Sheriff Fires Back At Republican Censure For Supporting Democrat

Why should a party be able to punish some of its members if they do not vote a certain way, along party lines?

From: Sheriffs displeased that Landrieu endorsement drawing criticism

A couple of Louisiana’s most popular sheriffs are unhappy that the state Republican Party is considering ways to formally censure officials who go against the party line in major elections.

Things are heating up in Louisiana where a Republican Sheriff is firing back at the censure he and others are being threatened with for not voting along party lines.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain feel they are the target of the criticism for their endorsements of Senator Mary Landrieu in the upcoming election over Republican candidate John Kennedy.

“When I became a Republican, I did not know that meant there was a blood oath to the Republican Party and that other people would decide for me who was best for the job,” said Normand Monday.

Roger Villere, the head of the State GOP organization said a formal censure would have to wait until after the election because there are no rules in the party’s bylaws for such a move, but he is clearly not pleased that such high profile GOP officials have supported Landrieu publicly.

Senator Mary Landrieu supports Barack Obama as President. The Republicans have ran lots of negative ads trying to make, not only her, but Barack Obama look bad. I not only watched her debate against Republican John Kennedy, I have seen many of the negative ads his campaign released. most focused on comparing her to Barack, and over and over "the most liberal voter in Senate" etc... Nothing to do with Mary, her views, nothing, just negativity.

Mary Landrieu has earned the support of these people, and it is proof to how the left and right can work together in times of crisis.

“When you have a person in office who has worked hard and earned your support, it’s kind of difficult to tell them no and blindly follow a party mandate,” said Strain. “I am a Republican. Everything I believe and do represents the Republican Party."

I don't think these Republicans should be censured for voting a certain way, because they actually support the candidate they are choosing.

Why should these people, not be free, to support whomever they choose? Seems this may be, not only a way to send a message to voters thinking about choosing Barack Obama over John McCain, but punish those that have publically supported those who favor Barack as well.