From the InBox:
The Republican Party Of Texas State Chairman race is heating up. Recently, establishment challenger, Cindy Asche, has turned her fire on what she perceives as ‘Libertarians’ in the Republican Party who she would like to purge. The use of such language is nothing new for any Liberty-Minded Republican. It is quite common when one calls for adherence to the principles of the party over just ‘talk.’ Something must be amiss, so it/s time to scapegoat a group as infiltrators challenging the status quo.
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas has always stood for Liberty above all else. We function in our party because we believe that the GOP was founded on liberty and remains the best avenue for promoting freedom for the nation. We don’t seek solutions from government, but a reduction of it. We’re proud our platform includes issues such as: Abolish the Federal Reserve, Sound Money, Ending blanket Foreign Aid, Abolishment of the IRS, The NDAA, the War Powers Act and many other pro-freedom ideas from the right to buy raw milk to the ability of citizens to purchase automobiles directly from manufactures.
Liberty is not a new idea and it is not an alien idea to the GOP. Many of us have worked in the Republican Party in some form or fashion for decades. It is disingenuous to be branded as not the party we belong in. Such comments do nothing to grow the party. In fact, we would argue, seeking to purge any voices in disagreement with you is, in fact, secluding and shrinking the party. Once we fall into the trap of no longer allowing the freedom of ideas to be discussed and debated, we have lost all Liberty we claim to be champions of.
This caucus made the decision to proudly support James Dickey. We will continue to stand by that endorsement. James has given the grassroots a renewed enthusiasm. It continues to baffle us why the challenger sees things as a negative when the body functions as intended. The chair allows the body to work. He allows open debate without placing a thumb on the scales for a desired outcome.
For us the choice was clear, and it should be to anyone who believes in the basic principles of the party. One leader offers a party that works from the bottom up. One leader believes that we should trust our delegates and SREC members with their decisions. The other seeks to instill top down leadership. The other seeks to return to a time that only leadership has the answers to all issues, despite the will of party members and their representatives. And, according to recent statements, even gets to define who can belong and be called a Republican and who cannot.
Additionally, last night in Harris County Ms. Asche continued her assault on the RLC. You can view the video below:
We continue to urge all our delegates and all our partner organization delegates to vote for James Dickey at the upcoming RPT State Convention.
In Liberty,
Jeff LeBlanc
Chairman – RLCTX
Mainstream says
I came away with the impression that she thinks Republican Liberty Caucus and the Libertarian Party are allied or the same group, and she claimed that RLC supports open borders and is pro-choice, which does not match any of the activists of RLC who I have ever met.
Marvin Clede says
If you look at website for RLC (www.rlc.org), you will see that the organization clearly supports no government role in definition or administration of marriage, essentially sanctioning departure from our time honored Judeo-Christian heritage (under heading of Bill of Rights). It also backs off from substance abuse enforcement, seeking “flexible alternatives” under same heading, supports open borders specifically under Foreign Relations heading, and takes a hands-off, or pro-choice position under the heading Abortion. Read it for yourself. Individuals and various chapters of the organization may try to equivocate or back off from certain portions of the points, but it is all there.
This is certainly a questionable focus of our outreach and engagement efforts.
Jeff LeBlanc says
Marvin,
I find it funny we easily accept there are differences between the RNC and the RPT on issues. The GOP of NY has different issues than the RPT. Why is puzzling to you that grassroots organizations cannot function the same way? The Abortion principle National has is horrible. However, at worse it says – We have no opinion on this..not pro-choice. Personally, I am very pro-life, but at times we seem to forget even Barbara Bush was pro-choice, inconvenient, but true. BUT, the RLCTX has gone further and instituted a statement that mirrors the RPT statement on life. This was discussed at the last SREC Meeting as well. it is well known to any party official. To pretend otherwise is deceitful…or simply trying talking points to win an election. Why do you not read the http://www.rlctexas.net page? This is a Texas group, a coalition with the Republican Party of Texas, and the comments are being made by one running for a Texas Republican position. The National RLC is not a coalition of the RPT. The RLCTX is. Please judge us on our merit, not National’s. I, and many other Christians, do not support a governmental definition of marriage. How has that worked out for you? Think about that for a minute. The begging for a definition has given you exactly what most social conservatives did not want via SCOTUS rulings. Perhaps, we should learn from that. Not everything we ask for goes our way. And somethings, are only made infinitely worse by governmental definition. Personally, I believe my God is well above the government on the list of who should define my marriage.
Jeff LeBlanc – Chair – RLCTX
Ed Sarlls says
Marvin, have you reviewed the RLC Texas principles? http://rlctexas.net/principles/
Can we not agree to work together on these principles, even if we disagree on others?
I’m certain there are delegates who want open borders, delegates who want mass deportation of non-citizens, even some who want deportation of some citizens, and every opinion in between. In the last few RPT conventions, we have seen significant changes in the platform on this issue. Other issues you mentioned have a similar variety of positions represented in delegates. Even within the RLC Texas members, there are a variety of opinions.
I believe that by working with each other where we agree, and respectfully discussing and understanding each other where we don’t, we are given the opportunity to better understand the nuances of our positions, and maybe make adjustments in our understanding as we come to know the views of others.
If the RPT is only for people who agree 100% on every issue, it’s going to become a very small and boring club.
Kay LeBlanc says
Marvin, first, are you aware that not every Republican is a Christian? no one will be standing at the doors of the convention turning away people that don’t believe in the lord God & Jesus Christ… next, taking government out of marriage actually returns the sacrament to the church, whereas right now, marriage is a contract entered into between two people & their local govt…& while i am personally as pro life as they come, i don’t think that the govt should have anything to do with my health care (i’ll be happy to discuss what i believe the solution to the problem of abortion is at a later time), but just because they don’t have an opinion in their platform doesn’t mean the organization is pro choice…i personally believe that if someone’s health will benefit from the use of medicinal marijuana rather than prescribing them massive amounts of opiates that they should be allowed to make that choice with their physician, but honestly, i don’t care if someone wants to smoke recreationally…i believe that the same laws would apply as far as being impaired publicly as they do with alcohol or any other mind altering substance…i know for a fact that no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose, & alcohol has much more harmful effects on the body & brain than marijuana…& believe it or not, I’m not the only Republican that holds the beliefs… i’m pretty sure that building the ranks of the Republican party is a goal of either candidate, & that means accepting ALL Republicans in Texas (we’re not trying to run the party in Louisiana, California or New York) & learning to work together to accomplish the goals of the RPT, which the national RLC has nothing to do with… lastly, you implied that even though members or chapters try to “back off from” certain points, that we actually secretly agree with everything in the national RLC platform & that we’re somehow dangerous to the RPT… all i have to say to that is that i’m very aware that not every Republican in Texas agrees 100% with the RPT perform… that’s evident by the plank by plank voting that was used to create the platform at the last convention… but we were able come together as a party & determine what our priorities are, & can work on the things most important to the party as a whole… unfortunately, if we begin eliminating & excluding these non-perfect Republicans, there will be no party left…
Michael Franks says
As one of the early Founders of the Texas RLC and former Political Director of the group starting 20 years ago, I can say we have since day one, always been a diverse group with varying opinions. Having been around now for close to 25 years I think shows the long time positive relationship with the Republican Party of the Texas group, as well as its individual members. Mrs Asche comments in her campaign for RPT chair, are quite divisive. Out of one side of her mouth, she talks about “party unity” being her “#1 issue”. She states how the Republicans that supported Straus and were against the censure, are still republicans too and we dont need to run anyone off from the party. Mrs Asche makes references to Ronald Reagans 80% comments. Meaning he would rather have someone in the party that is with us on 80% of the issues than a democrat any day. Then, Mrs Asche makes some bizzare schizophrenic move, and starts bashing the Texas RLC and libertarian minded republicans, saying in other public venues they dont even need to be in the Republican Party. So, its bad to Mrs Asche to run more moderate Republicans and those who were fans of Strauss and not fans of the censure off or them to feel “unwelcome” or “unwanted” and alienated in our party, but its now ok for her to run Texas RLC members off? Is this the “party unity” she has in mind? Personally, I am a Christian Right leaning, pro-life, pro-family republican, who happens to ALSO be one of the Texas RLC founders. Former Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson was the Texas RLC State Chairman for several years. Are we not “Republican enough” for Mrs Asche and should we leave the party? Delegates need to step back, and take a deep pause at Mrs Asche’s mindset which is quite disturbing. We are ALL Republicans and all help work in and build our party. As a young SREC member in 2000, I spearheaded and organized the first of its kind, pure grass roots Statewide level Presidential sign effort for Gov. George Bush running for President. I have helped to organized and supply our Presidential nominees signage to Republican county parties across the state every 4 years since. Am I not “Republican enough” for Mrs Asche? Do I not belong in the Republican Party? I have also been a three time National Delgate elected from and by my Congressional caucus in THREE different Congressional Districts in Texas, CD#14, CD#10, and CD#7. I stood up and spearheaded the 2005 Texas Marriage Amendment GOTV sign effort, creating the “image” of that successful vote statewide. I am sure probably “shocking” to Mrs Asche, from her lack of knowledge and insight in who and what the Texas RLC and our membership is and has historically been here in Texas, that actually SEVERAL Texas RLC members stood and helped in that effort to define Marriage as 1 Man + 1 Woman = Marriage. (I wonder if she even had a sign in her yard?) Of course, the Texas RLC membership has a wide and varying mindset on social issues and the role of government. Which is why the Texas Chapter, has always focused on the areas where everyone DOES agree. (Insert Mrs Asche own quote of Ronald Reagans 80% rule now and play it back to her or hire her a tutor to where she understands and “gets” her own comment.). If Mrs Asche wants to truly unify our party, she should do so by ceasing her campaign for chair at this juncture, and support and vote for James Dickey. NO chair candidate or anyone in party leadership, needs to BE in “leaderhip” by bashing, denigrating and trying to run off loyal Republican Party servants, saying they dont belong. Who doesnt belong, is Mrs Asche and her misguided comments and thought process anywhere NEAR leading the party. RPT chair needs to lead EVERYONE to victory in November, as its going to take EVERY Republican voter in our larger Counties such as Dallas and Harris to not go blue and save all our judges. Our local and county wide candidates running there, should be APPALED Mrs Asche is wanting to run their own Republican voters away.
Michael Franks
A former District Campaign Chair-Ron Paul 1996
Early Founding member of Texas RLC
Former Texas RLC Political Director
Former SREC SD18 2000-2006
National Delegate 2004-CD#14, 2008-CD#10, 2012-CD#7
2000 The “Bush-Cheney Sign Guy” for Texas
2004 Bush-Cheney Presidential Statewide sign effort
2005 Texas Marriage Amendment GOTV Statewide sign effort
2008 McCain-Palin Presidential Statewide sign effort
2012 Romney-Ryan Presidential Statewide sign effort
2016 Trump-Pence Presidential Statewide sign effort
(Am I “good enough” to be a Republican in Mrs Asches party?)