Republican supporters have complained for years about the inherent unfairness of Tennessee's open primary system, which allows Democrats to choose Republican nominees for state and local offices. Yet despite supermajorities for the past few terms and plenty of opportunities to respond to grassroots' concerns, the Republican leadership failed to act.
How ironic - and illuminating - would it be for bona fide Hamilton County Republican voters and supporters to realize that while the party's State Executive Committee insists on validating Republican candidates for public office, no such validation is available to protect Republican voters from Democrat manipulation and mischief.
The decision on Hamilton County's contested primary is now up to the Republican Party Primary Board in Nashville. Depending on its decision, Republican grassroots supporters will get a clear answer one way or another whether party loyalty is a one-way street.
Brendan Jennings