Kentucky GOP Bars Anyone From Serving In Leadership Positions If They Support Democratic Candidates.
GOP prohibits Democratic endorsements
By ROGER ALFORD
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- After some high-profile defections in recent weeks, the Kentucky Republican Executive Committee has adopted new internal rules that specifically prohibit GOP insiders from endorsing Democratic candidates.
GOP Chairman Steve Robertson said Friday the changes are primarily intended to modernize longstanding rules in a way that allows the participation of more people, including tea party activists, at local and state levels.
The rules, adopted unanimously in a private meeting Thursday, provide a groundwork for expanding the Republican base. The rules get more people involved in local GOP committees and improve communications through automated telephone calls, mass mailings and emails to announce scheduled meetings where officers would be selected.
But the more eye-catching provision is the one that would bar Republican activists from serving in leadership positions inside the GOP if they endorse or contribute financially to a political candidate of another party.
"There is an expectation that if you want to be a leader in our party you've got to have at least a recent track record of not opposing our nominees," Robertson said. "Anyone who has donated to any of these Democratic candidates or endorsed them publicly, we're not saying we hate your guts. We're just saying you're not ready to be a leader in this organization, because you need to prove you actually support our nominees."
The change comes amid a general election in which some notable Republicans, including former U.S. Rep. Larry Hopkins and former Lt. Gov. Steve Pence, have endorsed Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear for re-election over GOP nominee David Williams.
As a former congressman, Hopkins is automatically a member of the Republican State Central Committee. Under the newly adopted rules, Hopkins would be disqualified from serving in that position unless his fellow members grant him an exception.
"That really doesn't bother me," Hopkins said Friday evening. He said he hasn't attended a meeting of the Republican State Central Committee in years anyway.
In endorsing Beshear, Hopkins abandoned a former political ally. Williams had served as Hopkins' primary campaign manager when he ran for governor some 30 years ago.
Hopkins told reporters last month he favors Beshear because he has shown a willingness to reach out to both Republicans and Democrats to solve the state's problems.
"You know, if there's anything people are tired of today, it's partisan politics," Hopkins said at the time.
Pence didn't immediately return a phone call Friday afternoon.
Robertson said the rule changes are the result of years of discussions, some of which had alarmed tea party activists who feared the Republican establishment may have been trying to solidify their hold on the party. It turned out to be tea party U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's state director who made the motion for approval of the rule changes.
Jim Milliman, who has been Paul's top aide in Kentucky since he took office, made that motion in a conference call involving 30 members of the Republican Executive Committee.
Tea party activist David Adams, who served as Paul's campaign manager during last year's primary, said the rule change would appear to disqualify several Republican leaders who supported independent state Sen. Bob Leeper in a re-election bid last year.
"The Republican party has to recognize that the tea party can bring in new people who may have supported independent or even conservative Democratic candidates," Adams said. "This is not the time to be excluding people, when the Democratic party is weakening in Kentucky and people are looking for a new political home. It's a mistake."
By ROGER ALFORD
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- After some high-profile defections in recent weeks, the Kentucky Republican Executive Committee has adopted new internal rules that specifically prohibit GOP insiders from endorsing Democratic candidates.
GOP Chairman Steve Robertson said Friday the changes are primarily intended to modernize longstanding rules in a way that allows the participation of more people, including tea party activists, at local and state levels.
The rules, adopted unanimously in a private meeting Thursday, provide a groundwork for expanding the Republican base. The rules get more people involved in local GOP committees and improve communications through automated telephone calls, mass mailings and emails to announce scheduled meetings where officers would be selected.
But the more eye-catching provision is the one that would bar Republican activists from serving in leadership positions inside the GOP if they endorse or contribute financially to a political candidate of another party.
"There is an expectation that if you want to be a leader in our party you've got to have at least a recent track record of not opposing our nominees," Robertson said. "Anyone who has donated to any of these Democratic candidates or endorsed them publicly, we're not saying we hate your guts. We're just saying you're not ready to be a leader in this organization, because you need to prove you actually support our nominees."
The change comes amid a general election in which some notable Republicans, including former U.S. Rep. Larry Hopkins and former Lt. Gov. Steve Pence, have endorsed Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear for re-election over GOP nominee David Williams.
As a former congressman, Hopkins is automatically a member of the Republican State Central Committee. Under the newly adopted rules, Hopkins would be disqualified from serving in that position unless his fellow members grant him an exception.
"That really doesn't bother me," Hopkins said Friday evening. He said he hasn't attended a meeting of the Republican State Central Committee in years anyway.
In endorsing Beshear, Hopkins abandoned a former political ally. Williams had served as Hopkins' primary campaign manager when he ran for governor some 30 years ago.
Hopkins told reporters last month he favors Beshear because he has shown a willingness to reach out to both Republicans and Democrats to solve the state's problems.
"You know, if there's anything people are tired of today, it's partisan politics," Hopkins said at the time.
Pence didn't immediately return a phone call Friday afternoon.
Robertson said the rule changes are the result of years of discussions, some of which had alarmed tea party activists who feared the Republican establishment may have been trying to solidify their hold on the party. It turned out to be tea party U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's state director who made the motion for approval of the rule changes.
Jim Milliman, who has been Paul's top aide in Kentucky since he took office, made that motion in a conference call involving 30 members of the Republican Executive Committee.
Tea party activist David Adams, who served as Paul's campaign manager during last year's primary, said the rule change would appear to disqualify several Republican leaders who supported independent state Sen. Bob Leeper in a re-election bid last year.
"The Republican party has to recognize that the tea party can bring in new people who may have supported independent or even conservative Democratic candidates," Adams said. "This is not the time to be excluding people, when the Democratic party is weakening in Kentucky and people are looking for a new political home. It's a mistake."
Labels: GOP, Kentucky politics, Republicanism
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 7:40 PM
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