…And There Was Some Bad News. Maybe.

As noted this morning, the Fourth Congressional District GOP made a bunch of money at its convention on April 21.  Like, a lot more than usual; $11K versus the usual $5-6K (of which a couple thousand goes to renting the hall and paying other incidentals for running the event).

That should be a lot of money going to 4th CD candidates, including endorsed congressional candidate Tony Hernandez.  It was in that spirit – having a new start in the 4th CD – that the money was given (bear in mind that only aboiut $6K of that came from actual delegate admission fees; the rest was above and beyond what was required to attend).

But a little bird told me over the weekend that there have been discussions among the new CD4 GOP Executive Committee about spending that windfall to help send CD4’s national convention delegates to Tampa.

Now, I was on the 4th CD’s “Nominations Committee”, which vetted candidates for all CD offices – delegates to the national convention as well as executive committee offices.   One of the questions we asked – along with “do you have anything on your record that could be used to embarass the 4th CD GOP?”, because that’s how the DFL and media roll – was “if you’re elected delegate to the national convention, can you afford the $3-5,000 it takes to attend”, between registraiton fees, travel, food, lodging, and the de rigeur $1,000+ donation to the party.  There were some among the new crowd that thought the party paid for this sort of thing.

No. Not even when times are good at the state party, which, perhaps you’ve heard, they’re not.

Over the weekend, a source with knowledge of the inner workings of the new 4th CD GOP executive committee’s inner workings told me that there was a plan afoot to divert that windfall toward helping the 4th CD’s national convention delegates get to Tampa.   According to this source, the CD’s new chairman felt that giving $5,000 to Tony Hernandez would be “flushing money down the drain” (quote from my source, attributed to the new chair).

That has been the conventional wisdom in the 4th for a long, long time, of course.  But redistricting has moved the needle; the 4th CD was a 70-30 district; with all the moderate-Republican districts in Stillwater, Afton, Lake Elmo and Woodbury, full of people who moved to the burbs to get away from DFL hegemony and its side effects, it’s probably more like 60-40 today.

And that’s without Betty McCollum pissing off 3/4 of the population of Stillwater by opposing the bridge.  And without Tony Hernandez’ ability to reach out to the district’s burgeoning Latino community, who may vote DFL, but who are largely conservatives.

It’s not the same 4th CD that it was two years ago.

———-

Speaking for myself?  I paid my $30 to get into the convention, on the assumption that the money would go (after expenses) toward the business and activities of the 4th CD GOP.  Not sending people to a party in Tampa.

And while I speak only for myself, I’m going to guess that more than a few of the people who ponied up extra money at the convention had that intention in mind.

I started asking around; is there any intention of diverting the windfall convention money to cover travel expenses for the district’s Ron Paul delegates?

———-

I did some checking; as of today, the 4th CD GOP executive committee seems  to be leaning toward supporting Tony Hernandez’ race against Betty McCollum.  There is, apparently, an executive committee meeting and vote tonight at which the matter will be decided.

I hold no elected position in the 4th CD – and I’m fine with that.  Spare time is a good thing – and “power” within the 4th CD is a relative thing.  I get my political thrills as a pundit; being able to help out within the party, or on a campaign, is a bonus.

But there are people in the 4th CD GOP’s new “establishment” who apparently think that their job is to work toward getting Ron Paul nominated.  There is that, of course, and it’s a legitimate aim…

…but their job, once they got elected to positions of party authority in the Fourth, is to work to get the district’s Congressional and Legislative candidates elected.

The new guard in the 4th CD GOP won their offices, fair and square.  But they represent a lot of other people who are ready to work really, really hard to make a difference here at home.

And while they – I – will send our best wishes to Tampa, we want our money working here at home.

And the 4th CD GOP’s leadership would do well to remember that.  They get to run the Party – but it’s not party-time.

UPDATE: the “cyber-meeting” vote is tomorrow- not tonight.  I regret any confusion caused by my error.

UPDATE 2:  It’s possible I got a few of the numbers wrong – one of the hazards of not being an actual elected officer.

It doesn’t affect the actual conclusions at issue.

More later this week.

28 thoughts on “…And There Was Some Bad News. Maybe.

  1. I have a certain level of respect for the Ron Paul supporters. They are doing exactly what they should be doing, namely organizing and showing up. What is depressing is their pedantic adherence in the face of a losing cause. That energy could be used to defeat Democrats, but come November it will just be wasted.

  2. Pingback: Residual Forces » Blog Archive » Kurt Bills’ New CD4 Leaders Balking At Supporting Hernandez

  3. Amen, brother Berg. As I probably won’t be able to attend, and I’m no longer a CD4 Vice Chair or a BPOU Officer with voting rights, I’m going to call the one guy I know that’s still on the Executive. If they do divert money to paying delegates expenses my donations of time and money to CD4 will drop to nothing and I’ll go directly to candidates like Tony.

  4. I did some checking; as of today, the 4th CD GOP executive committee seems to be leaning toward supporting Tony Hernandez’ race against Betty McCollum. There is, apparently, an executive committee meeting and vote tonight at which the matter will be decided.

    I’m a BPOU officer and was planning to attend but I thought that the 4CD meeting was held on the first Tuesday of every month. I checked their calendar and it says that tomorrow’s meeting is canceled but there is nothing about a meeting tonight:

    http://www.fourthdistrictgop.com/calendar.html#year=2012&month=4&day=30&view=month

    Are you sure it was moved up to tonight? If so, how did you find out and why wasn’t this announced?

  5. Different subject, but related to district meets……Democrats endorsed their candidate to run against Congressman Kline. And what is the first thing the candidate attacks Mr Kline on? That Kline agreed with the Democrats to pass legislation that will allow student loan interest rates to remain low. The Democrat is upset that Kline “flip flopped” and agreed to go along with the Democrats on this. One would think they would be happy. I mean aren’t east metro Republicans happy that Al Franken went against the enviros and agreed to support the St Croix river bridge? You don’t see Republicans saying “Franken can’t be trusted because he went along with us on this projoect”.

  6. Wow Mitch.. You really jumped the shark with this one.. The new chair has been slow to call a meeting.. Thats all there is to report.

  7. Thorley,

    I erred. The “cyber-meeting” has a deadline of 8PM tomorrow. I noted my correction in the story.

    Tony,

    “Jumped the shark” on what? That people on the new CD4 executive committee didn’t discuss this? That’d be tough to prove, now, wouldn’t it? Or is it the part about “the committee seems to be leaning toward supporting Hernandez?” What shark, exactly, did I “jump”?

  8. Where is your proof? Who is your “little bird”? Which CD4 GOP Executive Committee members were involved in this discussion? What exactly was said?

    I have spoken to both Mike Boguszewski and John Kysylyczyn today. And both unequivocally deny any discussion regarding using CD4 funding for National Delegates. I have also heard from Josh Regnier, who says the same thing.

    These are strong allegations, Mr. Berg. Usage of said funding is contrary to our party’s Constitution. Usage of said funding for National Delegates may even be considered criminal. It’s a shame that you would report such allegations without names and without proof.

    You say, “Over the weekend, a source with knowledge of the inner workings of the new 4th CD GOP executive committee’s inner workings told me that there was a plan afoot to divert that windfall toward helping the 4th CD’s national convention delegates get to Tampa.”

    Who is your source, Mr. Berg? And where is your proof?

  9. Yes, I’m sure it could be “considered criminal” to discuss this topic, lookinthemirror. Look out or the black helicopters are going to give you a haircut.

  10. Where is your proof? Who is your “little bird”? Which CD4 GOP Executive Committee members were involved in this discussion? What exactly was said?

    Suuuuure! I’ll hand that over to an anonymous commenter! All you hadda do was ask!

    I have spoken to both Mike Boguszewski and John Kysylyczyn today. And both unequivocally deny any discussion regarding using CD4 funding for National Delegates. I have also heard from Josh Regnier, who says the same thing.

    Well, good! Then everyone’s being honest! I call that a win-win!

    These are strong allegations, Mr. Berg. Usage of said funding is contrary to our party’s Constitution.

    D’ya think?

    Usage of said funding for National Delegates may even be considered criminal. It’s a shame that you would report such allegations without names and without proof.

    Shame? Not hardly.

    It’s a real, legit source – two, actually.

    You say, “Over the weekend, a source with knowledge of the inner workings of the new 4th CD GOP executive committee’s inner workings told me that there was a plan afoot to divert that windfall toward helping the 4th CD’s national convention delegates get to Tampa.”

    Who is your source, Mr. Berg? And where is your proof?

    Asked and answered.

    Nice try, whomever you are.

    If the proof is needed, it’ll be there.

    But if it’s not gonna happen, no how, no way, then everything’s hunky dory.

    Right?

    Look in the mirror, indeed. I don’t control anything. I didn’t even when I was “the establishment”.

    It’s a legit story, and until I see how the CD is going to spend the money, I’m going to keep asking questions.

    If that’s quite all right with y’all.

  11. I can’t even believe I signed up to leave this comment, but obviously you’re doing a good job of grabbing the attention of the Ron Paul delegates, so congratulations. Enjoy your temporary spike in traffic.

    Quite frankly, if you believe this to be true, you’re incredibly naive. Not only that, but you need to get new “sources” who will provide you with facts versus baseless speculation.

    The people who were elected as delegates and alternates will easily make it to Tampa, FL without any sort of fundraising from the CD. These are “Ron Paul” people — how hypocritical would it be to steal party money for personal use?

    Ask questions all you want, but this creating this false idea in peoples’ heads that the party’s funding is going to go toward something like that is completely irresponsible for someone to say unless he or she is going to back it up with some sort of source which can be examined for credibility.

    There are a whole lot of pissed off people in the Minnesota GOP right now. That’s a given. Consider that before you start spreading their lies.

  12. I don’t have time to waste responding to all this, but you should change the FIRST line(s) in your article by adding an apology, about how you got it all wrong and are guilty of gossiping and spreading rumor. Here’s to you thrills as a pundit.

  13. I salute you, Mr. Berg, for pursuing and reporting this story. Republicans need to know if their Executive Committees are making decisions that are detrimental to our Republican goals – electing Republican candidates. I have heard rumblings of this same news from Edina to Woodbury. And by the way, I also hear the only member of the old CD 4 Exec Committee is a RP guy, too – but like so many others, he hid his alliance. Tricky group, they are.

  14. Winky,

    “Apologize” for what? Writing that “the 4th CD GOP executive committee seems to be leaning toward supporting Tony Hernandez’ race against Betty McCollum”? For acknowledging that the rumor existed, and writing that it seems to be false?

    Yeah. Sorry about that.

    Nick,

    I can’t even believe I signed up to leave this comment, but obviously you’re doing a good job of grabbing the attention of the Ron Paul delegates, so congratulations. Enjoy your temporary spike in traffic.

    Nah. I get 2,500 a day, day in, day out, no matter what’s going on. No spike.

    Quite frankly, if you believe this to be true, you’re incredibly naive. Not only that, but you need to get new “sources” who will provide you with facts versus baseless speculation.

    What part of “I heard a rumor” – which, by definition, can be fact, speculation, a complete fiction, or some mix of all of the above – “and ran it down and found out that there seems to be nothing to it” is so hard to get?

    The people who were elected as delegates and alternates will easily make it to Tampa, FL without any sort of fundraising from the CD. These are “Ron Paul” people — how hypocritical would it be to steal party money for personal use?

    It would indeed be pretty hypocritical!

    Ask questions all you want, but this creating this false idea in peoples’ heads that the party’s funding is going to go toward something like that is completely irresponsible for someone to say unless he or she is going to back it up with some sort of source which can be examined for credibility.

    In other words, “ask questions all you want, but don’t ask questions?”

    Got it. I think.

    There are a whole lot of pissed off people in the Minnesota GOP right now. That’s a given. Consider that before you start spreading their lies.

    Well, I’m not one of them. And by your leave, I’ll keep asking questions. If that’s all right, of course.

  15. Paulbots are so intolerable we have purged them from the DDE, if anyone mentions “end the fed” “return to the gold standard” or “Iran poses no threat to us or Israel” they are punched in the face and kicked in the nuts onsite. Then handed a pink slip. We had a surprising amount of them. We have a lot of openings and election season is just heating up. Thank god law schools are just graduating a fresh batch of souls for us to harvest, assuming they hadn’t lost it already in law school.

  16. I had an interesting conversation with a well known GOP malcontent at the after-tax-rally get together at O’Gara’s, and the topic of Ron Paul supporters came up.

    To that malcontent I now say; “Never mind”.

  17. The people who were elected as delegates and alternates will easily make it to Tampa, FL without any sort of fundraising from the CD. These are Ron Paul people how hypocritical would it be to steal party money for personal use?

    Several thoughts come to mind:

    1) Even if though I think its an inappropriate use of funds, it probably doesnt constitute stealing for the duly elected members of a private organization to decide to spend the money in that manner.

    2) Human beings in general have an uncanny ability to rationalize their behavior.

    3) People who get emotionally invested in a candidate or cause can and often do find themselves rationalizing doing something that someone more objective would quickly realize is not appropriate.

  18. Mr. Berg,

    You have stated, “But a little bird told me over the weekend that there have been discussions among the new CD4 GOP Executive Committee about spending that windfall to help send CD4’s national convention delegates to Tampa.” You have also stated, “Over the weekend, a source with knowledge of the inner workings of the new 4th CD GOP executive committee’s inner workings told me that there was a plan afoot to divert that windfall toward helping the 4th CD’s national convention delegates get to Tampa.” Yet you name no sources, nor details.

    Regarding your allegations of directing official funds to national convention delegates, you have no real and legitimate sources. There has been no such discussions and your allegations are completely without merit.

    Congratulations on spreading your message. Your story has been picked up by Politics in Minnesota Morning Report 5/1/2012 and has been cross-posted at http://www.looktruenorth.com/component/content/article/349-elections/republican-party-business-a-conventions/19321-and-there-was-some-bad-news-maybe.html

    For perpetuating this garbage you are both IRRESPONSIBLE and RECKLESS. You have no legitimate sources and are doing a disservice to both the party and the reputations of the new officers.

    Lastly, you claim that the Fourth Congressional District GOP made $11K at its convention on April 21. It did not. Skip Wolverton will testify that number is around $5000. The total in the account is around $11,000. Facts can be stubborn things, Mr. Berg.

    Jeff Hagen
    House District 54B Secretary (2009-2012)
    House District 54B Precinct Caucus Coordinator (2010, 2012)
    CD4 Convention Rules Committee Chair (2012)
    House District 54B Platform Committee Chair (2010)
    State Central Committee Delegate (2009-Present)
    CD4 & State Convention Delegate (2008-Present)
    Precinct Caucus Convener for Roseville P-3 (2010, 2012)
    Roseville P-3 Precinct Vice-Chair (2010-2012)
    SD42 & HD42B Convention Secretary (2012)
    Door knocker, Phone caller, Republican
    And ardent Ron Paul supporter

    PS: I was wrong to have not posted my name in my previous comment. For this, I apologize.

  19. The only thing better than democrats eating their own is republicans doing the same. The Prince of Darkness is amused, keep playing kids

  20. The only thing better than democrats eating their own is republicans doing the same.

    Ohhh HELL, “Prince of Darkness”- we shoulda done this “eating our own” a LOONNNG time ago back when Mr. “Patrick J. Buchanan” was parading around as a “Republican”. That particular turd did enough damage to the conservative brand just with the “Nazis were victims, too” speech aus Deutchland and the Culture Warrior schtick he pulled at the 1992 convention in Houston.

    And we’re STILL trying to wash our hands of that so-called “paleo” crap- the LEAST we can do is not give the Paulbots the time of day (and then roll our collective eyes when they blame their pathetic failures on the “Old Guard” not keeping timel;-).

  21. I just checked the updated CD4 GOP website and they posted the minutes of the “cyber-meeting” that Mitch referenced:

    http://www.fourthdistrictgop.com/news/4-latest-news/184-executive-committee-vote.html

    Based on the minutes, the Executive Committee held an electronic vote on disbursing $5000 to the endorsed Congressional candidate Tony Hernandez which passed 8-2. The comments of the two “nay” votes indicate that they voted “nay” because they supported an alternative proposal to give Hernandez $1000 upfront and then provide matching funds for up to an additional $4000 based on his campaign’s ability to fundraise after he received our endorsement at the CD4 convention two weeks ago.

    It seems to me that with either proposal Hernandez would get $5000 unless he was unable to raise $4000 on his own. So the dispute was not about whether funds should go to Hernandez but rather whether he needed to demonstrate an ability to raise funds. $4000 for a congressional campaign is a pretty low threshold IMO and I don’t think that it’s an unreasonable expectation.

  22. Pingback: I Heard It On The NARN | Shot in the Dark

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