Questions and Answers

RNC National Committeeman Morton Blackwell did what a lot of conservatives have been dying to do - he asked some rather pointed questions of the candidates running for RNC Chair this year. Matt Lewis of Townhall has the post that is a must read for every Republican grass roots activist out there!

Here are a couple of highlights from the post. In answer to question 1 (As RNC chairman, what would you do to make sure that Democrats do not have a comparable ground-game advantage in 2010?)...

Saul Anuzis: The challenges we faced in 2008 had less to do with infrastructure and more to do with a passion deficit that our party experienced throughout 2008. The articulation of good ideas breeds passion; Passion breeds excitement; excitement breeds volunteers, and volunteers are the life's blood of a political ground game. So our first task is to be the party that is effectively communicating conservative ideas, so that we can once again stir the passions of our nation....
Ken Blackwell: ...to have an exceptional ground game, our Party must first inspire thousands of people who can then be activated to work for our shared values during the election cycle. Lately, our party has become overly focused on mechanics while failing to articulate a clear, concise, positive and practical message. To inspire enough prospective Republican volunteers to be a part of a new "ground game," we must stand firm for our core beliefs: Limited government, traditional values and a strong national defense. If we become the "Obama-lite" party, we will not be able to recruit the substantial number of volunteers needed for such a massive effort.
Katon Dawson:... In 2008, the GOP's strategy of "winning 50 percent plus one" and sticking strictly to the electoral math cost us dearly. The result was Democrats making gains almost everywhere -- even in the reddest of states. Our message was lost and good candidates didn't have a chance due to the monetary and strategic advantages of the Obama campaign. Republicans can't wait until the next election season to improve our on-the-ground operation -- the rebuilding must start now.

In answer to question 2 (As RNC chairman, what would you do to make sure that the RNC, in a balanced way, speaks out for the social issues so important to a huge number of potential Republican voters and so clearly stated in the democratically written and unanimously adopted 2008 National Republican Platform?)...

John "Chip" Saltsman: Republicans are successful when they are faithful to conservative ideals - smaller government, lower taxes, family values. Unfortunately, in recent years, actions by our elected officials have diverged from the party's ideological pillars. So, I fully appreciate the problems that social conservatives and fiscal conservatives have had with our party. I know that we must effectively communicate with disheartened supporters and communities of voters who share our core principles. And I believe that it is imperative for the next RNC Chairman to make all members of our coalition feel at home in the Republican Party, while adding new supporters to the GOP family. (ed can I get an AMEN from the church?)

Michael Steele: Well, as Chairman I would begin by restating: We are the Conservative Party of this Great Nation. We value life, born and unborn; we value hard work and individual initiative; we value service to our nation and to our community; but most of all we value the rights of individuals to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. As a strong social and fiscal conservative, I will continue to embrace -- not take advantage of the conservatives of our Party.
I also recognize that good Republicans can disagree from time to time. But the answer to returning to a ruling majority is not to abandon our principles or abandon our National Republican Platform but to embrace all of it and articulate its message in such a manner that we inspire and move a nation towards once again embracing conservative Republican principals and policies.

There is much, much more that conservatives should really read.

All in all, I have to say that I was extremely impressed by the answers given by John "Chip" Salzman and Kanton Dawson to a majority of the questions. Many of their answers covered ground that none of the others had prior to this. The answers from Saul Anuzis, Ken Blackwell and Michael Steele were not surprises to anyone who has read their previous position papers on the issues or followed their campaigns (Steele and Blackwell) in any manner.

The man whose answers disappointed me the most was current chair Mike Duncan. He showed (in several of his answers) that he is close to getting it, but he is still not quite there yet - where the other candidates fully do get it. His tepid "hiding in the bull-rushes" approach to his answers and his tenure as the GOP chair has earned him the nickname "Mike WHO?"

Duncan has been the Invisible Chairman, installed in January 2007 by Karl Rove to be unobtrusive — a mission he has carried out brilliantly. Many, if not most, Republican leaders and activists don’t know who he is. For example, when Duncan was a guest recently on the "Hugh Hewitt Show," the radio host asked Duncan why this was the first time this RNC chairman had ever asked to come on the show and address millions of his fellow Republicans.

Duncan couldn’t give an answer other than he’d been busy for the past year. I suppose that’s one way to look at it. Another way is he hasn’t provided the kind of leadership the Republican National Committee needs in this day and age.

And that pretty much sums it all up. Mike Duncan seems to be a nice enough guy, but he appears to not understand what the Republican Party needs to do to move forward. The GOP needs a chair that understands how to get the volunteers and donors excited again. Being the "Invisible Man" is not going to do that.