Monday, December 29, 2008

MRP: Party of Yob or Anuzis?

Greetings!


In this letter, I discuss the ongoing spat within the Michigan Republican Party and some of my plans for winning in 2010.

Much has been made lately about the apparent feud between Chuck Yob and Saul Anuzis. It has deteriorated over the last couple of years to the point where there seems to be open disdain, one for the other, not so visibly between Saul and Chuck themselves, but between their supporters.

The open warfare has been destructive to the party. It has caused us to take our eye off the ball and forget whom the real opponent is. It reminds me of professional sports teams who keep losing games. After awhile the players start blaming each other for the miscues and losses and forget about playing as a team in a unified effort to win.

What is ironic about all this is that, as far as I can tell, Saul Anuzis and Chuck Yob are conservatives. Both have espoused limited government, low taxes, a staunch support for the right to life and protection of the second amendment. Both have been dedicated to victory. So, why the problem? Why has the relationship soured to the point where, when the state committee wanted to unanimously endorse Saul for RNC Chairman, some members of the "Yob Team" insisted on having their names listed as those who refused to endorse Saul? What is the point of that?

I believe what happened was a departure based on personality, not philosophy. I'm not sure when it started, but in the recent election cycle, it was a fight between those who supported Romney for President (Saul) and those who supported McCain, (Yob). Charges and counter-charges were leveled, accusations were made, sides were taken and many players chose sides.

Today we are in a situation where the team is dispirited and divided. Fingers are being pointed, blame is being laid...and the Democrats are having us for lunch. What has been especially damaging is the damage that has occurred to the youth of the party. We need College Republicans and Young Republicans pulling together to grow the party, but too many of them have become distracted and dissipated by the ongoing feud.

It is time for real, meaningful change. We need to once again become united as a party, and start planning for victory in 2010. Victory cannot be achieved on money and will alone. We must have a strategy. It must include recruiting 110 candidates for the House and 38 for the Senate. Every candidate needs to be united on core issues that move votes. There will be differences on local issues, but the first principles should never change. I submit three concrete issues every candidate in Michigan can and should run on.



  1. Never vote for a tax increase

  2. Vote for a budget freeze for the next two years.

  3. Support downsizing government, by voting for a part-time legislature.


I served in the legislature for six years. Over the last four years I traveled 100,000 miles throughout Michigan. I've sent e-newsletters to over 9,000 solid Republicans for nearly two years. The message I heard everywhere I went, and in e-mail after e-mail it is this: "Government is too big, spends too much, wastes too much time, and it is the responsibility of the Republicans in Lansing to do something about it!"

As your party chairman, I pledge to do what I can to end the feud, lay aside the petty differences, unify this party under the banner of the core principles and build a strong team that is prepared for victory.


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