The Democratic Party knows that the gas that Obama put in the tank in 2012 has about run out. Most likely, they counted on the Hillary rollout earlier this year to help boost their brand. For the first time, she stepped on the national stage unencumbered by powerful men such as her husband and Obama. Unfortunately for her, the book tour turned into a book snore. She came away looking both out of touch and saddled with painful reminders that foreign policy devolved into a mess under her stewardship.
Hillary was the last chance for a Democratic Party that has clung more to appearances than accomplishments. But she turned out to not have nearly the political savvy of her husband, which most had assumed whether they supported her or not. Without Hillarymania, Democrats have nothing on which to hang their hat. No one wants to own either Obamacare or the rapidly deteriorating foreign policy disasters.
What is a Democrat to do? When you don't have the facts, just make something up.
Liberal media coordination showed its weird face again last week. Almost simultaneously, Think Progress, MSNBC, Atlantic, and other outlets posted stories about the Republicans planning a government shutdown over possible executive order amnesty for illegal immigrants. This naturally took the GOP by surprise, since it is confident that voters will oppose Obama enacting law on his own.
The Daily Caller and other conservative media exposed the crude ruse yesterday. Quickly following this came White House word that Obama had backed off on his amnesty proposal, calling for a national debate before doing anything. The Daily Caller's Neil Munro speculated that this is a retreat, if not a white flag.
Did the White House gin up a fake concern, lead supporting media by the nose, and then start to dump the whole issue? Maybe not, but clearly someone made up the shutdown story for some purpose they thought would benefit the Democratic Party.
This all came only weeks after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spent weeks wasting the Senate's time grousing about two Americans promoting their ideals within the letter of federal and state laws.
With many predictors indicating Republican control of Congress after this election, desperate times must have called for desperate measures from the Democratic Party.
West Virginia is not immune. Natalie Tennant's campaign actually brought in anti-coal Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts to campaign with her. No sane campaign official could have thought this would help Tennant against Capito; it seemed more of a rally for Warren's possible presidential run than anything for Tennant's benefit.
After Warren's visit, Capito increased her polling lead dramatically.
Meanwhile, Nick Casey's campaign against Alex Mooney has also gained no traction. From Stephen Elkins to Jay Rockefeller to Patrick Morrissey, the Mountain State's supposed prejudice against outsiders has usually proved illusory. Polls indicate that prior residency is still not an issue in this race.
Casey's supporters have tried to paint Mooney as anti-coal, based in part on his opposition while state senator to putting a trash incinerator within literal shouting distance of a national battlefield. Also Casey, owner of five separate houses, has tried to cast himself as a frugal common man. He slammed Mooney in the past because he, like many other West Virginians, rented his home instead of owning it.
The WVGOP has enjoyed poking fun in particular at Casey's claim that he only buys black shoes and socks. Some criticized the party for making a point of showing that he indeed had other colors of shoes and socks, but state Republicans have made the Casey campaign look trivial in the spat. Mooney talks about jobs; Casey talks about his socks.
Capito, Mooney, Evan Jenkins, and David McKinley all run on common sense proposals that would help the state and national economy while enhancing our security. Tennant, Casey, and others try to run on the tired old stereotypes of the rich Republican, seemingly unaware that Obama has made the Democrats the party of golf and Kobe beef. More damningly, they are also the party of rich environmental elitists putting working men out of jobs.
Nationally, Democrats face the same set of crises. They followed left wing policies on health care and the environment, only to see them lead straight to what the GOP predicted. They exploited the easy politics of the cult of personality, until that personality was shown to be bankrupt of ideas and listless in action. Republicans do not have a beautiful image to rally behind, just a set of tried and true ideals that most people happen to agree with.
And Democrats have no real or imaginary answers to both their upcoming political defeat and the escalating crises facing the US.
Showing posts with label WVGOP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WVGOP. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
West Virginia Republicans Shatter Stereotypes
Most people can list common stereotypes of West Virginians. After all, academia and the media perpetuated them for years. Demographically, the state is merely described as overwhelmingly white. Many would add uneducated, insular, suspicious, misogynist, and a number of other three and four syllable words that add up to what West Virginians call "backwards." In other words, they spread the smear that West Virginia Republicans are resentful of advancing women and are inherently racist.
Nationally, Democrats and other leftists work tirelessly to attach the same stereotype to the GOP as a whole. In both cases they are wrong. Elections over the past ten years prove it.
Do West Virginians, and Republicans in particular, mistrust immigrants who come, live, and thrive here legally? State Republicans have nominated at least three first or second generation immigrants to important offices. In 2006, second generation Lebanese-American Chris Wakim was nominated and strongly supported by the Republican base and independents. Left wing conventional wisdom assumes that Republicans are racist and West Virginians even more so, but Wakim's ancestry was no issue for GOP voters.
Two years later, state Republicans nominated Charleston businessman and Nigerian immigrant Charles Minimah for secretary of state. Minimah, who also works to promote black history and cultural events in the Kanawha Valley, again garnered Republican and independent support despite a huge funding discrepancy between him and his opponent. This year, he is in a tightly contested race for the 37th delegate district in Charleston. Republicans often cite his experience, kindness, and honesty when talking about their support for him.
Just this month, Republicans in the West Virginia Second District nominated Alex Mooney for Congress. Voters responded positively to the story of his mother's escape from Cuban tyranny as forming part of the foundation for his ideals. National predictions still see the district as "lean Republican."
As for the national liberal "War on Women" scheme to tar the party, the Mountain State shatters that myth too. For many years, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and former secretary of state Betty Ireland served as pillars of leadership for the state GOP. Ireland has since stepped back, while Capito is expected to cruise to victory in her US Senate race.
Also if state legislative races show anything, it's that the good ol' "boy" network of the Democratic Party remains alive and well. Fifty percent more women ran in state senate and delegate races on the Republican side than the Democratic. Many of them, including several incumbents, won their primaries or ran unopposed. Seventeen year old Saira Blair received national and international attention for upsetting her primary opponent.
Democrats, mostly white male Protestant liberals in positions of influence, will rush out the tired old tales of Republicans being racist and hating women. But the truth is not what is said, but what is done. The West Virginia Republican Party has attracted and supported more female and minority candidates than its Democratic counterparts due to its more inclusive atmosphere and its more effective set of ideals.
Nationally, Democrats and other leftists work tirelessly to attach the same stereotype to the GOP as a whole. In both cases they are wrong. Elections over the past ten years prove it.
Do West Virginians, and Republicans in particular, mistrust immigrants who come, live, and thrive here legally? State Republicans have nominated at least three first or second generation immigrants to important offices. In 2006, second generation Lebanese-American Chris Wakim was nominated and strongly supported by the Republican base and independents. Left wing conventional wisdom assumes that Republicans are racist and West Virginians even more so, but Wakim's ancestry was no issue for GOP voters.
Two years later, state Republicans nominated Charleston businessman and Nigerian immigrant Charles Minimah for secretary of state. Minimah, who also works to promote black history and cultural events in the Kanawha Valley, again garnered Republican and independent support despite a huge funding discrepancy between him and his opponent. This year, he is in a tightly contested race for the 37th delegate district in Charleston. Republicans often cite his experience, kindness, and honesty when talking about their support for him.
Just this month, Republicans in the West Virginia Second District nominated Alex Mooney for Congress. Voters responded positively to the story of his mother's escape from Cuban tyranny as forming part of the foundation for his ideals. National predictions still see the district as "lean Republican."
As for the national liberal "War on Women" scheme to tar the party, the Mountain State shatters that myth too. For many years, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and former secretary of state Betty Ireland served as pillars of leadership for the state GOP. Ireland has since stepped back, while Capito is expected to cruise to victory in her US Senate race.
Also if state legislative races show anything, it's that the good ol' "boy" network of the Democratic Party remains alive and well. Fifty percent more women ran in state senate and delegate races on the Republican side than the Democratic. Many of them, including several incumbents, won their primaries or ran unopposed. Seventeen year old Saira Blair received national and international attention for upsetting her primary opponent.
Democrats, mostly white male Protestant liberals in positions of influence, will rush out the tired old tales of Republicans being racist and hating women. But the truth is not what is said, but what is done. The West Virginia Republican Party has attracted and supported more female and minority candidates than its Democratic counterparts due to its more inclusive atmosphere and its more effective set of ideals.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
National Democrats Convince Cannon Fodder Candidate
By all accounts, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant will enter the US Senate race to take on presumed Republican nominee Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito.
On the surface, it looks like an appropriate move for a popular young statewide officeholder with definite ambitions to rise higher. She has a strong background as an elected secretary of state with experience as a Charleston television news figure. Even in a loss, Tennant can use the campaign to reintroduce herself to voters across the state in preparation for a run at the Governor's Mansion.
It is this ambition most threatened by her Senate run. A deeper look shows how dicey this campaign could be for Tennant.
Images like this one have already reappeared. Standing in front of a sparse crowd of Obama supporters will not win Tennant any support in a state whose Democrats preferred a prisoner in 2012. Obama has only lost popularity since then. She struggles to argue that coal jobs have slightly ticked up, but cannot defend the power plant closings that are coming. Or the dramatic rise in health insurance costs from Obamacare.
In a race for governor in 2016, Obama matters less. Tennant will have difficulty shaking the perception that she will be anything but a water carrier for the presidency and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Senator Joe Manchin learned that even piecemeal support for Obama policies can take a drastic toll on polling numbers.
Capito's fundraising prowess, formidable campaign team, and popularity have vanquished all comers since 2000. Few major donors outside of the Democratic Party will seek to invest in a race that has little chance of success.
Tennant's run only makes sense in the national Democratic big picture. A viable candidate forces the Republican Party to spend resources and raise money in a race that they should ultimately win. Those resources will not go to tighter races with less chance of success.
She will also have to tie herself even more securely to the highly unpopular national Democratic Party agenda. A gubernatorial race allows her to stand aloof as Earl Ray Tomblin did. Tennant cannot erase images from a Senate run that will place her even more strongly into the camp of individuals heartily disliked across West Virginia. She also cannot haul out the well worn liberal "War on Women" card against a respected, accomplished, and popular female candidate like Capito.
This serves the purposes of the West Virginia Republican Party nicely because it will weaken an individual who was expected to make a strong run for governor in 2016.
On the surface, it looks like an appropriate move for a popular young statewide officeholder with definite ambitions to rise higher. She has a strong background as an elected secretary of state with experience as a Charleston television news figure. Even in a loss, Tennant can use the campaign to reintroduce herself to voters across the state in preparation for a run at the Governor's Mansion.
It is this ambition most threatened by her Senate run. A deeper look shows how dicey this campaign could be for Tennant.
Images like this one have already reappeared. Standing in front of a sparse crowd of Obama supporters will not win Tennant any support in a state whose Democrats preferred a prisoner in 2012. Obama has only lost popularity since then. She struggles to argue that coal jobs have slightly ticked up, but cannot defend the power plant closings that are coming. Or the dramatic rise in health insurance costs from Obamacare.
In a race for governor in 2016, Obama matters less. Tennant will have difficulty shaking the perception that she will be anything but a water carrier for the presidency and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Senator Joe Manchin learned that even piecemeal support for Obama policies can take a drastic toll on polling numbers.
Capito's fundraising prowess, formidable campaign team, and popularity have vanquished all comers since 2000. Few major donors outside of the Democratic Party will seek to invest in a race that has little chance of success.
Tennant's run only makes sense in the national Democratic big picture. A viable candidate forces the Republican Party to spend resources and raise money in a race that they should ultimately win. Those resources will not go to tighter races with less chance of success.
She will also have to tie herself even more securely to the highly unpopular national Democratic Party agenda. A gubernatorial race allows her to stand aloof as Earl Ray Tomblin did. Tennant cannot erase images from a Senate run that will place her even more strongly into the camp of individuals heartily disliked across West Virginia. She also cannot haul out the well worn liberal "War on Women" card against a respected, accomplished, and popular female candidate like Capito.
This serves the purposes of the West Virginia Republican Party nicely because it will weaken an individual who was expected to make a strong run for governor in 2016.
Monday, August 24, 2009
"West Virginia is very comfortable with the elected officials we've got, and most of those officials are Democrats,"
That quote comes from Nick Casey, Chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party.
Has he been paying attention?
Congressmen Rahall and Mollohan struggle to defend the increasingly out of touch policies of the left wing Congressional leadership. Rahall, frustrated, even asked a constituent if he would rather the congressman read the health care bill, or came down to his district to talk about it. The answer, obviously, was "Both!"
Give the congressmen credit. They worked to accomodate large crowds with opposing points of view. They stayed for long periods of time, despite the lack of experience in dealing with overtly hostile constituencies. However, their answers were often evasive. The political situation for some elected Democrats has been as comfortable as a nail in the bottom of the foot.
The comfort level of the voters has fallen away as Democrats pursue policies to increase taxes, increase electric bills, and decrease good paying jobs in areas such as the coal industry. All the comfort that remains lies in the minds of Democratic officeholders and their party who have become very accustomed to power in West Virginia. That will not change.
West Virginia Republicans and other concerned voters have an opportunity next year to afflict
the comfortable. Even Democrats should want their party to remember the concerns of voters and not take their support for granted. The GOP has a sound and proven plan for prosperity. Most of the state continues to lag in economic indicators. It is time for positive and constructive change.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Introducing the New West Virginia Republican Party Executive Direstor: Troy Berman
We are happy to welcome the new West Virginia GOP Executive Director Troy Berman. This is an exciting time for the state party as his hiringb coincides with the opening of a brand new headquarters. These two aggressive moves put Republicans in a much stronger position to compete and win in 2010 and beyond.
Following is an interview with Executive Director Berman so state Republicans and interested conservatives have a better idea of what he will bring to this position:
Tell us about your background. What specific experiences prepare you the most for this type of role?
Well I've been volunteering on campaigns for as far back as I can remember but I didn't really enter the world of professional politicsuntil I got involved with the Bush-Cheney re-elect in '04. After law school Igot involved with the presidential campaign full time, and ended up working with the RNC legal taskforce which was essentially charged with Republican efforts at ensuring ballot integrity in the Cuyahoga (Cleveland) area. At the time it was assumed that Ohio in '04 could end up as close as Florida had in 2000 and we wanted to be as prepared as possible. Cleveland was at the epicenter of these activities and by the time the election rolled around I was directing more than 800 legal response teams and more than 1,000 poll observers. It was pretty heady stuff. I caught the political bug and I haven't looked back. Since then I've had the opportunity to work on dozens of campaigns from U. S. Senate and Congress to state senate and delegate in more than half a dozen states. Every opportunity has given me the chance to learn something new. It's that breadth of knowledge and experience that I bring to the WVGOP ED position.
In what ways can a person who has had experience at several different levels in several different states help to inject some fresh perspective into the challenges we face as West Virginia Republicans?
One of the many things I look forward to doing is adapting some of the highly successful programs implemented by Republican parties and committees in other states to the unique problem of electing more Republicans in West Virginia. There are a lot of exciting initiatives being undertaken by our fellow Republicans out there and as a party we should be looking for any edge that can help us further the Republican cause. Many of the programs focus on embracing new technologies such as social media and online phone-banking to advance our electoral aims but many amazing inititives also reimagine old school programs like canvassing, voter registration, and door to door to maximize impact for the modern age. Initially I'd like to focus on party building activities by emulating successful initiatives like the Arizona Republican Party's voter registration program (considered the best in the country) or the Pennsylvania House GOP's door to door program which has helped them record an amazing number of victories. That's not the whole program of course, but to the extent that we can maximize our West Virginia candidates' successes by adapting other successful Republican organizations to West Virginia, it's a great place to start.
Titles do not say much about the man or the vision. What, in your mind, are the jobs or roles of the Executive Director?
The Executive Director should be an aggressive force in helping Republicans in West Virginia win in a complex and competitive political environment. He should have substantial political experience and be knowledgable about current practices and future trends. He should understand the issues; be aware of the political landscape and of opportunities for advancement of the party. He should comprehend how shared goals can help build coalitions within West Virginia and with national organizations for the betterment of our Republican candidates. The ED needs to be an able manager of party personnel and volunteers, have strong communications skillsand always be a bottom line thinker, applying the rubric Will this help us win? He should be open minded to differing views and strategies, willing to adapt his vision when appropriate but also able to persuade others to his methods when necessary. The ED needs to be dedicated to day after day meeting the requirements of Republican stakeholders in West Virginia, both internal and external to the party apparatus, to building relationships throughout West Virginia to the betterment of our party, and to always being an effective advocate for the WVGOP, our Republican leaders, candidates, and values.
What problems pose the largest challenges to yourself and/or the party as a whole? What are the biggest obstacles facing Republican candidates in West Virginia? How can the state party help them overcome these issues?
One of the many, many, many unfortunate side effects of eighty plus years of unsuccessfully challenged Democrat party rule in West Virginia is that as a byproduct the system has been rigged to favor the incumbent majority in every conceivable way. Through campaign finance rules, through gerrymandering, through state election law if the Democrat party majority could find an advantage, they exploited it. Scaling those walls will be difficult but it's our job to get up over those walls, tear them down and make sure they're never rebuilt. The best way to do that is by electing as many Republican candidates as possible.
I don't want to get into everything the state party can and will do to counteract these obstacles. It's probably not the best move to tip off the other side as to strategy. I will say that those strategies are in a formative state and the one thing the state party will be seeking to do in the short term is seek the advice and counsel of like minded individuals who can help us achieve a Republican majority in West Virginia.
What will be your most important priorities in the short term? Long term?
Electing West Virginia Republicans. Period. Everything I do from my first dayon the team until my last will be in support of electing our Republican candidates. To me, it is the singular priority.
In what ways will the West Virginia GOP be expanding its effective use of new media while strengthening its position with traditional outlets?
Studies show that in the last election cycle almost 4 of 5 Republicans went online for political information but fewer than 2 in 5 actually engaged in online activism. West Virginia is actually in a unique position to capitalize on the expansion of social media networks to advance our agenda. Among 18-29 year olds (which include the early adopters and trendsetters) West Virginia was one of only six states carried by McCain and one of only two east of the Mississippi. That tells me that there is a pre-existing core of Republican youth that we should be focused on identifying and organizing. As soon as resources allow, I hope to see a complete overhaul of wvgop.org turning our home site from an information clearing house into a true online headquarters. A site that does more than send out press releases but engages, educates, and informs, helping convert online activists into offline warriors for our West Virginia Republican candidates. Look for initial updates and changes to the website in the fall. In the meantime the process is already underway. You can keep up to date with the West Virginia Republican Party on Facebook and Twitter and you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/troyberman.
In the current political situation in West Virginia, what positives can the state GOP build upon?
I've already discussed my reason for a belief that the young Republican core of West Virginia is strong and growing and will eventually replace the staid and tired Democrat party but beyond the demographics there are even better reasons to be optimistic. Self identified conservatives outnumber self identified liberals in West Virginia by 39/18. And this is a conservative base that is already energized over issues like cap and trade, health care, and the deficit. Whatever process we adopt to grow the Republican Party in West Virginia it must surely start by recognizing the enormous potential of the town hall movement currently sweeping the nation and the power of conservatives within to effect positive change in West Virginia.
How would you answer Republicans concerned about the cost of hiring an Executive Director while also establishing a new headquarters?
As ED, institutionalizing a fundraising program is important and will be at the top of my agenda for the state party. That being said, it is unrealistic to expect the WVGOP to be able to help West Virginia reach a tipping point in electing a Republican majority, without investing in the basic infrastructure of modern headquarters facilities and full time staff. The new headquarters will bring a series of expanded services to our legislators in Charleston as well as our candidates statewide that were simply not possible in the previous location, and I hope that I will be a positive contribution to the party as well. I would take this opportunity however to mention that I recognize that there are differences of opinion within the West Virginia Republican community and would welcome any opportunity to discuss these concerns and my recommendations with any interested parties.
In your experience, what does it take to "flip" a long term Democratic political entity into a Republican? Cn we do it here?
It takes time, effort, resources, and dedication. I have no doubt that it will happen in West Virginia. The only question is when. And my only concern is bringing that future date as close to the present as we can.
In what ways can the state party and its candidates reach Democratic registered voters and independents while maintaining GOP principles?
I firmly believe that GOP principles are fundamentally American principles. Hard work, personal liberty, and individual responsibility never really go away even if for a time they aren't considered fashionable. Our job as Republicans is to remind our independent and Democratic brethren of these basic American precepts and invite them to join us in renewing West Virginia.
What can concerned Republicans outside of the state party organization do to help advance our ideas and candidates?
Volunteer. Volunteer. Volunteer. For candidates you believe in, for your local Republican club, for your county committee, or for any of the Republican affiliated organizations like the Republican women or the Young Republicans. I had the opportunity to attend the Kanawha County Republican picnic and came away impressed. It was well attended by local Republicans, officials and candidates, well organized and is exactly the kind of activity that concerned Republicans can become involved with. I applaud those efforts already underway and intend to visit with as many West Virginia Republican county events, clubs, and meetings as possible and to encourage their activites and engage in the basic party building efforts which are so vital to success. As part of the WVGOP's previously discussed online overhaul, I hope to aggressively pursue the development and charter of new Republican clubs and organizations, which in turn become the volunteer feederfor the campaigns of our local and statewide Republican candidates.
*************************************************************************
Following is an interview with Executive Director Berman so state Republicans and interested conservatives have a better idea of what he will bring to this position:
Tell us about your background. What specific experiences prepare you the most for this type of role?
Well I've been volunteering on campaigns for as far back as I can remember but I didn't really enter the world of professional politicsuntil I got involved with the Bush-Cheney re-elect in '04. After law school Igot involved with the presidential campaign full time, and ended up working with the RNC legal taskforce which was essentially charged with Republican efforts at ensuring ballot integrity in the Cuyahoga (Cleveland) area. At the time it was assumed that Ohio in '04 could end up as close as Florida had in 2000 and we wanted to be as prepared as possible. Cleveland was at the epicenter of these activities and by the time the election rolled around I was directing more than 800 legal response teams and more than 1,000 poll observers. It was pretty heady stuff. I caught the political bug and I haven't looked back. Since then I've had the opportunity to work on dozens of campaigns from U. S. Senate and Congress to state senate and delegate in more than half a dozen states. Every opportunity has given me the chance to learn something new. It's that breadth of knowledge and experience that I bring to the WVGOP ED position.
In what ways can a person who has had experience at several different levels in several different states help to inject some fresh perspective into the challenges we face as West Virginia Republicans?
One of the many things I look forward to doing is adapting some of the highly successful programs implemented by Republican parties and committees in other states to the unique problem of electing more Republicans in West Virginia. There are a lot of exciting initiatives being undertaken by our fellow Republicans out there and as a party we should be looking for any edge that can help us further the Republican cause. Many of the programs focus on embracing new technologies such as social media and online phone-banking to advance our electoral aims but many amazing inititives also reimagine old school programs like canvassing, voter registration, and door to door to maximize impact for the modern age. Initially I'd like to focus on party building activities by emulating successful initiatives like the Arizona Republican Party's voter registration program (considered the best in the country) or the Pennsylvania House GOP's door to door program which has helped them record an amazing number of victories. That's not the whole program of course, but to the extent that we can maximize our West Virginia candidates' successes by adapting other successful Republican organizations to West Virginia, it's a great place to start.
Titles do not say much about the man or the vision. What, in your mind, are the jobs or roles of the Executive Director?
The Executive Director should be an aggressive force in helping Republicans in West Virginia win in a complex and competitive political environment. He should have substantial political experience and be knowledgable about current practices and future trends. He should understand the issues; be aware of the political landscape and of opportunities for advancement of the party. He should comprehend how shared goals can help build coalitions within West Virginia and with national organizations for the betterment of our Republican candidates. The ED needs to be an able manager of party personnel and volunteers, have strong communications skillsand always be a bottom line thinker, applying the rubric Will this help us win? He should be open minded to differing views and strategies, willing to adapt his vision when appropriate but also able to persuade others to his methods when necessary. The ED needs to be dedicated to day after day meeting the requirements of Republican stakeholders in West Virginia, both internal and external to the party apparatus, to building relationships throughout West Virginia to the betterment of our party, and to always being an effective advocate for the WVGOP, our Republican leaders, candidates, and values.
What problems pose the largest challenges to yourself and/or the party as a whole? What are the biggest obstacles facing Republican candidates in West Virginia? How can the state party help them overcome these issues?
One of the many, many, many unfortunate side effects of eighty plus years of unsuccessfully challenged Democrat party rule in West Virginia is that as a byproduct the system has been rigged to favor the incumbent majority in every conceivable way. Through campaign finance rules, through gerrymandering, through state election law if the Democrat party majority could find an advantage, they exploited it. Scaling those walls will be difficult but it's our job to get up over those walls, tear them down and make sure they're never rebuilt. The best way to do that is by electing as many Republican candidates as possible.
I don't want to get into everything the state party can and will do to counteract these obstacles. It's probably not the best move to tip off the other side as to strategy. I will say that those strategies are in a formative state and the one thing the state party will be seeking to do in the short term is seek the advice and counsel of like minded individuals who can help us achieve a Republican majority in West Virginia.
What will be your most important priorities in the short term? Long term?
Electing West Virginia Republicans. Period. Everything I do from my first dayon the team until my last will be in support of electing our Republican candidates. To me, it is the singular priority.
In what ways will the West Virginia GOP be expanding its effective use of new media while strengthening its position with traditional outlets?
Studies show that in the last election cycle almost 4 of 5 Republicans went online for political information but fewer than 2 in 5 actually engaged in online activism. West Virginia is actually in a unique position to capitalize on the expansion of social media networks to advance our agenda. Among 18-29 year olds (which include the early adopters and trendsetters) West Virginia was one of only six states carried by McCain and one of only two east of the Mississippi. That tells me that there is a pre-existing core of Republican youth that we should be focused on identifying and organizing. As soon as resources allow, I hope to see a complete overhaul of wvgop.org turning our home site from an information clearing house into a true online headquarters. A site that does more than send out press releases but engages, educates, and informs, helping convert online activists into offline warriors for our West Virginia Republican candidates. Look for initial updates and changes to the website in the fall. In the meantime the process is already underway. You can keep up to date with the West Virginia Republican Party on Facebook and Twitter and you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/troyberman.
In the current political situation in West Virginia, what positives can the state GOP build upon?
I've already discussed my reason for a belief that the young Republican core of West Virginia is strong and growing and will eventually replace the staid and tired Democrat party but beyond the demographics there are even better reasons to be optimistic. Self identified conservatives outnumber self identified liberals in West Virginia by 39/18. And this is a conservative base that is already energized over issues like cap and trade, health care, and the deficit. Whatever process we adopt to grow the Republican Party in West Virginia it must surely start by recognizing the enormous potential of the town hall movement currently sweeping the nation and the power of conservatives within to effect positive change in West Virginia.
How would you answer Republicans concerned about the cost of hiring an Executive Director while also establishing a new headquarters?
As ED, institutionalizing a fundraising program is important and will be at the top of my agenda for the state party. That being said, it is unrealistic to expect the WVGOP to be able to help West Virginia reach a tipping point in electing a Republican majority, without investing in the basic infrastructure of modern headquarters facilities and full time staff. The new headquarters will bring a series of expanded services to our legislators in Charleston as well as our candidates statewide that were simply not possible in the previous location, and I hope that I will be a positive contribution to the party as well. I would take this opportunity however to mention that I recognize that there are differences of opinion within the West Virginia Republican community and would welcome any opportunity to discuss these concerns and my recommendations with any interested parties.
In your experience, what does it take to "flip" a long term Democratic political entity into a Republican? Cn we do it here?
It takes time, effort, resources, and dedication. I have no doubt that it will happen in West Virginia. The only question is when. And my only concern is bringing that future date as close to the present as we can.
In what ways can the state party and its candidates reach Democratic registered voters and independents while maintaining GOP principles?
I firmly believe that GOP principles are fundamentally American principles. Hard work, personal liberty, and individual responsibility never really go away even if for a time they aren't considered fashionable. Our job as Republicans is to remind our independent and Democratic brethren of these basic American precepts and invite them to join us in renewing West Virginia.
What can concerned Republicans outside of the state party organization do to help advance our ideas and candidates?
Volunteer. Volunteer. Volunteer. For candidates you believe in, for your local Republican club, for your county committee, or for any of the Republican affiliated organizations like the Republican women or the Young Republicans. I had the opportunity to attend the Kanawha County Republican picnic and came away impressed. It was well attended by local Republicans, officials and candidates, well organized and is exactly the kind of activity that concerned Republicans can become involved with. I applaud those efforts already underway and intend to visit with as many West Virginia Republican county events, clubs, and meetings as possible and to encourage their activites and engage in the basic party building efforts which are so vital to success. As part of the WVGOP's previously discussed online overhaul, I hope to aggressively pursue the development and charter of new Republican clubs and organizations, which in turn become the volunteer feederfor the campaigns of our local and statewide Republican candidates.
*************************************************************************
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