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Contact: Tracey Schmitt 202-863-8614 WASHINGTON –RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman issued the following statement on Senator Chuck Schumer’s political attacks on Supreme Court nominee, Judge Samuel Alito.“Earlier this year, Senator Schumer showed us that he was willing to use Hurricane Katrina to raise campaign cash.  It was wrong to politicize a natural disaster and it's wrong to distort what should be a thoughtful and deliberate process to place an eminently qualified judge on the High Court.  This isn’t the first time that Senator Schumer has made ominous threats about a nomination to further his political and fundraising goals.  Senator Schumer needs...

Contact: Tracey Schmitt 202-863-8614WASHINGTON –RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman issued the following statement on President Bush’s decision to nominate Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.“It’s troubling that before President Bush even announced Judge Alito’s nomination, Democrat campaign chief Chuck Schumer attacked the nominee.  The Supreme Court selection process should be about American jurisprudence, not litmus tests for campaign fundraising. It is my hope that Democrat Senators fully consider Judge Alito’s qualifications and resist the calls for ideological litmus tests from Chuck Schumer and the far-left.“President Bush’s decision to nominate Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court is a...

The national Republican Party chairman on Tuesday defended the GOP's outreach to black voters, days after his Democratic counterpart questioned how he could make such an appeal in view of the Bush administration's tepid response to Hurricane Katrina. Ken Mehlman told the Waterbury chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People that the "party of Lincoln and the African-American people have an incredible history together." He dismissed criticism from Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, who questioned how Mehlman could appear before the group after the administration's much-criticized response to the hurricane's devastation. Hard hit were predominantly...

Contact: Hessy Fernandez 202-863-8614GOP En Español Promotes Republican Agenda With Hispanic Community Washington DC – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Ken Mehlman today unveiled the national committee’s new Spanish language Web site as part of a continued effort to communicate the President’s and Republican Party’s message to all Americans.  GOP en Español is another mechanism that encourages more Latinos to get involved, expands the party’s reach, and attracts new Hispanic faces and voices.  “Since becoming RNC Chairman in January, I have traveled across the country, speaking with Hispanic audiences,” said Chairman Mehlman.  “I have asked Hispanics to ‘give us a chance...

Contact: Tracey Schmitt 202-863-8614 WASHINGTON – The following is a letter sent from RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman to Mr. Brian Lunde and Mr. Mark Hearne of the American Center for Voting Rights in response to their report on voter fraud entitled: “Vote Fraud, Intimidation & Suppression In The 2004 Presidential Election.” August 9, 2005 Brian A. Lunde Mark F. Hearne American Center for Voting Rights Legislative Fund 1300 Eye St NW Washington, DC 20005 Dear Mr. Lunde and Mr. Hearne: Thank you for sending me a copy of your report “Vote Fraud, Intimidation & Suppression In The 2004 Presidential Election.”...

Waukee, Iowa KEN MEHLMAN WAS IN HEAVEN. And heaven for the Republican national chairman was Dallas County outside Des Moines. Mostly an exurb, it lies miles from downtown Des Moines and is dotted with new homes and housing developments still under construction. Locals brag it's the 10th-fastest growing county in America. It's also Bush country. President Bush won the county in 2000 but lost Iowa. But in 2004, he more than doubled his margin of victory in Dallas County and won Iowa.Mehlman, naturally, emphasizes fast-growing exurbs. "This is where you find the new conservatives and the new Republicans," Mehlman says....

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman told NAACP members Thursday the GOP was wrong for ignoring the black vote for decades and said he hoped the groups could restore their historic bond. "By the '70s and into the '80s and '90s, the Democrat Party solidified its support in the African-American community, and we Republicans did not effectively reach out," Mehlman told more than 500 NAACP members at their annual convention. "Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I come here as Republican chairman...

President Bush argued Thursday that he has built a government that expands opportunities for black Americans as he tried to win more Republican votes from one of the most reliably Democratic groups. Bush told the Indiana Black Expo that he believes in an America where all people, including blacks, have the chance to own homes and businesses and share in the country's prosperity. He also took credit for narrowing the gap in test scores between black and white elementary school students, according to test results released Thursday by his Education Department. "I see an America where every citizen owns a...

It was called "the southern strategy," started under Richard M. Nixon in 1968, and described Republican efforts to use race as a wedge issue -- on matters such as desegregation and busing -- to appeal to white southern voters. Ken Mehlman, the Republican National Committee chairman, this morning will tell the NAACP national convention in Milwaukee that it was "wrong." "By the '70s and into the '80s and '90s, the Democratic Party solidified its gains in the African American community, and we Republicans did not effectively reach out," Mehlman says in his prepared text. "Some Republicans gave up on winning...

WASHINGTON - President Bush is skipping this week's annual NAACP convention for the fifth straight year, but that isn't preventing the White House and Republican Party from waging a drive to woo African-American voters. The outreach effort, which began shortly after Bush's re-election, will be on display Thursday as the president addresses about 3,200 people at the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration luncheon in Indianapolis and Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman speaks at the NAACP convention in Milwaukee. In Indianapolis, Bush will tout his "ownership society" theme, noting gains that African-Americans have made in homeownership and small business on...

RNC Chief's Planned Speech to NAACP Called a 'Mistake' By Monisha Bansal CNSNews.com Correspondent July 13, 2005 (CNSNews.com) - The decision by Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, is a "mistake," according to a conservative black activist who added that the NAACP is sure to use whatever statements Mehlman makes against him. "It's a waste of time because the NAACP for the last 40 to 50 years has proven to be part of the elite, white, racist Democratic Party," said Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tracey Schmitt 202-863-8614 "It's disappointing that once again, so many Democrat leaders are taking their political cues from the far-left, Moveon wing of the party. The bottom line is Karl Rove was discouraging a reporter from writing a false story based on a false premise and the Democrats are engaging in blatant partisan political attacks." -RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman  Cooper’s Own Email Claims Rove Warned Of Potential Inaccuracies In Wilson Information:“[Time Reporter Matt] Cooper Wrote That Rove Offered Him A ‘Big Warning’ Not To ‘Get Too Far Out On Wilson.’ Rove Told Cooper That Wilson’s Trip Had...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tracey Schmitt 202-863-8614 WASHINGTON - RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman issued the following statement on the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor:“As the first woman ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor shattered the glass ceiling that existed in American jurisprudence. Over the past twenty-four years, her contributions to the nation's highest court will be remembered for her thoughtful, well-reasoned rulings on the difficult issues of the day. Her presence on the Court will never be replaced, but her seat must be filled and President Bush will work to put forth...

I also caught Ken Mehlman on Fox and Friends this morning commenting on Howard Dean's most recent outburst. Mehlman is so calm, collected, and above the fray it's almost ridiculous. Running the clip of Dean right before the mature, respectful response from Mehlman would be a great commercial for the RNC. Whether Democrats like it or not, Howard Dean is the DNC Chairman-- the face of the Democratic Party. Ken Mehlman, thank goodness, is quite a different face to put forward. I say run the comments of the two back-to-back in a TV spot. Nothing dirty; you wouldn't even have...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Press Office 202-863-8614 Washington, DC – RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman issued the following statement in response to the Democrats’ Ohio Election Report:“The report is pure political fiction. The undisputed facts in Ohio are: Democrat officials had to be stopped by the courts from misleading voters about the day of the election; a Democrat affiliated group paid a worker in crack cocaine to submit fraudulent voter forms; and Democrat allies attempted to disenfranchise Ohio voters by submitting registration cards for Mary Poppins, Dick Tracy and Michael Jordan. Republicans will continue to register and inspire new voters, make...

Twenty-five percent (25%) of Americans have a favorable opinion of Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic Party. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that 40% have an unfavorable view.The fact that 65% of Americans have an opinion is unusual for a Party Chairman. Just 25% have an opinion about Dean's Republican Ken Mehlman-- 9% favorable and 16% unfavorable. Among Democrats, 36% have a favorable opinion of Dean while 27% have an unfavorable view. Republicans, by a 57% to 16% margin, have an unfavorable view of Dean. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 22% have a favorable opinion of Dean while...

Why the media loves the disastrous Howard Dean and doesn't understand the greatness of Ken Mehlman.THERE ARE THREE MEDIA ANALYSTS who command wide readership and deserve their influence--Jay Rosen of NYU, who writes PressThink, Jeff Jarvis of BuzzMachine and now the New York Times, and Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post.Of the three, Kurtz commands the largest audience because he has managed the old media-new media divide admirably, writing for both audiences with humor and spark. But even the best stumble, and Kurtz did so on Tuesday in his Media Notes column, and in a very telling way. Wrote Kurtz...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Danny Diaz 202-863-8614Richmond, Virginia – RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman formally endorsed Jerry Kilgore for Governor of Virginia at a luncheon in Richmond this afternoon. Jerry Kilgore previously served as Virginia’s Attorney General after being elected in November 2001 with over 60% of the vote. Prior to his term as Attorney General, Kilgore served as Secretary of Public Safety for then-Governor, George Allen. “Jerry Kilgore is a proven leader with a clear and consistent record of serving the people of Virginia well,” Chairman Mehlman said. “There is no doubt in my mind that Jerry will be an...

Opportunity. That was the key word in remarks by Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee, who was in Harrisburg yesterday. He appeared at a fund-raising rally for City Councilman Otto Banks, who is seeking re-election. A longtime Democrat, Banks recently switched to the GOP. Mehlman said his visit here was part of an ongoing effort to support minority candidates across the country, and to recruit minorities into the Republican party. Those objectives can be accomplished through "education reform, [supporting] small-businesses, home-ownership initiatives," Mehlman said. He said the Republican agenda is "designed to help working Americans." Mehlman said the...

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tracey Schmitt 202-863-8614WASHINGTON -RNC Communications Director Brian Jones today issued the following statement on Sen. Harry Reid’s comment calling the President a “loser”: “Sen. Reid’s comments are a sad development but not surprising from the leader of a party devoid of optimism, ideas or solutions to the issues people care about most. The President will continue reaching across party lines to save Social Security, enact an energy policy, grow our economy and support our troops.”