Tag Archives: RNC

I read a Politico posting this afternoon suggesting that former Congressman J.C. Watts may jump in the race for RNC Chairman next month. An interesting proposition.

But let’s look at a few basic facts. Mr. Watts says he is being “encouraged” by supporters to run. Who are these supporters? They don’t seem to be current members of the RNC. In fact, the article points out that Matt Pinnell, the Chairman of the Oklahoma Party and one of the 168 who will vote for the next RNC Chairman is backing Priebus for reelection.

While a cursory look at the RNC Rules does allow for a non-member to run for Chair or Vice-Chair, in order to be nominated, one must have the support of at least the majority vote of RNC members in each of three states in order to have his or her names placed in nomination. So where does he go for those initial votes if his home state chairman is supporting Priebus? And even if he were to get nominated, where does he get the votes? Preibus already has 130 of the 168 votes locked up.

I am not saying the Mr. Watts wouldn’t be a good chairman. But there is no groundswell within the voting membership of the RNC to replace Priebus with Watts, or anyone else, for that matter.

My belief is that in six weeks, down in Charlotte, Reince will be nominated and reelected by acclamation. I just don’t see any other outcome. But stranger things have happened.

Last week in Forbes magazine, Reince Priebus, chair of the Republican National Committee, wrote that young voters deserve better. We’ll take that one giant leap forward: all Americans deserve better.

Chairman Priebus talks about our growing national debt and high unemployment. He makes a strong case, focusing on a clear message of jobs, pro-growth policies and a 2012 campaign that capitalizes on the technology and networks that reach younger voters.

What Priebus doesn’t say is conspicuous by its absence. The 2012 campaign is about the economy, creating jobs and rejecting Obama’s failed policies. Nowhere does the chairman mention the social issues that many polls show turn off moderates, independents and voters under 40, and for good reason. The GOP can win younger voters in 2012. We absolutely can take back the White House — but we won’t do it unless we stay focused on the issues that unite us as Republicans and as Americans.

Priebus’s actions show even greater promise than his words. In recent months, Priebus has invited the Log Cabin Republicans to participate in activities aimed at growing the party. In June, to the chagrin of the Family Research Council, Priebus named Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Clarke Cooper to its finance committee. Cooper is playing a critical role there in raising funds for the party’s efforts to elect Republicans to the White House and across the country.

As we are discovering each day, there are moderate and conservative Republicans all over the country who are coming to the realization that inclusion does win and increasingly agree with Britain’s Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron’s statement that, “I don’t support gay marriage in spite of being a conservative, I support gay marriage because I am a conservative.”

We’re lucky to have true pioneers in our own country like the “New York Four” — Jim Alesi, Mark Grisanti, Roy McDonald and Steve Saland — the four Republican state senators who voted for marriage equality, and Maryland state Sen. Allan Kittleman, who did the same in the Free State. In the upcoming battle in North Carolina, Rep. Renee Ellmers opposes the amendment to the North Carolina Constitution banning recognition of same-sex couples that will be on the ballot in May 2012.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has become the first Republican to co-sponsor the repeal of Defense of Marriage Act — a law signed by President Clinton, a fair weather friend if ever there was one. With Republicans who support inclusion, we get true friends: people who will do the right thing regardless of the vagaries of the latest polls.

Our true Republican friends are multiplying each year. This is due, in part, to Priebus. His vision for our party is one where the principles of equality for all are a given. The Rick Santorums of the party are going the way of the dinosaurs (when you try to fight Google bombs, you’re losing). Each day we are seeing an increase in those within the party who both offer us a seat at the table and defend us when we’re slandered.

While the gay left recites yesterday’s talking points, we will continue to be involved, stay active and work to change hearts and minds one voter at a time. Conservative gay activism will not so much defeat the left as transcend it.

The Log Cabin Republicans look forward to supporting candidates in 2012 and beyond who believe in the conservative principles of fiscal responsibility, a confident foreign policy and individual liberty — core values that unite us as a party and as Americans.

As many of your have undoubtedly seen or heard, The Daily Caller broke a story earlier this week about an Republican National Committee (RNC) monthly financial report that was filed with the Federal Elections Commission. In the story, it itemizes several entries made during the month of February.

This melodramatic cluster fuck has to be one for the books. The White House played politics with this one from day one, delaying and delaying the confirmation of Congressman John McHugh as Army Secretary. Then the 11 county chairman gathered around their tea leaves and selected a liberal State Senator

Republicans will say they had a weak candidate, which is true. They will say, at least the party leadership (RNC, NRCC) that they had to support Dede. She was the official Republican in the race. This is also true. What they won’t tell you is about all the money DC Repubs spent demonizing Hoffman for weeks.

Conservatives will say that had Dede dropped out earlier, they would have won. That being said, conservative grassroots/tea party goers are fired up. They will take this loss as a challenge. They will set their aim at their next targets, likely to be in the Florida, California, & Illinois Senates.

Democrats are giddy as little school girls right now. It’s the only thing they have to be happy about from last night. The Dems will talk about the “purge” of moderates from the GOP.

Bottom line: I would like to see the raw numbers. How many of the 6,976 votes did Scozzafava in early voting and absentee ballots?

NY-23 proves you can’t win without moderates and you can’t win by outside special interests. It also proves that it is good to have primaries. Were that the case here, the battle between Scozzafava and Hoffman would have been played out weeks ago. But because of the election laws in the state of New York, for a special election, everyone runs on the same ballot.

Democrat’s victory will be short lived. NY-23 is a solid Republican district (at least until redistricting in 2012). This seat will likely return to the GOP fold in next year’s mid-term elections.