Orange County Republican Party Slams Door On New Members!

This email was sent to members of the Orange Co., FL Meetup:

Having previously been welcomed by the Orange County Republican Executive Committee (OCREC), we were surprised at last night's monthly meeting. The evenings activities started with the usual perfunctory items such as committee reports, accepting 'minutes' of last month's meeting, and other business.

What also happens at these meetings is the 'voting' of new precinct committee people. This is normally no big deal. Basically, come to two consecutive month's meetings and on the third month be put on a ballot to be appointed at precinct committee person for the area of town you live in. I've been attending these monthly meetings for about the last six months. Each meeting little slips of paper were passed around with new people wanting to be appointed to these positions.

It was always considered that people were accepted without question to be Republican party precinct captains (Florida chooses to call them Committee Men and Women, perhaps to give a more ceremonious title to a grassroots activist). Tonight it was different.

Unbeknownst to us, certain people within the OCREC decided that they would circulate a secret sample ballot showing which new precinct committee people were guilty of supporting Republican Presidential candidate Congressman Ron Paul. This unsigned smear job called these Republicans "EXTREMIST ATTACKER'S OF OUR ORGANIZATION" and "DISLOYAL TO THE PARTY". Strong statements that are no where near the truth.

Like I said this sample ballot was secretly distributed. We would have known nothing of this underhanded tactic except for the eagle eyes of one of our supporters noticing the Mayor Rich Crotty was dutifully marking NO next to each name on the ballot that corresponded to each supposed Ron Paul supporter on the smear sheet. Mind you, that Mayor Crotty rarely attends these meetings and hasn't talked to anyone of the new Republican precinct committee persons up for consideration. Vote NO, ask questions later.

In all the many months that I have gone to this meeting, I have never seen such an underhanded attempt to shut out new voters to the Republican party. If they had questions as to our loyalty to our party, WHY THE HECK DIDN'T THEY ASK US??

It now appears that fear is gripping the Republican party. Anyone that is not in LOCKSTEP with them will be thrown out on the street. And this in an election year?? Doesn't sound like a good way to win votes to me!

I have called and spoken with many of my contacts within OCREC. Some were saddened by what took place last night. Others basically said, "Sorry, but we don't need you." I am personally shocked that the party that I grew up with (supporting Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, etc.) has turned into a snobbish affair.

Am I mad right now? You bet! To be asked to choose between friends that I have in the Republican party and friends that I want to bring into the party is very challenging. I think it is high time to ask the question whether the Republican party really wants to win in November! The Democratic party is rallying it's base. The Republican party seems to want to alienate anyone that might come in with even nary ONE NEW IDEA!!

What's it to be? We now know that the Orange County Republican Party is snooping through our group, reading our emails and even infiltrating our group with spies. They think it is sport to see how they can shut out new activists. Lew Oliver is the Chairman of the county executive committee. His number is 407-342-2449 (published in the OCREC newsletter and he's told me it's okay to call). Why not call him up and politely ask if you can join his exclusive club.

See you next month. And I dare ANYONE to tell me I'm not good enough to be a REPUBLICAN!

Nick
Orlando Ron Paul Meetup Organizer
Republican Precinct Committeeman for Precinct 319

Post Script... I just got off the phone with Lew Oliver. We had a long conversation about his perception that we didn't really support Republicans. I tried to explain that we did indeed support Republican principles, but that we did have honest differences of opinions on the direction the party is taking. Surprising thing? Chairman Oliver and I really had a tough time finding some principle that we disagreed on. Believe it or not it's true. Ask him.

He made clear that he would circulate every last email I have written, xerox every email that anyone in the Orlando Ron Paul Meetup ever wrote and distribute those freely, " in the court of public opinion." I asked him if we could have a chance to respond to the 'cut and paste' of our every utterance. He said he would think about it. I also reminded that as he was a lawyer, wasn't it the right of the defendant to face his accuser?" He laughed and said, "I don't have to do anything." True I said, but it would seem to me that people that were willing to volunteer their time and money to joining the party might be accounted the opportunity to at least answer a smear campaign mounted by members of their own party. He said he would think about contacting those of you blackballed in last nights election. Let me know if you receive such a communication.

Again I publicly state (are you listening Chairman Oliver?) that the Republican party is the last hope for us freedom loving patriots to effect political change. We have much to learn and much to give. It is a shame that the hand of friendship is so quickly (and blindly) brushed aside.