Mutterings about Mitt Romney’s Mormonism being unacceptable to evangelical Christians or Mike Huckabee’s convictions being a tough sell to the nonreligious lend valuable insight into the widespread misconceptions among the voting public. Whisper campaigns about Barack Obama somehow being a secret Muslim show how anxious so many people are to dangerously intertwine spiritual concepts with their governmental philosophy.
The robust separation of Church and State at the federal level that we enjoy as Americans was never intended as an attack on people of faith; rather, it was designed to guard against the sort of tribalism that ensues when this wall is not present. While religion could be established at the state level, it was understood for centuries that the federal government had no role in this sphere whatsoever. This is a concept that conservative Christians who view government meddling with suspicion should not scoff at, but instead readily embrace as a guarantor of social cohesion.
After all, why should government be involved in religious matters in the first place? If the only reason for government’s existence is to protect citizen’s life, liberty, and property, regardless of race or religion, why should they have any say on religion? Enforcing contracts and protecting the states from invasion are things that can be embraced by Christians, Jews, and agnostics alike. The few functions that Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution grants to Congress are religiously neutral; this stems from its authors admiration for the ideas of localism.
Settling matters at the local level has long been a hallmark of America, a principle intended to apply as much to religion as the economy. Various religious groups will soon be pitted against one another in circular infighting if it is accepted that the central government is the arbiter of religious matters. Christianity would be reduced to just another special interest group grappling for scraps at Congress’s altar; the simple solution is to simply leave the federal government out of this matter completely.
This is precisely what our Founders sought to avoid by leaving issues of religion out of Washington’s reach. Controversies ranging from same sex marriage to drug laws need to be settled at the level closest to the people as possible, whether by state government or various localities. Letting those in Washington have any say on religious issues or matters of personal conviction is a concept that should be abhorrent to anyone who holds that state’s rights and political decentralization are an essential component of our republic.
Of all world views, conservatives should be the least likely to assault Church/Stat separation. A commitment to limited government and greater personal freedoms requires that issues like these not be decided by the sort of coercive means found in Washington. This tenet was meant to be a safeguard for people of faith, not a bludgeon used against them. It allows individuals to live peaceably in communities where their worship experience is free from social engineering by some distant bureaucrat. Liberals and conservatives alike need to pause and reconsider their penchant for looking to Washington to solve all of society’s ills; fidelity to the Constitution would require nothing less.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
A group of roughly 25 Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia supporters — including Chairman George Primbs, Vice Chair Steven Latimer, Treasurer Cliff Dunn, members of the Board of Directors, and members of the organization – met early in the morning on Monday, January 17 to participate in the Virginia Tea Party Lobby Day. This was the first coordinated group trip to Richmond.
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Central Virginia played host to the northern Virginia contingent as well as several activists from Charlottesville, Newport News, and Virginia Beach. The day began with a RLC business meeting over coffee and breakfast. RLC’ers brought various literature and brochures to the event to distribute, and the Central Virginia RLC paid three folks to hand out our literature to everyone in attendance at the various events of the day. Chairman George Primbs made “I am the RLC” stickers that everyone ended up sporting.
The Board nominated Shelby McCurnin and Rob Kenyon to alternate positions on the Board of Directors. The Board also chose to endorse Republican Delegate Harvey Morgan’s bill to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana possession in the state of Virginia, HB 1443. After the business meeting, the RLC took a group photo (Note: other RLC members were not present at our initial gathering, but met up with us later in the day):
Then RLC members met up at the Capitol to meet with legislators. RLC Board member Rick Sincere met with Senator Creigh Deeds, a Democrat, to discuss non-partisan redistricting in the state. A small group of core RLC members met with Senator Mark Obenshain (R) to discuss his constitutional amendment to protect private property rights. Rick Sincere, who also runs his own blog, was able to get the Senator on audio discussing his legislation. The same group of RLC members had an excellent meeting with a new delegate, retired air force Colonel Rich Anderson (R), who represents a Democratic area west of Woodbridge. Delegate Anderson expressed that he may attend the RLC National Convention and enjoyed hearing from RLC members on the need to end government growth and, in particular, our support for HB 1443 to decriminalize marijuana. Each meeting was fruitful.
RLC members then went to a gun rights rally outside of the legislative office building. After a break for lunch at the historic Tobacco Lounge, RLC members caught the tail end of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s speech — which an estimated 200 people attended. Cuccinelli talked about his lawsuits related to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Obamacare bill.
After the speech, RLC members went to testify and express support to the Criminal Justice Committee of the House of Delegates on HB 1443, Delegate Morgan’s bill to decriminalize marijuana. RLC’ers went with the intent of swaying a single Republican member of the Committee to consider allowing the bill to be considered in the General Assembly. RLC member Rick Sincere testified in support of the bill, as did a large crowd from NORML and LEAP. Unfortunately, the bill was killed in Committee by a Democrat-Republican coalition of legislators.
Ultimately, this was one of the most productive meetings of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia. In addition to participating in the lobby process and showing unity at a Tea Party event/rally, the RLC also was able to engage a wide variety of allies on the organization’s mission as well as invite them to attend the 2011 Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention in Arlington, Va. on Feb. 12. Thanks to the RLCVA members who came out to join us. To become active in the Virginia RLC, please e-mail us.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida has traditionally been one of the largest and most active state affiliates of the RLC. The chapter held its biennial Convention over the weekend, which featured State Senate President Mike Haridopolos (pictured below), who also spoke to RLC members at the 2006 National Convention in Orlando. Haridopolos recently announced his intent to run against Senator Bill Nelson for US Senate in 2012.
Some members were skeptical about Haridopolos, who has pledged his efforts to pass a Taxpayer Bill of Rights in Florida in 2011. Ultimately it was an honor to have Senator Haridopolos speak with our members and we appreciate his time and consideration.
The Florida RLC pledged to make passing a TABOR bill its number one priority in the coming two years. The Convention also elected the following Officers to lead the chapter forward:
Matt Nye, Chair John Stevens, Vice Chair Chevon Baccus, Secretary Larry Roberts, Treasurer
Thanks to Philip Blumel and Matt Nye for their efforts in putting the Convention together — and to all those who attended.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
Patriots protest! Silence is shameful. Citizens! The country is in crisis and the Congress is culpable. Ramp up the Rhetoric!
The recent shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the killing of District Court Judge John Roll in Arizona likely had nothing to do with political rhetoric. It was, as is so often is the case, the culmination of the long downward descent of a disturbed young man. Why then are so many politicians saying that we need to be careful of what we say?
The reason is because what we are saying is true. When you pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands you might as well be talking about the lost city of Atlantis. Both have long since ceased to exist. The United States stopped operating as a constitutional republic decades ago. The Federal Government believes the States and citizens must bow unconditionally to its will. It would take a major political and economic upheaval to restore America to its former form of government.
The recent reading of the Constitution on the floor of the House of Representatives was nothing more than window dressing as the newly elected liberty minded Republicans will soon discover. They are not a majority and will have to take a back seat to the will of the majority in the Congress still controlled by power brokers and the legislators who are willing to grow rich at the expense of the American People. Most members of Congress, Democrat and Republican are in continual violation of their oath to support and defend the Constitution. Their individual morals go downhill from there. They should be punished for this at the ballot box, and brought to trial by jury.
There is a self-righteous elite in this country and across the globe who think that we are incompetent.
• They believe that we are not responsible enough to own basic weapons for our own defense, because they fear that those arms may someday be used against them.
• They believe that we are not responsible enough to decide how our children should be educated because they are afraid that what we would teach them would contradict their worldview.
• They believe that we are not responsible enough to spend the money that we earn wisely and want to take it from us so that they can spend it on what they think is important. Not only that but they have stolen and mismanaged our money to the point where the country is facing a financial collapse that is just barely being reported in the news, but is nevertheless imminent and very real.
• They believe that we are not responsible enough to vote and have therefore corrupted the political process by ensuring that every major candidate is vetted and selected by them, and anointed by their media outlets, so that ultimately it really doesn’t matter whom we vote for.
• They believe that we are not responsible enough to manage our own affairs and have instituted ream upon ream of standards, regulations, licensing requirements, and of course fees, to ensure that we never have to make an independent decision.
• They believe that we are not responsible enough to know the difference between right and wrong and by the use of propaganda under the guise of tolerance and diversity attempt to impose their own lax moral standards upon us admonishing us to call our enemies our friends, and to call what is good, evil and what is evil, good.
Now they believe that you are not responsible enough to speak your mind. “Be careful of what you say, someone might be offended, someone might feel threatened!” “Tone down the rhetoric, after all, things are not really as bad as you make them out to be.” “Let’s all try to work together.”
This, my friends, it the BIG lie. Things are in fact worse than we make then out to be. The time for cooperation is past. Now is the time for resistance, for state nullification, for political upheaval, for throwing the bums out, for restoring liberty, not to the country, but to our state, and to our own county.
A few days ago, John Boehner, the weak-willed, cry-baby, Republican Speaker of the House was unable to name a single federal program that he thought should be cut. Would it be too much for the audible cry of “IDIOT” to be heard resounding from sea to shining sea? I think not. We must not allow ourselves to be muzzled now, for if we do we will find ourselves in short order, disarmed, disenfranchised, and in chains. Do not be quiet Americans, and do not rest. Shout out all the louder for the civil and economic rights, for smaller government, for lower taxes, and for Liberty.
Louis William Rose is a political philosopher and parliamentarian for the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida. You can email him at louisrose [at] yahoo.com.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
Imagining a day in America when individuals were treated like adults seems a far-fetched proposition to anyone who remotely follows current events. Treating constituents like dependent children has become a pastime of most members of Congress; their disdain for the voting public’s intelligence is matched only by the voting public’s equal disdain for theirs.
Though our political leader’s paternalistic mind set is increasingly clear with every new congressional session, it is probably most evident with regard to our methods of providing charity to the poor. Even some otherwise principled men have caved in on this question, unwilling to muster the fortitude to challenge the prevailing conventional wisdom. Challenging the idea of government assistance from Washington from a constitutional or even common sense standpoint has become so politically toxic that even the soundest of Congressmen will shy away from calling its legitimacy into question. Sometimes changes in our collective ideology can take place so incrementally that we must pick a specific event in the past and view it through the lens of today’s prevailing perspective.
In 1854, a bill from Congress to provide charity for the mentally ill came across the desk of then-President Franklin Pierce. In a move that would qualify as political suicide today, Pierce vetoed the bill. He explained his reasoning by stating, “I cannot find any authority in the Constitution for the public charity.” And he took this a step further, saying it “would be contrary to the letter and the spirit of the Constitution and subversive to the whole theory upon which the Union of these States is founded.” If a contemporary president did such a deed, many would assume he too qualified for the benefits in that very bill. Obligatory shots would be launched at how Mr. Pierce is heartless, callous, and no doubt soulless; we could picture the diatribes and epithets with minimal difficulty. Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person in the World” segment would have a new villain. But examples abound of our earlier Presidents making similar such vetoes and statements, acts that have become nonexistent since at least the Wilson administration.
Understanding why Americans have become so comfortable with governmental “aid”, particularly at the federal level, over the course of the last century is undoubtedly a complex issue. Some blame can be placed on the New Deal programs instituted by FDR, while much of the rest is attributable to the debt inducing nature of our decision to ditch the gold standard. This acted as a regulator on the “charitable” impulses of government. But the massive deficits brought on by a social welfare state were no longer seen as a drain on the economy absent a gold standard. After all, as a recent Vice President famously informed/chided us, “Deficits don’t matter.” Even worse, turning debt into a money-producing venture further encouraged the government to operate in the red. Printing or borrowing the difference made a process of giving once handled by private individuals quite palatable to fans of government meddling. Being charitable with the taxpayers’ money not only makes an ambitious congressman look good, but now the consequences it would have entailed are no longer immediately present. The day of reckoning with massive deficits is always kicked down the road.
A more simplistic explanation would be the confusion of many Americans over what the correct role of government is. Currently, the only question Congress asks before appropriating funds is whether or not it will make the American people angry. If the answer is no, they will proceed in spite of any constitutional restraints. If the answer is affirmative, then a follow up question will be asked: just how angry? Unless they foresee a major backlash, the money will usually be doled out hand over fist.
This apathy on the part of a once vigilant citizenry can be pinned largely on the lack of in depth study of constitutionalism in our school system. The teaching of our Constitution’s original intent and the raising of awareness regarding the foundation of our liberties have become collateral damage of progressivism’s century long influence on American education. Anything smacking of restraint on the government is consistently downplayed in our classrooms.
For the Founders, the legitimate role of the federal government was cut and dry: the protection of life, liberty and property were not merely paramount, but the beginning and end of government’s scope. The Constitution, as President Pierce correctly observed, gave no authority for charitable giving to Congress (or any other branch of the federal government for that matter). These words would never have been uttered by the Franklin who resided in the White House almost a full century later; the New Deal legislation solidified the idea of a strong armed, benevolent government in Washington. With the Constitution and Federalist Papers staying untaught in our schools, many of us simply nod on our heads when congressional actions are justified under the guise of the Commerce Clause.
Whatever its root causes, the politicization of charitable giving has done much to depersonalize the relationship between the giver and receiver of one’s assistance. Once a function of a religious or other nongovernmental institution aiming to help the needy, many now view their tax tab as a substitute for compassionate giving. Aside from being unconstitutional and markedly inefficient, this form of expansive government breaks down the voluntary nature of charity that used to leave so many feeling fulfilled. C.S. Lewis summed up the drawbacks of this form of government when he said “Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
Sometimes genius surfaces in strange places, and there is certainly an element of genius in the new movie Guns and Weed: The Road to Freedom. The film is not perfect and it’s certainly not the slickest production, but it’s one hell of a smart, informative and entertaining film.
It starts from a brilliant idea: looking at gun rights and the legalization of marijuana as two linked issues which between them expose many of the problems with our government and in our society from a libertarian perspective. By looking at one right which is constantly under threat and another which has been taken away arbitrarily, the film explores the broader issue of the ongoing diminishment of our civil liberties by intrusive government.
The film is basically a documentary composed mostly of interviews and discussion, but what makes it unique is that it comes with a sly sense of humor and a sense of fun which is much more appealing than the preachiness you’d expect on such a serious subject.
The film was made by Michael W. Dean and Neema Vedadi. Dean is the writer and director. Vedadi is a featured performer and producer. Dean describes himself as a punk rock libertarian and is the former Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Wyoming. Vedadi is a weekend news anchor on ABC affiliate KEPR in Wyoming. Dean mainly appears playing backing guitar for Vedadi in some hilarious rap numbers. Iranian-American punk-rap is a musical genre I never really expected to see. Vedadi also plays a variety of roles in small skits and dramatizations in the film and he’s damned funny. Another asset to the film is a very pretty girl who fires a lot of guns while wearing a nice sun dress and does some excellent narration, credited as J-Tizzle. Also very effective were some of the medical marijuana users, especially a young couple afflicted with Krohn’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis who use marijuana to ease the pain and discomfort of their conditions. I also found some of the detailed insights into the mechanics of the medical marijuana business very interesting.
The most familiar of the interviewees is Sheriff Richard Mack who is very highly regarded in civil libertarian circles, but the less prominent participants, many of them local gun owners, marijuana entrepreneurs and civil libertarians from Wyoming and Colorado are articulate and make lots of good points. They give personal and substantive perspectives on issues like the medical value of marijuana, prisons overflowing with non-violent offenders, the whole milk ban, problems with the justice system, free speech, the Mexican drug cartels, abuse of government power, the failures of democracy and a web of other issues which all link surprisingly logically to the two core subjects.
There are a lot of libertarian films out there and most take themselves way too seriously and are no fun at all. Quite a few shade over into areas of fringe politics and radical rhetoric which make them threatening to a mainstream audience. One of the great accomplishments of Guns and Weed is that it doesn’t take that route. It’s approachable and relatively non-threatening and doesn’t get preachy. It manages to soften its very serious message with humor, music and engaging performances. It’s informative but it’s also enjoyable.
Perhaps best of all, the whole of Guns and Weed is on YouTube in a series of linked segments and you can watch it in an hour and a half. I recommend it to everyone, especially those who still think the War on Drugs is a good idea. It might be just the thing for some of my Republican friends who understand the right to bear arms but haven’t yet realized how interconnected all of our civil liberties are. Go watch it and help it go viral!
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
I keep hearing about how Ron Paul is going to run for President.
I don’t think that’s the case, and here’s why:
1) Age. Ron Paul will be 77 years old in 2012. It would be tough for anyone that age to run for President. I can only imagine the grueling schedule and various annoyances that a Presidential candidate must deal with. Add advanced age into the mix and it complicates things.
2) Alternative candidates. New Mexico’s Gary Johnson is an appealing candidate who many Paul supporters could lend their energy to. Additionally, Dr. Paul has spoken well of the former Governor.
3) Rand Paul. Now that Rand Paul is in the Senate, the Congressman is likely to not only feel a sense of tremendous pride, but also understands that his tireless efforts in the U.S. House have paid off.
4) The U.S. House. The House Republican Leadership allowed Dr. Paul to Chair the House Subcommittee that oversees the Federal Reserve. With this position comes a tremendous amount of responsibility and a significant time commitment.
5) Legacy. Ron Paul’s legacy was his 2008 campaign. He changed the debate in our country and helped inspire the most dynamic political movement in American history — the Tea Party. There is less opportunity to surpass what the 2008 campaign achieved in 2012.
These are just a few of the reasons that Congressman Paul is less likely to run for President in 2012. But never say never.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
Following the predetermined process is more important than producing an equitable outcome. This principle holds true whether applied to athletics, governmental affairs, or the legal system. As is often is the case, happenings in the world of sports can provide key insights into much broader truths.
On its face, it seems illogical when one stops to consider that an 11-5 New Orleans Saints squad would be forced to travel over 2,000 miles to play a Seattle Seahawks team with a losing record. The typical NFL fan might reason that the Saints are the defending Super Bowl champions and won a stunning four more games than their opponent in the NFL’s wild card round. How unfair! This might appear to make even less sense when one stops to consider that a 10-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneer team sitting at home during this postseason, while the 7-9 Seattle franchise is hosting a home playoff game. Due to the NFL’s rules governing the seeding of playoff teams, the Seahawks are slated to have home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs thanks to their status as division champs. For better or worse, this was the agreement all sides agreed to years ago when the playoff process was outlined.
Without any context, it would appear absurd that a team with a losing record would make the playoffs simply because it won its respective division. The casual observer would find this at least marginally unjust. They might even propose the NFL should just move the Buccaneers or Giants, teams with a winning record who did not qualify for the playoffs due to the NFL’s previously agreed upon rules, into the spot reserved for the Seahawks. A Bucs or Giants fans would surely agree: we had the better record, who cares about divisions? ‘Sure, those rules have been long established, but they don’t fit the current realities; we are more deserving, just put us in there instead’ might be a refrain offered by the fans whose teams did not qualify for the playoffs despite finishing with more victories than Seattle. Similar parallels to this have rise in the world of NCAA football even since the installing of the BCS system, notably Connecticut’s appearance in the BCS Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day.
But the NFL cannot simply change the rules midstream. It has adopted clear, concise policies about how the playoff system works. Straying from those would create a precedent which disorder would stem from. Division winners in the wild card round get the home game, even if they have half as many wins as their opponents. This framework, having been agreed upon at a previous date, cannot be thrown out the window on a whim. Even if it appears more “fair” or popular in the short term to allow a team with more wins to leap frog one with fewer wins, this would cause massive uncertainty during future seasons. If this arrangement could be aborted on a whim, what else might the league do for convenience’s sake? This mirrors the way in which the rule of law regulates matters in our system, letting individuals act with the knowledge of what is and is not foul of the law.
As 20th century economist F. A. Hayek stated, “The only public good with which the judge can be concerned is the observance of those rules that the individual could reasonably count on.” Judges need to “apply the rules even if in the particular instance the known consequences will appear to him wholly undesirable.” This concept is known as the rule of law. It is one of the few things separating first from third world countries, preventing governments from substituting arbitrary personal feelings for the blind application of justice. Without this, contracts and private property become a farce, and the country’s resources can never develop as efficiently as possible.
This line of thinking has major implications when it comes to how a country conducts itself in the governmental sense. A country with a written constitution that contains clear, delineated powers cannot simply usurp these because they find it will produce desirable result A, B, or C in the near term. If anything deemed in the general welfare is able to done by a government, then it has no speed bumps to its actual powers. That sort of society becomes governed by statutory, not constitutional, law; everything is fair game that the legislature or executive in that nation labels as such. Aside from mere formalities relating to its proceedings, a constitution is meaningless if a government possesses the power to stretch its language beyond recognition.
A Senator or House member who feels their election requires them to do all they think is “best for their constituents” has no restraint on his capacity to do tremendous harm. When dealing with things as complex as our modern economy, long term harm is generally all that can come from this mind set in government. The same is true with our Federal Reserve system, which assumes that a few Fed Board members and governors can have free reign to force economic contractions or expansions while never having been granted that power under the U. S. Constitution. If a contract as publicized as that country’s constitution ceases to become anything but a toothless historical document, then how are any contracts safe in the long term? The concise rule of law becomes endangered when a society views agreements that have been signed off on as too much of straitjacket to one party or special interest.
Just look how it turned out for the NFL. By sticking to their past agreements, they not only kept the chaos at bay which would have emerged if fans of other teams begin clamoring about this or that injustice, but they ended up producing one amazing game in the process. The unthinkable happened, as the Seahawk team that seemingly “did not belong” ended up pulling off the upset. Sometimes being committed to the process over fleeting, quickly disappearing gains can produce much more of an upside than we might have that. We need to be mindful of that once again as a nation as well.
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 2:00 pm Brookview Community Center (next to the golf course) 200 Brookview Parkway, Golden Valley, MN 55426
Tentative Agenda 2:00pm – Registration Opens 2:30pm – 4:00pm – Convention 4:00pm – 5:00pm – Social Hour with refreshments and appetizers 5:00pm – 6:00pm – Panel Discussion with former and current legislators (TBA)
6:00pm – 6:30pm – Q&A and Wrap-up
The business of the convention shall be to: 1. Nominate and Elect the Board of Directors* 2. Approve any changes to the Bylaws and Rules* 3. Transact other business as may properly come before the convention.
*Members in good standing of the RLCMN, as well as supporters who are in accord with the principles and positions of the RLCMN are invited to unite under this call. To be eligible to vote or seek office at this convention, you must have paid your dues prior to the beginning of the Convention.
The cost is $40 per person ($70 per couple) and includes membership, social hour and discussion. Attendance for the social hour and discussion only is available for $25. Checks may be made to RLCMN and mailed to PO Box 14244, St Paul, MN 55114 (preferred method).
Audience participation is requested! Submit your panel discussion topics and questions with your reservation! E-mail us with topics and questions, or for more information.
Triangle Area (North Carolina) RLC Hosts
State Representative-Elect Glen Bradley
Friday, January 21 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm at Oh’ Mulligans (100 Jerusalem Dr., Morrisville, NC)
The NC GOP State Convention is coming up and we have Precinct Meetings right around the corner (Wake is Feb. 8 at the fairgrounds Kerr Scott Bldg). Now is the time to start recruiting and preparing for the delegate process. We will be electing a new NCGOP State Chair at the State Convention (in Wilmington, NC) this summer. We need a strong presence at this convention and the Precinct Meetings are the first step in the delegate process. If you can’t make it to the Precinct Meeting we can help you get your name on the list to the county and district conventions. We will be going over all of this at the meeting. Becoming a delegate to the State Convention is a must for anyone concerned with the future of our nation. It is extremely easy to become a delegate! You must be registered as a Republican prior to January 31 and we can assist you in registering at this event.
Joining us at this meeting will be State Representative Glen Bradley. Glen was an RLC endorsed candidate who recently got elected to the NC General Assembly representing NC 49 District. He is a huge asset to the liberty movement currently working within the NC GOP. He has a lot to talk with us about in regards to what he is working on and what we need to be doing as a movement within the GOP, i.e. working to reduce government, protect individual liberty, get like minded Republicans elected, and to defend free markets economics.
Please join the Utah RLC Executive Board this Saturday, January 8th, from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Murray Library for our monthly meeting. Your input will be very valuable as the new Congress begins to take charge and the new legislative session proceeds here in Utah. We will also be formulating our state liberty index, so be sure to bring your thinking caps!
The Murray Library is located at 166 East 5300 South in Murray, Utah.
We have about a week to mobilize opposition to Mr. Reince Priebus, frontrunner for RNC National Chairman.
So take five minutes of your time to review the below information, write a polite letter to your RNC Committee members (or ALL of the members), and then forward this message to others who care about our principles.
I received this note from someone in Wisconsin yesterday: “Having experienced the power exercised by Priebus to reject my application to join the Marathon County GOP, I can testify fist hand to how tyrannical a party he would run if in charge at the RNC level. It would be catastrophic for the RNC for him to get the chair. He must be stopped.“
Who can stop him? The grassroots, that’s who. Here are some reasons to oppose Mr. Priebus. Below you will also find a sample letter, RNC Contact Information, and related links of interest.
1) The election results in Wisconsin had little to do with Reince Priebus. Wisconsin’s economy suffered under a long period of Democratic control. Voters — led by the 60+ Tea Party groups in the state — were ready for a change. Priebus happened to be in the right place at the right time. Check the 2008 election results in Wisconsin and you’ll see why Priebus had little to do with the 2010 results.
2) Mr. Priebus is not loyal to anyone except Mr. Priebus (and Paul Ryan). This is evidenced by the fact that Michael Steele appointed Mr. Priebus to an important, high-profile post in the RNC, yet Mr. Priebus repaid his friend/ally by stabbing him in the back. This type of behavior does not seem like that of a leader.
3) Mr. Priebus’s employer actively supports Obamacare and has lobbied to receive federal stimulus funds for its clients. Erick Erickson at RedState as well as numerous other authors have exposed Priebus’s support for Big Government. Priebus himself admits he supports REAL ID, a national identification program that will expand surveillance and government power.
4) Mr. Priebus is not qualified to be National Committee Chair. In 2004, he lost his bid for State Senate. In 2007, he became Wisconsin GOP Chair and happened to lead the GOP to success in the 2010 election. The 2008 election was a disaster for the Wisconsin GOP — also under Priebus’s leadership. He became a lawyer in 1998. Look at the other candidates for RNC Chair and you’ll discover why Priebus’s resume just doesn’t add up.
5) Mr. Priebus does not support the Tea Party. He will use the Tea Party to his own benefit, but there is no evidence that Priebus has shared values with the Tea Party.
6) Mr. Priebus will change Republican National Committee rules to strengthen GOP party bosses to the detriment of primary voters and Tea Party activists. Priebus supports a top-down approach where party bosses decide which candidates should receive support rather than a grassroots, bottom-up approach where voters decide which candidates have earned their trust.
7) Mr. Priebus believes in a GOP “unity pledge” and hopes to use his authority to boot out those who disagree. “A Republican must believe in something,” says Priebus. I don’t think we should leave it up to Priebus to decide who should and should not participate in the Republican Party.
8.) Mr. Priebus re-directed Wisconsin GOP donor monies to his favorite candidates, a clear misuse of donor money. Two candidates for Governor and US Senate in Wisconsin (Scott Walker and Ron Johnson), despite having GOP primary opponents, were endorsed at the 2010 GOP Convention by party insiders — four months prior to Wisconsin’s primary. Wisconsin has a tradition of allowing primary voters to pick its nominees. Under Priebus, this system fell apart — to the detriment of grassroots conservatives and Tea Party voters whose candidates were not given support by party insiders. The establishment candidates selected were given over $700,000 in monies directly sent to the state GOP. Can a state Republican Party redirect money directly to candidates in a contested primary without consent from its donors?
9) Mr. Priebus is not a good spokesman for the Republican Party. His performance in the RNC debate was lackluster and awkward. The audience barely responded to a word he said.
10) Mr. Priebus is the choice of the political establishment — the same people who got our country and our party into this mess. Look who is supporting him.
11) Mr. Priebus will use RNC money to lobby for REAL ID, a de facto National ID card that many states have already opted out of. He admitted this in the ATR/DailyCaller RNC debate.
12) Mr. Priebus is an unapologetic advocate of pre-primary State Party and potentially National Party endorsements. This policy will strengthen party bosses and disempower grassroots activists and Tea Party voters. It also will increase the likelihood that non-conservative establishment candidates will be chosen in GOP primaries, and, as a result, General Elections.
Sample Letter
Dear RNC Committee Member,
Thank you for your service to our party. As an active GOP voter and contributor, I am asking you to oppose Reince Priebus for RNC Chair.
I am very concerned about the consequences of electing Mr. Priebus. We need to maintain the broad political spectrum support that we have gained in the past year through the Tea Party movement. Mr. Priebus is an establishment Republican who would unnecessarily marginalize the Tea Party and grassroots conservatives. His performance in the recent RNC Debate showed not only that he isn’t concerned about grassroots conservatives, but also that he could potentially embarrass the party as its representative. Additionally, a litmus test to be a Republican is absolutely unnecessary at such an important time for our country.
I also urge you to look into his record in Wisconsin. Yes, there were electoral victories, but could the over 60 grassroots Tea Party groups and the right climate (Democrats controlling every level of government, resulting in job loss and overregulation) have been more of a factor than anything Mr. Priebus himself did? The 2008 results in Wisconsin, when Mr. Priebus also served as Chair, were not impressive by any stretch. You’ll also find that his resume pales in comparison to the other candidates for RNC Chair.
The rule changes Mr. Priebus oversaw as GOP Chairman disenfranchised Wisconsin Republican primary voters and the GOP’s pre-primary endorsement did not sit well with the Tea Party groups in the state. As you know, Tea Party groups communicate with each other and once the word spreads, Priebus is going to do more damage to the RNC than his talents are worth.
Mr. Priebus is the wrong choice for the RNC and for grassroots conservatives — especially the Tea Party. We need to capitalize on the gains we have made. Let’s focus on cutting taxes and spending and putting our constitutional principles into practice. A top down approach for the RNC will not achieve our goals — not now.
Thank you for your consideration.
Cordially, [YOUR NAME]
RNC Member Contact Info.
(Note: Some of this contact information may be outdated. I apologize in advance.)
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