Local GOP activists demand leadership changes - OC Register
Party must return to its limited government roots to stage a comeback from Tuesday's drubbing, O.C. Republicans say. By Dena Bunis
Washington,
Nov 5 -
For the Republican Party to continue to use Orange County to be its ATM and a source for votes and activism, local power brokers say the GOP leadership is going to have to start acting like the party of Ronald Reagan again.
Already this morning, once word went out that the House GOP leader wants to keep his job, Orange County activists zeroed in on that as just the problem they're talking about.
And at least two Orange County lawmakers — Reps. Gary Miller and Ken Calvert – are being singled out for criticism by the head of the powerful Lincoln Club for supporting Minority Leader John Boehner.
"It's my opinion that we need regime change in the House of Representatives,'' said Rich Wagner, head of the Lincoln Club of Orange County.
The group Wagner leads has raised millions over the years for GOP candidates nationwide. And even though John McCain's 50.8 percent of the vote was the worst showing by a GOP presidential candidate in three decades, the point is that he did carry the county, piling up more than 430,000 from the O.C.
Wagner said he has yet to consult with his fellow members, but as far as he is concerned none of the five O.C. House lawmakers should vote to retain Boehner.
Boehner, Wagner said, "has governed by consensus rather than try to lead a charge. At this point I think you need new people. I think he needs to step down.''
Boehner sent a letter to all House members this morning saying he plans to run for re-election when the GOP leadership elections are held, possibly later this month.
'Before last night's results, Reps. John Campbell and Ed Royce predicted that if – as happened – the GOP suffered double-digit House losses, that House leaders might well step aside. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington also called for such a move.
"We're definitely going to need some new leadership and a new and different approach and a new and different attitude,'' said Campbell, R-Irvine. He added this morning that he has not decided yet who he will support because no one has yet stepped forward to challenge Boehner.
"Are there people who I think would make a better leader now that Boehner?" Campbell asked. "Yes.''
But Miller, R-Diamond Bar and Calvert, R-Corona, both expressed support for Boehner.
"You've watched John Boehner for the last two years fighting every spending bill the Democrats have wanted to do,'' Miller said Tuesday. "He fought hard as he can. You can't blame the leader for past failures.''
Wagner doesn't buy that.
"I do think there are problems with Calvert and Miller because they are neck deep in earmarks and everything else,'' Wagner said. "We didn't give either of those guys a penny.''
"He's part of the problem with the Republican Party with his attitude,'' Miller said this morning of Wagner's comments. "Everybody is welcome to have a disagreement with issues but when people are spiteful and vindictive it's inappropriate.''
Miller said the money he has returned to the cities in his districts for pubic works and other projects have been appreciated by his constituents and that last night's election results proved that.
"I got 63.8 percent of my Orange County district, the highest percentage vote in the delegation,'' Miller said.
What Wagner and a host of GOP activists said is needed is for the party to get back to its fundamental roots – being a party of limited government.
"If we are to come back and emerge after the Democrats inevitability overstep and overreach the role of government, we have to have leadership that is focused and unwavering in their commitment to limited government,'' said Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh.
Baugh said the party needs to be clear about its identity.
"When Republicans try to imitate Democrats, we lose. But when we pursue ideas of limited government and we live those ideals, then we win the affection of the American people.''
Historically, Orange County has been the epicenter of conservative republican activism. Rather than recede into the background to lick their wounds after Tuesday's Democratic sweep, one former Lincoln Club leader believe the year's results will make that role even more important.
"I think Orange County will continue to be a center for agitation and resistance from the right,'' said Michael Capaldi. "We'll raise more money, we'll gather more volunteer than just about anywhere else in the country.''
Capaldi said the power in the party will now shift away from Washington, D.C. to activist center around the country, and nowhere, he believes, has the combination of money and volunteer activism than Orange County does.
Royce said what happens around the country in the coming years will be key to a GOP comeback.
"I think the GOP needs to do a better job of grooming a farm team of future leaders who are developed and encouraged and can see a place for themselves in the GOP future,'' Royce said. He pointed to what former House Speaker Newt Gingrich did in the early '90s when he was engineering the Republican revolution.
Gingrich came to Orange County, Royce recalled, "and talked to Lincoln Club members and created an enthusiasm for a program he was putting together. That would lay the groundwork both about understanding what was wrong in Washington and also in terms of an aggressive platform to drive issues like a balanced budget, to bring down the tax rate. "
