Say, fellows at the Conservative Steering Committee (a group of RNC members) . . . if you’re going to hold a vote on which RNC candidates you deem sufficiently conservative to lead the party, shouldn’t that vote be by secret ballot?

Currently, the votes will be cast via e-mail to RNC Vice Chairman James Bopp Jr., who leads the Conservative Steering Committee.

If RNC members don’t have the right to a secret ballot on this choice, doesn’t it run the risk of contradicting statements like this?

“The secret ballot election is a cornerstone of our American democracy.”

– House Minority Leader John Boehner

“We went to the secret ballot in the early 1800s in this country for a darn good reason: If somebody’s looking over your shoulder, your ballot doesn’t mean much.”

– Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

“It’s fundamental to democracy, the right to a secret ballot.”

– Sen. John McCain

“I don’t have to tell anybody who I vote for. Nobody does. And that’s really cool about America, also.”

– Gov. Sarah Palin