Didier lost, so why must he sabatoge Rossi's run?

This editorial appears in the Aug. 30, 2010, Yakima Herald-Republic.

We're not quite sure how 12.5 percent of the vote renders someone a kingmaker, but it appears to be cause for self-coronation by defeated Republican Senate candidate Clint Didier.

Two days after the Aug. 17 primary vote that drew 40 percent of the electorate statewide, Didier called a news conference to demand that fellow Republican Dino Rossi, who along with incumbent Democratic Sen. Patty Murray advanced to the November general election, see things his way. Exactly.

Didier, a former pro football player who was cheered on by tea partiers and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, viewed himself as the one who best represented voter anger. Getting only 12.5 percent of the vote apparently made him angrier.

From Rossi, Didier wants an unequivocal stand against abortion, a pledge for no new taxes and a promise not to increase federal spending. Otherwise, no endorsement. "I don't think these are much of a reach for Dino Rossi," thundered Didier.

Lost on Didier is why 87.5 percent of those who bothered to vote did so for someone else.

In a state with a strong streak of libertarianism -- which tea partiers claim to share -- abortion has been a winning issue primarily for those who support a woman's right to it. The state's voters have a track record scrutinizing taxes and spending, but they also are pragmatists who understand government's role in providing for education, public safety and infrastructure. The last item includes our state's massive federally provided irrigation system, which allows Didier to make a living on his Franklin County farm.

Here's something else the 87.5 percent understand better than Didier: That Rossi is sufficiently conservative to carry the banner for the Republican Party. That he can appeal to independents and conservative Democrats. That he can lead his party to defeating a three-term Democrat in a Democratic-leaning state if only Republicans like Didier would follow or get out of the way.

Didier is right that Rossi, who lost the governorship by a mere 133 votes in 2004, needs Didier's votes. He's not right in putting Rossi in the position of losing moderate votes in order to appeal to Didier's sliver of the right.

The primary is past, and voters clearly stated whom they wanted see in the fall. Of all people, a former football star should see the need to be a team player.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are James E. Stickel, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.