Replies

You are correct, it was September of 2007.

I am trying to fully answer your question, if you find it contradictory, simply insert the term “except” in between the sentences.

As a member of the local republican committee, we were given blank forms which we would fill out and circulate to get republican candidates on the ballots for elections. While we did not consider this “working for the campaigns”, and the campaigns did not consider it working for them, I realized that someone like yourself my see it differently.

So, while I do not consider that “working for the campaign”, I told you about it anyway, to be complete. I can certainly understand you considering signature collection as “helping out”, and I would NOT have collected signatures for Romney if I opposed him (I did not collect signatures for McCain, or sign his signature petition for example).

I was “helping out” every candidate who I thought was a viable, reasonable candidate for the office.

BTW, if you consider “helping out” the candidate as “working for the campaign”, then every person here at FR is “working for the campaign” of someone whenever they write anything positive about a candidate, or negative about their opponents. I think that definition is useless because it is overly broad and reveals nothing.

If I understand the real concern, it is that there are people paid by campaigns to show up on boards and support their candidate.

In my case, my support for a candidate is predicated on MY opinion of that candidate and their views, and I express MY views, not those of the candidate. And if I found something that changed my views, I would do so — my support for a candidate is the RESULT of my views, not the other way around.

And in fact, I have trouble arguing with people who would even consider basing their opinions for a candidate on their support for the candidate, since I don’t understand how someone would support a candidate BEFORE forming their opinions, in order to let their opinions be shaped by their support.

"As a member of the local republican committee, we were given blank forms which we would fill out and circulate to get republican candidates on the ballots for elections. While we did not consider this “working for the campaigns”, and the campaigns did not consider it working for them, I realized that someone like yourself my see it differently."

Someone like myself ? I'm just reviewing what you said, and that your statement was a contradiction in terms. It's rather akin to a lot of politicians that say, "I'm personally opposed to... but I won't vote to change..." Either you do/did, or didn't/don't.

"I can certainly understand you considering signature collection as “helping out”, and I would NOT have collected signatures for Romney if I opposed him (I did not collect signatures for McCain, or sign his signature petition for example)."

So your personal belief was that McCain was worse than Slick Willard ?

"BTW, if you consider “helping out” the candidate as “working for the campaign”, then every person here at FR is “working for the campaign” of someone whenever they write anything positive about a candidate, or negative about their opponents. I think that definition is useless because it is overly broad and reveals nothing."

Not so, since this is a discussion board with no legal standing with respect to elections or nominations. You carried out a legal action in your capacity as a party official to place a candidate on the ballot, which is far more serious and substantial an action.