St. Johns GOP to remove Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) of Florida State Chairman from Party

St. Johns GOP seeks to have Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida State Chairman Removed from Republican Party for speaking against Bush Administration

I received a notice yesterday that the St. Johns County Florida, Republican Executive Committee passed a resolution requesting the Republican Party of Florida ("RPOF") Chairman, Jim Greer to have me "banned from attending Republican Party functions, including sanctioned clubs of the Republican Party" Additionally, they resolved that I be removed from the party under Fla. Stat. 103.161 and under this statute "An individual removed from office by the chair shall not be eligible to serve on the state executive committee or any county executive committee of the political party for a period of no less than 4 years from the effective date of the removal."

From what I can gather from the ramblings of the Grievance it is alleged that I have done the following:
1. Attended a Pro-America Rally in Minneapolis hosted by the Campaign for Liberty and wore a "Ron Paul" button on my lapel after the Republican primary
2. Attended an End the Fed(Federal reserve bank) Rally in Jacksonville
3. Spoke or written things in a manner harmful to the GOP specially regarding RPOF Chairman Jim Greer and Gov. Charlie Crist by stating they are "pathetic and embarrassing" and other comments regarding Senator John McCain and President George Bush.

I am now to appear in Kissimmee on July 25 at 1 pm to answer these allegationsto the RPOF or be removed from the party. The RPOF's statement in closing was "Please govern yourselves accordingly"

On the cover sheet of the RPOF Grievance package was a copy of the county resolution. It is obvious that this grievance was orchestrated by State Committeeman John Woodard and State Committee woman Becky Reichenberg even though it was filed by a Bill Blythe whom I have never met. Coincidentally, Wynonna Mayer and John Stevens, the opponents of Reichenberg and Woodard, respectively, for their State Committee person seats are also named in the resolution to have removed form the Republican Party. In the Grievance cover letter, State Committeeman, John Woodard forwarded the resolution to Michael Yaworsky of the RPOF where he stated:
"Becky asked me to send this to this resolution from last August, and she requested it be added to the grievance. Were you able to access and safe [sic] the other information I sent to you?". 

This saga is a continuation of events last year where Reichenberg, Woodard and former Chairman Bob Veit switched meeting dates and times and changed local rules to prohibit new members from joining the party that would not support them. Chairman Viet issued a written response to the RLC positions that being pro life, pro gun, pro veteran, pro Constitution, pro low tax, pro liberty, pro limited government, pro individual responsibility, pro states rights, "represents narrow political philosophy (Liberty Caucus) that had limited appeal to Republican voters no less all voters"

It is now very clear that Woodard and Reichenberg are more concerned with preserving their seats in local politics than they are in growing the party or restoring the party to one of its original principles.

This revival of old wounds when the party desperately needs to rebuild is unfortunate especially in light of the following recent articles on the GOP:

Young voters are moving away from the Republican Party in Droves

The Incredible Shrinking Republican Base

US News: Republican Party Shrinks to Lowest Level in 30 Years

Additionally, the RPOF's desire to move this grievance forward is a blatant attempt by the RPOF establishment to silence the voices of the conservative/libertarian Republicans who want to have a small government voice in the party. So to address some of the allegations and pick at old wounds I will offer a response:

1. Attended a Pro-America Rally in Minneapolis hosted by the Campaign for Liberty
The Campaign for Liberty hosted a Pro America/ Pro-Constitution event this past year in Minneapolis to support limited constitutional government. The St. Johns GOP wants to act as if there is something wrong with this. They also want to portray the event as an anti-GOP event. Most interesting however is that CNN Reported that National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Cole argued candidates should steer clear of the party's summer convention in Minneapolis, calling it a "waste of time" in a tough year when every day on the campaign trail counts. 
GOP Leader tells Republican to avoid the convention.
Additionally, they neglect to mention that speakers other than Republican Congressman Ron Paul, at this event were Bruce Fein, former assistant attorney general under Ronald Reagan and Doug Wead who served as an advisor to then vice president George H. W. Bush and helped organize his presidential campaign. In March, 1987 he reported directly to the son, George W. Bush and served as the campaign liaison to constituent groups. They obtained photographs of me while attending this event in Minneapolis. In the photo, I am wearing a vintage "Barry Goldwater" campaign button and a Republican Liberty Caucus sticker. This is also one of the complaints, that I am not wearing a John McCain button. 
2. Attended an End the Fed(Federal Reserve Bank) Rally in Jacksonville

This was an event to help gain support for the Audit the Fed Bill (HR1207) that is now supported by 230 members of congress and led by Senator Jim DeMint in the Senate. This a very important piece of legislation that has gained bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Here is a video of Senator DeMint on this bill. 
Jim DeMint on the Audit the Fed Bill
Ron Paul's Audit the Fed Bill Gains 222 Co-Sponsors

3. Spoke or written things in a manner harmful to the GOP specially regarding RPOF Chairman Jim Greer and Gov. Charlie Crist by stating they are "pathetic and embarrassing" and other comments regarding John McCain and George Bush.
"To announce that there should be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American people." -Theodore Roosevelt
During the primary and election cycle I questioned the huge expansion of the federal government under George W. Bush, the $10 trillion of debt that was accumulated under GWB, the $60 trillion of debt obligations under Bush and the huge expansion of federal programs such as No Child Left Behind and the War on Terror. However, there were very mixed signals coming from the GOP leadership as well. We had the GOP leadership advising Republicans to do exactly the same thing. Now we want to selectively remove members for trying to pull the base back into the party.

Run Against The GOP, National Republican Congressional Committee Tom Cole Tells Hopefuls

National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Cole
"Feel free to criticize the party – including prospective future colleagues, citing dismal congressional approval ratings. "These ratings are worse than we had on the eve of losing the majority," he said. "Don't be afraid to say you are disappointed in fellow Republicans… don't hesitate to be anti-Washington, D.C.'"

McCain Takes on GOP and Bush Along the Way

Republicans Distance Themselves from Dick Cheney
In Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, Democrats seized on Cornyn's suggestion and pressured GOP candidates in those states to choose whether they want Cheney to stump in their states. Neither former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) nor Florida Gov. Charlie Crist 

Bush Calls for Bigger More Powerful Federal Government

"Conservative Bush" spends more than "Liberal Clinton"

The complaint in the grievance is that I have forwarded information and statements made by Senator John McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham, General David Patreaus, Brig General Janice Karpinski head of Abu Ghirab and Major General Antonio Taguba, the former army officer who conducted an inquiry into the Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq. All of these persons have given statements about the torture policy and General Karpinski has stated that these were not a few rogue soldiers but a small group within the military and CIA acting on orders from the Bush Administration. These are not things I have said. These are said by Republican Leadership and those in charge of these events. The facts are as follows:

General Patraeus "When we have taken steps that have violated the Geneva Convention we have been rightly criticized"
"When we have taken steps that have violated the Geneva Convention.."-General David Patraeus 

Abu Ghraib – Iraq - Shocking pictures have come to light revealing the extent of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib - and it's much worse than anyone imaged
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=rz7UNxnOI3M

Abu Ghraib abuse photos 'show rape'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5395830/Abu-Ghraib-abuse-photos-show-rape.html

"The American public needs to understand we're talking about rape and murder here. we're not just talking about giving people a humiliating experience." Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/08/iraq/main616338.shtml

Hersh: Children sodomized at Abu Ghraib, on tape
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2004/07/15/hersh/

General Taguba faults leadership for Iraqi detainee abuse –Air Force News
Investigators found more than 100 digital photos of guards posing with hooded and naked Iraqi detainees. Some of the photos depicted the detainees in simulated sexual acts and others have an unmuzzled guard dog appearing to threaten the detainees.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/052704_taguba.htm

Reports detail Abu Ghraib prison death; was it torture?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6988054/

Red Cross Report of C.I.A. Torture of Qaeda Captives finds Bush Administration Guilty of War Crimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/washington/11detain.html?_r=1&ref=us

Bush administration guilty of war crimes, U.S. general charges 6/19/08 –Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-detainees_19int.ART.State.Edition2.ae41c4.html

"Torture orders came form the highest levels of government" - Janice Karpinski former Brigadier in Charge of Abu Ghirab
Torture orders came form the highest levels of government" - Janice Karpinski former Brigadier in Charge of Abu Ghirab

Torture orders came from the highest levels of government. pt 2

Waterboarding is Torture – John McCain
"Waterboarding is Torture" - Sen John McCain

Ghost of Abu Ghirab
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-82848561528142057&ei=4P1VSpLlH4H4qALnsOnJCQ&q=general+of+abu+ghraib+sya+administration+ordered+torture&hl=en

Bush Seeks Immunity for Violating War Crimes Act
http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views06/0923-22.htm

Guantanamo prosecutor who quit had 'grave misgivings' about fairness
Convinced that key evidence was being withheld from the defense, Lt. Col. Darrel J. Vandeveld went from being a 'true believer to someone who felt truly deceived' by the tribunals.
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/oct/12/nation/na-gitmo12

So, if discussion, debate and questioning policy is now grounds to remove people from the party, I must ask, what have we come to as a party? What have we come to when the leadership requires all members to sign a Loyalty Oath to the party and not to principles? What have we come to when those in power in the party can use the party apparatus to selectively remove all opposition from the party at will? It is time to return the party back to the people and to return the party to a party of principles.

-Will Pitts

wpitts@wgpitts.com
904-260-8472