This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Several recent letters and editorials demand that the Utah GOP use a primary system instead of caucuses to select candidates. They claim that under caucuses, right-wing extremists who don't represent the majority of Republican voters get nominated. Voters are stuck with whoever comes out of the conventions, instead of more mainstream candidates.
For example, it is said that had Sen. Bob Bennett not been kicked out of the race by the caucus system he would have won the general election.
Wait a minute! As I recall, in almost all races, you also have a Democratic candidate, and most of them look very mainstream and reasonable to me. In fact, moderate legislators from both parties share similar views and even work together on some issues.
First, many of the complainers are people who just cannot bring themselves to vote for anybody who doesn't have an R after his or her name, even if that person is a crackpot. Maybe they should look at all candidates and not just the person who survives the GOP caucus.
Second, did these people vote in the first place? The majority of Utahns do not vote. If they didn't vote, they have nothing to complain about.
Thomas Fritz
Sandy