This past Saturday (9/14/13) was the first meeting with the new leadership team. We are very excited to continue the fine work of the previous leadership of bringing excellent speakers, education, and legislative up-dates to our members.
This meeting was no exception. Our guest was Bill Glahn, former Deputy Commerce Commissioner during the Pawlenty Administration. Mr. Glahn, who had run for a House seat in 49A (Edina) in 2012, has done fine work in exposing the money trail of the left. The amount of money that has been flowing to influence Minnesota politics from outside the state is staggering. Democrats and their affiliates have used 501(c)3s, 4s, & PACs to fund various causes and yet conceal where the money has come from. Outside money was instrumental to help fund groups such as Alliance for a Better Minnesota, WIN Minnesota, and Take Action. This lead to the defeat of the ballot initiatives of the 2012 election: Marriage Amendment & Voter ID. It also had an mpact on some of the local legislative races.
One has to wonder why people outside of Minnesota would feel the need to influence Minnesota’s local elections. And thanks to the work of Bill Glahn, we are starting see just how extensive it is.
Please visit Mr. Glahn’s website for further informaion: www.billglahn.blogspot.com
Brian Marum
WCR President
September begins the 2013 – 2014 meeting schedule and the new leadership team is excited about our opportunity to present important topics to the group. In the weeks and months ahead, WCR will provide speakers such as:
- Canditates for various offices to speak about their campaigns
- and those with expertise on topics such as transportation, elections, education, and other serious issues of the day
We will also continue to provide legislators with opportunities for legislative up-dates on what is happening at the capitol.
Brian Marum
President
Minnesota Republicans Plan for the Future
01/31/2013
by Elise Gardner
Minnesota Republicans Plan for the Future
Over 300 Republicans from all factions of the party gathered at the Blue Fox Grill in Arden Hills, MN last night to listen to suggestions from a panel of campaign strategists, party leaders, district chairs and coordinators and representatives from party affiliates to start planning for the future of the GOP. The panel was hosted by Real Capitol View and Look True North.
While the variety of sometimes conflicting opinions did cause some friction, this was an important first step to creating a stronger and more focused party. Momentum created last night will need to continue as the MNGOP moves towards electing a new party chairman this spring and selecting candidates who will unseat DFL U.S. Senator Al Franken and Governor Mark Dayton next year.
While many ideas for moving the party in the right direction were discussed such as; focusing on fiscal issues, reaching out to independents, creating a stronger social media presence, and providing better training for candidates, few specific solutions were given. However, the media outlets that were present – and have since published their analyses of last night’s event – have missed the overall themes that seemed to resonate within the crowded room. These overall themes shine a beam of light into the gloom and doom that is perceived to be the current state of the Republican Party of Minnesota.
Consistency
If the GOP is the party of small government, then it needs to be the party of small government across the board. Members of the Republican Party agree that we cannot argue for smaller government, fiscal responsibility and more individual freedoms in some areas, but not in others. Our candidates cannot be viewed as credible when they argue these points while campaigning, but continue to pass legislation that grows government, spends more money and decreases personal freedom. Republicans know that we need to practice what we preach or get off the pulpit. We will be looking for candidates that will follow through on their promises, others need not apply. Candidates will need to be principled and party members are looking for new ways to hold them accountable once elected.
Connecting
We know the importance of connecting with individuals and are learning how to go about it successfully. Walter Hudson, a panelist representing the Minority Liberty Alliance seemed to understand this above all others. Our party has been talking about handouts when we should be talking about glass ceilings. We argue for decreasing benefits and cutting programs, but forget to promote increased opportunities. We need to go to communities throughout Minnesota and get to know the people that live in them. We need to ask what their wants and needs are, what their hopes and dreams are. We need to show them that we are the party that believes in them, that believes that they can succeed. If we show that we believe in them, they will begin to believe in us. Conservative groups are reaching out and the party is beginning to follow their example.
The Big Tent
The GOP has been painted as the party of no, a closeminded maze with no entrance and too many exits. However, Republicans are beginning to focus more on outreach than ever before. We are beginning to realize that we need to not only lay out a welcome mat, but place a big, flashing sign out front and many smiling faces ready to say hello like friendly Walmart greeters. We know we need to go out to individual voters and find ways to bring them to us.
These three themes ruled the night and showed that while the Republican Party was knocked down, we are certainly not out. Yes, party members have disagreements, sometimes we take jabs at each other. There are factions within the party and there will always be factions. However, that is not a bad thing. It’s much like visiting extended family on Thanksgiving. We may pick at each other, we may make snarky comments and try to provoke each other, but in the end we are all family.
We can find common ground within our party. If we can find common ground within our own party, we can find common ground with independents, libertarians and conservative democrats. We will be in fighting shape come the next election cycle. Sure, we stalled there for a while and we have some work to do, but if we continue the momentum that began to build last night we can succeed. We will be back in the ring in no time.