'We the people' matter more than 'We the party'

Guest Commentary:

I am proud that Montana Republicans nominated me to represent them at six previous National Presidential Conventions. While there, and irrespective of my personal choice, I was honor-bound to vote the preference of “We the people of Montana,” as expressed in the voting booth.

The last two Montana delegate selection processes I attended were very different. “We the party insiders” increasingly disrespected and disregarded who “We the people” nominated in the June primary. “We the party insiders” were almost successful in sending Ron Paul delegates to vote against Romney last election cycle, despite Romney easily winning the Montana primary.

This cycle, “We the party insiders” have become even more brazen by scheduling presidential delegate selection on May 14, way before “We the people of Montana” have had the opportunity to nominate a candidate on June 7. Moreover, the party bosses have established stricter controls limiting who gets to vote for delegates. This centralization of party power appears to be a not-so-transparent attempt to ensure that the vast majority of the delegates selected to attend the National Convention are loyal to the party bosses’ presidential choice, which has been a resounding “Not Trump.”

To be clear, “not Trump” support is not the issue here. This reeks of impropriety because it appears “We the party insiders” are gaming the system to ignore and/or suppress the voted will of “We the people.”

Could this ploy have worked?  Absolutely. As a six-time delegate, I can envision much skullduggery – from intentionally missing the first vote if it were for Trump, to insolently refusing to vote the preference of the Montana electorate.

In Montana of late, party insiders seem tireless in their efforts to wrest control from “We the people.” Consider their court efforts to close our open primaries, ignoring that open primaries came into existence via a citizen’s initiative.  Further, Republican legislators are increasingly censured by party hacks when they put loyalty to their constituents ahead of swearing fealty to “We the party’s” platform. Party insiders demand obedient minions. 

Party insiders fought against election transparency, party insiders encouraged primaries against independent “We the people” conservative candidates and party insiders turned a blind eye, and an open hand, to a vast array of outside interests who wished to purchase influence in Montana.

The unprecedented rise of party outsider Donald Trump is fueled by his refusal to be an obedient minion. Trump’s outsider status, confirmed by his ability to flourish in the face of the millions spent by “We the party” in relentless attacks against him, is his attraction to “We the people.”

Because of Trump’s electoral success, party insiders in places like Colorado, Arizona and now Montana feverishly schemed to reestablish their dominance via backroom deals such as holding the Montana presidential delegate selection process prior to the Montana people’s primary.

When all is said and done, I suspect “We the Montana people” are not going to appreciate having our preference ignored by “We the party insiders.”

Jesse O’Hara is a retired member of the Montana State Legislature