In an open letter, Anne Fox President of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life advised State Party chair Jennifer Nassour that most of the newly elected Republican House members are proclaimed pro-life supporters. In her November 15th letter Ms. Fox states:
Dear Ms. Nassour,
Along with the rest of the state, we at Massachusetts Citizens for Life have been looking at the election results. There are a couple of important facts to which we would like to draw your attention.
Most of the newly elected State Representatives in Massachusetts are pro-life. We are delighted by this outcome.
In addition, the huge Republican sweep across the country was accomplished by pro-life candidates. The Republican wins in Massachusetts were almost entirely reserved to those candidates who are willing to defend human life.
Looking at the data, it seems obvious that the lack of "surge" in Massachusetts is attributable to the fact that the statewide candidates were led by a man who described himself as "To the left of Obama on social issues" and were coached by professional consultants who told them to steer clear of anything that sounded pro-life. That was bad advice.
For many election cycles now, Republicans have been winning nationally running with pro-life positions. The Republican win of note over that time in Massachusetts was Scott Brown. Senator Brown took pro-life positions on the legislative issues facing the US Senate. The factor which propelled him to victory was his promise to be the "41st vote" against pro-abortion, pro-rationing Obamacare. He was also helped by Martha Coakley's "Shannon O'Brien moment" when Ms. Coakley said that pro-life people should not be allowed to work in emergency rooms.
Keep in mind, as of 10/13/2010 the number of registered Republicans in MA has dropped to a new low of 474,798 voters, representing a mere 11.33% of all voters. If the GOP leadership wants the State Republican Party to remain relevant, they must reconsider their advocacy of candidates who are "left of Obama" and adopt true Republican Principles.
We respectfully suggest that in reviewing your statewide losses, you learn from the local successful legislative races and listen to those newly elected who embraced the value of life. In setting a course for the future, the leadership of the MA State GOP should embrace, and not abandon, the core principle on which it was founded - the defense of Life.
We would respectfully suggest that leaders on the party in this state meet with successful national Republicans to understand better the role of life issues. Of course, we would be happy to meet with you locally as well.
Sincerely,
Anne Fox, President
Sunday, November 28, 2010
GOP Chair on hot seat after dismal Election
State Committeeman Bill McCarthy of Worcester led an effort to oust Massachusetts Republican State Party chairwoman Jennifer Nassour claiming she misspent the party's cash - funnelling $1.2 million into failed GOP candidates for Governor and Congress while ignoring other races.
GOP State Committeeman Bill McCarthy had announced that he would push for a vote to remove Nassour at the November GOP meeting in Newton. McCarthy said "I've spoken to a number of candidates who have won and they either received no help or very little help."
Nassour spent $1.2 million on Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker's ads. She also spent at least $132,000 to help congressional candidates. Baker and the nine GOP Congressional candidates all lost. The GOP more than doubled its seats in the state House of Representatives from 16 to 34 - but that's still too few to influence most House votes.
The chairwoman of the state Republican Party used rulings by the party's parliamentarian, secretary and lawyer at the November 17th meeting, who said that McCarthy had not followed the procedure outlined in the By-Laws to call for a 'Special Meeting' to remove the chair, in order to stop any effort to replace Nassour prior to the required election for Party Chair at the yet to be announced January 2011 meeting.
Click here to see related story.
GOP State Committeeman Bill McCarthy had announced that he would push for a vote to remove Nassour at the November GOP meeting in Newton. McCarthy said "I've spoken to a number of candidates who have won and they either received no help or very little help."
Nassour spent $1.2 million on Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker's ads. She also spent at least $132,000 to help congressional candidates. Baker and the nine GOP Congressional candidates all lost. The GOP more than doubled its seats in the state House of Representatives from 16 to 34 - but that's still too few to influence most House votes.
The chairwoman of the state Republican Party used rulings by the party's parliamentarian, secretary and lawyer at the November 17th meeting, who said that McCarthy had not followed the procedure outlined in the By-Laws to call for a 'Special Meeting' to remove the chair, in order to stop any effort to replace Nassour prior to the required election for Party Chair at the yet to be announced January 2011 meeting.
Click here to see related story.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
TARS Come to Medford
Trent Sullivan a sophomore at Medford High School has announced the formation of the Medford High School Teenage Republican Club also known as TAR's. Sullivan reported that the first official meeting for the Medford Teenage Republicans, which is applying for it's Charter from the National Federation of Teenage Republicans has already been held with eleven students attending the first meeting and more expressing an interest to join.
As previously reported in August teens from several New England States met in Arlington to organize the New England Federation of Teenage Republicans and later the Massachusetts Assembly of Teenage Republicans and also select Officers to create an umbrella for the young Republicans in the various New England States to organize existing Clubs and start new ones.
In an e-mail update, Trent who is the Interim Chairman of the new Medford HS Club stated his hope to interact to work with and communicate closely with the Medford Republican City Committee. Committee Chair Bernie Green, who met Sullivan at the NFTAR and MATAR organizational meeting in August stated that he would "welcome the opportunity to work closely with the Medford TAR's group" and hopes that Sullivan and the members of the new Club will feel welcome to attend the business meetings of the City Committee and report on their activities to our members. Green noting Sullivan's request for speakers to appear at their meetings said he would be happy to provide a list of notable speakers. City Committee Treasurer Mark Crowley revealed recently that he had been an active member of a TAR's group when he was a student at Melrose High School and was familiar with their goals.
As previously reported in August teens from several New England States met in Arlington to organize the New England Federation of Teenage Republicans and later the Massachusetts Assembly of Teenage Republicans and also select Officers to create an umbrella for the young Republicans in the various New England States to organize existing Clubs and start new ones.
In an e-mail update, Trent who is the Interim Chairman of the new Medford HS Club stated his hope to interact to work with and communicate closely with the Medford Republican City Committee. Committee Chair Bernie Green, who met Sullivan at the NFTAR and MATAR organizational meeting in August stated that he would "welcome the opportunity to work closely with the Medford TAR's group" and hopes that Sullivan and the members of the new Club will feel welcome to attend the business meetings of the City Committee and report on their activities to our members. Green noting Sullivan's request for speakers to appear at their meetings said he would be happy to provide a list of notable speakers. City Committee Treasurer Mark Crowley revealed recently that he had been an active member of a TAR's group when he was a student at Melrose High School and was familiar with their goals.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Upgrades in Voter ID Laws Needed
With the November elections over many problems and questions concerning voting procedures in Massachusetts, and in other States across the country, still need to be addressed. One change that should be put in place now - is a requirement for a Voter ID - to be presented by all who wish to excercise their right to vote.
The federal Help America Vote Act mandates that all states require identification from first-time voters who register to vote by mail and did not provide verification with their mail-in voter registration. Twenty six states have broader voter identifiation requirements that what HAVA mandates. In these states, all voters are asked to show identification prior to voting. Eight of these states specify that voters must show a photo ID; the other eighteen states accept additional forms of identification that do not necessarily include a photo. In no state is a voter who cannot produce identification turned away from the polls - all states have some sort of recourse for voters without identifiation to cast a vote. However in Georgia and Indiana, voters without ID vote a provisional ballot, and must return to election officials within a few days and show a photo ID in order for their votes to be counted.
Click here to view video.
The federal Help America Vote Act mandates that all states require identification from first-time voters who register to vote by mail and did not provide verification with their mail-in voter registration. Twenty six states have broader voter identifiation requirements that what HAVA mandates. In these states, all voters are asked to show identification prior to voting. Eight of these states specify that voters must show a photo ID; the other eighteen states accept additional forms of identification that do not necessarily include a photo. In no state is a voter who cannot produce identification turned away from the polls - all states have some sort of recourse for voters without identifiation to cast a vote. However in Georgia and Indiana, voters without ID vote a provisional ballot, and must return to election officials within a few days and show a photo ID in order for their votes to be counted.
Click here to view video.
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