[Hoot Gibson]

Political parties are private organizations. There is no law dictating how they select their nominees, nor should there be. I do not like the way the the GOP tries to rig the system in favor of moderates, but I do not dislike it enough to put forth the time and effort it would take for me to wield more power within the party than I have with my individual vote.

People who volunteer to stuff envelopes, make phone calls, knock on doors, work polls, and become regular donors to Republican candidates should have more influence on how the party is run. People who agree to run as Republican candidates at all levels of government deserve a bigger voice in the decisions that the GOP makes than I do.

Whoever does not like the way things are done within the Republican Party have two choices. They can withhold their support from Republican candidates or they can become party activists and put their money and sweat where their mouths are.

None of us are entitled to have any greater say in the nomination of the Republican candidate for president than what the Republican Party grants to us. The same goes for every other political party in this country. If you want to shape the way things are done in your party of choice in the future, then get busy or open your wallet. For me, I will vote in primaries when I am allowed to do so, and vote in general elections after each party decides on their nominees, in accordance with the rules that they set.