Thoughts from the NCGOP Convention
By: BJ Lawson
Change is in the air at the North Carolina GOP Convention. We elected a change-oriented national committeewoman, physician and fellow Congressional candidate Dr. Ada M. Fisher. Dr. Fisher literally came out of nowhere — she nominated herself from the floor, and gave a great speech focused on reaching out and growing the party in true service to our communities and nation.
Dr. Fisher’s election was, I believe, historic. Not only is she the first Black national committeewoman from North Carolina, but she nominated herself from the floor and won the voting overwhelmingly. The establishment’s candidate is a nice lady with an impressive political resume, but her speech was largely limited to her political and civic accomplishments — as such, it talked about the past. Dr. Fisher’s speech talked honestly about the challenges our nation faces, her efforts to bring about positive social change in her community, and where our party needs to go in the future. For most attendees, the contrast between past and future could not have been clearer.
During the business meeting’s Platform Committee report, I proposed a reasonable amendment stating our desire to eliminate North Carolina’s capricious statewide “no-carry” zones that disarm trained, law-abiding concealed carry permit holders:
Since criminals do not obey laws, we support eliminating North Carolina’s capricious statewide “no-carry” zones that disarm law-abiding and duly licensed Concealed Carry permit holders.
Of course, if a private property owner wants to put a “No Firearms” sign on his premises, he does and should always have that right. But if I own a bank and want to allow my trained and licensed customers to carry concealed, I don’t have that right - the state has arbitrarily declared that all financial institutions are “no carry” zones. Rep. Paul Stam, chair of the Platform Committee, recommended against the amendment, but it passed overwhelmingly. I approached him after the session to try and understand his objection to the amendment, but he didn’t offer an explanation. First he endorses my poorly-vetted primary opponent from his position as minority leader of the General Assembly, then he supports disarming certified and trained concealed carry permit holders.
Things got a bit nasty around the delegate nomination process, with an unfortunate parliamentary food fight that was completely unnecessary and avoidable if Chairman Linda Daves or her staff had shown some common courtesy to Gary Hardee and the Ron Paul campaign leading up to the convention. Instead, the party ignored their good faith attempts to reach out and put legitimate Ron Paul delegates on the slate, and further decided to reduce the number of Ron Paul delegates entirely based upon their interpretation of “proportional allocation”.
Even more amusing, Chairman Daves then got up on stage and blatantly lied to the entire auditorium about how the Paul supporters were “arguing among themselves” and that the party’s selection of Ron Paul delegates was “discussed with B.J. Lawson”. It was tragic comedy, as their actions effectively discredited them and alienated a large bloc of activists. Ultimately, Chairman Daves effectively squandered what would have been a “kumbya moment” after a fantastic unifying speech by our newly re-elected national committeeman Rep. David Lewis.
The final move was calling quorum. Both based upon the delegate fiasco, and the fact that a number of duly-debated resolutions passed in District conventions were not presented to the State convention because they didn’t make it through the Resolution Committee (ironically chaired by my openly-hostile district chair Martha Jenkins), most liberty-minded folks left early and someone had the good sense to call for a quorum. Not enough delegates were left, so they had to end the convention early and were unable to pass all the approved resolutions, including one in support of John McCain.
I should note that liberty supporters were not that well organized, however. I would have much preferred for a quorum call at the beginning of the Resolution Committee report, so that no resolutions would have been passed, and none would be singled out. As it happened, folks trickled out gradually before quorum was called, and quorum was called right before a resolution honoring our troops. That timing was unfortunate, as everyone I know firmly supports our troops — there is just honest disagreement on foreign policy, and many, like me, want our courageous troops home immediately. To the extent that the timing of the quorum call was perceived as a slight to the troops, there may have been some collateral damage.
I then spent much of Saturday evening at a hospitality suite hosted by the minority outreach committee. That was a great event, as I had the opportunity to meet some fantastic people, as well as candidates for the General Assembly who are interested in advancing positive social change. I really enjoyed meeting Pearl Floyd (running in HD 110) and Dempsey Miller (HD 99) - they are both strong candidates in their respective districts.
Our campaign also hosted a hospitality suite on Friday evening, and had a fantastic time talking with new friends from throughout the state as well as longtime supporters. We advertised our suite by giving out a $50 gas card every hour from 9pm until midnight, and kept the party going until 2:30 am. Our motto, “We can’t afford the Price”, highlighted our desperate need for a Constitutional federal government, as oil conveniently rocketed up almost $11 to a new record close of $138 on Friday. When will our government realize that we cannot afford to borrow and print $1-3 billion per day, and make our dollars worth less as a result?
So here are my personal conclusions:
- It’s important to stay involved, and there are individuals and candidates within the party that deserve wholehearted support. Activists should seek out and meet our local candidates and find out if they are principled supporters of the rule of law, limited government, and freedom — if so, we need to help them as much as possible.
- The party itself, however, remains unfortunately myopic. While we should support our local auxiliaries and work to obtain party leadership positions going forward, the current state party apparatus remains elitist and disconnected from the problems facing our state and nation. It must be changed from within, which will take time and continued effort identifying others who are honestly concerned about our future.
I also have one additional conclusion that may be controversial, but I believe to be important:
- In order to take back our state, we need to remove state funding for political parties. Right now, North Carolina taxpayers are funding the Democrat and Republican parties based upon “checkoff funds” of $3 per taxpayer that can be allocated from your state income tax return. It’s not a real political contribution, since the money has ALREADY been taken from you in taxes — the state just gives you the option of allocating $3 of STATE FUNDS to a political party, instead of schools or new roads.
Our political parties should not steal from our children, or our roads. I strongly believe that political parties must honestly earn the financial support of their members. No political party deserves welfare from the state.
June 8th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Well said. I makes no sense for tax dollars to end up with ANY political party. If the parties aren’t already collecting enough voluntary financial support from their members to sustain themselves, then perhaps they’re out of touch with the principles that motivate people to invest in the political future of their country.
June 8th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
This is a great account of what happened. As a new republican, I was became dismayed and disheartened by the delegate selection process. One would think that that the state chairman would have been a bit more fair to establish a good reputation with the new people. It was pretty amazing for her to pay lip service to the party by speaking to the tune of liberty and unification behind the color guard, and then to seemingly turn on those principles during the delegate selection process. One is left to wonder just exactly how she thinks that her actions will encourage new and disheartened republicans to unite.
June 8th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I agree with the above posters, in addition, I wish to commend all of our liberty and freedom lovers at the convention for their proper and respectful behavior in the face of the deceitfull actions of the party chair.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Andrew, when she was talking about unity, I think she was saying, “hey young people, fall in line so that we can be unified.”
Great post BJ. Very informative. The 4th District is very lucky to have you.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Well done, BJ!!!
June 9th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Great job, BJ and North Carolina patriots. We are facing much the same here in VA. What happened to the willingness to stand up first against tyranny we once had? You give me hope that the south has not be neutered by big govt. Carry on!
June 9th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Very good summary. Also, Rancher has an excellent blog on this as well: http://goodrepublican.wordpress.com/
BJ, I so much enjoyed meeting you! You’re a fine person, a true patriot, and I will do everything I can to get you elected.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
B.J., thanks for this post. Unfortunately the “myopia” the NC GOP is suffering from sounds a lot like the myopia other state GOPs have come down with lately. I think you’re being generous to classify it as shortsightedness. Truly, it is a suicide pact like none other.
I am disappointed to hear that your state GOP leaders were limiiting the participation of Ron Paul delegates at the convention. All of our delegates and alternates (who were willing to pay the registration fee) in Georgia were seated at our state convention. Unfortunately, none of our delegates made it on to the party establishment’s slate to National. It was explained to me that since RP didn’t endorse McCain, none of his supporters could be trusted to follow state laws when voting at the National Convention.
After my experiences, I have to agree with you about the need to eliminate state taxpayer funding for political parties. I will be researching Georgia’s state laws on this matter to see whether the same kind of laws exist here. Thanks for bringing this issue to light.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Well done B.J. and to all my fellow Patriots.
Our mission now is to “Bring Two Friends”.
See you all next year!
June 10th, 2008 at 10:15 am
My husband will appreciate your proposed amendment regarding the statewide “no-carry” zones. I believe you spoke with him about this topic a couple of weekends ago while shooting!
Thank you for your hard work so far, we can defeat Price in November!
June 10th, 2008 at 10:29 am
BJ - You have a really good vision for the “big picture” and yet you can correctly identify the little problems and their solutions as well.
We need more people like you in DC but we also need them here locally and at the state level. Hopefully through your work, more qualified people will step up to the plate and work to fix the GOP and politics at all levels.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Hi BJ,
I hail from Virginia and just sent your office the max allowed. I’m very proud of your efforts keep up the great work in NC. BY the way I have a friend who is one of your states congressional members on a state level who is a GOP member. He says you are shaking things up and even though he supported Fred Thompson last year he is beginning to realze the value of Paul’s views and has not came out to support Paul but he is starting to support Paul’s message.
Keep up the great work…. I’m honored to support your efforts.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
What a bunch of whinny losers! Linda Daves aced you guys — you accomplished nothing — and she demonstrated the leadership and kahunas to stand up to the RNC and the pseudo-conservative John McCain. Ron Paul’s days as a congressman are numbered; he’s just too narrow minded to understand the leadership role of the world’s only superpower. BJ you have lots of energy and some good ideas, but you’re totally wrong about preemptive strikes and waving the white flag of surrender in Iraq. Get out of this “BJ mutual admiration society” and smell the coffee. Become part of the solution by helping Linda Daves bring back a conservative Republican Party.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
With all due respect, DB, it appears that Linda Daves had no choice *except* to bow down to the pseudo-conservative John McCain.
If the RNC/McCain operatives were not so focused on squashing dissent, and avoiding discussion of the issues, what would be the problem with a few more Huckabee, Paul, and even Keyes delegates from North Carolina at the national convention?
Instead, our political conventions are taxpayer-subsidized coronations where the script is worked out in advance, and folks are expected to follow their marching orders from above. That’s oligarchy, and not characteristic of a Constitutional republic. Why not just show up, say “aye”, and grab a beer? Or better yet — stay home, vote via email, and enjoy the beer from the couch. That’d be a lot cheaper.
Were you present at the convention, and if so, did you listen to the address given by the McCain representative to the delegates elected to the national convention? The marching orders are clear — do what you’re told. Our North Carolina party appears powerless to stand up to the forces from above.
Perhaps such behavior is just the nature of party politics, but it puts our country in a vulnerable position to the extent that we stifle real debate on the issues.
Here’s some interesting commentary on just how far the Republican party has drifted from the American people:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2XnFp636KA
June 10th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
DB,
you do realize that 1) Ron Paul won the Republican Primary for his House seat by a 70-30 margin, and 2) he has no Democratic challenger this time, correct?
Regarding this supposed “leadership role” that we are supposed to fulfill as the “world’s only superpower,” does this “leadership role” include running a foreign policy that costs nearly $1 trillion a year (http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1941), adds hundreds of billions of dollars a year to the debt (and hundreds of billions more, taking away the amount they’re raiding from the Social Security Trust Fund to help finance it), destroys our currency, and drains our economy of the resources it needs to finance capital formation and productivity growth? Have you at all studied the economic history of countries taking their “leadership role” as the “world’s only superpower?” It almost always leads to the same conclusion: massive run-up of debt, destruction of the currency, draining of the economy, and ultimately forced retreat and loss of “superpower status.” That’s the direction we are quickly heading in right now.
And how are we advocating “waving the white flag of surrender” in Iraq? We are not fighting a War in Iraq. Al-Qaeda has always been the most minor problem, and Sunni militia and tribal leaders united to take them down. No, instead, we are occupying a country with deep sectarian division that was supposed to be resolved and healed by now as a result of the security improvements from the surge. It hasn’t happened, and the sectarian violence and carbombings continue. This has absolutely nothing to do with the War on Terror now; it is about being in the middle of a sectarian division that could break into full-scale Civil War and footing the bill for a sovereign country’s security when they, as a sovereign country, are supposed to be paying for their own security. I’m guessing that you are not a big fan of taxpayer-funded welfare; why would you support what is effectively taxpayer-funded welfare for a foreign government?
What does success even look like in Iraq? A functional government left behind? At what cost? Generating al-Qaeda recruitment to the point where the organization is at greater than pre-9/11 strength, according to the latest National Intelligence Estimate? (http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0718/p99s01-duts.html) Diverting valuable resources from Afghanistan that could have been used to hunt down bin Laden and destroy a large amount of al-Qaeda’s strength in order to lay the groundwork for the Iraq invasion? All while continuing a six decades old foreign policy in the region that national security experts like Michael Scheuer, the former chief of the bin Laden Unit of the CIA, have identified as the chief catalyst and motivation for al-Qaeda- an organization whose ultimate goal is not destruction of the United States, but destruction of secular regimes in the Arab world and re-establishment of the Islamic Caliph- to target the United States? In the grand scheme of things, I do not call this success in any way.
The fact is that the Iraq War had nothing to do with being a “pre-emptive strike.” There were plenty of vocal skeptics of the intelligence that the Bush Administration cited to take us to War regarding Iraq’s supposed (i.e., non-existent) operational ties to al-Qaeda and their weapons of mass destruction, and these critics of the intelligence have been proven 100% correct. And even if Iraq DID have weapons of mass destruction and operational ties to al-Qaeda, how does this justify a pre-emptive strike? This is not a country that attacked us. The Soviets had tons of nukes, gave some of them to a country that was openly hostile to the United States, and were sponsoring plenty of terrorist organizations and left-wing guerrilla groups throughout the world that targeted American positions and interests, and they supported whole armies when they were at war with the U.S.. Do you think we should have gone to war with the Soviets since they had double our number of nukes, gave some of the to the Cubans, and supported militant anti-American groups? Interestingly enough, we didn’t. No, the Iraq War was something that was planned and advocated for by a group of bureaucrats in the Defense Department in the late 1990s- the product of which was the Iraq Liberation Act that set as American policy regime change in Iraq- as an ideological attempt to “reshape” the Middle East into a western-style democratic society in a region that has absolutely no history indicating that they are ready to transition to such. It was unwise to go there, it did nothing to enhance our national security, and it was in no way a “conservative” war, as it completely violated two of the central tenants of the conservative mindset: caution and restraint.
And what is so conservative about the “Republican Party” of late? What is so conservative about running up a $9.4 trillion national debt that could hit $10 trillion this year? What is so conservative about the largest federal intervention in Education in history? What is conservative about tens of $billions a year in new farm subsidies and pork-loaded highway funding? What is conservative about completely ignoring the tenant of federalism in an attempt to impose a cultural dictate on the entire country at the federal level? What is conservative about completely disregarding the tradition that our government is supposed to protect our rights and civil liberties at all costs, as dictated by the Constitution that conservatives have always cherished and fought to defend so vigorously over time? What is conservative about the largest and most costly financial regulation to ever be imposed on our economy? What is conservative about the largest expansion of government spending in 8 years of office in history (as has been the case under Bush)? What is conservative about locking up people for non-violent actions and filling our prisons with them while we let out violent murders and rapists and don’t have the resources to catch the ones who ultimately get away? There is absolutely nothing conservative about the North Carolina Republican Party as Linda Daves conceives it.
And if your definition of “acing” someone is flat out lying about them to disarm them, then I don’t really know why you would be proud of such an utter display of lacking of integrity at the leadership of the state party.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
BJ, I’d just like to say that it was a pleasure to meet you, and look forward to supporting your campaign from Mecklenburg any way I can. I only wish I could vote for you myself. Thanks for all you do for liberty.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
BJ,
The job of the resolutions chair is to make sure that NO controversial resolutions get to the floor. She was only doing her job. If you have a problem with the process I suggest you run for state party chair in 2009 and change things.