

Prominent John McCain supporters attempted to change the party rules at the May Utah State Republican Convention. Delegates rightly rejected an effort to change party rules when they tabled a motion to unbind Utah delegates by an overwhelming margin.

The issue was not addressed at a regularly scheduled meeting and was not included in a call for a special committee meeting (that was canceled two days before it was to be held).

The issue was not addressed until the party chairman sent an e-mail to members of the central committee on a Thursday night at 7:40 stating that he was unilaterally unbinding Utah's delegates. He asked for the support of the body but put a time limit on responses by noon the following day. Nowhere do the Utah party rules give the party the right to conduct its business by e-mail.

Now a decision has been made to hold a special central committee meeting on Aug. 23 for the purpose of unbinding Utah's delegates.

It is unfortunate that the Utah Republican Party's constitution and bylaws make no provision for releasing our national delegates. The party should learn from its mistakes and ensure that such provisions are made in preparation for the 2012 presidential primary.

During a football game, there are times when the rules of the game are found to be inadequate. In these cases, the rules are changed to improve future contests. League officials do not pass rule changes and then apply them retroactively, as the Utah Republican leadership is attempting to do.

It is humorous to think that these 36 votes would derail McCain's chances in November.

When Gov. Jon Huntsman casts Utah's votes at the national convention, he could explain why Utah has to cast its votes for Romney. It would demonstrate to voters nationwide that Utah Republicans believe in following the rule of law. It would also be an excellent way to honor Romney for his service during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Some hope Romney will be a presidential candidate in the future. Giving him Utah's delegate votes could improve his chances by reminding national voters of his credentials.

Doing so would be a win/win/win for Utah Republicans, Mitt Romney and, ultimately, John McCain.

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* DON GUYMON is a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He served nine years on the state Republican Central Committee, as vice chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and as a member of the State Rules Committee.