TEA "Party" Forces Kentucky GOP To Consider Dropping New "No Official To Endorse A Democrat" Rule.

GOP may drop automatic disqualification rule
By ROGER ALFORD

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- GOP leaders are considering dropping a new rule that would automatically disqualify Republicans who endorse Democrats from serving in official capacities within the party.

GOP Chairman Steve Robertson said Wednesday that an amendment will be offered during a meeting of the Republican State Central Committee on Saturday to delete the provision that some tea party activists had objected to.

That provision was part of a new set of rules, adopted a week ago and awaiting ratification by the central committee, that had stirred debate within the GOP, especially among the tea party wing that includes people who have offered support to one of Kentucky's best-known Libertarians, northern Kentucky businessman Ken Moellman, who is running for state treasurer.

Robertson credited discussions between tea party leaders and the Republican establishment with rectifying what could potentially have been a divisive issue within the GOP.

"We've seen the opening of a dialogue that is significant," Roberts said Wednesday. "I think we have taken a great step to create a dialogue that we can build on to move forward."

Robertson said the expectation of party loyalty among those serving in leadership roles remains, despite the proposed amendment that would delete the automatic disqualification of Republican leaders who have endorsed or contributed financially to a Democratic or third party candidate within the past year.

A longstanding provision already allows the Republican Executive Committee, by majority vote, to unseat GOP leaders for supporting a candidate in an opposing party. That provision would remain.

Robertson said the rule changes, adopted unanimously in an earlier private meeting, provide a ground work for expanding the Republican base. He said the rules could potentially get thousands 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 was the one automatically barring Republican activists who support Democrats from serving in leadership positions. That change came during an election in which some notable Republicans, including former U.S. Rep. Larry Hopkins, 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. But without the amendment, Hopkins would be disqualified from serving in that position unless his fellow members grant him an exception.

Hopkins said he doesn't mind. He said he hasn't attended a meeting of the Republican State Central Committee in years anyway.

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 last week.

Jim Milliman, who has been Paul's top aide in Kentucky since he took office, had made the motion last Thursday in a conference call involving 30 members of the Republican Executive Committee.

Cathy Flaig, president of the Northern Kentucky Tea Party, said she objects to the rule change and welcomes the proposed amendment. She had signed a campaign petition earlier this year on behalf of Moellman, which would have disqualified her from serving in leadership in the GOP.

"The established Republican party has not extended their hands to the tea party members, and should," she said.