Takeover at RPI

In the interest of full disclosure, let me start this discussion by saying that I am, to borrow a phrase from the Des Moines Register, closely associated with the Christian right. I worked hard, along with many other like-minded Republicans to bring about the takeover. But in the end, in my election for SCC and in supporting Steve Scheffler and Kim Lehman for RNC, it was the voters at our district and state conventions who made the final choice. At the State Convention, both Steve and Kim were elected by large margins. neither of them made any secret of their affiliations with Iowa Christian Alliance and Iowa Right to Life.

The preamble to the 2008 State Platform makes as concise a statement of our core principles as I have ever seen. It reads:

As Republicans we continue to uphold the principles of individual responsibility and liberty, adherence to traditional moral standards, a strong national defense, a free enterprise system, and respect for the sanctity of human life. ...

Looking at past state platforms, one finds these core values repeated year after year. I believe that these are principles Republicans can unite around. These principles are not extremist, rather they reflect the view of the grassroots of this party.

I would like all of our Republican candidates to not just support, but advocate all of these core principles. I believe that these core values define the Republican mainstream. But I understand that not all Republicans share all of these values and even among those that do there are differing levels of fervor.

This blog went dark for a time when I was elected to the SCC. In my previous role, as a party activist, anonymous blogger and ideologue , I wrote and said things that were sometimes out there. In running for SCC, I understood that I was taking on a new role — a role in party leadership. I am still the same guy, with the same opinions, but in accepting this role, I have chosen to place the interests of our party above my personal opinions.

I listen to Steve Deace once in a while,  but I am not a part of his Operation Extinction. We need a coalition to govern and for that reason, I was a supporter of Jim Leach, an honorable man with whom I had ideological difference. It may surprise readers to know that:

I will always vote for a pro-choice Republican over a pro-life Democrat.

Some of my pro-life friends might be shocked. Is pro-choice Republican an oxymoron? No, but pro-choice Republicans are clearly out of the mainstream when measured by our party platform. So, why can I (unlike Steve Deace) support them. The reason is because we rule by coalition. In our legislative system the majority party is in control. A pro-life Democrat will contribute to a Democrat majority. A Democrat majority will elect Democrat leadership. Under Democrat leadership, the issues I am passionate about — gun rights, property rights, lower taxes and yes, abortion — these issues will never see the light of day.

Yes, there has been a change in leadership at the SCC. Yes, some of us who are new SCC members are social conservatives. But speaking for myself,  as an SCC member and now party leader I promise that I will support and work towards the election of all of our Republican candidates.

Comments

[Brent Oleson]

Hooray!

Like I have always said about you, we may not always agree, but I love the fact that I am represented by you on the SCC because I never have to guess where you are at. You and Mary Lundby share that same quality and I am glad I can say I have supported both of you!

[Blackbeard]

Very well said! This is the best (not to mention most encouraging) blog post that I have read in a long time!

[Mike]

David, Deace would make you a part of his Operation Extinction because of your principled stand.

In his world..your logic is beyond comprehension and people like you are a cancer on the GOP ..and as a result..your thoughts, words, actions, etc must be drummed out of the party..

THAT'S why people are not happy with Scheffler/Lehman et al, dictating the course of the party. They've both publically trashed Republican candidates whom they felt weren't "pure" enough for them...for example..Kim Lehman called Miller-Meeks a "wolf in sheep's clothing" on Deace.

I will guarantee you that neither Scheffler or Lehman will lift a FINGER this year to help candidates like her...even though they've made all sorts of public statements that they supposedly "support" our candidates.

[IowaFan]

we need Miller-Meeks in the House.

she has a real chance at winning this seat back.

[The Real Sporer]

Very well said, my friend.

It seems that the Republican voters became restless for a variety of reasons. First among such reasons was the disconnection between the voter and the elected Republican.

What I expect is Republicans to govern like Republicans and vote for the items upon which they campaigned. Two examples on social issues.

1. The "Choose Life" license plate bill. That was among the most benign and smallest of steps in advancing the pro-life agenda. As we learned on theh Deace show, our leadership refused to pursue even that tiny incremental step. The disconnection arose because that leadership almost universally campaigned as pro-life Republicans, not pro choice Republicans.

2. Homosexual marriage rights. Polling data showed Republican opposition to homosexual marriage rights to run from the low 80s to the low 90s back in 04/05. Notwithstanding those numbers, several Republican Senators wouldn't support DOMA. Of those several, some were always openly and honestly opposed to DOMA and never claimed otherwise. However, some of those Senators campaigned like they came off of Chuck Hurley's website. That was a problem.

We could say the same about several other issues. I too will support any Republican over any Democrat. That job is a lot easier when our Republicans run campaigns that draw bright distinctions with Democrats, explain why we're right and the Democrats are wrong (instead of relying on tired old tag lines) and then govern like Republicans when elected.

[conservativeforvictory]

Dave, I've never met you but I like you. You understand the coalitions that must be built to create a victory.

The sad reality is that we need every conservative and RINO we can get to advance our agenda and prevent disasters such as we've had in Iowa the past two years.

Too bad Deace does not understand the process. He could benefit the cause but instead he is a threat to the cause because he encourages voters to stay home because the Republicans do not measure up to his standards.

[Des Moines Action]

Sporer is right. We need everyone on board to win but what is the point of winning if we govern like Democrats, or maybe Democrat Light?

[Lee]

Ted,

Those two examples of social issues you cite...at that time..quite frankly, we had a LOT bigger fish we needed to be frying...namely, for example, Democrats and a Governor who were jacking state spending up through the roof..and who were refusing to reform our broken state income and property tax codes.

We also had a Governor (Vilsack) who was attempting to make the biggest grab of private property rights away in our state's history.

When you have HUGE issues like this..that will affect hundreds of thousands of Iowans in their pocketbooks and in the property they own....then by God, I want my State Legislators dealing with that..than voting on a licence plate!

Am I Pro-Life and Pro_Marriage Amendment and would support bills like that..sure..but folks like Deace, Scheffler, and Lehman and yourself MUST start seeing the forest for the trees.

You need to remember your history. Back in 2004, the Senate was TIED. The agreement reached between Iverson and Gronstal back then required that BOTH parties had to agree on what bills got brought to the floor for debate..

You guys want to bash Stu over why those bills weren't brought forth..it was because Democrats would NEVER have agreed to them when there was power sharing.

Then, in 2006..The Democrats took full control over the Senate..and thus had full power to decide what got debated and passed out of committees...blaming Stu for social issues not getting advanced is making a scapegoat out of him at best..and a cheap shot at worst.

You want to blame anyone, Ted?..We ALL share in the blame for not getting more Republicans elected in this state...yet all you guys did was decided to point the finger elsewhere.

I hear nothing from you Ted answering WHY Lehman would publically trash one of our candidates on the radio as a "wolf in sheep's clothing"....and now we're to believe that she's going to work to help "all" Republican candidates?

When Scheffler, Lehman and Deace come to show up or help organize a fundraiser out in Eastern Iowa for candidates they've trashed..then maybe we'll start believing they really "support" all GOP candidates.