There is a shadowy fog that remains in the air from all the dust kicked up around the leadership of the NCGOP as of late. It all started in the early spring of this year, when several statewide races, as well as local NC House races, found themselves flooded with candidates that were just recently Democrats, or proven supporters of state Democrats. In the case of many statewide primary races, the field was so diluted that the average voter had a very difficult time doing due diligence to really discern which candidate stood for what. Many local party leaders expressed frustration with the state party leadership because it placed a strain on the well-known grassroots, truly constitutional candidates to clearly convey their campaign message. The grassroots candidates in many cases only had $1.00 to their opponent’s $1,000, and yet many held on to win their primary. Clear and blatant falsehoods were sent out in mass mailings in futile attempts to tie true conservative candidates to the current failed Presidential Administration.
Shortly after the spring primaries, the State Convention was held in Greensboro. There, several people handed out a flyer that asked the questions out loud that so many would speak of behind closed doors:
Is the GOP intruding into local or state and national primaries?
Are they recruiting and supporting newly switched Democrats and opportunist RINOs to run against conservative incumbents and principled new candidates?
Are they running Decoy Candidates so as to manipulate elections and place their puppets?
Is Vice Chairman Wayne King the acting henchman? And for whom?
[Sen Rucho? Rep Tillis?]
The flyer continued,
NCGOP PLAN OF ORGANIZATION
ARTICLE VII – GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
G. REFRAIN FROM UTILIZING POWERS OF OFFICE IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Each Officer and each Member of the State Executive Committee shall refrain from utilizing the powers and dignity of his or her office or position in any Republican Primary for public office at any level.Republican National Committee: The Rules of the Republican Party As Adopted by the 2008 Republican National Convention September 1, 2008 *Amended by the Republican National Committee on August 6, 2010.
RULE NO. 11 Candidate Support (a) The Republican National Committee shall not, without the prior written and filed approval of all members of the Republican National Committee from 14 of 41 the state involved, contribute money or in-kind aid to any candidate for any public or party office except the nominee of the Republican Party or a candidate who is unopposed in the Republican primary after the filing deadline for that office. In those states where state law establishes a nonpartisan primary in which Republican candidates could participate, but in which the general election may not include a Republican candidate, the candidate endorsed by a convention held under the authority of the state Republican Party shall be recognized by the Republican National Committee as the Republican nominee. (b) No state Republican Party rule or state law shall be observed that allows persons who have participated or are participating in the selection of any nominee of a party other than the Republican Party, including, but not limited to, through the use of a multiparty primary or similar type ballot, to participate in the selection of a nominee of the Republican Party for that general election. No person nominated in violation of this rule shall be recognized by the Republican National Committee as the nominee of the Republican Party from that state.
Mrs. Jessica Hult, a delegate from Carteret County, was one of the people handing out the flyers. She was soon approached by Speaker of the House Thom Tillis, NC GOP Vice Chair Wayne King, Senator Bob Rucho, and Party Attorney Paul Foley who corralled her and began bullying and threatening her with a lawsuit.
So the question has to be asked: Why were these men so upset? What could possibly be so damaging about putting questions that everyone in the state was thinking on a piece of paper?
Shortly afterward, the Chairman of the Beaufort County GOP stepped forward and demanded an apology from State Party Leadership, which has, so far, gone unanswered.
Then a delegate from Pitt County, Mr. Todd Bennett, who was not in attendance at the state convention, came forward calling out the cowardly silence of the State Party leadership. When new evidence came forth that Speaker Tillis was partly responsible for Congressman Walter B. Jones’ endorsement of former Democrat Arthur Williams, the dust that was beginning to settle was in the air again, getting everyone at the top of the party a little dirty.
There are many more such tales of intrigue waiting in the wings concerning illegal meddling in primaries by the state party leadership, and you may be assured of one thing: The “little people” at the town and county level are watching and listening, eyes open and ears pricked, to see and hear what will develop next. There are more questions as well, that are on the hearts and minds of the average Republican in North Carolina. Deeper questions, darker ones. Ones that leave suspicions of corruption of the highest degree gnawing at one’s mind and stomach leaving no satisfaction, just nausea. Ones that ask “What are we to do with these unanswered questions?” “Are we to sit idly by and allow the status quo to continue?” “Will there be a satisfactory resolution that will expunge the party of this dark mark?” While it is true that all evil needs to succeed is for good men (and women) to do nothing, will the good men and women of the state of North Carolina stand now and call for absolute transparency? Will true accountability win the day? Will an all out investigation be launched? Or will they be content to go back to sleep to American Idol or Dancing with the Stars and allow this treachery to be perpetrated on their watch? These are now the new questions that need answers, and the nation now turns her eyes to the Patriots of North Carolina, to see if they be asleep or awake.
