An Open Letter to Dorothy Moon and the Idaho GOP Leadership

Guest Editorial from Party Watch

Dear Dorothy Moon and Idaho GOP Leadership,

It is both disheartening and downright facepalm-worthy to see the Idaho GOP continue its baffling habit of censuring Republican legislators like Representative Lori McCann for the heinous “crime” of—gasp—doing her job: representing her constituents. Once again, a small but mighty faction of party leadership, seemingly armed with a dictionary of outdated conservatism and a magnifying glass for heresy, seeks to punish one of their own for that unforgivable act of thinking independently and governing responsibly. Scandalous.

Representative McCann, like Representative Stephanie Mickelsen before her, has displayed what it actually means to serve the people. Her voting record reflects the values and priorities of the folks who sent her to Boise—not the whims of a “choose-your-own-adventure” platform dreamed up by a small, insular group of party insiders who seem to think they’re auditioning for a remake of Mean Girls: Political Edition

Let’s Talk About That Platform

You claim the Idaho GOP platform is the ultimate guidebook for how Republicans should think, vote, and, presumably, even brush their teeth. But let’s be real: the platform isn’t some sacred manuscript etched in stone by Reagan himself.

Here’s how it actually works: roughly 600 delegates vote on the platform every two years. That’s fewer people than you’ll find at a high school football game—and a far cry from the over 600,000 registered Republicans in Idaho. Most of these delegates aren’t elected by the general public; they’re handpicked by local precinct committeemen in little-known party elections that your neighbor with the “Don’t Tread On Me” flag probably doesn’t even know about.

Let’s do some math (don’t worry, it’s the fun kind):

There are over 600,000 registered Republicans in Idaho. The Idaho Republican Party Convention is usually made up of around 600 people from across the state. Most of these folks aren’t elected, but handpicked by party leaders. These 600 decide the platform—but only if their dues are fully paid up.

Sound democratic? Sure, if you’re playing Monopoly.

It gets better. Before the 600 delegates even vote, changes must first get the stamp of approval from the platform committee of around 50 Republicans—all carefully curated by the party chair. So, for all practical purposes, the platform is approved by a simple majority of 50 people.

Here’s the math:

• 26 platform committee delegates out of 600,000 registered Idaho Republican voters = 1 in 25,000 Republicans or 0.00433%
  

• 301 GOP state convention delegates out of 600,000 registered Idaho Republican voters = 1 in 2,000 Republicans or 0.05017%

This tiny, hyper-motivated group writes the rules, defines the purity tests, and turns common-sense governance into a loyalty gauntlet. They don’t represent the Republican base—they represent the loudest, most ideological sliver of it. Using the platform as a weapon isn’t about values; it’s about control and their skewed view of "power'.

Who’s Violating the Platform?

The most ironic part? With a cursory glance at the IDGOP platform, the most glaring example is right there in Article I, Section 5, Subsection A:

“We encourage continued strong support for our state legislature, directed by Republicans for more than three decades, as well as our elected constitutional officers, and for the manner in which they work together to balance the budget and improve Idaho’s economy.”

So let’s review some of what the 2025 Legislature actually did:
1 Balanced the budget? Yes.
2 Cut income taxes? Yep.
3 Passed a small seller tax exemption? also yes.

They sure did!

By the way, these are all things that McCann and Mickelsen voted for.

And for what it’s worth, U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Idaho’s economy 4th in the nation.

Like my mom always said: "Be careful when you’re pointing fingers- there are three fingers pointing right back at you."

Maybe it’s time for some of these local party leaders to ask themselves whether they are the ones stepping outside the platform. Because back in Idaho, before the new GOP took over, “support” didn’t mean “censure.”

The New Idaho GOP: A Departure from Republican Values

The Idaho GOP, however, seems to have taken its own path. Instead of championing personal property rights, small government, and pro-business policies, the party—or some of its leaders—have been found to promote:

• Eliminating citizens’ right to vote for U.S. Senators (see 17th Amendment). Because who needs democracy when you can have…whatever this is?

• Censorship tribunals. Nothing screams “limited government” like a public shaming committee.

• Increased regulation of growth and development. Paging Ronald Reagan: We think Idaho stole your playbook and rewrote it in crayon.

• Abolishment of the Federal Reserve. - End the Fed? Then end the credibility of the dollar with it.

• A hostile attitude toward major businesses like Micron and Facebook, which provide actual jobs to actual Idahoans.

• Unwarranted hostility toward Governor Little, despite his conservative track record that would make Goldwater blush. (Barry Goldwater for you new "conservatives" out there.)

The Big Tent is Back - Even President Trump said so.

In 2020, President Donald Trump envisioned the path to GOP success as a big-tent movement—broad, inclusive, and grounded in economic opportunity, law and order, and patriotism. That vision brought record-breaking enthusiasm and pulled in new supporters from all walks of life.

As President Trump himself put it:

“We’re asking all Americans to join our incredible movement. We are a big tent and a big party with big, bold, beautiful ideas for the future.”

That vision didn’t fade—it delivered. In 2024, President Trump won a landslide re-election, securing 312 electoral votes and flipping every single swing state—including Nevada, a place Republicans hadn’t carried since flip phones were cutting-edge (2004).

And what aspect of Trump's victory was overwhelmingly praised and discussed by many pundits and periodicals? The return of The Big Tent.

Remember that? The Republican Party that welcomed debate, didn’t require a loyalty oath and a blood pact, and knew that unity didn’t mean uniformity?

Ronald Reagan, the original architect of the Big Tent, famously said:

“Within our tent, there will be many arguments and divisions over approach and method, and even those we choose to implement our philosophy. Seldom, if ever, will we raise a cheer signifying unanimous approval of the decisions reached. But if our philosophy is to prevail, we must at least pledge unified support of the ultimate decision. Unity does not require unanimity of thought.”

Translation: Republicans don’t have to agree on everything—but we do need to stop eating our own.

Reagan also reminded us:

“The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally—not a 20 percent traitor.”

It’s time the Idaho GOP leadership remembered that. Because right now, it feels like some in the party want to zip the tent shut, kick out anyone with an independent thought, and host a purity pageant instead.

That’s not leadership. That’s fear. And Idaho deserves better.

Sincerely,

GOP Party Watch
Dedicated to Transparency, Accountability, and Real Republican Values

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Disclaimer
This article is a news release from Party Watch. Gregory Graf and Political Potatoes are not involved or responsible for creating this well-researched and important content.

The following is intended to convey an opinion on newsworthy events of public concern regarding public figures and/or public officials in exercising their official duties. No implications or inferences—beyond those explicitly stated in the preceding— are intended to be conveyed or endorsed by the Author. Wherever available, hyperlinks have been provided to allow readers to directly access any underlying assertions of fact upon which this opinion is based.