Guest post by Karen Testerman, founder of Cornerstone and candidate for NH Governor
Now that New Hampshire has changed from blue to red, will the political reporters and those prevailing Republican elected officials heed the very strong message sent by the voters? What were the voters looking for when they cast their ballots this past November?
When making a choice the informed voter looks at what distinguishes one candidate from another. The rhetoric of speeches, written statements and answers to questions provides some information. The letter behind the name indicates a governing philosophy or view of government reFlected in the platform of the candidate’s party. Thus, the voter expects the prevailing candidates will promote the advertised governing philosophy.
The NH Republican Platform begins, “We, New Hampshire Republicans, are united by our belief in God, individual liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, limited spending, limited taxes, economic opportunity, homeland security, compassion for the truly needy and our conFidence in the strength of families, places of worship, communities and volunteerism.” This appears to reFlect those underlying principles of the Declaration of Independence upon which America was founded, the “unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Later this month, the Republican State Committee will be electing new officers, the most publicity going to the selection of their Party leader. According to the retiring Chairman, John H. Sununu, “the next chairman must have a real commitment to conservative Republican principles.”– those principle articulated in the party platform.
Additionally, reviewing the party website, one might expect…
… ideally that whomever the State Committee elects as the new chairman would reFlect and promote the qualities found in the most admired of their leadership, the late Governor Meldrim Thomson, that is putting “Principle Above Politics.”
Setting the vision of the party and promoting the Republican platform are perhaps the most effective attributes the next Party Chairman should possess. Managing day to day administration, and building a strong administrative organization are the responsibility of the paid Executive Director and his staff. A powerful leader is one who delegates responsibilities to well qualiFied members of their team. The assigned leader of the Finance committee will Find the task of fundraising much easier if the State Committee Chairman makes use of the Republican “bullhorn.” The Party Chairman is the “bullhorn” and the public face of the party.
At the time of this writing, Juliana Bergeron, former Cheshire County Republican Chairman, and former gubernatorial candidate and founder of the Granite State Patriots, Jack Kimball are vying for the leadership of the State Republican Committee. The contrast is clear. Juliana is promoted by current Chairman, Sununu as the legacy Republican, while Kimball represents the ever?growing newly activated grassroots liberty Republicans. The big question ? will the Republican Party remain business as usual or the growing voice of the people that created the major shift in the past election.
This election represented a watershed rejection of the 80/20 Republicans. The voters strongly rejected candidates who were not 100% committed to strong moral and Fiscal standards. The days of sweeping the 20% of the platform that includes the social issues such as family, life and marriage are over.
John H. Sununu, while wielding a strong “bullhorn” continually discouraged strong grassroot conservatives in favor of his 80/20 legacy Republicans. His support of Juliana Bergeron is a last, myopic attempt to shove the grassroots to the back of the bus…out of sight and out of mind because he does not understand their real driving interests.
