New RNC chairman says NC will be 2012 battleground

Timesunion.com ^ | 5/25/2011 | Martha Waggoner

[Conservative RC]

RALEIGH, N.C (AP) — The Republican National Committee's new chairman on Wednesday pleaded with North Carolina party leaders for more money to support candidates in 2012, but some activists told him the national party needs to better embrace the conservative values of the tea party movement.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said Wednesday that North Carolina will be a battleground state in the 2012 election. President Barack Obama carried the Tar Heel State in 2008 and Democrats plan to hold their 2012 convention in Charlotte.

But Priebus said the RNC will first need to make progress in reducing its debt. RNC officials have said they inherited a $24 million debt from former chairman Michael Steele, a point that Priebus, who took over in January, brought home repeatedly.

" ... You may have heard. We need to raise a lot of money at the RNC," he said at the start of his speech. "We're coming into a presidential election cycle, and we all know that North Carolina is going to be a battleground state, and it's a state that at every cost, Republicans in this country, Republicans in Washington, Republicans right here, need to make sure that Barack Obama's a one-term president."

The RNC, he said, must get across the point that it is part of the conservative movement, and it takes money to do that.

"And me, as chairman of the RNC, I can't be an effective part of the conservative movement if we're $24 million in debt and we don't have any money in the bank," said Priebus, who also attended a fundraiser at state party headquarters Wednesday. "So my point is that come 2012, when the pieces are put back on the table, when we need to win this country for America and get our economy back on track, I need to have an RNC and Robin (state GOP Chairman Robin Hayes) needs to have a state GOP that is flush with cash, has people on the ground, that is effective in that conservative movement."

Patrick Yanke of Wake County told Priebus that the RNC needed to get out the message that it supports the conservative movement, adding that he quit contributing money to the group when Steele was chairman. "Recently, the RNC, unfortunately, has been an enemy, or at least a competitor, to the conservative movement," Yanke said. "Your articulating that message is going to be one of the most important things the RNC can do to get its coffers back.

"Until you stand up for the Constitution and the Republican platform, you're not getting a dime of my money," Yanke said to applause. "So if you will stand up for conservative candidates, I think you'll see your coffers full."

Priebus responded: "I don't quarrel with you. I think a lot of what you're saying is right."

As if to underscore North Carolina's importance in the 2012 election, the White House said Wednesday that President Obama will visit the state June 13, when he will discuss ways to strengthen the economy with the Jobs and Competitiveness Council. General Electric Co. Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt leads the council, which the White House says was created to provide non-partisan advice to the president on how to strengthen the economy and ensure U.S. competitiveness.

Last week, the Democratic National Committee said it had raised about twice as much money as the RNC during the first month of Obama's re-election campaign. The DNC collected $12.4 million in April, more than double the $6.1 million raised by the RNC during the same month.

Through the end of April, the DNC reported $14.8 million in cash on hand, compared with $5 million for the RNC. The DNC had $15.4 million in debt compared with $18.9 million in debt for the RNC.

[paul544]

Hate to say it, but if we’re fighting for NC again in 2012, we’re pretty much screwed.

[Grunthor]

Mr. Chairman, you want Obama gone in 2012? Do NOT shove a fippin’ RINO down our throats.

[DustyMoment]

. . . . but some activists told him the national party needs to better embrace the conservative values of the tea party movement.

. . . . . but some activists told him the national party needs to better embrace the conservative values of the tea party movement.

. . . . . but some activists told him the national party needs to better embrace the conservative values of the tea party movement.

Bears repeating . . . . . over and over and over. The RNC is way out of step with conservatives and needs to listen more and keep their out-of-step yaps shut!!

[doorgunner69]

Hard to believe, North Carolina is now a cesspool of liberal ghettos in the major cities controlling the rest of the state.

And so went Oregon, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada...........who know which is next. Atlanta should soon control SC, that is for certain.

The decay of a country, brought about by the rot spreading from urban entitlement slime.

[SevenMinusOne]

Very true. If NC and VA are even in the realm of "in serious play", after the past 3 years. That does noe bode well at all. Those should be solid Red.

This whole election should come down to OH, CO, NV, NM, WI, IA. That's it. With NC, VA, FL, MO, AZ (rest of the South) solidly Red. And reality is the quasi-toss up Blue States of MI, NJ, WA, MN, OR...are all going to go clearly Blue at the end of the day. Whichever side is in serious need of defending any of the above, that side is in serious trouble (after the past 3 years).

[Cobra64]

A few days ago I received a letter pleading for MONEY. The following is my response:

.

May 24, 2011

Reince Priebus, Chairman
Republican National Committee
PO Box 96994
Washington, DC 20077-7556

You guys just don’t get it.

Party affiliation? Most “Republicans” in the House and Senate haven’t even read the United States Constitution that they swore to uphold and protect. If they did, they wouldn’t put up with the legislation from Reid and Pelosi, signed by a sitting Marxist President. By inaction, they are condoning the destruction of our Republic.

Example: John McCain and Lindsey Graham insist on amnesty for ILLEGAL aliens. I guess the Rule of Law and our Constitution are just minor annoyances to those clowns. In a few years, rape and murder will be too.

California is running $20,000,000,000 in the red, yet they feed, clothe, and educate illegals. That’s real smart. ICE is not doing its job, thanks to Obama, Reid, Pelosi in sealing our borders to illegals and illegal drug smugglers. So how’s that “War On Drugs” program working for America?

No where in our Constitution are we referred to as a “democracy.” We are a Constitution Republic. The RINOs don’t even understand the word in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. It’s pathetic.

RomneyCare is a socialized medicine, yet Romney is running for President. Socialized medicine is working real well in Canada and the UK, huh?

Gingrich, I respected his Contract With America, but he’s become a cranky old man and just another old beltway insider who cut Paul Ryan off at the knees and insults Sarah Palin.

Conservatives who believe in a free market economy and capitalism refer to the GOP as the Gutless Old Party.

Scott Walker, Jan Brewer, Sarah Palin, Paul Ryan, and Michele Bachmann are the only ones speaking out and fighting for our country. Where are the rest of the over paid Republicans? Sitting home, collecting a $200,000 paycheck with lifetime Federal government benefits. In actuality they typify welfare, food stamp recipients.

Where were these departments and agencies when America was free? They didn’t exist.

• Environmental Protection Agency
• Department of Energy
• Department of Education
• Department of Health and Human Services

On the accusations that the Tea Party are all white, racists against Obama, why don’t you morons remind people that blacks only represent 13% of the population, and Obama got 54% of the votes. These are not complicated numbers.

The Gutless Old Party better wake up to reality and fight for our Constitution and eliminate government fraud, waste and intrusiveness on businesses and individual rights. No more compromise. No more “reaching across the aisle.”

[240B]

Hey! RNC! You need money? Go ask your good pal Soros or maybe your good friends at the DNC will front you some. Of course your going to have to back McCain again, but I’m sure you have no problem with that.

You’re not getting a dime from me.

In the words of Rush Limbaugh, I want the RNC to fail. I want them to fold.

I want them to either go out of business, or to merge with their brothers over at the DNC.

That crap you pulled last election, among other things, will not be forgiven.

McCain stumping for Obama 2008; Obama is an intelligent man. A family man. He would make a great president. And you are never to say his middle name!

Thanks RNC. Great choice.

[Rudder]

This new RNC chairman has a lot of stops to make, starting soon with Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virgina...

[bronxville]

Well done!

[Cobra64]

Thanks. I thought I'd share that letter since I live in NC and this thread deals with NC voters.

The letter was just mailed yesterday. I wonder if he'll get off his ass and get John Boehner to DO something.

[liberty or death]

Everytime the RNC beggars envelope comes my way it is sent back with the same message...NO! We donate 10 times more money now then we did 20 years ago to politicians. It is all targeted at conservative candidates who actually vote and act the way they campaign.

RNC wants to be DNC light. Giving us no reason to send them a dime.

[newzjunkey]

Hate to say it, but if we’re fighting for NC again in 2012, we’re pretty much screwed.

No doubt about it. Looking at the comments here, I get the feeling people will hold their money and starve the RNC of cash which will, in turn, help reelect Obama, Reid and Pelosi regardless of the nominee.

[Minus_The_Bear]

NC will be a battleground state... look where Obama & the DNC chose to hold the Democrat convention.

[fortheDeclaration]

We don’t need the RNC. It is simply a waste of money.

[bcsco]

Good for you!

[TonyInOhio]

I’ll go on the record: North Carolina will be carried easily by the GOP nominee in 2012.

[devildognc]

Never bet on NC doing what the State SHOULD do.

[Ron H.]

Patrick Yanke of Wake County, NC is exactly right. Until the RNC and blue blood Republicans get in line with the party's TP (majority) conservative base and start representing that base the RNC et.al. will continue to suffer in the wallet and at the ballot box and the fracture within the Republican party ranks over the Tea Party's necessary involvement will continue to grow and grow.

The Tea Party will accept nothing less than a major seat at the table and an equal partner in the decision making process, IMHO. If the blue bloods can't see and accept that then they will slip into oblivion and the into the history books.