The editors of the Richmond Times-Dispatch take RPV Chairman Jeff Frederick to school.
:
Jeff Frederick seems eminently qualified to serve as chairman of the Republican Club at Sean Hannity Middle School. The delegate from Prince William serves as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia instead. There’s the rub.
…
In seeking to install an adult as chairman of the RPV, McDonnell is displaying not only spine but his appealing temperament. He repudiates the excesses attributed to factionalists. If the central committee ousts Frederick, as it should, then McDonnell will have polished his image. If the committee fails to do its duty, then McDonnell still will have displayed his reasonable persona to the general public. It is possible that the controversy will lead ideological adolescents to take their Nerf balls and go home, but McDonnell’s stand helps him with the voters who decide Virginia elections. Political considerations are not the real reason McDonnell earns admiration, however. He earns it because he is doing the right thing.
Sounds like a win-win situation.
As an aside, the Richmond Times-Dispatch is only a few blocks away from RPV HQ. One would think we would have a better relationship with the local newspaper.
UPDATE: The conversation at RedState continues to intensify.
Shaun,
With all due respect to the RTD and to those who have served the RPV so well in the past, I must disagree. From my understanding, Jeff Frederick was elected as chairman in accordance with party rules and with state law. I wish to assert that I have no vested interest in either Jeff Frederick’s Chairmanship nor in the State Central Committee members. I have two main concerns with how this has played out:
1.) We are less than three months away from the Convention. Why do this now? Could this have been brought before the Convention before letting it out to the blogs? The Convention is the most appropriate venue for internal party business, which this ultimately is at this point in time. If the allegations are so serious as to warrant Frederick’s removal, why not wait until the Convention is gaveled in and then allow the rank and file, together with the leadership, to examine the allegations on their merits rather than let a few on the State Central Committee decide to act on disputed allegations. I assert that in the name of grassroots indignation, we have let slip a golden opportunity to demonstrate our dedication to the rule of law and of transparency.
2.) I am concerned as well that in the interests of showing “temperament” that Bob McDonnell has surrendered the moral high ground in this instance. With the Convention so close at hand, he has squandered the opportunity to let the process work and show good faith to the rank and file that will be asked to show up and do the grunt work. I could really care less about the personalities involved here, but Bob could have taken the high moral road and united the party after an already contentious AG nomination campaign. I believe that the window of opportunity for mending fences was already a small one and is slowly being shut.
Again, I am less concerned about personalities than I am about process. The process wasn’t trusted to do its job and a handful of SCC members and local party committees have produced a very sloppy situation that I believe COULD, emphasize the word COULD, jeopardize the RPV’s chances this fall.
Charlie –
(1) State Central apparently believes that doing this now is more preferable to enduring another three years with Jeff as Chairman. Keep in mind that during the Advance, these same issues came up — as well as over the last nine months. This isn’t anything new… rather, State Central consisting of conservatives, moderates, libertarians, grassroots guys like you and me have all collectively decided that Jeff isn’t getting the job done.
(2) McDonnell isn’t the only one who has announced displeasure: McCain staff, the entire Virginia congressional delegation, the entire Virginia State Senate (save Cuccinelli), and 80% of State Central — folks with the best knowledge of how RPV is being run. There are three Republican congressional candidates (Drake, Goode, and Fimian) who probably aren’t too pleased with RPV either — and Goode is no weenie moderate.
As for the possibility of losing races in the fall, individuals supporting Frederick have already announced they are prepared to run an independent candidate against McDonnell. It’s a threat, plain and simple.
The question here isn’t ideological. This is a pure matter of process. If you read the list of concerns from SSC, and if you follow it up with the FEC reports to back those claims, it’s pretty clear that something has been wrong at RPV for some months now.
Look at it this way: If SSC and Executive Committee had said nothing, what kind of stewards would they be? They are there to look after us — the grassroots. If they feel as if the job isn’t getting done, that might be one person. But 10? 20? What happens when 60 members of State Central come to the same conclusion? And 16 members of the Senate? And all five of our congressmen? Furthermore, when’s the last time that many Virginia Republicans have agreed on *anything*?
Now Jeff could spin around with a perfectly reasonable explanation for all the concerns raised by State Central. If so, and if the explanation makes sense, I’ll be the first to pour heat on those who raised the concerns. But if they are not — and 7% on an online transaction is way too much, Charlie — and if Jeff has personally benefited from donations given to RPV for the purpose of electing our candidates and building our grassroots, then he has to go.
Jeff knows that, I think, and though he’s not ready to resign, he’s smart enough a politician to know when he’s hurting his friends in the conservative movement.
Just some thoughts to place aside your own, Charlie.
You forgot all five sitting Republican Congressmen, Shaun.
Charlie says “Bob McDonnell has surrendered the moral high ground in this instance”. How dare you say this when we know the moral high ground has never seen Jeff Frederick on its peak! Frederick is a charlatan – he needs to go.