I Agree With Dan Venturi about the Republican Platform
This entry was posted on 11/14/2006 1:20 PM and is filed under Lake County GOP,Precinct Committeemen,Illinois Republican Party,Republican Party,General Election Campaigns.
My Fellow Republicans,
In yesterday's Daily Herald, Dan Venturi was quoted regarding the Republican Assembly of Lake County, “If you don’t agree with their [RALC] principles, then you’re a bad Republican.” I note his attempt to take criticism of his actions and decisions personally and disingenuously turn the discussion into one about supposed ideological differences rather than sticking to the issues raised about his decisions, actions, or omissions as Lake County Republican Chairman.
If we analyze his statement in light of the clearly defined RALC Statement of Beliefs and Principles, which is entirely in agreement with the Illinois and national Republican Platforms, Dan Venturi is effectively admitting that if you don't agree with Republican Platform principles, then you're a bad Republican.
And I agree. But our party problems go way beyond petty infighting.
The actions of Dan Venturi and others to further divide the Republican Party in Lake County by targeting RALC members in Precinct Committeeman elections, and pursuing exclusion of these loyal Republican activists from Central Committee meetings serve no constructive purpose. Unless the Central Committee corrects this error, the parties involved settle their differences amicably through frank and open discussions, and unite to work together in pursuit of our common goals, we can look forward to continued erosion of Republican representation in Lake County and Illinois government.
The statewide election debacle we have witnessed in Illinois for the past year has culminated in arguably the worst Republican Party defeat since 1936. However, this election has also demonstrated the willingness of voters to support Republican Platform candidates and reject Democrat-Lite Republican candidates who thumb their noses at Republican Platform principles. It is also clear that Republican candidates can win in Illinois by clearly communicating our Republican Platform positions on issues to the voters, as current and past candidates Peter Roskam, Peter Fitzgerald, Don Manzullo, Chris Lauzen, Matt Murphy and others have ably demonstrated. If this election proves anything, it shows that it is idiotic to suggest for one moment that we can beat Democrats by imitating them. We must stop helping the Democrats to brand mainstream Republicans as extremists when it is they who are at odds with America's natural majority opinions.
We can and must communicate OUR Republican Platform positions of strong national security, smaller more efficient government, lower taxes, personal accountability, and family values to voters constantly by every available means including in particular our actions as elected officials, not just during the noisy campaign weeks leading up to elections. We must develop a specific issues-oriented agenda that clearly reflects our philosophy and professionally communicate it to the party faithful and the voters. We must seek to educate and empower Republicans willing to advance our Platform as volunteers, party officials and candidates. We must instill our party membership with a strong sense of identity and belonging to an ideological movement that offers real solutions based on a coherent philosophy, not just a partisan political faction that cheerleads for its brand of greedy, power-hungry ambition.
The message from Illinois voters and the U.S. Attorney is clear: It is over for the dishonest political insiders, the corrupt politicians and interchangeable lobbyists who collude with their opponents and special interests, and the old guard 'Ryan wing' of the Illinois Republican Party who keep trying to look like they want to win by fielding recycled old guard candidates. The sooner we all grasp this reality, address the pressing real issues that confront us all, and embrace reform in our party at all levels, the sooner the voters and willing volunteers will return to our fold.
We are faced with the task of rebuilding the Illinois Republican Party from top to bottom. This process will entail finding new, principled leadership unblemished by corruption or scandal that is willing to recognize past strategic and tactical mistakes and correct them. We must rejuvenate and motivate the grass-roots political organization right down to block captains, and finish the job of cleaning our political house of corrupt, self-serving politicians who place their financial interests above the public interest. Unless we stop equivocating and get on with this process expeditiously, we can look forward to many more years of trying to put a happy face on our political decline.
I welcome further constructive discussion on these issues.
Sincerely,
Don Castella
Chairman
Vernon Township Republican Central Committee
