Franco enters GOP chair race swinging (Real Conservative for Mass. GOP Chairmanship)

PolitickerMA. ^ | Jan. 2, 2009 | Jeremy P. Jacobs

[ProCivitas]

Michael Franco may have quietly entered the race for chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party a couple of weeks ago, but since then he has made a splash by criticizing Jennifer Nassour, the other candidate in the race.

"My opponent Jennifer and I are as different as any two Republicans can be," Franco, of East Longmeadow, recently told PolitickerMA.com in an interview. "I am a grassroots Republican. I'm a bottom up Republican. She appears to be more top down. She's going to get her endorsements from high-profile Republicans who have had decent individual successes like [state Sen.] Scott Brown, my endorsements will come from the grassroots. I get a lot of input each day from the grassroots."

Franco said the Republican Party in Massachusetts "has been steadily failing for years" as a result of "structural weakness and deficiencies that need to be addressed." Franco touted his experience as an officer in the Air Force, as well as his two candidacies for Governor's Council and for state representative in 2002 - all unsuccessful - as qualifying him to lead the party from the grassroots level.

"I'm a leader, a manager, an executive officer, formerly trained by the United States Air Force and a grassroots activist" he said.

Franco sought to paint Nassour as out of touch.

"I am a roll up your sleeves type of guy. She works at a higher level - she goes to the right parties and conventions it seems," he said. "I'm a trench warfare guy and I don't believe she is."

Unsurprisingly, Nassour took exception to that characterization. While she refused to explicitly criticize Franco, choosing instead to stay positive, she pointed out that rebuilding the party from the grassroots level is a basic tenet of her platform.

"I do want to take the party forwards using my strategic plan and in the first sentence I said I want to rebuild the party from the bottom up," she said. "We need to start with the grassroots."

Nassour's plan does, in fact, promote grassroots activism. As PolitickerMA.com reported earlier in December, her plan states: "The party must regain its outspoken voice and spread its message to the grassroots in order to reach all corners of the commonwealth... A traditional strength of the MassGOP [sic] has been articulating Republican values and policies while exposing the weaknesses of Democratic initiatives and actions."

Aside from that distinction, Franco and Nassour appear to be campaigning for the job in similar ways. Nassour said she continues to meet with as many town committee as she has to and plans to "follow through with [her] plan to build from the grassroots up." Franco, similarly, said he is mailing the Republican State Committee information about himself and his plan for the party. He also plans to attend as many Republican events across the state in January.

In particular, Franco said the GOP must first solidify its base.

"For the first two years," he said, "I plan on stabilizing the party and stopping the bleeding because we're continuing the fail. I'm that kind of leader, I'm a hands-on guy. I plan on traveling around the state."

Massachusetts Republicans, Franco said, tend to get excited and rally around one popular figure - like Mitt Romney or the Republican governors before him - then disappear when that pol is gone. Franco would like the GOP to work against that trend.

"We have to form committees," he said. "We have to organize and we have to organize not for any particular candidate but for the organization so it lives on afterwards."

Franco also appears to be peddling a more strict ideology for the party than Nassour. He said the party must stand for "freedom and liberty issues" such as limited government, lower taxes and protecting gun rights. And while not every Republican will share the same views, the party should support an anti-abortion-rights agenda and oppose same-sex marriage.

"I do also believe hat we should be the pro-family Republican party...the party should be pro-life and pro-traditional marriage," he said.

Jeremy P. Jacobs is a PolitickerMA.com Reporter and can be reached via email at jeremy.jacobs@politickerma.com.

[ProCivitas]

In particular, Franco said the GOP must first solidify its base... Franco also appears to be peddling a more strict ideology for the party than Nassour. He said the party must stand for "freedom and liberty issues" such as limited government, lower taxes and protecting gun rights. And while not every Republican will share the same views, the party should support an anti-abortion-rights agenda and oppose same-sex marriage.

"I do also believe hat we should be the pro-family Republican party...the party should be pro-life and pro-traditional marriage," he said.

[MSF BU]

The party seems to have it’s act together on the Cape, at least at the grass roots level. Beyond that I don’t have a clue what anybody does with dollars sent to the Mass GOP.

[SunkenCiv]

Govs, including Patrick, seek $1 trillion bailout
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Posted on 01/02/2009 4:05:38 PM PST by xtinct
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2157864/posts

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Posted on 01/02/2009 6:38:12 PM PST by rabscuttle385
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2157924/posts

[theDentist]

(Nassour) pointed out that rebuilding the party from the grassroots level is a basic tenet of her platform.

And look how successful they've been.....

Were I back in my native state, I'd throw in with Franco. I'd rather drown splashing to reach the surface of the river, than be chained to it's depths and tranquilly fading away while watching the waters pass by above.

[St. Louis Conservative]

This is where it starts, FRiends. The local grassroots.

[Sparky1776]

I always wonder why it is, with just five Republicans remaining in the state, that the GOP has never contacted me?

[ProCivitas]

Ping for active Massachusetts Freepers. Contact your 2 GOP State Committee members to support Franco for the Jan.27 State Committee vote. And do internet posting and radio call-ins where it will do the most good.

[DTogo]

The Mass. GOP should get behind the Cape Wind project (for energy independence’s sake, not bogus global warming hysteria). Drive the limousine liberals of Nantucket nuts - expose them for the hypocrites they are.

[ProCivitas]

Hi Sparky, re your: "I always wonder why it is, with just five Republicans remaining in the state, that the GOP has never contacted me?"

Common experience for Massachusetts conservatives. I and others have observed from time to time that re Massachusetts elections, if this were a prizefight we were witnessing it would seem likely that someone was 'taking a dive'. Familiar sentiment?

I don't think we've had a genuine Conservative heading up the State GOP since Ray Shamie.

Franco will be a welcome change, given the chance.

[Gene Eric]

>> This is where it starts, FRiends. The local grassroots.

Indeed

[ProCivitas]

"The Mass. GOP should get behind the Cape Wind project (for energy independence’s sake"

Good thought.

[fella]

I thought General Franco was still dead in Spain.

[Rome2000]

"I'm a leader, a manager, an executive officer, formerly trained by the United States Air Force and a grassroots activist"

Excellent.

Figure out a way to steal a NEUTRON BOMB and bombs away in MA and DC.

Preposterous goings on in the sheeples republik of taxachussets.

Can't you figure out its over?

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Whether he does become the next Massachusetts GOP Chair or not, too many people will go after Franco’s personal problems and political problems. I still hope that he wins and that he does succeed as the next Massachusetts GOP Chair. Massachusetts needs all of the help that it can seriously get from conservatives, because leftists have dominated Massachusetts for more than five decades while also demoralizing any serious conservative challenges throughout.

[ProCivitas]

Hi John, re your above remarks,

Franco hasn't had any 'personal problems' as you put it. He has dealt somewhat heroically with the all-too-common challenge of a divorce and unilateral move-away child custody situation by his ex-wife. His extraordinary response to that wide-spread problem was to become an excellent advocate and organizer for 'fairness in family law', an important part of the pro-family movement in Massachusetts.

That and his willingness to mount good advocacy campaigns for seats in heavily Demrat districts (State Representative and Governor's Council) are greatly to his credit.

For that reason he is feared and (you may notice)slandered by the Leftists and 'LogCabin'/pro-homosexual RINO's in the state. We should all be careful to whom we give credence.

[MovementConservative]

Mass. has a GOP? What percentage of the registered voters are identified with the Mass. GOP?

As for being pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, that's great. Problem is too many of these people stray too far from the principles of personal freedoms from the government. They expand the meaning of pro-life from fighting for the unborn to getting too involved in people's personal lives. If we learned one thing from the Schiavo matter, it's that people are scared when the government starts intervening in matters of the family.

[Dan Middleton]

A contest for chair of the Massachusetts GOP? Apologies to our MA FReepers, but I can't help but think of a commentary on a sic-fi convention costume contest from The Drew Carey Show: "Even the winners are losers." There's also that one about how arguing on the internet is like winning the special Olympics...

[napscoordinator]

Oh great another divorced Republican. Did wonders for McCain’s campaign. Can we get people who talk the talk and walk the walk. How can you be pro-family values and get divorced??? I don’t get that at all. What did his wife not make his dinner in time???? Being an officer his whole life, he was used to being taken care of by a staff. If his wife was not up to the job after retirement that could be the problem.

[9YearLurker]

|I probably would too, theDentist. However, there is a flaw in his platform: the pro-family positions are nonstarters for too many MA voters, it’s the small government, libertarian-leaning liberty position that gives the GOP a chance there.

[Liz]

Franco said the GOP must first solidify its base... He said the party must stand for "freedom and liberty issues" such as limited government, lower taxes and protecting gun rights. "I do also believe that we should be the pro-family Republican party...the party should be pro-life and pro-traditional marriage," he said.

Music to conservative ears.

Now to REALLY solidify the base, Repub leader MUST denounce the punkneos in no uncertain terms. We cannot have the punks anywhere near our party, nor do we want these stupid punk losers influencing our leaders.

RECAP As Dims takeover Capitol Hill and state legislatures, we can safely conclude the "powerhouse punkneo political strategy" is a rank loser.

The two-faced punks squatted in the Repub party and made a shambles of the Repub agenda............an agenda that put Repubs in power for a generation across the land.

The punks are the source of all our losses----they are obsessed with religious cleaning and kicking conservatives to the curb. The punks also foisted the amnesty atrocity on the nation.

The "punks diabolical "foot in each camp" strategy destroys the two-party system. The punks pursue their own interests.......to the detriment of our country. The calculating punkneos are a threat to our system of government.

It would come as no surprise to find out the abortion-worshipping, ACLU-fellating Madoff financed the punks on the sly.

[Liz]

Winner of the Best Election Night Performance Award in the category of:
"I Know Nothing About this Republican Disaster."

"Thank you very much. I am very honored."

" But I could not have done it without the help of all the punkeos--David Frum,
Michael Gerson, David Brooks, Richard Perle, and my Dearest Daddy."

"I especially want to thank punkneo Douglas Feith for faking documents on his
home computer so we punkneos could dupe the president."

"Without Doug we would not have been able to transfer trillions of US dollars
into the Mideast, into the pockets of war profiteers, which enabled Richard Perle
to startup an oil business in Iraq with his cut."

Kristol smirked: "Making Iraq safe for Perle's business interests with US tax dollars was truly a noble punkneo effort."

[bcsco]

I hope you forgot the /s tag. Otherwise I’d bury you for the arrogant idiocy you’re displaying...

[ProCivitas]

Got to reading the other candidate Jennifer Nassour's website (www.jennifernassour.com), and it suggests a 'vague squish' problem or worse.

No mention of her views on social/cultural issues, and that generally means that 1. a candidate isn't conservative, and 2. that they know their leftish position isn't popular so they're hiding it.

For Massachusetts political staff jobs she lists "finance director for the Grabauskas for Treasurer campaign" (noted homosexual nominal Republican) and "Massachusetts Governor's Office as director of personnel in 2001 and 2002."(That would be for briefly 'acting Governor' Jane Swift, squish leftish pseudo-Republican). Hmmmm.... a pattern emerges.

[Theodore R.]

The Republicans of MA have finally learned how to make Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., look better in decades of retrospect.

[gidget7]

Sounds REALLY good, ProCivitis..........dare we hope in MA?

[Andy'smom]

Franco sounds good but why is he critisizing Scott Brown? There’s a good chance he may be our next candidate for governor.

[MassachusettsGOP]

Until very recently, yes. In the last 10 years, the State Senate Seat, and 2 State Rep seats on the Cape have been turned to Democratic Hands.

[MassachusettsGOP]

I think Nassour has a better chance to make the party competeitive. Franco may say all the right things but he has no clue how to run a campaign. Check out the results from his unsuccessful runs at the State House and Governor’s Council. He’s just like Jeff Beatty, a good talker, with no game.

[ProCivitas]

Hi Andy'smom,

So far as I know Franco hasn't criticized Scott Brown, and is unlikely to as the two of them tend to agree in support of the Pro-Family, Anti-corruption issues.

The above article quotes Franco as follows:

"She's going to get her endorsements from high-profile Republicans who have had decent individual successes like [state Sen.] Scott Brown, my endorsements will come from the grassroots. I get a lot of input each day from the grassroots."

That's not even a criticism of her traditional approach to endorsement seeking. My guess is that Brown endorsed her before Franco entered the race, because he's more in sync with Franco's views.

[ProCivitas]

In fairness, Franco cheerfully went up against long odds in those races, and did commendably well, reflecting well on the Republican party in the process. Not all can say the same.

[ProCivitas]

Hi MassGOP:

Also, comparatively: Nassour doesn't appear to have ever run a campaign, or run for public office as a candidate. She's been appointed to some things, but that's a different approach, and I think less relevant than Franco's experience with campaigns and reform efforts.

So far as we know has Nassour ever been a leader for any public policy reforms? Doesn't turn up in a Google search.

If not, why not?

By these usual criteria, this shouldn't even be close.

[Theodore R.]

Is there a MA base to “solidify”? It seems that traditional Republicans there are about as weak as Republicans were in Louisiana in the 1960s. I wonder if the MA GOP has any serious desire to win. Probably most think it as impossible, like the unanimous reelections of Stalin.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Both Massachusetts Republicans and Massachusetts conservatives are such weak entities throughout the entire state and have been for more than five decades that I don’t seriously see how it really will matter who the next Massachusetts GOP Chair is. Getting any kind of serious and successful positive political inroads for both Republicans in Massachusetts and conservatives in Massachusetts has been mostly a failure so far, with the 1990 election being one example where Republicans did make some gains from within Massachusetts, thanks mostly to some federal scandals that were taking place at the time. Any kind of serious and successful political gains by both Republicans, from within Massachusetts, and conservatives, from within Massachusetts, could also work well anywhere else from within the U.S. and U.S. territories, but I have yet to actually see such a outcome really happen from within Massachusetts.

[MassachusettsGOP]

These are not good showings:

2002- 5th Hampden State Representative Race
Michael Kane (D) 7,673 (72.9%)
Michael Franco (R) 2,847 (27.1%)

2006- 8th Governor's Council District Race
Thomas Merrigan (D) 133,601 (58.6%)
Michael Franco (R) 48,993 (21.5%)
Michael Kogut (I) 45,544 (20.0%)

2008- 8th Governor's Council District Race
Thomas Merrigan (D) 215,907 (69.7%)
Michael Franco (R) 93,946 (30.3%)

[MassachusettsGOP]

Indeed, Ms. Nassour has never run for an elected office. I’m not sure what experience Mr. Franco brings to this matter by garnering 27%, 21% and 30% election returns in his attempts.

Other than these non-impressive feats, Mr. Franco organized the 5th Ward Republican City Commitee of Holyoke, Massachusetts to a size of 22 people from its previous unorganized state. The Ward failed to elect any Republicans, and Mr. Franco then moved to East Longmeadow. He has since been active with the Father’s Rights movement, which is commendable, and yet, as an issue, the Father’s Rights movement is not poised to get the Republicans re-elected, organized and fired up in this state. Nor has this activity aided the building of the GOP in anyway.

Frankly, Im not entirely thrilled about either candidate, but Mr. Franco seems like a horrible candidate for the position. He has no plan, no ideas, and no worthwhile experience. While Ms. Nassour has little experience herself, she has actually worked in a successful GOP apparatus in Nassau County, NY, and knows what it might look like. And most importantly, she knows and has a great plan on how to raise more money. The party is in HORRIBLE financial shape, and unlike Mr. Franco, she has a great chance at putting aside this problem and allowing the party to have the assets to move forward.

[MassachusettsGOP]

Scott Brown endorsed his opponent, Jennifer Nassour. That is likely why he has nothing positive to say about Scott Brown.

[MassachusettsGOP]

He was charged with Skipping Jury Duty (though in a political protest)

[Andy'smom]

That makes sense.

[Clintonfatigued]

“Franco touted his experience as an officer in the Air Force, as well as his two candidacies for Governor’s Council and for state representative in 2002 - all unsuccessful - as qualifying him”

Has this guy ever won an election?

[fieldmarshaldj]

No, but then since there’s almost no Republicans left in elective office in the state...

[Impy]

Yeah who has won anything? Rom and a handful of RINOs in the legislature (is there a single conservative?). maybe some local mayors of small towns.

Whoever is Chairman needs to be something, different than the nothingingness of past chairman. That tool Torkelsen “I won’t rest until I have Speaker (GOP House Leader).” How’d you plan on making him Speaker without RUNNING CANDIDATES IN A MAJORITY OF DISTRICTS? That’s step one, run people. Surely you could find a citizen in every district.

[trisham]

Thanks for the ping.

[joeu01]

Mike Franco for MassGOP Chair!

If you live in Massachusetts please contact your local Republican State Committee person and encourage them to vote for Mike Franco.

Find out what district you are in by going here:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

Enter your info and scroll down to ‘District Representives>Senate in Genral Court’ to see the name of your district.

Match your district name with this list
http://staging.gop.com/MAGOP/About/Default.aspx?SectionId=229
to find the name of your committee person.

If you have any difficulties in locating your committee person please send me an email.

[ProCivitas]

Hi Impy, re your: "in the [Massachusetts] legislature (is there a single conservative?)"

Both Sen. Scott Brown and Sen. Robert Hedlund are Conservatives (i.e. 'Pro-Family and Pro-Stewardship', as is Franco), therefore genuine Republicans and therefore worthy of whatever support we can arrange for them and their cause.

Hi MassGOP, re your: "That is likely why he has nothing positive to say about Scott Brown."

Franco has lots of positive things to say about Scott Brown and does with regularity. For example they've both been strong ,influential supporters of the Fathers' Rights/'Fairness in family Law' movement which won overwhelmingly (aprox. 80%) a statewide referendum for 'Shared Parenting'guidelines in custody cases in 2004.

That's Pro-Family, pro-fairness and an important indicator of what the GOP should emphasize if it wants to win moderate Dems and Independents.

'Fathers'Rights'/'Fairness in Family Law'/Pro-Family wins big time in Massachusetts once people know what your talking about.

Usually the people that oppose Franco are of one of three camps: either 'public payroll parasite's', 'pro-homosexual pseudo-republicans', or 'anti-male feminists'. All three groups(well-funded and organized) infest Beacon Hill currently, and seek to further infiltrate the Republican party to subvert any genuine opposition to the Leftist agenda.

Regarding any putative Republican candidate who requests your support (or any advocates in this forum and thread), always ask: "What's your position on Traditional Marriage standards, and why?" And check at least the Google record to verify their position. The squish/leftists will try to avoid the question.

Oh, and please check my tagline.

[Clintonfatigued]

It’s mentioned that Franco ran unsuccessfully for elective office in the past. Did he make a credible showing in those elections?

[ProCivitas]

Hi CF, re your: "Did he make a credible showing in those elections?

Credible (and creditable) by the standard of presenting a solid background of professional accomplishment and demonstrated civic dedication and activism, and making good arguments well in debates without saying dumb rookie stuff. Bright and fairly quotable. Considers and stands his ground on issues (basically 'Pro-Family,Pro-Stewardship, Anti-Corruption').

However, has chosen to run thus far against very 'connected' Demrats who had alot more resources and advantage than he did in pronouncedly Demrat registered districts both for State Rep. and Gov.Council. Ran better than nearly any other Republicans under same circumstances. In each race, he probably should have started earlier and raised more funds. Apparently sees value in running a good 'advocacy campaign' (as do I) to influence public discourse and recruit folks to a good ongoing cause even if winning a seat in a particular election is unlikely. He should probably shave the mustache or grow the full beard with it. Dresses well with plain Republican standard-issue Navy blazer, white button-down shirt and khakis.

[MassachusettsGOP]

See 34

[Impy]

Great it’s good not all the handful are RINOs. What is “pro-stewardship”? Anti-enviromentalwackoism?

[ProCivitas]

Hi Impy, re your:"What is “pro-stewardship”? Anti-enviromentalwackoism?"

Well, stewardship would be pro-environment/ecology and anti-wackoism, plus stewardship of public money/resources, i.e. 'fiscal responsibility'. Basically being demonstrably a 'good steward' of all with which one is entrusted.