Greetings District 22 and friends,
After some
thought, I decided that this story was too important to not cover...
...despite my original goal with these D22 newsletters to mainly cover State-level happenings. However, if the proper action is not taken, then this issue could affect candidates and legislation at the State House and State Senate for years to come. And not in a good way. We are going to need your help to stop it.
As always, I'll explain what's going on. As I do, you'll start to understand more and more why this issue is important, and why what is at stake is much bigger than the actual issue itself.
So what's the issue?
Roughly a few months ago, it was discovered that an official Committee member of the GA Congressional District 11 Republican Party has been donating to Democrats. While a Republican official donating to Democrats doesn't make sense in the first place, this was done after this person was elected onto the Republican D11 Committee.
But to first catch you up, Congressional District 11 (D11) sends a single congressman to Washington to represent our interests in the U.S. House of Representatives. D11 is made up of Cherokee County, Bartow County, part of Cobb County, and part of Fulton County, and has significant overlap with State House District 22. Now that you know what D11 is, let's continue...
Wait, why is an official Republican committee member donating to Democrats?!?
Good question. Per both GA State GOP and D11 GOP rules, doing so is forbidden and is cause for removal from office, for obvious reasons. The entire point of a political party is to elect others from that political party - not give money to the opposition party. None of the excuses heard thus far make any sense at all, as if the expectation was to simply not get caught in the first place and therefore there would not be a reason to have an excuse if caught.
These aren't tiny amounts, either. The amounts are large enough to be considered public support by the Secretary of State and as such, are published on the Secretary of State website (where they were first discovered). These donations were from this year, despite this D11 official being elected last year.
Which Democrats did this person donate to? This Republican has donated to GA State House Rep Ronnie Mabra, GA State House Rep Stacey Evans, and GA State Senator Elena Parent, and DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston. All are GA Democrats.
Maybe there wasn't a Republican running against them? Would that be OK?
Common sense says that an official in the Republican Party shouldn't be donating to Democrats in any race. Even if there is not a Republican running at all.
Money from one campaign can be used on other campaigns in the future. Furthermore, if a Democrat does not have a Republican challenger, that Democrat can give money from their campaign to other Democrat campaigns that *do* have Republican challengers. Regardless, the D11 GOP rules clearly state that such official positions can't publicly donate to a Democrat who's running against a Republican. But this is exactly what our D11 Republican Committee member did. At least four times.
One example is the race between Democrat Stacey Evans and Republican Matt Vaughn. Our D11 Committee member donated to Democrat Stacey Evans in that race. Imagine running as a Republican, and finding out that a high-ranking GOP committee member has donated to your Democrat opponent. How long would it take you to pick your jaw up off the floor? I can tell you from personal experience, nothing in politics is more painful than having your own team stab you in the back.
But that's not the only race. In the race between Democrat Elena Parent and Republican Kenneth Brett Quarterman, our D11 Republican Committee member donated to the Democrat as well. Again - these donations were made by an official member of the D11 Committee.
Well, maybe the donations were to a Republican fake-running as a Democrat?
Even so, there is still an actual Republican running as an actual Republican in the contested races! Besides, these are anything but Democrats with Republican-leaning ideals. You're going to want to sit down for these examples:
Is abortion or the 2nd Amendment what you care about as a Republican? If so, one Democrat this person donated to, Elena Parent, brags on her website that she's "a proud Democrat who will be a strong voice for progressive values in the State Senate. She is one-hundred percent pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, supports common sense gun safety reform, ..." This Democrat is also a leading advocate for increasing the job-killing minimum wage. And our D11 Republican Committee member donated to her, claiming it's no big deal!
Another Democrat is Stacey Evans, who brags on her website of her public recognition for leading the charge against the popular GA Religious Freedom bill Governor Deal recently vetoed. In addition, she's a member of the Cobb County Democrat Party, the Cobb County Democratic Women, was a two-term statewide president for the Young Democrats of Georgia, and she's also a past member of the Board of Directors of the Red Clay Democrats. She's a Democrat's Democrat, not just some Republican politician trying to get elected in a mostly-Democrat district...and our D11 Republican Committee member donated to her, claiming it's no big deal!
All this has got to be against some official Republican rule, right?
Indeed it is. Both the D11 GOP and State GOP rules specifically forbid such donations. In fact, the D11 Bylaws specifically say that doing such is grounds for removal from the D11 Committee. The rule violations are quite clear-cut, and have even been reviewed by an attorney.
So won't this person simply be voted out at the next meeting, per the suggestion of the rules? The next meeting is on July 11th. This is where you come in. The simple answer is - nobody knows what will happen at this meeting until after the vote is taken.
Common sense would say this person would be removed, but the indications are that certain other members of the D11 Committee may try to protect this member at all costs. Such a vigorous defense of such detrimental behavior raises eyebrows. It certainly raised mine.
Informing the public will not allow them to sweep it under the rug, right? Exactly, which is why I'm writing this D22 Newsletter to shed some light. We need to be at this meeting. We need to video tape it. We need to pay attention to who says what, what they say, and especially how they vote when the vote comes up to remove a Republican Committee member with a habit of donating to not only Democrats, but Democrats in contested races against Republicans, and Democrats who "lead the charge" for minimum wage, zero restrictions on abortions, against religious freedom bills, and for more gun control laws - the exact opposite of the philosophies of the Republican party. You being there will shows you care.
So who's this Republican Committee member? I want to give them a piece of my mind!
Well, this person still has a chance to do the right thing and step down from their D11 Committee position, saving face, saving their reputation, and saving the D11 Committee from what will likely be a quite entertaining, but quite ugly and divisive meeting. Stepping down would be the best-case scenario for all involved, and would allow the local Republican party to get past this issue.
I want to give this person the chance to do so before exposing them. I also want to give the D11 Committee a chance to do the right thing before exposing them, too. So no names from me, yet. Unfortunately, there haven't been many signs of this person wanting to do the right thing.
How so? The member in question was politely approached the moment these transgressions were found. Polite discussions ensued. The result is that this D11 Committee member shrugged and brushed it aside as 'no big deal'. Later, they said they needed to sleep on it. Apparently for days and days. Days later, a meeting meeting was called that, due to the rules, would not allow a vote to even come up to have this D11 Committee member removed. In other words, a meeting that would have allowed this member to get away with it. Smells fishy!
In fact, it finally took a group of other D11 Committee members getting together themselves to call an emergency meeting to allow the vote of confidence for this particular member. And even that was challenged by others on the D11 Committee!
Therefore, the member involved and those who appear to be in favor of keeping this member around at all costs are doing all they can to 'make this go away quietly'. That is all the reason we need to let them know we're watching, and let them know that they will be held accountable.
Finally, after at least a dozen conversations, there does not appear to be any contrition, remorse, or anything of the like from this D11 Committee member who donated to Democrats. This Republican, who has repeatedly funded Democrats as an official member of the Republican party, is telling folks that them doing so was no big deal, and that those who say otherwise are simply "on a witch hunt". That's why I say indications point away from this D11 member doing the right thing and stepping down.
But why would certain others try to keep this member on the Committee?
Their personal reasons? You wouldn't believe me if I told you what I've heard. Also, I assume that those who attempt to defend such actions will share their reasons at the upcoming July 11th D11 Committee meeting. Hear them for yourself! I have a feeling that the reasons will be comical when compared to the following fact:
...despite my original goal with these D22 newsletters to mainly cover State-level happenings. However, if the proper action is not taken, then this issue could affect candidates and legislation at the State House and State Senate for years to come. And not in a good way. We are going to need your help to stop it.
As always, I'll explain what's going on. As I do, you'll start to understand more and more why this issue is important, and why what is at stake is much bigger than the actual issue itself.
So what's the issue?
Roughly a few months ago, it was discovered that an official Committee member of the GA Congressional District 11 Republican Party has been donating to Democrats. While a Republican official donating to Democrats doesn't make sense in the first place, this was done after this person was elected onto the Republican D11 Committee.
But to first catch you up, Congressional District 11 (D11) sends a single congressman to Washington to represent our interests in the U.S. House of Representatives. D11 is made up of Cherokee County, Bartow County, part of Cobb County, and part of Fulton County, and has significant overlap with State House District 22. Now that you know what D11 is, let's continue...
Wait, why is an official Republican committee member donating to Democrats?!?
Good question. Per both GA State GOP and D11 GOP rules, doing so is forbidden and is cause for removal from office, for obvious reasons. The entire point of a political party is to elect others from that political party - not give money to the opposition party. None of the excuses heard thus far make any sense at all, as if the expectation was to simply not get caught in the first place and therefore there would not be a reason to have an excuse if caught.
These aren't tiny amounts, either. The amounts are large enough to be considered public support by the Secretary of State and as such, are published on the Secretary of State website (where they were first discovered). These donations were from this year, despite this D11 official being elected last year.
Which Democrats did this person donate to? This Republican has donated to GA State House Rep Ronnie Mabra, GA State House Rep Stacey Evans, and GA State Senator Elena Parent, and DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston. All are GA Democrats.
Maybe there wasn't a Republican running against them? Would that be OK?
Common sense says that an official in the Republican Party shouldn't be donating to Democrats in any race. Even if there is not a Republican running at all.
Money from one campaign can be used on other campaigns in the future. Furthermore, if a Democrat does not have a Republican challenger, that Democrat can give money from their campaign to other Democrat campaigns that *do* have Republican challengers. Regardless, the D11 GOP rules clearly state that such official positions can't publicly donate to a Democrat who's running against a Republican. But this is exactly what our D11 Republican Committee member did. At least four times.
One example is the race between Democrat Stacey Evans and Republican Matt Vaughn. Our D11 Committee member donated to Democrat Stacey Evans in that race. Imagine running as a Republican, and finding out that a high-ranking GOP committee member has donated to your Democrat opponent. How long would it take you to pick your jaw up off the floor? I can tell you from personal experience, nothing in politics is more painful than having your own team stab you in the back.
But that's not the only race. In the race between Democrat Elena Parent and Republican Kenneth Brett Quarterman, our D11 Republican Committee member donated to the Democrat as well. Again - these donations were made by an official member of the D11 Committee.
Well, maybe the donations were to a Republican fake-running as a Democrat?
Even so, there is still an actual Republican running as an actual Republican in the contested races! Besides, these are anything but Democrats with Republican-leaning ideals. You're going to want to sit down for these examples:
Is abortion or the 2nd Amendment what you care about as a Republican? If so, one Democrat this person donated to, Elena Parent, brags on her website that she's "a proud Democrat who will be a strong voice for progressive values in the State Senate. She is one-hundred percent pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, supports common sense gun safety reform, ..." This Democrat is also a leading advocate for increasing the job-killing minimum wage. And our D11 Republican Committee member donated to her, claiming it's no big deal!
Another Democrat is Stacey Evans, who brags on her website of her public recognition for leading the charge against the popular GA Religious Freedom bill Governor Deal recently vetoed. In addition, she's a member of the Cobb County Democrat Party, the Cobb County Democratic Women, was a two-term statewide president for the Young Democrats of Georgia, and she's also a past member of the Board of Directors of the Red Clay Democrats. She's a Democrat's Democrat, not just some Republican politician trying to get elected in a mostly-Democrat district...and our D11 Republican Committee member donated to her, claiming it's no big deal!
All this has got to be against some official Republican rule, right?
Indeed it is. Both the D11 GOP and State GOP rules specifically forbid such donations. In fact, the D11 Bylaws specifically say that doing such is grounds for removal from the D11 Committee. The rule violations are quite clear-cut, and have even been reviewed by an attorney.
So won't this person simply be voted out at the next meeting, per the suggestion of the rules? The next meeting is on July 11th. This is where you come in. The simple answer is - nobody knows what will happen at this meeting until after the vote is taken.
Common sense would say this person would be removed, but the indications are that certain other members of the D11 Committee may try to protect this member at all costs. Such a vigorous defense of such detrimental behavior raises eyebrows. It certainly raised mine.
Informing the public will not allow them to sweep it under the rug, right? Exactly, which is why I'm writing this D22 Newsletter to shed some light. We need to be at this meeting. We need to video tape it. We need to pay attention to who says what, what they say, and especially how they vote when the vote comes up to remove a Republican Committee member with a habit of donating to not only Democrats, but Democrats in contested races against Republicans, and Democrats who "lead the charge" for minimum wage, zero restrictions on abortions, against religious freedom bills, and for more gun control laws - the exact opposite of the philosophies of the Republican party. You being there will shows you care.
So who's this Republican Committee member? I want to give them a piece of my mind!
Well, this person still has a chance to do the right thing and step down from their D11 Committee position, saving face, saving their reputation, and saving the D11 Committee from what will likely be a quite entertaining, but quite ugly and divisive meeting. Stepping down would be the best-case scenario for all involved, and would allow the local Republican party to get past this issue.
I want to give this person the chance to do so before exposing them. I also want to give the D11 Committee a chance to do the right thing before exposing them, too. So no names from me, yet. Unfortunately, there haven't been many signs of this person wanting to do the right thing.
How so? The member in question was politely approached the moment these transgressions were found. Polite discussions ensued. The result is that this D11 Committee member shrugged and brushed it aside as 'no big deal'. Later, they said they needed to sleep on it. Apparently for days and days. Days later, a meeting meeting was called that, due to the rules, would not allow a vote to even come up to have this D11 Committee member removed. In other words, a meeting that would have allowed this member to get away with it. Smells fishy!
In fact, it finally took a group of other D11 Committee members getting together themselves to call an emergency meeting to allow the vote of confidence for this particular member. And even that was challenged by others on the D11 Committee!
Therefore, the member involved and those who appear to be in favor of keeping this member around at all costs are doing all they can to 'make this go away quietly'. That is all the reason we need to let them know we're watching, and let them know that they will be held accountable.
Finally, after at least a dozen conversations, there does not appear to be any contrition, remorse, or anything of the like from this D11 Committee member who donated to Democrats. This Republican, who has repeatedly funded Democrats as an official member of the Republican party, is telling folks that them doing so was no big deal, and that those who say otherwise are simply "on a witch hunt". That's why I say indications point away from this D11 member doing the right thing and stepping down.
But why would certain others try to keep this member on the Committee?
Their personal reasons? You wouldn't believe me if I told you what I've heard. Also, I assume that those who attempt to defend such actions will share their reasons at the upcoming July 11th D11 Committee meeting. Hear them for yourself! I have a feeling that the reasons will be comical when compared to the following fact:
A
top-ranking, Republican D11 Committee Member donated money to Democrats running
against Republicans multiple times, and then shrugged it off when asked about
it as no big deal.
So why is this issue such a big deal? Compliant silence allows bad deeds to be swept under the rug and forgotten. But not this time. This fight is for the very soul of the local Republican Party.
If we allow top Republican leaders to donate to Democrats in direct opposition to the rules they agree to when they run for office, then what is the point of the Republican Party? How can anyone running as a Republican be taken seriously if the party itself doesn't take such an excessive violation seriously?
If a Republican official can get away with donating to a Democrat in a contested race against a Republican, multiple times, showing no contrition, no remorse along the way, then what other rules do we allow them to get away with? Even the Democrats who read these newsletters agree that everyone is better off when everyone is doing the right thing. This isn't a partisanship issue, it's an issue of right and wrong, of integrity.
If such is allowed, the message to future generations will be that the Republican Party is no longer the party of personal responsibility. Since the Republican Party is such a powerful influence in D22, and since there is no other major party influence to drive smaller government, lower taxes, and greater personal responsibility, such a loss of confidence in the local GOP would not be a good thing for our District.
THIS is why this issue is important. Not the donations themselves, but the fact that a top-ranked Republican official can flaunt the rules and (so far) expects to get away with it. This is much larger than any single position on the D11 Committee. And if you typically vote Republican, you should care greatly.
Therefore, the upcoming July 11th D11 Committee meeting is a battle for the very soul of the local Republican party.
What about the meeting itself, are their concerns it will not be run fairly? If you are there to witness the meeting, if we video tape it and possibly even live-broadcast it over Facebook, then the chances of an unfair meeting greatly dwindle. Again, this is where you come in by showing up, or by simply being aware of it and being prepared to act at a later date should shenanigans ensue.
Is there any precedent for a District Committee member supporting an opposition party?
There is indeed. Back in 2000, the then-current District Chairman, Pete Costello, faced a dilemma. I spoke to Pete the other day, and he filled me in on the details and granted me permission to tell his story:
Pete supported Pat Buchanan for President back in 2000. Unfortunately for Pete, Pat Buchanan wasn't officially running as a Republican, while George Bush was. Pete agonized over what to do, but finally decided to do what he thought was best, and publicly supported Pat Buchanan for President, knowing the ramifications of doing so as the District Chairman meant that his position as such was in peril.
Since a Republican was in the same race, Pete had violated both the spirit and letter of the Republican District rules to not support a non-Republican. Therefore, Pete would likely be voted out of his position as District 9 Chairman (the highest officer position in the District).
But being a man of conviction, Pete instead voluntarily stepped down to save the District party from the agony of such a meeting. Pete explained that he made what he thought was the right decision, and would do it again...but also did so knowing that he must pay the price as a result. In paying that price by stepping down, Pete preserved his integrity, saved face, and lived to fight another day. A good lesson to learn for all on standing for what you believe in, including the rules you swore to uphold. This is what I hope happens this time, too.
Any other examples? A few years ago, a member of the Cherokee County Republican party Committee was recently removed for donating to a Republican in a Republican primary. Such is against the rules for their particular position, since that position is in charge of candidates and could not thus show favoritism. One would think that if you can be removed for donating to a Republican, you should certainly be removed for donating to a Democrat!
I'm convinced that the right thing should be done July 11th - how can I help?
As hinted at before, the upcoming District 11 Committee meeting is Monday, July 11th at 7:00PM. It will be held in the Cobb County GOP headquarters (799 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA). The more people who show up, the more the D11 Committee members will realize that the right thing is expected to be done.
You will not be able to speak at this meeting, address the meeting itself, or vote. Since I am not on the D11 Committee myself, neither can I. But there are some brave people who are trying to make sure the right thing gets done, and we need to be there to support them and hold accountable those who are making decisions on our behalf.
And if some at the meeting appear to not care about the rules and the entire point of our party, then you will see their faces and remember their names. It won't be that long until their position will be up for a vote during the next GOP convention cycle, and you will have the opportunity to vote those people out (yes you, even if you never have participated before), and help save the party from them in the future.
I will send an update if I find out that this individual has stepped down prior to the meeting, so you won't feel that you've wasted your time by visiting the Cobb GOP Headquarters Monday, 7/11 at 7PM.
What if I can't make the Monday D11 meeting at 7PM? If you cannot make the meeting yourself, please feel free to email me your thoughts on this matter, and I'll share them with the other D11 Committee members to read prior to the vote. Such testimonials can be quite powerful.
Thank you for sticking with me on this, I know it's kinda long. Let me know if you have any questions, but I won't answer 'who' the D11 Committee member is who donated to Democrats until sometime later this weekend at the earliest, since I want them to have the chance to step down and safe face (and avoid what will likely be a nasty meeting). I figure if they haven't done it by then, then they aren't going to do so at all.
Thanks, Sam Moore, GA State House
Emeritus - Dist. 22
sam@voteformoore.com, www.voteformoore.com, FB: voteformoore22
Got this email from a friend? Subscribe to this newsletter yourself!
P.S. Join me at the upcoming District 11 Committee meeting is Monday, July 11th at 7:00PM. It will be held in the Cobb County GOP headquarters (799 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA). The more people who show up, the more that D11 Committee members will realize that the right thing is expected to be done, and the more pressure they will feel to do it.
P.P.S. If you cannot make the meeting yourself, please feel free to email me your thoughts on this matter, and I'll share them with the other D11 Committee members to read prior to the vote.
P.P.P.S. I haven't forgotten, a D22 Newsletter on how our State House Reps are told what to say and how to say it on almost all pieces of legislation will come out later. I do appreciate the reminders, though! Your feedback is always greatly appreciated.
sam@voteformoore.com, www.voteformoore.com, FB: voteformoore22
Got this email from a friend? Subscribe to this newsletter yourself!
P.S. Join me at the upcoming District 11 Committee meeting is Monday, July 11th at 7:00PM. It will be held in the Cobb County GOP headquarters (799 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA). The more people who show up, the more that D11 Committee members will realize that the right thing is expected to be done, and the more pressure they will feel to do it.
P.P.S. If you cannot make the meeting yourself, please feel free to email me your thoughts on this matter, and I'll share them with the other D11 Committee members to read prior to the vote.
P.P.P.S. I haven't forgotten, a D22 Newsletter on how our State House Reps are told what to say and how to say it on almost all pieces of legislation will come out later. I do appreciate the reminders, though! Your feedback is always greatly appreciated.
http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=260eb6c0bb3bcb3dec6adf02c&id=2fe11f349b&e=d2038f328c
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