This despicable, anti-conservative attitude is why I rarely donate to any political group. Rather, I contribute directly to those candidates (Diana Irey, for example) that most closely parallel my own political views.
Posted on 09/05/2006 7:27:31 AM PDT by ZGuy
Writing in Sunday's Washington Post, Marc Ambinder observed, “Both parties have well-financed internal agitators who yank tight the chains of ideological discipline -- think of MoveOn.Org on the left and the Club for Growth on the right ... The Republican base is fracturing around fiscal probity, immigration and cultural issues.”
He's right. And it seems the Republican Party committees are actually working around-the-clock to expedite the process.
It has been much noted that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has spent millions of dollars against conservative Steve Laffey in Rhode Island.
But now, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has also decided to intervene in a primary election. In Arizona, they are spending thousands of dollars to defeat conservative former State Representative Randy Graf.
According to his website, Graf has received the endorsements of Concerned Women PAC, the political action committee of Concerned Women for America, and Arizona Right to Life PAC.
If conservatives are upset by the NRSC's involvement in Rhode Island, they should be enraged by this. The NRSC can at least claim they are defending an incumbent (Sen. Lincoln Chafey). But the NRCC is meddling in an open primary.
Unless there is something damning about Graf that we don't know about, it’s hard to imagine that conservative donors will be happy with this move.
Which brings me to my real point …
Campaign finance reform, as well as technology, have slowly conspired to diminish the importance of political parties (and their committees). Based on recent events, this appears to be a good thing.
Of course, donors who are turned-off by having party money spent against conservatives in primaries, currently have the option of contributing to the Club for Growth, an organization that has (no doubt) benefited from this disturbing trend. In a sense, the Club functions like a committee for conservatives. Like campaign committees, the Club settles on a select number of races to concentrate its resources on.
One of the factors the Club takes into consideration (when deciding whether or not to support a campaign) is “winnability”; It is important to focus precious resources on candidates (and districts) that can be won. But the Club also (admits) to considering a candidate's political philosophy.
In short, donors know they can make a contribution to the Club, and the Club will take care of figuring out how best to spend their resources (to have the biggest impact on America).
But while the Club works hard to help fiscal conservatives, the conservative movement still lacks an effective organization to fund, train, and provide logistical support to social conservatives.
The Club spends real money on races they care about. But if most social conservative groups support you -- you get an endorsement (and maybe added to their prayer list). While endorsements are important (and prayers are always appreciated), they do not pay for yard signs, TV ads, or pizza for your volunteers.
Party committee's are still tremendously powerful -- partly because of the Republican "brand". But what if there were two or three conservative groups like the Club?
On the other hand, both party committees will soon be under new leadership. My guess is that the next Chairmen will restore the committee's to their former glory. So I'm hoping this is all a moot point ...
This is the Bush Republican party.Made safe for liberalism.
Like dad like son. IMHO
According to this article it sounds more like the legislative caucuses and committees. However, I don't understand the Republicans and Bush backing Specter and not Katheryn Harris. Specter could possibly have been defeated by a more conservative candidate and Harris is a solid conservative.
This despicable, anti-conservative attitude is why I rarely donate to any political group. Rather, I contribute directly to those candidates (Diana Irey, for example) that most closely parallel my own political views.
I would love 3 or 4 more such clubs to work on behalf of conservative interests. Yes, it's quite clear the establishment of the GOP is trying to simutaneously knock off conservatives, but yet threaten us by what will happen if we don't vote Rep.
To hell with them.
Do not fund the RNC, give individually to candidates or to clubs like CFG.
Do not accept the GOP endorsement in primaries, research the candidates yourself.
Exactly guys (and girls) it's THAT much +More imporatant for True Conservatives to become active in Republican primaries: If we do this then our party can be won back and we can finally complete the "Reagan Revolutions".
It's better than 1) Complaining about the situation which conservatives do very much often, 2) Sitting out an election which means that you dont' have a voice in that election at all, 2) Voting Democrat: NEED I SAY MORE, or 4) Voting 3rd party (Constitutionalist, Libertarian, Reform, Prohibition, Etc...): The Republican party can be won back, and RINO'S taken out by PRIMARY, then we Know we have the Right Man or Woman, plus it's (90% of the time) the best way to get our Conservative agenda turned in Legislation!! WE HAVE TO BECOME ACTIVE AND PRIMARY PEOPLE! ;)!!!
Now, also unprecedented, is the latest bizarre twist to this. To counter the NRCC's inappropriate interference on behalf of Steve Huffman, the DCCC (yes, the Democrats) have made a massive media buy and are running attack ads against Huffman.
While I am totally opposed to liberal RINO Huffman's election, I am opposed to the DCCC's interference in this local Republican open Primary Election. Let the people of District 8 decide whom they want to be their representative in Washington D.C. National level interests more concerned with retaining or gaining majority power should NOT be permitted to put their massive amounts of cash (the NRCC distributed over $45 million in 2004) and their agenda ahead of our absolute RIGHT to decide our own representative.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2006
"Today, we, four of the five Republican candidates for Congress in Arizona's Eighth District take a bold step to jointly declare our unified outrage at the highly unusual actions taken by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) to openly support one candidate, Steve Huffman, in this Republican primary.
On March 30, 2006, RNC Chairman Ken Mehiman visited Tucson to attend a local party fundraiser. During his visit, Mehlman held a private meeting with the five declared candidates for Congress or their representatives. Present at that meeting were Frank Antenori, Randy Graf, Mike Hellon, and Mike Jenkins. Steve Huffman sent a representative, his former treasurer, Bill Arnold. At that private meeting, Mehlman made it clear that the national Republican Party would stay out of the primary race, promising to help whomever the voters of the Eighth Congressional District chose as their candidate for Congress in the upcoming General Election. Those sentiments were echoed by NRCC officials during private meetings in Washington, D.C. with some candidates in this race. Sadly, the promises that were made have been broken.
Additionally, the funds expended by the NRCC are monies reserved to defeat Democrats in the fall, and are not used to work against other Republican candidates in the primary. That right is usually - and should always be - reserved for the voters. What's more, these funds are raised from hardworking Republicans across the country, folks who support Republican principles. These donors would be shocked to know that their contributions are being used to defeat credible Republican candidates here in Arizona. We call on the NRCC to immediately stop using Republican fundraising dollars to defeat fellow Republicans. This primary campaign should remain above the belt and outside the Beltway.
We want the people of Congressional District Eight to know that this seat is not for sale. We trust the voters to choose their Republican nominee - not Washington special interests."
Contact Information:
Frank Antenori for Congress
Matt Neely, (520) 419-0609
Randy Graf for Congress
R.T. Gregg, (520) 877-2984
Mike Hellon for Congress
George Gobble, (520) 319-8217
Mike Jenkins for Congress
Lauren Blevins, (520) 403-7973
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