NH GOP: And I thought a "poll tax" was illegal! - Granite Grok

NH GOP: And I thought a “poll tax” was illegal!

I overlooked this announcement (on which Steve is busy writing a post on as well, I see) when it first came in – someone else emailed in on this and my head whipped around.  File this “what were they thinking” OR “the Five Families were planning ahead, eh?“:

NH GOP

Important Notice on the 2013 Annual Meeting

The State Executive Committee has voted unanimously to charge $25 to all State Committee Members to attend the 2013 Annual Meeting (below is brief summary from that discussion)

This can be done before or at the Annual Meeting The 2013 Annual Meeting will be held at Bedford High School on January 26th

Any question please call the State Party at 225-9341 or email info@nhgop.org

Rest of the notice after the jump.  Oh, the “Five Families” of the NH GOP.  Of course you know that things have gone out of control when the Chair of the NH Democrat Party, Ray Buckley, has a public comment on the brouhaha now coming to a boil over the NH Republican Chair Race.  So, context by what Mike wrote last night (emphasis mine):

Only hours earlier, DiStaso reported that several others had considered and then stepped aside, but that Cliff Hurst, who rejuvenated the Manchester GOP, and who guided the success of the blowout NHGOP victory dinner earlier this year, was in the running. Hmmm. What a difference a few hours makes – what could have happened? No need to risk losing an election and having to deal with the messy business of toppling the chairman after the fact, if you can mount a smear and fear campaign in advance, and drive your opponent out of the race ahead of time. You see, Cliff Hurst is no newcomer to politics, is good at fundraising, and is happy to criss-cross the state meeting with town committees – he might just win if not neutralized immediately.

The smears – Cliff Hurst started getting phone calls from friends that the word on the street was that he had become senile. The money drying up – Andy Leach called Cliff from Ayotte’s office to advise that, if Cliff won, there would be no help whatsoever forthcoming from DC, just as had happened to Jack Kimball in 2011.

So let me translate “Nice Chairmanship ya got there – sorry, but we’re intending on seeing that you fail before you even start”.  After all, one of the major metrics of being a political party chair is how much money has been raised during one’s tenure.  This kind of a call also implies that the “word has gone out” – Cliff would have been a loser no matter how hard he tried.  No matter where he’d look, not only would the spigot but off, but removed as well.

So, what does this $25 poll tax actually mean?  I have several ideas:

  • The Party under MacDonald (and Finance Chair, Jim Foley) has done a poor job fundraising that they have to “hold up” the Membership to raise $10K (about 400 Delegates at $25 a pop)?  Whatsamatter, gotta meet a payroll?
  • The E-Board believes that they have the new Membership by the short ones – these incoming Members are just DYING to throw money at the Anointed Jennifer Horn in order to serve the Party.  How’s it feel to be treated like a captive audience?  Isn’t there a law about baiting and switching?
  • The E-Board doesn’t consider the time that these most ardent activists of the Party counts for much – makes you feel just so appreciated, don’t it?  Just like Obama looking at the rich – you’re just a walking ATM.  Or an Under-the-bus-but-just-don’t-know-it-yet.  The Little People – welcome to your end of the train.

Real daydream reasoning?  I’m betting somebody decided to make sure Horn’s Crowning Achievement would go without without a major fight.  If you are going to charge admission in order to vote, then those that aren’t all that fired up about voting for an grassroots candidate would say “it just isn’t just worth the time or the cash”.  Such a deal, dudes – do what the Democrats have actually been complaining that you do.

Voter suppression

‘Cept, it’s your own Party members.  Nice touch, Wayne, for a last parting Party losing “gift”.

Entire GOP emailer:

NH GOP

Important Notice on the 2013 Annual Meeting

 The State Executive Committee has voted unanimously to charge $25 to all State Committee Members to attend the 2013 Annual Meeting (below is brief summary from that discussion)

This can be done before or at the Annual Meeting

The 2013 Annual Meeting will be held at Bedford High School on January 26th

Any question please call the State Party at 225-9341 or email info@nhgop.org

 ——————————————————————

New Hampshire Republican State Committee

Executive Committee Meeting

November 19, 2012

Committee Members in attendance: Wayne MacDonald, Cliff Hurst, Diane Bitter, Robert Scott, Juliana Bergeron, Steve Duprey, Jim Foley, Jack Thorsen, Mike Silverwood, Rob Kasper, Andrew Cernota, Joseph Fleck, Bill O’Connor, Verity Swayne, Jake Wagner, Mark Vincent, Ray Chadwick, Alan Glassman, Betsy Miller, Tyler Drummond and Jeff Newman.

Staff Members present: Jon Simon, Jacob Avery, and Meg Stone.

Representatives: Andy Leach, Harold Parker and Jay Flanders.

Guests: Mar Mar Rogers, Richard Lowarnce, JP Marzullo, Jim MacEachern, Deirdre Carson, Kerry Marsh, Pat Fleck, Jane Lane, and Chris Wood.

Membership Dues for State Committee Members:

 The idea of asking our State Committee Members to pay an annual dues to the Party was discussed. The Committee feels strongly that the State Committee Members should be vested by both a commitment to do work for the party and also to pay a small membership fee.

 Discussion proceeded about how this payment would be collected. It was suggested that it could be paid at the County Caucus or at the Annual Meeting in January.

 The vote was unanimous to ask the State Committee Members to contriubute [sic] $25 per year as a condition of serving on the committee.

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