No one came out clean at last night’s Kootenai County GOP Central Committee meeting. The only way the thing could have been more comical is if a cart of banana creme pies were available.
Shame on the Powers That Be for producing the pre-printed slate of candidates. That was tacky. That was a CdA City Hall move. It was disrespectful, childish. The GOP old guard knew that some of the newly elected, so-called Ron Pauler precinctmen would be gearing up for a fight. Rather than handle a potential situation like adults, they stooped to a sad, low level.
Had adults been in charge, they would have opened the floor to nominations. The same slate would have been chosen, easily. And the newly elected precinctmen would have recognized the truth about the list: it was an earned privilege.
About the list: Sure, it was rude to print it ahead of time. One precinctman was dead-on saying that it was un-democratic. But it was a good list of respectable people. They’ve proven their worth to the GOP over the years. They’re dedicated. They volunteer. They donate. They promote. Nothing wrong with that list, other than the manner it was presented.
Shame also goes to those who felt it necessary to disrupt the meeting. Folks, you don’t walk into your first dance and demand to made the prom king. Anyone involved in public life knows that. If you hang around any political party, you soon realize that the folks whose names appear on delegate lists have put in the time — the blood, the sweat, and the tears. It’s an earned position.
Not all the newly elected delegates where disruptive. In fact, those who were disruptive showed passion, and I believe that the GOP should embrace it. Use that passion instead of fighting it.
Rumor has it that the Democrats fight just as hard in their sessions. But once they open the doors it’s all smiles and togetherness. One thing that hasn’t been played up in this episode, is that any acrimony during the meeting did not hold over after the meeting. In fact, it’s my best wish that everyone learns to enjoy the dialog, to accept dissent, and to welcome anyone who is enthusiastic about politics into the arena.
Dan, I went to the Republican Meeting after I could politely leave the joy-ride at NIC’s Board meeting. What a difference. It was like walking out of a freezer and into a warm oven…people milling around, talking, hugging, greeting. Even primary election competitors were cordial to each other. The meeting did get heated toward the end and I was glad to be in the Peanut Gallery where I could only watch and was not responsible for Parliamentary Procedure or managing a contentious meeting. Those people earned their keep last night! I love your phrase, “you don’t walk into your first dance and demand to made the prom king”. That was something that bothered me too: Some of the new people were too aggressive. As Dale Carnegie would say, it’s not a good way to make friends and influence people. But mistakes were made on both sides. Hopefully, common ground will be found and the party will be better for it.
Comment by mary — May 29, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
The North Idaho GOP are way more organized than the Spokane party. That said the obvious contempt for the newcomer idealist is evident in both counties. Sad.
Comment by Pariah — May 29, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
I don’t think it was contempt, Pariah. I think it was fear. Not being in the middle of it, I can only report what I hear, but it seems that the Old Guard here is worried that the Ron Paul supporters are interested only in pushing their way to the state onvention. And then pushing from there to the National Convention so as to make some sort of statement or demonstration about their candidate.
The fear is that after the nat’l convention, the Ron Paul supporters will abandon their elected seats and leave the local party weakened.
The Ron Paulers may not do this. They may have a true desire to become part of the local Republican party and work within the system. Positive behavior and constructive dialog, on both sides, are the only way these perceptions will be changed, but last night was not a great beginning.
Comment by mary — May 29, 2008 @ 8:47 pm