Democrats Hoping for Few Small Victories - Bob Bernick

Did you get a chance to read Bob Bernick's assessment of Utah politics and the hopes of Utah Democrats in this morning's Deseret News?

It is interesting how Utah County Democrats tout Mitt Romney as their model candidate for president even though he is a Republican. Yet today I read the National Democrats are launching a full scale attack on Mitt to derail his chances to be John McCain's running mate. Then in Bernick's article he says a McCain-Romney ticket would be death for Utah Democrats. Why the mixed signals and if Utah County Democrats like Mitt and his politics why are they not Republicans? (Click link for Davidson's Deseret News article "Utah Demo wants end to attacks on Romney.")
This issue has always been a slippery slope for Democrats. Utah County Democrats like their party affiliation but know the party’s platform and reputation does not resonate with Utah voters. So their strategy is to stay arms length from the party and its reputation while taking advantage of easy access into the political races (no convention and no primary) by running as a Democrat. Rather than work as a Republican candidate they want to be counterfeit Republicans. They want to act and look like Republicans but they don’t want to file as a Republican and run against another Republican in a primary election. Democrats cry out for "choice" and a strong two party system but to have “real choice” and a real two party system we need real Democrats running against real Republicans.
Rather than explaining their party’s liberal national platform, Democrats use terms like fiscal and social conservatives and they adopt a generic "Utah County platform"(unapproved by the national committee) that isn’t substantial enough to distinguish Democrat thought from Republican thought. The platform language simply mirrors values of Republicans. Take note, Utah County Democrats are skillful in avoiding anything in their campaigns that refer to the Democratic Party. Their billboards, signs and literature never mention Democratic Party affiliation. Why? If they don’t like the Democratic Party why don’t they file as Republicans where there is plenty of philosophical diversity?
The cry for a stronger two party system in Utah will never work if Democrats present themselves as counterfeit Republicans. Case in point, the Utah County platform doesn’t give voters a clear view of Democratic positions, it simply reiterates Republican values. Utah County Democrats want balancing voices in the legislature but their counterfeit campaigning techniques don’t give us any idea of what real Democrats stand for. As it is today, I see voters simply replacing one Republican voice with another.
Most people don’t realize when you sign on with a national party you are that party. If you join the Democratic Party you are a Democrat and cannot be a Republican regardless of how much you want to appear like one. It’s just like when you take on a bride you take on her family. Democrats join a party with members like Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, Hillary and Bill Clinton and John Edwards. Democrats can no more be Republicans than donkeys can be elephants! However, it will be interesting to see if the Democrats have Obama signs on their lawns.
This is how it works in the Utah Legislature. Elected Utah County Democrats will have to close ranks with other much more liberal Democrats to have a voice, a seat at the table and to get things done. Democrats need every vote they can scrape up to get anything passed. Utah County Democrats will find their counterparts more prone to following the national party agenda. The dilemma is can Utah County Democrats support the party’s agenda or must they defect weakening party vote. In a recent vote honoring the life and contribution of Gordon B. Hinckley some liberal Democrats walked out on the vote. I don’t think Utah County Democrats can support this kind of behavior so they will likely defect weakening their vote count on their legislative agenda.
This poses the questions: Why elect Utah County Democrats with Republican ideals? Why replace incumbent Republicans with seniority with freshman Democrats that walk a fine line with Democratic leadership because of their Republican values? It doesn't make sense. Utah County needs its legislative team to be strong, together and tenured to get things accomplished for Utah County.

P.S. Mr. Bernick talks about possible Utah Democrat wins but he doesn't mention possible Republican wins over Democrats. I think there are at least 3 seats held by Democrats up for grabs.