MC was gobsmacked to learn that several rather high profile Ron Paul supporters have endorsed Tony Sutton for Chair of the RPM. MC knows Nate Hansen, Nick Quade and Grant Cermak a little and likes them all as people who work hard and aren't afraid to get involved. MC has been a consistent supporter of them, and others who supported Dr. Paul, and we are not about to change now. Full disclosure: MC was never on board with Dr. Paul's thinking in foreign policy. Certainly, though, his critique of American foreign policy deserves to be heard. (Candidly though, MC has heard it all before from Pat Buchanan) Dr. Paul's economic analysis has always struck us as cogent and, given the events of late, prescient.What MC does not understand is the reasoning behind a public endorsement of one of their chief tormentors in the party. The text of the letter announcing their support is below. Left unsaid in this letter is the reasoning for such a manifest change. Have they sold out? Seems too pat to MC and we know them to have strong principles. They have often taken arrows from a party that did not trust them. What, then, would cause them to endorse Tony Sutton given their previous experiences?
At least one of the signers below also supports Michael Brodkorb for Deputy Chair. Call it change MC can't believe in.
MC understands that the rest of the Ron Paul community is not pleased with their support of the Old Guard's designated heir to the ruinous Ron Carey years. MC does not speak for the Campaign for Liberty although we count its members as friends and allies. Many people have come to MC to ask what is going on with respect to this endorsement. MC is publishing this post in an attempt to answer that question.
Comments, please.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Dear Republican Friend,
We write today to encourage you to support Tony Sutton for State Chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota.
As relatively new activists to the Party we have gotten to know Tony over the last several months and believe that he is the best prepared candidate to unite our Party, re-build our brand of limited-government optimism and win elections in 2010.
We are faced with new challenges that come with new opportunities. The battle lines have been drawn and the nature of this battle can be most clearly summarized as increasing command and control of the population versus individual liberty. Where Democrats and other leftists have never seen a new law, government power, tax or other oppressive intrusion that they find unacceptable, our party is experiencing a re-invigoration of one of its old and sometimes forgotten cornerstones: individual liberty. Whether you are a long time party leader or a new activist sharing these values, our country needs you and our party needs you.
A few folks are skeptical about Tony Sutton, and cite his long-time party involvement as a black eye rather than a feather in his cap. Tony Sutton was not chair of the Republican Party in 2007 and 2008; he was the Secretary/Treasurer. He did not have the executive privilege to make the decisions some folks thought should have been made over the past few years. However, the job history, service and character of this man are very important when considering him for the position of State Party Chair.
Tony became involved in Republican politics as a young man in Hibbing in the 1980s. He later moved to the Twin Cities and was involved with the Republican Party of Minnesota in varying capacities until 1998 when he became Executive Director of the State Party. Under Tony's direction, this party took back the majority in the State Legislature. Tony has pounded signs and broken bread with activists all over this State. After serving as Executive Director, he went on to serve as Deputy State Auditor under Pat Anderson. In this capacity, Tony garnered the respect of his colleagues and a deeper understanding of the operations of state, local and municipal governments. Tony has rounded out his experience by running a successful business in a very competitive market sector. He is the CEO of Baja Sol Restaurants, a company with nearly 300 employees and numerous franchises. He resides in Inver Grove Heights with his wife Bridget, and their four children.
Tony is an affable, kind, hard-working and caring individual. If someone tells you otherwise, they have probably not spent much time with him. In order to implement our conservative liberty agenda, we need to win elections. Winning elections is certainly about ideology and ideas. But at a practical level, it is also about running and managing campaigns successfully, which requires experience - and Tony has this experience. Tony has a proven track record of successful organizing, raising capital and funds, list development, management, and marketing and that will move us significantly toward victory.
In 1978, two years after Jimmy Carter took office, Minnesota Republicans picked up a net 37 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives. If we are to have a chance at accomplishing a similar feat we must have someone of Tony's skill-set and experience at the helm.
Tony is a successful organizer, experienced leader, conservative activist and decent man. We hope you join us in supporting him for State Chair. Thank you for your time and let's take our State and Country back together!
Nathan Hansen, CD Deputy Chair/State Central Delegate
Corey Sax, BPOU Chair/State Central Delegate
Grant Cermak, CD Vice Chair/State Central Delegate
Tristan Tieso, BPOU Deputy Treasurer/State Central Delegate
Tony Vandemark, BPOU Officer/State Central Alternate
Nick Quade, CD Vice Chair/State Central Delegate
P.S. To join Tony's campaign, please go to his website at www.tonyforchair.com. You can also find him on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/tonysgroup) or follow him on Twitter (www.twitter.com/agsutton).
Paid for by Tony Sutton for Chair, 2922 Upper 55th Street, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota 55076 651.772.4426 | tony@tonyforchair.com | unsubscribe
