Often political words and deeds can become subtly symbolic of more controversial matters, which is why politicians usually craft their comments with such care. On the other hand, sometimes the symbol can be about as subtle as a slap in the face.

The GOP's snub of Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger was of the slap variety, implying more than just personal pique at the Republican turned running mate with Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer. The snub may also say a lot about the size of the Republican Party's tent.

This week's state Republican convention has been characterized as a potential battleground between hard-line conservatives and those who think the party needs to widen its appeal by welcoming those with more moderate views. The refusal by GOP leaders to sell two convention dinner tickets to Bohlinger, who still considers himself a Republican, would seem to indicate which way the party is leaning.

The two most recent shocks to the Republican system in Montana - Sen. Conrad Burns' defeat last fall and the revolt by moderate Republicans during a deadlocked legislative session - each had to do with reactions to hard liners. Burns suffered as much from voter disgust with GOP leadership in Washington, D.C., as from his own missteps, and the legislative revolt wouldn't have happened had the House leadership been remotely interested in political compromise.

Now the party's snub of Bohlinger raises the question of whether Republicans are becoming overly inflexible. While it certainly is asking a lot of loyal party members to forgive the lieutenant governor's embrace of the "dark side," it is Bohlinger who is saying the things many Montanans want to hear. "We believe it's important that a bridge be built that will span the gaps between the parties," Bohlinger said of himself and Schweitzer. "We feel we are Montanans first and members of a political party second."

Those may be fighting words to diehard activists of either party, but "diehard activists" hardly describes the great political middle ground that decides who gets elected. And to that middle ground, this noisy clash of political symbols may signify quite a bit.