County Parties: The Political Tip of the Spear

It was my intention to write strictly about how county parties are the foundation upon which statewide and national races are built, but a few events that have unfolded over the last few days has caused me to think about a bit more than my original parameters for this piece.  The key point is still the same: We need to strengthen the county parties in order to strengthen the state party in order to strengthen the national party.

The Overview:

The political environment that we find ourselves in is not a handsome one for Republicans, but the situation is not as dire as one might think.  In a particularly brutal 2006 cycle, Ohio Republicans managed to hold majorities in the state legislature and lost only one Congressional seat.  Granted, we got our clocks cleaned in statewide offices, but let's not forget that the very foundation of the party is still quite strong.

Money is not the problem.  Republicans are still generous in giving to institutions that promote the advancement of our values.  Our campaigns, with a few notable exceptions, will not lose because they lacked sufficient fundraising.

Democratic governor Ted Strickland has had to resort to creating jobs for Republicans in the state legislature in order to help his chairman try to wrest control of the Ohio House from GOP hands.  Ohio Democrats fear the strength of our county parties so much that they are now going after our politicians wallets in order to take over.

The Warning:

With apologies to Thomas Jefferson, the tree of Republican values must be refreshed from time to time with the defeat of apostates and the corrupt.  At the county party level, we must ensure that Republican values are promoted, strengthened, and secured.

The largest obstacle facing the Ohio Republicans is unity.  We have become so desperate to capture the political center that we have forgotten that we have to stand for something.  The only time a Republican should ever support a Democrat is if the Republican violates one of these principles.  Support is defined as a vote or a donation.  If a Republican is supporting a Democrat, the Republicans all over the state are losing.   We are all connected and a crack in the foundation anywhere can bring the whole structure down on itself.

The Values:

I want to share a quote from John Geraghty with you.  John writes the Campaign Spot over at National Review Online, and here is his observation:

“Since 2005 — and in particular, since the disastrous midterm elections of 2006 — we've seen a lot of discussion of what troubles conservatism and the Republican Party. I'm not the first to make these observations, but a lot of the discussion sounds a lot like, "the problem of the party is people like you, and the solution is people like me" and a variation of that argument, "what the GOP needs to do is stand for the policy proposals that are my favorite; what appeals to me is not only 100 percent certain to appeal to a majority of the electorate, but is certain to be a motivating issue for a majority of the electorate."

In that spirit, I offer up the following as a conversation starter.  I believe that Ohio Republicans must be dedicated to the following principles:

·       The elimination of corruption from all levels of government.

·       The reduction of the size and scope of government at all levels.

·       The lowering of taxes at all levels.

·       The encouragement of entrepreneurship everywhere.

·       The adoption of a zero-tolerance policy for crime and corruption.

·       The commitment to pro-life policies.

On these issues, we must remain vigilant.

The People:

We need to be voting for candidates who ha a record that reflects these values.  No matter if the position is President or Governor or County Commissioner or Sheriff or Central Committee Member, it is on these principles that the body of Republicans ought to be basing their choices.

Those of us who serve on Central Committees ought to be the strongest of the bunch.  It is upon that foundation that the party, as a whole, is built.  We are as strong as our weakest link and we must do everything we can to bolster our defenses against the coming attacks.  To do so, we need to make sure that we remember who we are and what we fight for and why.

As the cliché states: As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.  In that respect, we have an awesome power and a tremendous responsibility.  It has occurred to me over the last few years that some in the Republican Party have forgotten what we believe and need to be reminded.

Matt Hurley is the Contributing Editor of Weapons of Mass Discussion and also writes for TheNextRight.com.  He is the Executive Producer and a host of the TIB All-Stars internet radio talk show.

Comments

[King]

this post just leaves me speechless!

[Stephen Emmert]

Excellent article. I could not have said it better myself, although I most certainly did not fail in my duty to try. There is only one part I must correct Mr. Hurtey on. The Ohio Democrats fear most County Republican Parties with the exception being Cuyahoga. Completely unorganized(435 precincts of 1463 filled with committeemen), no canvassing of neighborhoods in at least 15 years, no opposition at the highest levels against those who would even donate against (and even vote against) the Republican Nominee for President, let alone local Democrats galore. I would be curious to see the campaign contributions to Dimora and Russo and Kelley. It would not surprise anyone ,I suspect, to find Republican officers on the lists.
The Democrats are not afraid of their "PALS", nor those they can roll over the top of so easily.
The party has a lot of work to do to live up to it's name the Gallant Old Party or Grand Old Party. But you know it is worth the fight. To preserve such great principles and to maybe even have a direct hand in preserving our nation. How Glorious a cause. May GOD BLESS the efforts to restore the Republican Party here in Cuyahoga County.