Video about the Convention
Another Video about the Convention
The Politics of Exclusion - or How to Lose Elections
By
Robert Holloway
By
Robert Holloway
June 18, 2009
Bernie Zadrowski called a meeting of the Clark County Central Committee on June 9th. One purpose of the meeting was to condemn state party leaders who have gone along with the new taxes in the recent legislative session. While I realize that many Republicans are very much against tax increases, what bothers me about Zadrowski's plan is that it continues the politics of exclusion which Sue Lowden and Zadrowski practiced last year and which produced the defeat of both Bob Beers and Joe Heck. That was a dumb move on their part. By excluding the Ron Paul faction and preventing an honest election at the convention, the party leadership reduced the number of those who voted Republican in the general election and most likely contributed to the declining party membership relative to the other party. If you look at the numbers in the elections for state senate, the politics of exclusion certainly led to the defeat of Bob Beers and Joe Heck. Bernie went out of his way last year to demonize the Ron Paul faction and probably cooperated in the surveillance of the few Ron Paul delegates who attended the national convention. According to Chuck Muth, Senator Raggio emailed Bernie Zadrowski as follows:
“Chairman Zadrowski: If your intent is to really destroy the Republican Party in Nevada, follow through with your planned Resolutions! Keep up these vituperative lashings at Republicans whom you disagree with and we will continue to lose elections. Better course would be to reunite party and understand differences of opinions.”
My comment: Well said Senator Raggio, I have also noticed Bernie Zadrowski's intolerant attitude over the past year.
I have watched Bernie Zadrowski for about a year in his role as Clark County Chairman. I have noticed that one of his main characteristics is an extremely authoritarian personality. His motto is "My way or the highway". I resigned from the county executive board because I became disgusted with his way of running things. I agree with Senator Raggio's view that Bernie's approach will continue to narrow the base of the party in this state. While no one likes tax increases, the state is facing an enormous financial problem and it is certainly reasonable to consider tax increases as one component of the remedy. There should be room for differences of opinion. There should have been room for differences of opinion last year at the state convention and there should have been an honest election at the state convention. Bernie Zadrowski gave enthusiastic support to Sue Lowden after she disrupted the election.
The resolutions passed, although there was some opposition to them. A few days later in an unrelated development, Senator Ensign admitted an extra marital affair. State Senator Hardy resigned his seat in the State Senate. It seems that shrinkage and suicide is the order of the day for Nevada Republicans.