GRASS ROOTS GROUPS CONFER WITH GOP LEADERSHIP

Washington, DC February 18, 2010 - The leaders of grass roots organizations across the United States met on February 16th with Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican Party. Attending the meeting were 50 leaders from 30 grass roots groups including leaders of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Responsible Government http://www.parespgov.org/ . The goal of the meeting was to open a dialogue with the GOP and to communicate to the GOP our ideas concerning advancement of the principles of conservatism and limited government. All leaders in the room were adamant that “we will not be co-opted” by the GOP or any party.

The meeting was incredibly robust, not just due to what Mr. Steele had to say, but that he listened to what we had to say. And boy did he listen, as the meeting began at 4:00 PM and lasted well into the night. Many of us have been frustrated with the Republican Party and complained that it wasn’t listening to what the groundswell of Americans represented by the grass roots groups had to say. I can tell you that this was an excellent beginning and a frank dialogue. With banks of cameras and reporters waiting outside, the meeting had an air of historical importance.

Some key points made by Mr. Steele are listed below:

1. He said he doesn’t want to co-opt the grass roots movement (as if he could)
2. He recognizes that mistakes have been made by the GOP leadership and he will work to try to make sure they don’t happen again.
3. Keep our energy up and ramp it up if possible– don’t stop the fight against intrusive big government. He stated that what we are doing is having a similar effect to that accomplished by our Nation’s founders.
4. Organize – Support good, fiscal conservatives that are fighting the Obama agenda
5. The RNC is looking to US for THEIR marching orders – not the other way around.
6. Get out the vote – We have seen what can happen in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia.
7. He suggests that if we want to really change the Republican Party, we need to do it from the ground up. That means starting at the Precinct level by running and electing good conservatives

Key points from the Grass Roots Leaders to Chairman Steele:

1. Don’t try to co-opt us
2. Fight for smaller government
3. Fight for lower taxes across the board for all
4. He is not articulating his conservative message well at all. There is a disconnect by what we hear coming from him at press conferences and the conservative message we heard at the meeting
5. Don’t say “NO” to spending, earmarks, and special favors… Say “HELL NO!”
6. Champion the cause of constitutionally limited government and conservative principles
7. Call out the Obama Administration clearly and loudly on their Socialist agenda

In answer to a particular request from the PA Coalition, Chairman Steele agreed to look into the possible “NY 23 Scozzafava” situation that is looming in the replacement for John Murtha’s House seat.

The leaders that attended this meeting have come under intense criticism from certain elements of the Tea Party organization for “selling out” by attending this meeting and partnering with the Republicans. Nothing can be further from the truth; we (grass roots conservatives) have been complaining that the establishment leaders from both parties are not listening to us. This was that opportunity, and we made the most of it. We should continue to reach out to both Parties to assert our strong influence on the process.

As our new friend Jamie Cain from the Southwest Florida 9-12 Project www.swfl912project.com put it this morning in their summary of the meeting: “They hear us and they fear us.”