Florida Republican Party Wages War on Republican Liberty Caucus: Expels RLC Chair from RPOF Positions
By Aaron - September 4, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Filed under Florida , GOP Party , News , RLC Chapter News , RLC News , States , Take Action!
Filed under Florida , GOP Party , News , RLC Chapter News , RLC News , States , Take Action!
Party Boss Jim Greer (photo below) has waged war on grassroots Republican activists in Florida!
On Friday, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Grievance Committee (full list of members below) notified Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida Chair Will G. Pitts and at least four other RLC members that they have been removed from positions within the RPOF and prohibited from serving in any capacity for a period of at least two years. Mr. Pitts also put on probation by the RPOF until 2012.
Several other Republican Party activists have also been purged, including former State Representative and Brevard County Chairman Jason Steele and former Chair of the Federation of Black Republicans and Orange County Committeeman Deon Long.
In the case of RLC Chairman Will Pitts, he criticized Jim Greer, Charlie Christ, George W. Bush and John McCain as is also Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus — an organization that believes in the rights of individuals, a constitutionally-limited government, and free-market economics.
History and Background Information:
• List of press hits after the purge | 9/9/2009
• Complaint Against Will Pitts Filed by St. Johns County GOP
• RLC members Egoroff and Guetzloe Under Attack from RPOF;
• Greer Strips Orange County GOP Committeeman Deon Long of Post
The initial article, “Complaint Against Will Pitts Filed …”, explains the Republican Party of Florida’s objections to Mr. Pitts’ activism.
In addition to RLC member Will Pitts being reprimanded, lifelong Republican and RLC activist Nick Egoroff of Orlando has been expelled for four years. Additionally, Northeast Florida RLC Chairman John Stevens — himself a Republican Committeeman for his precinct — is ineligible to serve in any RPOF position until August 31, 2013.
According to Stevens, “In effect, I [will not be eligible to] serve again until 2016 since the election for the next four year term will be in 2012.” Florida RLC Board member and Escambria County Committeewoman Elizabeth Campbell was expelled for six months and stripped of her position.
Doug Guetzloe, who has served on the Orange County Republican Executive Committee since 1980, was stripped of his position until at least 2013.
Says John Stevens, “WOW! All the work we have done for the party … and this is how we are treated by the RPOF.”
In response to the news, Orlando Area RLC Organizer Nick Egoroff intends to file a lawsuit against Jim Greer and RPOF. Please contact us if you would like to join in the suit.
The Florida GOP has systematically attacked the Republican Liberty Caucus since summer of 2008, when Jim Greer’s staff notified the RLC that it could no longer use the word “Republican” in “Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida”. They threatened a lawsuit against the RLC.
The RLC has used this title for nearly two decades in the state of Florida and obtained proper permission in writing long before Jim Greer or Charlie Christ came to rule the GOP in Florida.
On a personal note, I have followed the way Republican Liberty Caucus members and supporters have been treated in Florida both prior to and after Boss Jim Greer assumed Chairmanship.
There is no Republican Party leadership in the country that has acted as inappropriately toward grassroots activists as the RPOF under Mr. Greer.
Thankfully, (I believe) Mr. Greer’s time in any significant leadership position will be short.
Lord Acton was right: “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
This party purge is just the latest example of the significant impact that the Republican Liberty Caucus is having on local-level politics all across the country.
The first rule of politics is that you make the most enemies when you are successful. These RLC members are extremely successful — so much so that Boss Greer decided to shut them up.
Take Action!
But the fight has only just begun.
Please contact “Chairman”-bossman Jim Greer, Florida GOP Media Director Katie Gordon, RPOF Grievance Committee members Jim Greer, Delmar W. Johnson (Executive Director), Tony Dimatteo (Chair), Doug Adkins, Linda Ivell, Deno Hicks, Richard Solze, Cynthia Henderson, Nancy Riley, and Jason Brodeur as well as RPOF Committeepersons Becky Reichenberg, Jon Woodard, and Bob Veit. The latter three — members of the St. Johns County GOP — are responsible for the complaint against RLC Chairman Will Pitts.
Better yet, give them a ring on the phone:
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RPOF: (850) 222-7920
Delmar W. Johnson, III, RPOF Executive Director: (850) 681-2063 or (850) 222-7920
[Note: Mr. Johnson voted to have our members booted from the party!]
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Tony DiMatteo, Chair of Committee: (727) -398-5850
Doug Adkins: (904) 261-2213 or (904) 277-8566
Linda Ivell: (863) 602-9866 or (863) 802-5262
Deno Hicks: (904) 819-9170 or (904) 739-2115
Richard Solze: (904) 964-5803
Cynthia Henderson: (850) 210-5385 or (850) 422-1011
Nancy Riley: (727) 573-5222 or (727) 822-9111, ext.163
Jason Brodeur: (407) 963-9576
[Note: All of the above folks voted to have our members booted from the party!]
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Becky Reichenberg: (904) 287-0752
Jon Woodard: (904) 797-5790
Bob Veit: (904) 794-1602
[Note: These three bullies filed the initial complaint against Will Pitts!]
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RLC members, please let these “leaders” know what you think about their decision to expel grassroots Ron Paul supporters — each elected to their positions by Republican Party members — from participating in the Republican Party.
Additionally, please contact RNC Chairman Michael Steele [eMail] at (850) 222-7920 and Florida National Committeepersons Sharon Day [eMail] and Paul Senft, Jr [eMail].
It is likely that Steele, Day, and Senft are unaware of the ‘purge’. Please be polite and kindly inform them of the situation. Then ask for their intervention in this matter.
Also, please write letters to the editor on this issue. Sample letters and a media list are available at this website. Also, here is a link to six ways you can TAKE ACTION in response to this purge.
Finally, please donate to the Republican Liberty Caucus today so we can effectively fight these charges against our cherished members and supporters.
On September 4th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Will these leaders in the liberty movement have to resign their positions, like Mr. Pitts? Are they still Republicans, and if so, why? After how they have been treated, who would want to be? Greer is a complete jerk!!
On September 5th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
They fear support for Marco Rubio. However we could support him from the Constitution Party which is an inevitable step.
On September 6th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Florida law says anyone removed by the party chair is also removed from their positions in any organization using the Republican name. Sadly, these people will no longer be able to hold RLC positions.
On September 6th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
What is the RLC’s position on Marco Rubio? I donated $20 to his campaign a few weeks ago.
On September 7th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
“In response, Orlando Area RLC Organizer Nick Egoroff intends to file a First Amendment suit against Jim Greer and RPOF. Please contact us if you would like to join in the suit.”
Well, unless Florida law treats the Florida GOP as a state actor, that First Amendment lawsuit will go nowhere. Organizations have a right to regulate themselves and censor individuals whom they believe distort their message and detract from their mission statement. I think Mark Cross was right when he said to watch the process allow for cooler heads to prevail in the next couple weeks before casting aspersions.
On September 7th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
This proves my argument that we should not be involved within the party and REC.
Once you join the REC or a Republican club, they have you right where they want you. You can no longer speak your mind! As activists, we can implement real change. As REC members, we are under THEIR control.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking these people will be the last. I think this is their first step to get every one of us. I am resigning my REC position immediately, so they cannot censor my voice for liberty!
On September 8th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Welcome to the Revolution. The Libertarian Party of Florida welcomes you. See: http://www.lpf.org
On September 8th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
I am applauled but not surprised at the actions of the RPOF. I do like Daniel Sheil’s comment above though…lets hope cooler heads prevail.
To Mr. Pitts and Mr. Stevens…thank you for all your hard work you do trying to advance liberty.
(08 Primary Campaign Supporter and Volenteer)
On September 9th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Regarding George’s comment:
I thought that was how the law read also, but I can’t find anything to that in Florida Statues. Chapter 103 (PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS; POLITICAL PARTIES; EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
AND MEMBERS) is what I’ve been looking at (see below for link).
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0103/ch0103.htm
Can that law be quoted and referenced? If that is the case, we need to examine the by-laws and figure out how we’ll sort this mess out.
On September 13th, 2009 at 11:50 am
So your RLC chair has the right to bad mouth the GOP chair, of the party he supposedly wants to help, but can’t be barred from membership when that leader doesn’t like his comments?
You all are quickly running the risk of becoming unimportant … conservatives are beginning to work together nationwide … I bet you wish the tea party thing had been your idea?
On October 3rd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
So your RLC chair has the right to bad mouth the GOP chair, of the party he supposedly wants to help, but can’t be barred from membership when that leader doesn’t like his comments?
Exactly. It is horribly inappropriate for a political leader to take reprisals using the mechanisms of the party against someone within the party who criticizes him and his policies. That’s despotism, pure and simple. The state party chairman should be above that sort of thing. It’s part of what he should expect to deal with as a leadership figure.
Dave