TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Republicans Must Stand With Their Party During Elections

ADVERTISEMENT

By BILL BUNTING

Special to the Tribune

Published: June 8, 2008

Regarding "Candidates Should Not Have To Choose," June 1:

All of the presidential Republican candidates except for Ron Paul came forward and endorsed the presumed nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain. Why would asking local Republican candidates to pledge to do the same be considered "ungentlemanly" and "using a hammer"?

I think Republican voters have a right to know where their Republican candidates stand, and I think they have a right to know whether a losing candidate plans to cross party lines to support another candidate.

If a candidate wants to benefit from the association of the Republican Party's principles and support base, there's a duty to the party and Republican voters. To muster behind the candidate chosen by the Republican voters is a sign of respect for them and the party. This is hardly a strong-arm tactic.

The editorial chides me for "inserting the Republican party into nonpartisan races." The truth is that had the Democrats not inserted themselves, I probably would have not thought to get involved. But when the teachers' union, which has never supported a Republican for president, backs one Republican against another, I think Republicans have the right to know.

Of course, Republican candidates want and need the support of Democrats, and when they are elected, they serve all the people. What we are talking about here is where a candidate stands, and who is supporting them is an indication.

The editorial also criticizes me for "yanking" a Republican club's charter for "not being Republican enough." This is not even true. What happened was that the club's charter was not renewed because it supported a ballot issue and a candidate contrary to what the Republican Party of Pasco had endorsed.

Just as the various county parties cannot take platform positions or endorse candidates contrary to what the Republican Party of Florida may have done, clubs cannot adopt positions contrary to the county's Republican Executive Committee's position. This is an issue of organizational integrity and an internal issue, not an issue of strong-arm tactics.

People and clubs have every right to their personal freedoms and beliefs, but if they want the benefits of an association with a particular organization, they should work to uphold that organization, even when it doesn't serve their personal agendas.

If they want to be a part of an organization, they should stand with the organization. Otherwise, they should exercise those personal beliefs from outside that organization.
Republican voters look to the local party for information. We are in the trenches, and it's our duty to share that information. These are pocketbook and principle issues, not strong-arm issues.

We want Republicans in the county to know what is going on so they can make a knowledgeable choice at the polls.

The writer, who lives in Hudson, is chairman of the Republican Party of Pasco County.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT