Lincoln Club Threatens GOP Leadership

The Republican Party is in no small amount of trouble, as the polls clearly show. One group of GOP activists, the Lincoln Club of Orange County, wants change – but not the kind Obamaniacs desire. They want new leadership in the Republican Caucus on Capitol Hill. If they don’t get it, they’re going to “review its financial backing of all Congressional Republicans.” That’s the ultimate threat in American Politics, no more money.

Now, the Lincoln Club claims to be the biggest and most active political club in the country. Frankly, one doubts they top some of the still-living clubs in the Democratic urban strongholds. By the same token, they number 300 strong and will probably raise $1.5 million for the GOP this year. Annoying these guys may only be done at one’s peril if one desires a future in elective politics on the Republican side of the aisle.

What has club president Rich Wagner and board member Chip Hanlon upset is they fear the GOP will become a permanent minority party if it doesn’t get back to its roots. Specifically, “Budget earmarks, which jumped by 285% between 1994 and 2005 as their cost soared by 60%, stand as the perfect symbol of the GOP-led profligacy that drives us crazy still. In and of themselves, earmarks are admittedly a small part in the budget process, amounting to roughly 2% of the federal budget in 2005. Yet they epitomize the fiscal recklessness that led to Republicans becoming a minority in 2006.”

Their solution is pretty clear, “we strongly support and call upon the House GOP leadership to institute a minimum one year moratorium on earmarks by Republicans, and for the Senate GOP leaders to follow suit.” No GOP pork makes earmarks something with which to beat the Democrats. Beyond that, “we are dialoguing with like-minded groups across the country about electing new Congressional Republican leadership in both houses of Congress.” As they cogently argue, the current leaders are the guys who lost GOP control of Congress.

Of course, the Lincoln Club can put some of its money where its mouth is right now. Republican Congressman Jerry Lewis represents California’s 41st Congressional District. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said, “His ethics issues stem primarily from the misuse of his position as Chairman of House Appropriations Committee to steer hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks to family and friends in direct exchange for contributions to his campaign committee and political action committee.” Perhaps, the Lincoln Club of Orange County would like to bankroll a primary challenger to take on Congressman Lewis. Of course since he represents people in San Bernardino County, doing so could cause trouble, especially if the insurgent candidate were to lose.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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