CRVetsForSpin Tell Another Whopper
Written by Mark Harris on May 13th, 2005Wow. Wow. Wow. This has gotten out of control, the absolute non-sense that is emminating from the Gourley campaign blog, check this new one out.
CRVetsForSpin Claims:
- Davidson goes over head by sending letter to RNC delegates
Herbert, did you even read the letter he sent? Honestly, cause if you read it then your prelude to it makes no sense at all. The letter is an informational piece. It was simply sending info on the campaing because people requested it. He didn’t ask anyone to twist arms back home, or anything like that. Now let’s be honest and open here. You want to talk about going over heads? Let’s talk about going over people’s heads. Isn’t a sitting Congressman threatening CRs going over heads, what about Don Hoplin letting it be known that opposing Gourley will be a risk to people’s political careers. Selling a ticket spot in Georgia? A state chair deliberately not filing a delegate report because she knew the state was going Davidson? Anonomous threatening phone calls to VIP Davidson supports? Rigged elections and votes in states? You guys muster outrage over an informational letter, yet can’t get angry over this heavy handed cronysim? If you want to get outraged get outraged over this culture of silence nonsense, as opposed to one letter sent out that was an INFORMATIONAL piece.
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Come on Mark, you know as well as I do that this is a deliberate (and unrequested, contrary to your post) attempt to go behind the back of duly-elected CR leaders and get their respective state party involved under false pretexts. Did you see the letter Centinello sent out? What a horrendous and self-aggrandizing attempt to damage the relationship CRs have with their state parties. Davidson’s letter is merely a toned down version of this shameful and dishonest tactic. On the very first page of his little packet he tried to subtly make RDI an issue, a deliberate attempt to capitalize on any confusion sown by his avid “tyrant” supporter from NY. Davidson has misled CRs during every stage of this campaign, misrepresenting endorsements, financial numbers, and the cost of his proposed programs. Now we see that his “YourCRNC” rhetoric is really just another empty promise designed to catapult him to power- he is more than willing to go around CRs in states that support Gourley, hoping outside pressure might compensate for his lack of votes from actual students leaders.
You attack the alleged involvement of a US Congressman in his own state’s CR organization but then turn around and refuse to condemn a verified direct attempt to go behind the back of every state federation and get outsiders involved across the nation? Come on let’s at least pay face value to the idea of consistency.
Davidson is desperate and has proven willing to say and do anything to win- even if it means working with Centinello to undercut the very people whose support he supposedly seeks.
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I don’t approve of what Centinello did by any stretch of the imagination. second Mazanec RDI IS an issue in fact it is THE issue, I would be pounding it every day and night because in the end it is that which makes gourley morally incapable of holding office.
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Davidson hasn’t misled anyone, you have to toruture the truth so hard to come up with that nonsense Mazanec. Gourley has had people threatened, sitting Congressman have threatened people… and you want to talk about some number crunching. Wake up, the CRNC is run by thugs.
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Your “theories” on the CRNC and Eric Hoplin sound like Gore 2000 and Kerry 2004 supporters.
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For having declared victory so long ago, Gourley is sure running a rough campaign. I think it has gotten to the point where, if Gourley wins, the CRNC is going to lose the cooperation of more than a few state federations.
After all, why would anyone want to work with these thugs?
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Don’t forget Davidson’s people level threats as well- they told our blog that we would be blacklisted for our support of Gourley. We have verifiable proof of that but I have yet to see any proof of the allegations coming from the Davidson camp. The fact is Davidson has misled CRs, Paul has not. RDI is a terrible and unethical direct mail firm but rather than applaud Eric and Paul for ending the contract (an action begun at a National Board meeting Davidson skipped, he has missed an astonishing 75% of the meetings of the very organization he now wishes to lead) they have been ruthlessly attacked by those seeking to gain a political advantage at any cost. The 13-year-old RDI problem is over and the current leadership is responsible for that. We are moving on so we can be the youthful political army our party needs. This campaign is about how to move the CRNC forward with tangible grassroots programs and initiatives and Davidson has put forward nothing but empty promises and dishonest math.
We need a real leader, not someone like Davidson who will say or do anything achieve personal victory, even destroying federation-state party relationships in the process as he has proven willing to do with this letter complimenting Centinello’s hatchet job.
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With all due respect, Brian, putting the entire fundraising issue off on RDI is just factually incorrect.
First, I have two simple words: The Letters. It really is that simple.
Second, the RDI issue only taken care of AFTER the press started to ask questions. Given that Eric Hoplin had to sign off on each and every tax return and Paul is the treasurer —there is no way that the two could not of seen this scandal happening right before them, but chose not to do anything until others started to ask questions.
The issue of moving CRNC forward is anther issue. This is Gourley main problem. The newest innovation in terms of planning out of the CRNC has been ‘Dorm Captions’ The problem is that as CRNC expands the number of chapters, the more and more small and non-tradition (small commuter schools, and community colleges) the tradition playbook that the CRNC has becomes less and less relevant.
Look at the one thing that is changing the nature of Universities, The Facebook—What tactics has CRNC developed? Zilch.
Just look at Gourley’s woman’s outreach program. Am I the only one who sees woman fairly represented in my state? Maybe the Gourley states are old boys clubs…
Better question: Why in 2005 do we have to deal with the who credential committee bullshit when online member databases are not exactly exotic technology. http://www.collegedems.com has this online members database.
Gourley’s issue is the obsession with ‘grassroots’, well guess what CRNC has 200,000 members. By Definition, 200,000 members is not exactly ‘grassroots’ its time to think of CRNC as being more than just people that wave signs and stir up shit, but instead as an organization that can have a impact on multiple fronts. Fronts that include grassroots activism, but also technology, new media , GOTV, etc.
Davidson might not be perfect, but he gets something big. That CRNC needs to change, not because it has problems, but to keep it great.
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Good luck finding work when this is all said and done Brian. I’m sure some state rep race will need a gopher.
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More like school board race, but whatever
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Actually I am already employed. I work for the RNC.
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I think we can probably get a little bit farther along with things if childish statements like anonymous #6’s are left unspoken.
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Personal attacks on Mazanec aside (we disagree, but it’s incredibly pointless to attack fellow CRs, like Tom Robbins did in a Gourley-released statement), the main issue with the letter is that the Centinello mailing raised questions with state GOP chairs. If Davidson felt he had to clarify what his role was with the CRNC, then why shouldn’t he? It’s not like outside opinions haven’t been brought into this race already. If Gourley can defend the fact that he willfully signed misleading letters, since absolutely no direct mail is sent without approval, as I’m sure you’ve gathered in your experience Brian (not to mention RDI said so), then let him send out a letter too. Who cares? Mountains out of molehills.
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Nice Alex, my sentiments exactly. Mazanec, you are everything wrong with the RNC.
Let me be clear: GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY PARTY.
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Brian you’re screwing up the CRNC, what are you doing to the RNC? I think your employers should be made aware of your website and the damage you are doing to fellow republicans at the college level. 14K a year aside, I’m sure gophers are expendable at your level.
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Come on guys I thought you would know better. Mazanec is a good guy though we obviously disagree on this race, and he’s doing a lot of good stuff for the political reality of the pro-life movement and we all know how politically inept they are.
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Yeah, Mazanec is such a great guy, he’s willing to screw 18 states out of having delegates at the convention, man he should get an award for his benevolence.
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I have no idea how my vote will be cast, so don’t pretend you do. This is a very complex issue and I have been talking with Florida and Washington and both have rational explanations for their failure to meet the constitutional deadline. I intend to do my job on this Committee and look at each state that didn’t meet the constitutional criteria and learn why.
Don’t presume to know what I’ll do before I myself even know.
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One thing I do know Brian, your tactics here will not go unnoticed by your employers. Meet the black ball, it’ll be your reward for acting like a six year old for the past four months.
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Let Brian do his job, which it sounds like he’s doing. He’s talking to the right people. You sound like assholes.
If he actually DOES vote to exclude one-third of state federations, then have at him, but until then, everyone shut the hell up. Attacking a CR who hasn’t done anything (other than blog for a morally corrupt campaign) is pointless.
But Mazanec, the fact that you haven’t made up your mind speaks poorly for you. The choice is fairly obvious in this one. We can’t be a national organization when 35% of the states aren’t represented in the national convention OR in the caucuses, the caucuses being a point no one is bringing up. You need to protect those federations as a member of the committee.
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Mazanec doesn’t know which way he’ll be votiing? That’s really funny. That’s like him saying he doesn’t know what time Hoplin’s dry cleaning will be ready for pick up!!!!
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Anon, your threats to blackball Mazanec with the RNC are laughable, at best.
I’ve worked with the Virginia GOP as well as the RNC for many years, and I can tell you without hesitation that Brian is one of the most well-regarded and well-respected young leaders of the Republican movement in the Commonwealth.
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Well, he seems perfectly willing to send one-third of the federations to the chopping block because it will benefit his candidate. I don’t know how anyone can consider disenfranchising federation, loophole or not, it’s downright wrong!
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I’d just like to thank you for taking the time to create this internet website. It has been extremely helpful
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I’d just like to thank you for taking the time to create this internet website. It has been extremely helpful