Governor Perdue To GOP Grassroots: “Green Is The Only Color We Care About”
by politicalvine
Rumors have it that in an act of what can best be described as supreme arrogance, the Georgia State Republican Party proudly invites anyone who wishes to attend their annual “President’s Day” dinner on March 9 to attend…as long as they can pony-up a $1000 minimum-priced ticket.
The special headliner? President George W. Bush.
PV’s Analysis: As grandiose as it may sound to have the President appear for the annual Republican fundraiser, a $1000-minimum ticket effectively tells the grassroots to go take a hike if they wish to participate in the annual event.
In years passed, the event was an annual opportunity for grassroots folks from around the state to travel and socialize with old friends. Not so with the new regime that resides in control of State HQ.
Ever since Alec has been installed as State Party Chair, the grassroots have been given a whole lot of lip service, first from ED Scott Rials, and now from ED Paul Bennecke, about how much the state party relies on the grassroots to help get the vote out, reelect the Governor, etc., etc.
Well, with this latest incarnation of President’s Day Dinner, the state GOP AND the Governor’s Office/Reelection Campaign, is essentially saying “You grassroots folks are all ours to use…and abuse as much as we want. Pay-up the $1000 and you can attend. Otherwise, don’t bother calling us with your issues. And, yes, we will still ask for your help next fall…and we damn well better get it!”
February 27th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
This is ridiculous. Why not get a bigger facility and have different levels of table priority based on what you can afford. Many people do not mind sitting in the back, lol.
February 27th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
And this surprises you because???
Bottom line is, there just aren’t too many elected “Republicans” I would pay $10 to eat dinner with these days, much less $1000.
I am sick and tired of my party, and the so called “leaders” who have allowed it to be hijacked.
I’d rather spend the grand on my boat.
February 27th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Seems to me they are having a bit of a fundraising problem… Any other GOPers been getting your weekly mail request for money from the state GOP? The most recent one had a GOP member card. As someone who’s worked on campaign staff, I know how much one of those mailings costs, they aren’t cheap. I guess the $1000 price tag for dinner with the Prez is meant to pay the postage for all those solicitations…
My advice for grassroots folks: give money and support directly to the candidates you choose, and let the state party go pound sand.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:56 am
As I recall, the last time the President was in town for an event, the Party was virtually giving tickets away. This time around, they have chosen to limit it to voters willing to pay $1000. There is nothing there to complain about. I understand that you don’t like the GA GOP as it currently stands and for good reason; however, this is a flailing attempt to cause an uproar where one doesn’t belong. It is petty, and it is shallow. We have too many real issues that we disagree on to be wasting our time whining about this.
February 28th, 2006 at 11:07 am
From what I understand, the “uproar” was/is already in process. The district chairs have been pissed for several weeks about there not being any tickets available for “volunteers” or any lower-priced tickets.
ALSO, the interesting thing is that late last week, the state GOP put out a desperate call for “volunteers” to come to the headquarters to stuff envelopes for this event. These volunteers devoted several hours of their Saturday dedicated to helping the state GOP…who actually stands to gain about $2.5 million from this fundraiser. Not that I begrudge them for the money to be raised, but they could have just hired a mailhouse to get the envelopes and not tread on the good graces of well-meaning people.
None of these volunteers will get “volunteer” passes to this event, contrary to Presidents’ Day events in past years. So, the only reason to inform people of this is to let them know about these types of “screw-you” activities of the state party.
If I allow arrogance to continue unchecked, whether with the state GOP or our self-proclaimed “Republican leaders” in D.C., then later on, when the concept of arrogance is ingrained in the party as being perfectly acceptable, people will ask “Why didn’t you complain about this before?”
February 28th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
I was told yesterday that there will be no volunteer coordinator for this GA GOP Event. If the State Party needs a volunteer for this event they will be contacting a short list of there friends. No one idividual (usually Linda Parker or someone like that) will be heading up the volunteers for this event. This is another way to slam the door in the face of the grass roots help around the State. I also heard that one of the vice chairs of the party said the ticket was unaffordable for him/her personally and could something be done. Party told him/her no. I will state all of this is gossip for now. I was just passed the info.
March 5th, 2006 at 11:42 am
Many of the rank and file are feeling left behind. The pork filled lobbyist driven bills , paid for by the big money donors are driving the agenda of both parties. This ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR and TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND dollar a photograph with the President event ,only reinforces the frustration. The party will take the heat for this in the polls, unless we change the agenda.
March 8th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
John Konop makes an excellent point: many of the grass roots rank and file are feeling left out. My own impression is that the Georgia State GOP is far more interested in getting your money than listening to your opinion on the vital issues facing Georgia and the nation. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the state party’s unofficial motto when communicating with grassroots Republican can be summed up succinctly: “Shut your yap and cut us a check.”
You folks at the top of the GOP ladder need to listen, or we will find ourselves back in the legislative minority on the cold, gray morning of November 8, 2006. Those of us who have been long-time Georgia Republicans did not expect our team to promote government secrecy, government theft of private property through eminent domain abuse, and handouts through corparate welfare.
This is not the GOP of Ronald Reagan and Paul Coverdell. If you want Georgia citizens to have money to fork over to the state GOP, how about promoting a cut in the Georgia income tax rate from 6% to, say, 5% instead of throwing money at NASCAR. Comments?
March 10th, 2006 at 11:18 am
I talked to some of the volunteers last night, they didn’t pay to get in. They did get in on paid tickets that were not going to be used.
March 12th, 2006 at 10:19 am
I would like to think someone from this party can step up and run. I would trade Sonny days for a couple of storms. If we had a good storm come thru the state who knows what could happen?
Heck if someone does not know, I will jump in.