Rank and file Iowa Republican files complaint with state committee. Iowa GOP chairman A.J. Spiker responds. Tom Hoefling responds to Spiker's assertions.
Eric Durbin of Indianola:
Continued violation of the Republican Party Consitution Article VI - 5
Dear State Central Committee members,
I'm deeply disappointed that the Republican Party of Iowa has chosen to exclusively promote a candidate in a contested primary race in clear violation of the Republican Party of Iowa Constitution, Article VI – Property, Records, and Personal Responsibility, #5 which states:
"The Republican Party of Iowa shall not use any resources to include, but not limited to, the use of funds obtained in any way, the use of the name of The Republican Party of Iowa on mailers, emails, press releases, or any campaign materials of any kind, the use of nonprofit mailing status, lists, or staff, for the benefit of any Republican candidate in contested primary or caucus races."
In addition to the email sent out by our chairman as discussed here:
http://www.tomhoefling.com/8/post/2014/01/the-iowa-gop-violates-own-rules-by-endorsing-gubernatorial-candidate-two-months-before-the-primary-filing-deadline.html
The Iowa GOP Facebook and twitter pages are exclusively promoting the Branstad-Reynolds team as "Iowa's Team" and only posting information about their campaign while ignoring other candidates who declared a month prior in December 2013 and were mentioned in state political media like theiowarepublican.com listed here:
http://theiowarepublican.com/2013/branstad-latham-draw-longshot-primary-challengers/
When this was brought to the attention of personnel operating the Iowa GOP facebook page by Wm Luke Priest(https://www.facebook.com/belikebunce?hc_location=stream), they apoligized and claimed they were not aware another candidate was running, but then immediately deleted that message and the activity has since continued. I replied with the announcement of the candidate 1 month prior.
I'm discouraged that the Iowa GOP leadership has chosen to ignore other entrants into the primary race and don't even have a mere mention of them on the party's social media. The party appears to have annointed their selection without so much as a debate, bypassing all participation from the public.
If we're going to ignore our party's Constitution then what is the purpose of even having one? Should we not be inclusive of all members who wish to participate and encourage an open primary discussion? If the Republican Party of Iowa is going to make their selection and anoint a nominee without the input of its participants then I'm wasting my time as a volunteer.
I hope you'll reconsider violating the parties by-laws in the future and give equal time, or at least a mere mention that there are other parties in the race, as we have 2 declared candidates and still have 2 months before any candidate can even file officially.
Thanks,
Eric Durbin
Eric et, al.
The Republican Party of Iowa has not violated its bylaws.
I talk with potential primary candidates every day and the majority of them never file papers or obtain the required signatures to become a Republican Party of Iowa primary candidate. After the primary filing period, the Republican Party of Iowa will know what seats if any have a contested primary. Given Mr. Hoefling being an officer of a national 3rd party organization as recent as 1/11/14, its a total non-starter for me to consider Mr. Hoefling as a legitimate challenger in a contested Republican primary. I would be glad to talk to you by phone if you would like further discuss this matter 5154503110 cell.
#1 Mr. Hoefling is an officer of a non-Republican national political party or third party organization registered with the Federal Election Commission. Americas Party Treasurer Tom Hoefling filed and signed an FEC Report as Treasurer as recent as January 11, 2014 (see below). This report was filed by Americas Party Treasurer Tom Hoefling after Mr. Hoefling announced his intent to attempt to challenge Governor Branstad in the Republican Party Primary.
#2 There is not yet a contested Republican primary for Governor or other offices. After the filing period, the Republican Party of Iowa will know what seats if any are contested.
Look at very bottom of this Federal Election Commission report for proof of national 3rd party officer status. FEC FORM 3XREPORT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTSFor Other Than An Authorized Committee
FILING FEC-8997171. America's Party PO Box 77
Lohrville, Iowa 514530316
2. FEC Committee ID #: C004510963. This committee has NOT qualified as a multicandidate committee (see FEC Form 1M)4. Report Type = YEAR-ENDFiled: 01/11/2014SUMMARY PAGE
DETAILED SUMMARY PAGE
Mr. Spiker, et al,
1. You apparently lack knowledge of FEC rules. There are various levels of filings possible for national political committees. America's Party has never sought nor obtained FEC recognition of status as a national political party. It is federally recognized as a committee, and nothing more.
2. Whether or not I can make the ballot should not be your concern. Anyone who is legally qualified to do so can gather the signatures and file by March 14th. Not just me.
3. I meet all of the legal criteria to run in the Republican primary. You have no say in the matter.
My other political associations besides my registration as an Iowa Republican may concern you as an individual voter, perhaps, but, as party chairman, it is presumptuous of you to make up criteria or credentials for running that are not part of the Iowa Code, or the Republican Party's own rules, or to arbitrarily, capriciously, make decisions that are best left to the rank and file members of the Iowa GOP and the voters at large. Let them decide if they think our experiments of recent years in how to best fix this horribly broken political system matter to them, or not.
You seem to have not really looked at what America's Party is, at the fundamental, principled, or practical level. It is not in any way a standard so-called "third party." It is in fact nothing more than an expression of crucial core American principles, devised for the purpose of helping the people of this country rise above party factionalism to principle, as our wise first president, in his Farewell Address, told us we must do - and to then give them the practical means to help restore leadership and accountability among our elected representatives.
It raises no money, on purpose, and makes its political decisions about who to support based solely on principle, not party affiliation. And, the fact is, almost all of our endorsed candidates across the country, and here in Iowa, have continued to run as Republicans, with some success.
In closing, I would suggest that you, and every GOP leader, read the AP platform. I challenge you to point out anything at all there that is not rock-solid Reagan Republicanism, straight up the middle of mainstream Republican thought and belief. So much so that I can make a strong case that the Iowa Republican Party, and the National GOP, would be extremely well-served by adopting the AP platform as its own. Or, even better, for maximum clarity's sake, they could run candidates and campaigns based on the abbreviated 100-word, seven plank version that I am running for governor on. (See below.)
Then, maybe, the Grand Old Party could once again be recognized by We the People as "America's party," as it was throughout so much of our republic's history.
Just a thought.
Sincerely,
Tom Hoefling
2014 Candidate for Iowa Governor
http://www.tomhoefling.com/platform.html
Tom Hoefling's
2014 Iowa GOP Unity Platform
As Iowa Republicans we hereby declare our unity in firm support of these non-negotiable political principles and purposes:
We're one nation under God, and our rights come from God, not men.
The first sworn duty of every officer of government is to equally protect every individual person’s God-given, unalienable rights to life, liberty, and private property, from creation to natural death.
The God-ordained institution of one man-one woman marriage must be preserved.
The right of the people to Keep and Bear Arms shall not be infringed.
Our national sovereignty, security, and borders must be defended.
Our republican form of representative self-government must be upheld.
The sacred oath of office to support and defend our Constitution must be fulfilled.
In order to secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, we strongly urge our fellow Iowans, and all Americans, to make this platform their own, and to henceforth hold all political leaders, regardless of party, strictly accountable to it.