Acting outside the confines and rules of the Republican National Committee, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) announced its intentions to host a debate for the 6 announced candidates – Mike Duncan, Michael Steele, Saul Anuzis, Ken Blackwell, Katon Dawson, Chip Saltsman – vying for the Republican helm on January 5, 2008. Norquist invited all 168 committee members to the debate, though they will not be permitted to ask any direct questions of the candidates. The committee members’ notable exclusion from ATR’s debate seemed to be an issue of contention for North Dakota Republican Party Chairman Gary Emineth, who, much to the ire of grassroots party activists, told The Hill, “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what the public thinks; it matters what 168 of us think.”

In a legitimate, but wholly uncommon move, Emineth began circulating a petition early last week among national committee members calling for a special session of the body prior to the committee’s already-scheduled January meeting. The special meeting would have no purpose aside from a RNC Chairman debate.

Characterizing the selection of the party’s next Chairman as one of the “most important things [they will] do as the national committee,” Emineth began floating the uncommon proposal with the intention of granting committee members the opportunity to directly question candidates for RNC Chairman. Morton Blackwell, regarded as one of the Party’s premiere parliamentarians, said Emineth’s call, while extremely rare, was conducted in a legitimate manner. And given current RNC Chairman Mike Duncan’s intention to seek a second term at the helm of the committee, Emineth argues it was the only avenue to avoid the perception of impropriety were the RNC headquarters – which remains under Duncan’s control – to initiate the call.

Emineth’s call for the special session remained unanswered, that is, until tonight.

According to the rules adopted by the Republican National Committee:

“Upon written petition of sixteen (16) or more members of the Republican National Committee, representing no fewer than sixteen (16) states, filed jointly or severally with the chairman, requesting a meeting of the Republican National Committee, it shall be the duty of the chairman, within ten (10) days from receipt of said petition, to issue a call for a meeting of the Republican National Committee, to be held in a city to be designated by the chairman, the date of such called meeting to be not later than twenty (20) days or earlier than ten (10) days from the date of the call.”

Bound by the rules of the party — which he had a hand in crafting — RNC Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan sent an email to all national Committee men and women and state party Chairs and Executive Directors to issue a call for a special meeting of the 168 voting members Republican National Committee. The session, prompted first by Emineth’s petition and the support of 15 fellow committee members, will be held in Washington, D.C. on January 7^th, 2008 – the same week as ATR’s debate.

The extent to which Grover Norquist could have potentially affected this race just plummeted for two reasons: Committee members want to have their questions asked, and not necessarily those of “base” supporters (The national party apparatus sets strategy, not policy – a distinction many well-intentioned activists don’t understand). And lastly, intra-party elections are unique: voters are educated and candidates are known quantities. The debates held by ATR, the Conservative Steering Committee, and now Emineth, will now more than likely not affect the outcome of the election.

Read More →

Following Mike Duncan’s public statement, Ken Blackwell and Saul Anuzis have now broken their notable silence on “CD gate” — both statements coming over 24 hours after news of the story initially broke. Mirroring much of the public’s response, two of the three total candidates to offer comment have forcefully criticized Saltsman’s actions, yet he still refuses to apologize for the apparent gaffe.

When first cornered by The Hill’s Reid Wilson, Saltsman was forced to defend his gift as “good humored” political satire, but now we see the problem was not with his gift — and by proxy his judgment — but rather the media’s flawed interpretation.

Saltsman writes:

Liberal Democrats and their allies in the media didn’t utter a word about David Ehrenstein’s irresponsible column in the Los Angeles Times last March.  But now, of course, they’re shocked and appalled by its parody on the Rush Limbaugh Show.

I firmly believe that we must welcome all Americans into our party and that the road to Republican resurgence begins with unity, not division. But I know that our party leaders should stand up against the media’s double standards and refuse to pander to their desire for scandal.

Wow, apparently I was just overreacting. He believes we must welcome “all Americans,” even those ‘magic negroes’ into the party. That’s nice…

Saltsman’s response is typical post-gaffe political maneuvering: He knows he did wrong, but his ego — and campaign — can’t afford to admit it. You’ll note there was no degree of remorse in his statement, only the reactionary condemnation of media bias. Moreover, if Ehrenstein’s column was, as Saltsman claims, “irresponsible,” why then is Shanklin’s satire of the subject just good wholesome fun? Simple answer: It’s not.

Having spent the last year on the campaign trail, I’ll be the last person to argue the media is without bias, but the “victim card” doesn’t lend itself to Republican victories. Republicans cannot win elections by blackballing news outlets, crying foul, and crusading against “unfair” media portrayals.

The fact that Republicans lost their credibility with the American public on matters of ethics and corruption is no secret, but what still confounds the Party leadership is that we’ve yet to be miraculously forgiven for our many, many indiscretions.

In an email today to all 168 voting members of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, former Chairman of GOPAC and contender for the RNC Chairman, released his ethics package and proposed the creation of an “Ethical Review Committee.”  The committee, whose stated purpose is to create an ethics pseudo-contract to ensure Republican elected officials will abide by the “highest ethical standards,” will be staffed entirely by current RNC members.

Steele writes:

In addition to losing credibility as the reliable representatives of conservative principles, we Republicans are increasingly seen as challenged on issues of ethics and morality.

The conduct of our leaders should always be beyond reproach. As Party Chairman, I will stand up against those who abuse their public trust. I will assure the RNC leads by example. (Steele’s emphasis)

In a notable attempt to root out future unsavory Republicans – Duke Cunningham, Ted Stevens, Don Young – Steele proposed an embargo on all Party resources for incumbent elected officials who have been convicted on felony charges. In addition to the bar on resources, Steele’s plan calls for ending the RNC-dictated “preferred venders” program, a directive he alleges “diminishes our ethical standing, threatens our credibility with donors, injures the talented professionals who are doing good work, and harms our ability to win.”

To date, Steele is the only candidate to propose such an strict ethics agenda, however MIGOP Chairman Saul Anuzis released his 24-page tech-centric vision for the Party today. Given the relative silence from the remaining candidates, Steele’s proposal stands to position him as the reformer of the bunch — a position I’m sure he appreciates after the Blagojevich fall-out.

Read More →

Though no official announcement has been made, Chris Cilliza reports that the Sunshine State’s lone Republican US Senator, Mel Martinez, has
decided to not seek a second term in 2010.

According to sources close to Martinez – the former beleaguered General Chairman of the Republican National Committee who resigned amid the
comprehensive immigration debate – the retirement was prompted by a desire for “more free time and a less scheduled life.” Martinez’s
retirement is sure to start a new parlor game in Floridian politics, ensuring both a costly and competitive primary and general election.

Of the potential candidates:

State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, widely seen as Democrats’ strongest potential candidate, has
apparently decided that she would not run
but may well reconsider that decision given Martinez’s expected announcement today. Democratic Reps. Ron Kleinand Kendrick
Meek as well as state Sen. Dan Gelber are likely to consider the open seat race.

On the Republican side, there may well be a push to recruit former Gov. Jeb Bush into the contest although that seems like a long shot.
State Attorney General Bill McCollum will almost certainly be mentioned as will state Senate
President Jeff Atwater and former state House speaker Marco Rubio.

Cross-posted at Skepticians.com