MINOT — One of the worst things that can happen to an issue is for it to become a partisan litmus test. Something where your position on the issue defines your team in politics.

Look at gun rights, for instance. The National Rifle Association was a far more effective organization back when it was simply a proponent of gun rights, willing to support any candidate who voted their way on the issues. When the NRA morphed into a de facto arm of the Republican Party, whose goal wasn't protecting gun rights so much as defeating Democrats, it was greatly diminished.

Abortion is a similar issue. A couple of cycles ago, the North Dakota Democratic-NPL threw their own U.S. House candidate, Mark Haugen, under the bus in favor of Cara Mund, a former Miss America who was running as an independent at

See Full Page