Next month the California Republican Party is considering a move that would reshape the state primary-election system for the party and declined-to-state voters.

State Republicans are considering a move to an ‘extremely closed primary’; only registered Republican voters would be allowed to cast a ballot inside of the state primary election.

The effort is to protect, and isolate, the party from the influence of the declined-to-state (DTS) voters of California; the fastest growing voting constituency – now nearly 20-percent of the vote each election cycle.

The proposed new by-law will be voted on by delegates to the party next month in Riverside County.

The concept has riled a few Republican politicians, numerous party leaders and even businessmen and woman who see this as a move of “extreme isolation”; forever positioning the GOP as an eternal minority party in California politics.

The question: “Why would the party make such a decision at a time like this?”

After speaking with a few delegates and party operatives, here are a few reasons why:

The millions who chose to not register as a Republican, (or Democrat for that matter), have a say as to who the party nominee is for the general election. As one party member put it, “It’s our party, shouldn’t Republicans determine who faces the Democrats in the general election, and not some individuals who have self-interest in both sides?’

Nationally, the Republican party does not allow DTS or Independents to vote in a Presidential Primary. The reasons are of the same intent here; Republican delegates determine the Presidential nominee – not independent voters. If the populous voters like the parties nominee they can vote for him, or her, in the General Election.

The move is also said to be centered on the belief that a party should determine its core values, issues and platform, and only those who come together and hold this common belief should be afforded the privilege to advance the nominee who best represents these party ideals.

Plus, political parties are defined by their candidates in this country. The party should be represented by the one candidate that best represents the majority of the parties platform – something that has taken a backseat in California politics over the past few years.

Many are beginning to believe that if you continually allow DTS voters to determine your candidate, you are allowing voters of a different ideology to pick your representative in the general election, and the name Republican at that point means nothing.

Others state facts: In 2008, of the 1.8 million DTS voters who voted, only 63,000 cast a ballot inside of the GOP Primary. The majority of them play with the Democrats, and those who do vote Republican might be attempting to tamper with the parties outcome. Hence the concern of ‘protecting’ the party from chicanery.

And there are numerous arguments against such a move.

A friend to Hogue News, and former CRP Spokesman Patrick Dorinson says, “They want to pull up the ladder to the tree house where they play. They’re treating the GOP like it’s a club where they all make the rules for everyone, and the signs say, ‘No girls allowed and no Latinos’.”

There is great concern that such a move would ‘further isolate’ the party into an all ”white, rich man’s club”, in a state where the demographics are changing, this is in essence drinking the purple kool-aid.

“This is their way of helping Steve Poizner, who is in real trouble…they think this is a way to stop Meg Whitman and Tom Campbell, both moderates in the party,” Dorinson charges.

The fear in a move of this ilk, is that the new by-law would turn interested DTS voters, Hispanics, Latinos and even discouraged Blue-Dog Democrats away from the party and future political support. In the end, death to the GOP by extreme isolation and narrow definition.

Another charge: many say the party doesn’t need closed primaries, but better candidates.

Members point to Senator John McCain; a moderate who made it to the nomination in 2008 for the Republican Party. Even though the primary was closed to DTS (Independent) voters, McCain still gained the party vote and won the nomination as a moderate candidate. Then again, he did pick the very conservative Governor Sarah Palin as his running-mate.

If you isolate your membership, and then isolate those who can vote for your nominee, does it increase your numbers down the road?

Supporters of the by-law say, yes…it will eventually strengthen the party, and in the end encourage Independents and DTS to register and join the party.

One common comment is, “What incentive do they have to join the party now?’

As one delegate told me, “Why should the DTS’ be allowed to enjoy the best of both world’s; why do they get to pick the nominee and not work toward the platform, issues and party structure in doing so?”  In the end this measure might remove the “Little Red Hen Scenario” – everybody wants to eat the cake come June, but nobody wants to work the batter year-round.