Posted on 06/08/2009 7:36:46 AM PDT by libravoter
Whatever you think of Sarah Palin, the NRCC’s treatment of her in the run up to tomorrow’s fundraising “gala” has been atrocious. And I don’t just mean in a “that’s not how you treat someone” sort of way. I really mean it in a “that’s not how you raise money and win elections” sense. The anonymous suggestion that
You dance with the one who brung ya, said the [campaign committee] official, who stressed that event organizers were still happy to have Palin appear and be introduced.
is patently absurd and borderline offensive. As the Politico article notes, the NRCC first announced that Palin would keynote the event. Then Palin became simply a speaker at the event. And then, tonight, an attendee… maybe. It’s as if the NRCC initiated this “dance” with Palin as a couple, then as friends, ending with the NRCC leaving the dance with someone else… Newt Gingrich.
I have no skin in the “who’s headlining” political game, and I want the NRCC to raise as much money as possible for Republicans who hold the ideals of small, responsible and responsive government. If Palin was happy to be “a” speaker and not “the” speaker at the fundraiser, terrific. It’s a PR-money-bomb-Sarahcuda-Newtapalooza bonanza, hopefully. And maybe it still will be without Palin’s presence (we’ll never really know,) but if you hear an ominous “squeeaaaak” echoing across the halls of Congress, that’s the sound of Palin-affilliated money spickets shutting off all over the country.
Sarah Palin was the most effective fundraiser the Republican Party had in 2008, and I find it incredibly short-sighted and bordering on political malpractice for the NRCC to do anything but harness her energy and the dollars her persona brings to the table. This event should not be all about a single personality, but about the Party, which is exactly why the NRCC’s apparent second-thoughts on bringing a politician with a (gasp!) national following because it might overshadow another politician with a (gasp!) national following seem so suspicious and unseemly.
Surely the Speaker did not endorse the move. Two stars shine brighter than one, and I have to hope the Speaker would be happy to share the stage for the sake of the Party’s 2010 hopes, despite the NRCC’s best (and worst) efforts to protect him.
Meanwhile, the NRCC should hope that its dance card doesn’t start shrinking. Reputations stick, and school’s just begun.
I’ll never get its it’s and its’ right.
I’ve surrendered on that one. LOL
Yes, Freepers are watching carefully, and so far she is only confirming their initial judgment way to the contrary of what the MSM tried so hard to tell us.
But there is such an incredible vacuum for political leadership right now to speak out against the Obama-ization of America. If she joins the few—Dick and Liz Cheney, has anyone else really been effective?—she can make a difference right now.
If Sarah can contribute on that front, despite the arrows from party insiders and potential Republican primary challengers and of course the left—she maybe the one individual best capable of forcing the party to the right before the mid-term elections.
My day-dream is that Duncan Hunter announces his campaign in the following fashion:
“I am a Republican candidate for POTUS. If I am the nominee of the GOP, I will pick Mrs. Sarah Palin as my running mate. When we win the election, Mrs. Palin will be assigned a single but difficult task, untangling the socialist policies of the current administration from the government of the people, for the people and by the people. Semper fi!.
My day-dream is that Duncan Hunter announces his campaign in the following fashion:***
Hunter was a LOSER in the Last Election - dropped out FAST and couldn’t even raise any money!!
They think they will get the queer and gun-grabber votes by trying to sell only smaller government.
They will lose everybody else.
Michael Steele is jealous, methinks. And I wish Bill Bennett would stop having him host on Fridays. My $.02
Colonel, USAFR
It's worked well for them in the past.
I know. I supported Thompson.
How’d that Mitt thing work out for you? (My first impression assumption)
Why would Hunter be the top of the ticket?
Palin draws crowds and dollars.
She has charisma - and she makes Obama stutter and come unglued.
The left doesn’t know what to do with her.
She is the most popular governor in the nation and her state is weathering the recession in good shape.
I’ve made my decision - I’ll be joing pro-Palin groups and start the fundraising process.
She’s the only one who has it in her to bring down zero.
Please pay attention to the topic at hand:
THE PARTY selected McCain far in advance of any open fund raising, conventions, or (snicker) vote gathering.
The same republican party that is being discussed in this thread was operating in the same mode then as now.
By the logic in your post you will be able to say "Hunter Palin was a LOSER in the Last Election - dropped out FAST and couldnt even raise any money" following the next election.
What we're talking about here is why that should not take place - again.
I have a pet cock I named spickets...
The national RNCC consultants need to go. There are too many beltway insiders with personal life agendas that are mucking around with the GOP.
The RNCC is Mr. Mooch from “Atlas Shrugged”.
Sorry, but that analogy doesn’t hold at all.
Both were/are considered toxic by the ruling elite within the party.
That party was as much responsible for the bad image assigned to Hunter as was any leftist/PC source.
The same party that couldn't manage to invite Palin to speak because...well, because.
He was portrayed by all as a one issue candidate despite publishing position papers on every subject of interest to the voters.
Palin is portrayed as someone knowledgeable only of Alaska, and for hiring hicks as staff.
He was lined up with Ron Paul (Bozo the politician) and Alan ("just short of the edge") Keyes in the ersatz debate format.
Palin might be allowed to say hello to the crowd after Newtie speaks - so long as she shows 'support'.
You were never intended to select from any one other than McCain and Romney - both of whom represented the status quo.
The same machinery is building on the early start it had with Palin because next time you are expectd to have a choice between Romney and another member of the white bread club.
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