Grassroots Leader Voted out April 4
April 4, 2009
I regret to report that today the Republican State Central Committee has voted to remove Jeff Frederick as Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. The meeting was conducted in closed executive session, but I have heard the deliberations were fair and civil. The vote was very close.
Nevertheless, the election this November will be critical in determining the direction that our nation, as well as our state, moves in the next decade and beyond. As much as I disagree with what has happened within the Republican Party of Virginia today, we cannot allow this to further distract us from the job immediately at hand - winning the gubernatorial race, expanding our numbers in the House of Delegates, and winning the other state-wide races this fall. We cannot allow our internal discord, painful though it is, to disable our election efforts this fall. The consequences of losing would be devastating to Virginia and beyond.
The Party that wins in Virginia this November sets the stage for the National congressional elections in 2010. Winning this year is vital if Republicans are to increase our numbers in the U.S. Senate and thereby force President Obama and the National Democrats to come to terms with Republican principles. Another year of Democratic wins in Virginia will be good news for National Democrats. By losing U.S. House and Senate seats next year, we would allow President Obama and the Democrats to rule our nation unchecked and at our peril. The November elections are too important to lose, irrespective of who is Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia!
There have already been too many divisive and intemperate comments made by all sides in the media and in the blogs. This must stop. All who have supported Chairman Frederick must know, and act on the fact, that we cannot win as a divided party. Will there be differences of opinion and hard feelings? Of course. We as leaders of our Party's grass-roots must show the maturity and leadership to move our candidates to victory despite our disagreement with the SCC.
I believe that our Party is much better served when our leadership comes from the grass-roots up, rather than being imposed by a top-down decree. Our May convention should provide the grass-roots of the Republican Party of Virginia our opportunity to weigh in on this matter and bring the issue to final closure.
RPV Vice Chairman Mike Thomas is interim chairman and will call a meeting of the State Central Committee in early May to set up the process for electing the next Chairman. I understand the state party rules are clear that delegates at the May convention will have an opportunity to vote on the next chairman. It is unknown if Jeff Frederick will run again or if another candidate acceptable to grassroots conservatives will run.
We, the grass-roots of the Republican Party of Virginia, have a responsibility to the people of Virginia to offer sound principles and dynamic leadership to offset the siren call of Democrat candidates offering everything to everyone while undermining the market economic system that has made the U.S. the envy of the world. We cannot effectively deliver our message of limited government, lower taxes, greater individual freedom, and individual responsibility if we continue bickering within our ranks. It would be irresponsible to allow this fratricide to continue any longer.
Nevertheless, the election this November will be critical in determining the direction that our nation, as well as our state, moves in the next decade and beyond. As much as I disagree with what has happened within the Republican Party of Virginia today, we cannot allow this to further distract us from the job immediately at hand - winning the gubernatorial race, expanding our numbers in the House of Delegates, and winning the other state-wide races this fall. We cannot allow our internal discord, painful though it is, to disable our election efforts this fall. The consequences of losing would be devastating to Virginia and beyond.
The Party that wins in Virginia this November sets the stage for the National congressional elections in 2010. Winning this year is vital if Republicans are to increase our numbers in the U.S. Senate and thereby force President Obama and the National Democrats to come to terms with Republican principles. Another year of Democratic wins in Virginia will be good news for National Democrats. By losing U.S. House and Senate seats next year, we would allow President Obama and the Democrats to rule our nation unchecked and at our peril. The November elections are too important to lose, irrespective of who is Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia!
There have already been too many divisive and intemperate comments made by all sides in the media and in the blogs. This must stop. All who have supported Chairman Frederick must know, and act on the fact, that we cannot win as a divided party. Will there be differences of opinion and hard feelings? Of course. We as leaders of our Party's grass-roots must show the maturity and leadership to move our candidates to victory despite our disagreement with the SCC.
I believe that our Party is much better served when our leadership comes from the grass-roots up, rather than being imposed by a top-down decree. Our May convention should provide the grass-roots of the Republican Party of Virginia our opportunity to weigh in on this matter and bring the issue to final closure.
RPV Vice Chairman Mike Thomas is interim chairman and will call a meeting of the State Central Committee in early May to set up the process for electing the next Chairman. I understand the state party rules are clear that delegates at the May convention will have an opportunity to vote on the next chairman. It is unknown if Jeff Frederick will run again or if another candidate acceptable to grassroots conservatives will run.
We, the grass-roots of the Republican Party of Virginia, have a responsibility to the people of Virginia to offer sound principles and dynamic leadership to offset the siren call of Democrat candidates offering everything to everyone while undermining the market economic system that has made the U.S. the envy of the world. We cannot effectively deliver our message of limited government, lower taxes, greater individual freedom, and individual responsibility if we continue bickering within our ranks. It would be irresponsible to allow this fratricide to continue any longer.