Dear Fellow RNC Member:
As many of you know, during the last few months, I have considered seeking the RNC Chairmanship. I came up to Washington this week to take the measure of the candidates, before making a final decision.
I must say this; we have some fine people running for Chairman, each of which has their strengths and weaknesses…don’t we all.
After hearing from the candidates, I have decided to support Michael Steele, and I do so with great excitement and optimism about the future of our Party and our ideals.
In my discussion with members, there is great agreement that now is the time for our party to begin anew. There is virtually no argument on this point, and very little sentiment from anyone arguing that this is a time to simply stay the course. GM should not “stay the course” and neither should we.
I am very bullish on our opportunity to get back in the winning column, and Michael is as well.
Here is why I am supporting and working for Michael:
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Commitment to Grassroots
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He doesn’t just talk about it; he has spent the better part of his life doing it.
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Proven fundraiser
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Michael doubled the budget at the MD Republican Party and he raised more than any other challenger in his US Senate race in 2006.
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Understanding and Respect for the role of Party
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As a former Party Chair and RNC member, and a former county chairman, he has a great appreciation for the role of the Party and a great desire to see the RNC lead with a bottom up strategy.
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Becoming the Party of Ideas
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Michael believes that while we must overhaul and modernize our tactics, it is crucial that the Republican Party once again becomes the party of ideas, taking our core principles and translating them into policies that speak to every American.
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Communicating the Message
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We know he is a dynamic and fearless communicator, we say him give stirring addresses at the last two conventions, and we see and hear him on TV and radio each week.
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Some have tried to say that we need more than just a communicator. Amen to that. Fortunately he is a lot more than just a gifted communicator.
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But we would be foolish to believe that it is anything less than crucial to have a gifted communicator leading our party and carrying our message.
Like every campaign, this one is chock full of misinformation and baseless attacks. And of course, the allegations and attacks are flying in all directions at every candidate. Are we really gullible enough to believe the silliness being thrown about? I think not.
With regard to Michael, some are whispering that he did a poor job at GOPAC, while others are alleging that he is not a conservative. He’s been called everything but…tall.
These allegations are absurd and borne of ignorance at best, and malice at worst.
As volunteer Chairman of GOPAC he revived an organization that was languishing, more than doubling their fundraising, training over 5,000 activists and candidates last year, and making contributions to party committees, candidates, and legislative committees in 31 states. End of story.
And Michael is not a conservative, except that he is pro-life (endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee), pro-gun (endorsed by the NRA), pro-traditional marriage, against tax increases, against the bailouts, and the list goes on. It appears that Michael’s sin is that he is willing to meet and talk to anyone, even those who disagree with us….to which I say – Amen and well done. During his tenure as Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party we reduced the voter registration gap by 37,000 voters.
In Florida we are not retreating, and I know that is the case in many other states as well. It’s time to turn this ship around, and I know that we can do it by working together.
I realize that no one will make their decision based on a letter from me or anyone else. I simply ask that you consider these arguments, and consider how great our future can be with Michael as Chairman and all of us working together.
Thanks for considering my thoughts.
Warmest regards,
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Chairman James A Greer
Republican Party of Florida
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Greer, Crist And Steele All Cut From Same Cloth
rcov092 Friday, January 9th at 1:25AM EST (link)All of them are Demlicans. Steele lost me when he threw Katrina out there in the debate as one of the reasons we are losing with Minorities. I wanted to puke.
The Federal Government is not capable of preventing Natural Disasters. It was the local authorities (in that case the completely incompetent Democrat Authroities) responsibility to evacuate those citizens, not the Federal Government. They resisted the effort to help in advance. If anything they should be arrested.
Crist appoints a liberal judge in lieu of a conservative one and once he gets passed over for VP, he goes squishy on his committment to the McCain cause.
These are not the people to lead us back.
“Not One Red Dime for the NRSC or NRCC till they stop trying to elect liberals”
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Great post...
david farrar Friday, January 9th at 8:08AM EST (link)…not necessarily for its endorsement of Michael Steel, but for its accurate description of what the GOP must do to win the next election.
“Now is the time for our party to begin anew. There is virtually no argument on this point, and very little sentiment from anyone arguing that this is a time to simply stay the course.”
The truth is, under any body’s leadership, it will be extremely difficult for our party to “begin anew.” One good thing about the McCain campaign debacle is that it forced the GOP base to finally realize its political interests, as articulated in the party’s political platform, is not the same political interests of the party’s corporate leadership. It is the corporate interest of the party, for the most part, who fund the party, and, as such, it is they who dictate the party’s real political agenda. Their political agenda is not particularly interested in lowering taxes, reducing government spending, or is especially concerned with protecting personal liberty. The corporate leadership of the party is concerned with obtaining power, period.
So my advice to all those who wish to “begin anew” is the very same advice “Deep Throat” gave to Woodward and Bernstein during the Watergate area…”always follow the money — always.” As long as the party relies on corporate funding and corporate support, regardless of who is elected as the new RNC Chair and Co-Chair, it will always — ALWAYS — follow the money. If we are serious about rebuilding the party, we have to change the way the party is presently being funded, all else will be simply an illusion created by the corporate leadership of the party to fool the base into supporting its political agenda instead of the party’s.
ex animo
davidfarrar