LA-06 - State GOP concerned about keeping seat

Nine candidates - four Republicans and five Democrats - have filed to run for the Louisiana congressional seat vacated by Republican Richard Baker.

The seat has been in GOP hands for thirty years, but is by no means certain to remain so.

State GOP chair Roger Villere says the main issue is that in the March 8 party primaries, Democrats are allowing all registered voters to participate, and only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP contest.

“It’s better to get a true picture of what Republicans want,” Villere said. “That’s how you get a better candidate.”

Of course, it could also have something to do with the fact that Republicans have completely tarnished their brand with a record of corruption, incompetence, and a demonstrated inabilty to govern.

And it is worth noting that Louisiana Republican primary voters can be rather rigid in their views. They are likely to nominate the candidate who is furthest to the right on abortion, gay rights and taxes - in other words, the one who promises to fight for constitutional amendments banning all three. The problem is that, especially in the current climate, such extremism doesn't play too well in a general election.

But apparently the Louisiana GOP still thinks ideological purity is the be-all and end-all of politics. Maybe after they all lose their day jobs, they can sit around at Starbucks and talk about it.