GOP Leaders Struggling to Douse McCain Fires

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Political Notes: GOP Leaders, Grassroots Republicans Butting Heads over McCain

By Dennis Durband, Editor
July 14, 2005

Arizona Republican leaders and the party faithful at the grassroots level butted heads last year over the border invasion and Proposition 200 -- and the grassroots GOP faithful won over the pandering politicians. The two groups are dueling again this year over opposition to senior U.S. Senator John McCain.

Three separate Republican grassroots entities have this summer either censured or condemned McCain for consorting with leftist politicos and ideals. While the people cry foul, the party leadership is trying to contain the political fire.

The cascade of contempt for McCain's dismal performance began June 11th with a unanimous censure by the Arizona Republican Assembly (ARA) during its annual convention. That motion was penned by Bruce Barton, borders columnist for The Arizona Conservative and an ARA board member.

Two more measures against McCain followed, both sparked by conservative activist Rob Haney, of Paradise Valley. Haney succeeded with a motion for censure of McCain in District 11, and then he led the Maricopa County Republican Party's Executive Guidance Committee to express its dissatisfaction with the representation of McCain. McCain, a 2008 presidential aspirant who is concerned about the dissatisfaction in his back yard, and Senator Jon Kyl sent representatives to the EGC meeting to defend the senator.

Congressman John Shadegg phoned Haney, the chairman in District 11, in opposition to his actions against McCain. Haney stood his ground and refused to back down.

First-year AZ GOP Chairman Matt Salmon is pressuring districts not to censure McCain. He claims that any further actions directed at McCain will hurt the Republican Party in the 2006 governor's election and may adversely affect the Protect Marriage Arizona (PMA) initiative.

Some Republicans are fearful that McCain will unleash a backlash to assist Democrat Janet Napolitano in her re-election campaign next year, and that he may also work hard to defeat PMA. But McCain already works closely with liberal Democrats, has supported Arizona Democrat candidates and opposes a federal marriage amendment. These betrayals of conservative Republicanism are precisely why so many red staters oppose the radical McCain.

Legislative District 8

The Arizona Conservative has learned that three men intend to challenge radical State Senator Carolyn Allen in the 2006 Republican Primary in District 8. The three are Larry Schmidt, former California Congressman Frank Riggs and Charlie Markle, special assistant to the president of the Center for Arizona Policy. Allen, 67, is a Republican In Name Only and will be term limited out of the Senate in 2010.

Arizona Right to Life's Annual Conference

The annual Arizona Right to Life state conference is set for the Embassy Suites in Scottsdale September 10. Dr. Alveida King, the niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King and a member of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, is the keynote speaker. Among the other speakers are: Dr. Jacque Chadwick, a bioethics expert at the University of Arizona; Kristen Day, of Democrats for Life; Dr. John Mark Reynolds, of Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University; attorney Tom Marzen; actress Karen Strong; and Jeff Steinberg, an expert on the rights of the disabled. This year's format is a day conference and evening dinner.

Fatherhood Forever

Jason Baier, of the Phoenix area, is starting a new nonprofit organization aimed at support for men recovering from abortion. His organization is called Fatherhood Forever. He has big plans and wants to go national with his efforts to minister men who suffer from the guilt and depression of having been associated with abortion.

Choose Life License Plates Litigation

While the Arizona Humane Society was able to get state approval for its special license plates, the Arizona Life Coalition (ALC) has been forced to go to court to get "Choose Life" license plates approved for Arizona. This is further proof of how the life of animals is elevated over and beyond that of human beings.

Gov. Janet Napolitano politicized and blocked the Choose Life plates, forcing the ALC to sue the state. In April, ALC attorney Peter Gentala argued before a judge for the plates; the state attorney offered only mild opposition. The judge is now midway through his six-month window to release a ruling.

If legalized, the plates would cost $25 annually with $17 going to ALC and $8 to the state for administrative costs.
ALC will apply its money to community resources, such as adoption.

Arizona Partners for Abstinence Education

Napolitano has in the past spiked the state's abstinence education program, but the legislature restored it this year. Sounds good so far. But, Sue Gerard, a pro-abort and former state legislator, has been selected head of the Arizona Department of Health and pro-lifers are concerned that she may mess with the abstinence program. She has scheduled a July 25 meeting with with the Arizona Partners for Abstinence Education (APAE) organization.