Let's play copy editor. Can you find the error in the following sentence? "Rep. Jim Matheson is a Republican."

Gotcha! It's a trick question. There is no error. At least not in my opinion, or in the opinion of my spell-checker, which sets off alarms every time "Matheson" and "Democrat" appear in the same sentence.

But Matheson, the fifth-term congressman from Utah's 2nd Congressional District, insists that he's a Democrat. And, technically, he's correct. The newspapers write "D-Utah" after his name, although an asterisk should be required. And his seating assignment on the House floor is on the Democratic side of the aisle, although, after his "no" vote on the health care bill this month, the Democratic penalty box would be more appropriate.

Matheson is what's known as a DINO -- Democrat In Name Only. Why do I say that? Because actions speak louder than words.

He was one of just three Democratic congressmen to vote against climate-change legislation in committee, and one of 44 who voted to kill the bill on the floor. He also voted against health care reform -- twice. When faced with a decision on a key Democratic initiative, Matheson seems to ask himself, "What would Orrin Hatch do?"

In his first four terms in office, Matheson voted with President Bush 41 percent of the time. He strayed from the party line 26 percent of the time. And in 2008, he was ranked the seventh most conservative Democrat in Congress by Congressional Quarterly .

Matheson, it would seem, is an exception to the rule of ducks. He walks like a Republican and talks like a Republican and often votes like a Republican, but, if you check his wallet, you'll find he's a card-carrying member of the Democratic Party, albeit the Republican wing.

Hey. Whatever works. This is ultra-red Utah, after all. If Congressman Matheson starts strictly adhering to the Democratic party line, he'll be citizen Matheson 14 months from now.

The state GOP, through redistricting, stacks the deck against Democrats. But, try as they might, they couldn't draw a district conservative enough to remove a moderate Matheson from the picture. Utah's sprawling 2nd District, more conservative than Glenn Beck's politics and even bigger than his ego, overwhelmingly supported a pair of mavericks last fall --- Republican John McCain, and Democrat Jim Matheson.

The gerrymandering, however, did assure that any Democrat elected in the 2nd District will be a Humpty-Dumpty Democrat just like Matheson, an eggshell walking on eggshells, always mindful of the folks back home and their moderate-to-conservative ways.

Matheson insists that he is genuine; that his beliefs and principles mimic those of a majority of his constituents, and that his votes reflect their wishes. The 63 percent share of the vote he received last November would seem to indicate that, at least on that last count, he is right.

His voting record will certainly resonate with centrists, and even some conservatives, when they go to the polls. With a Democrat like Jim, who needs a Republican?

Casey Jones is a member of the Tribune editorial board. E-mail him at cjones@sltrib.com.