A m e r i c a n P o s t – G a z e t t e
Distributed by C O M M O N S E N S E , in Arizona
Friday, January 7, 2010
This article is a reprint from Seeing Red AZ – http://seeingredaz.wordpress.com/
Surrender our Bill of Rights?
January 7, 2011
This exchange between Wes Harris and Tom Husband epitomizes the differences in the mindset between the Grassroots Conservatives of our Republican Party and the political class who demand total subservience:
Wes you say, in part:
“It is totally unfair for any Chair of the Republican party or elected official to show “official” favoritism, in my opinion. What they do in the voting booth is their own business…what they do in public, even if they say that this is ‘their personal opinion’, is our business as elected P.C.s. We have our own minds and we will make them up on our own without “being led” (as Mr. Haney put it to me on Wednesday night). There is no doubt that Mr. Haney has been a fine and conservative leader for us…however, again in my opinion, he crossed the line on this one and I have freely told him that on more than one occasion…speaking as a P.C. and not for the Tea Party.”
Wes, make up my mind. Do “We have our own minds and we will make them up on our own…” or not. I challenged you to offer any credible evidence that Haney supported any candidate in his capacity as Chairman. It is incredible to think that one would have to give up their First Amendment rights in order to serve in the Republican Party. I won’t be silent and I support those brave enough to speak out.
In the telephone conversation we just had, you admitted that you have no evidence that Haney ever endorsed anyone in his capacity as Chairman. Only his capacity as a private citizen. Where we differ is that you believe that one must surrender their First Amendment rights when elected to political office. I strongly disagree. To ask one to surrender their rights under our Bill of Rights in order to hold political office is preposterous and I ask you to reconsider.
Wes, you go on to say: “But like Mr. Haney, my public remarks, even though offered as my own personal opinion, will most likely be read as that of the Tea Party…so I rest my case!” and then you put your Tea Party title below your name. Don’t you see that when you are writing as the head of a Tea Party, you are no longer offering your personal opinion? It would be taken as your personal opinion if you had just signed it as Wes Harris. You just lost your own case!
Best Regards,
Thomas F. Husband
Friends,
We all wear different hats at different times and places in our life. Rob Haney has every right as free citizen to advocate for someone else or for a certain cause. This is know as the 1st Amendment to our Constitution-the Free Speech Amendment.
I am not aware of Rob Haney, as a representative of the Republican Party, to publicly endorse anyone or any cause. Rob has a lifetime of experience and and a whole lot of common sense to not do that sort of thing.
As a private citizen, Rob can endorse anyone he chooses and should do so. THAT is what we call a free society and that is what we as Republicans have to continue to fight for.
Let’s celebrate our First Amendment!
This is so simple, one would have to be brain dead not to figure this out.
You make a statement – you sign your name to it. This is your personal opinion within your First Amendment rights.
You make a statement – you sign your name to it, plus your organization title. This is an official statement from your organization.
Does Wes Harris understand the distinction?
Wes Harris takes some real strange positions for a purported Tea Party leader. Last I talked with him he was pushing hard for David Braswell (YES on the Brewer tax increase) to get elected State Senator.
Wes, next time Rob Haney offers a speaking date I suggest you attend…and take notes.
Wus Harris just doesn’t get it. I want to know who our people in leadership support and if they have the courage to stand by their stated principles. As long as they are personal endorsements. Organizational endorsements should require consensus of the organization.
It can work both ways. If McKyl makes an endorsement I know, in most cases, that is someone I probably don’t want to support. But I don’t think a McKyl endorsement represents the entire U.S. Senate. (just the Democrats)
The first amendment is first for a reason. People have a right to express their opinion. It’s even more important for public figures. It tells us what they are about and helps us decide if we want to continue to support them. In the case of Husband, good job! I can see what you are about and I strongly support you. Keep it up.
Harris should join Obama. He hates the constitution too.
Hey Wes,
Tom Husband takes his endorsements seriously.
In 2008, he was the first MCRC chairman to ever make official endorsements on behalf of the MCRC in multiple GOP primaries. Rob Haney was Husband’s biggest cheerleader. Now, they’ve just switched seats.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Those MCRC press releases that Husband & Haney are so proud of are floating around cyberspace somewhere.
Wes Harris and Honey Marques make a rather weird duo of Tea Party “leaders”!
It makes one wonder who are their respective organization’s major donors!
The same goes for AZRTL!
Mr. Hankey sent me an email in August. Is his email address not r_b_haney@yahoo.com? He does every right if he is not in a leadership position to endorse. Thank you for admitting he has endorsed with the county GOP resources.
Case closed.
Hankey endorses Sheriff Joe who brought us Janet Napolitano over Matt Salmon.
Give it a rest Tommy boy…we know you are Haney’s lackey and do his bidding.
Name or position, it is all the same thing! Haney was on the podium when JD announced. Why did JD care if Rob Haney, private citizen, was on that podium. He didn’t. It was Rob Haney, MCRC chair that mattered. We are not fools! Nor are the voters in your precinct since you cannot get elected as a PC…again this cycle!
Your manipulative ways are well known. Just like Haney.
Ahh… the aroma of freshly brewed tea… there is so much the Tea Party has to learn about politics and our political system.
Great to see Chairman Haney deflect the Harris torpedo and ride to a 2.5 to 1 schelacking of establishment candidate, Cheatham.
Chalk up 75% of Maricopa County state committeeman votes for Bruce Ash. Better yet, why doesn’t the McKyl team practice some of that unity they preach and just unify behind Bruce Ash now? Even though the Ash win is definite now, the RINOs will drag us all through the mud anyway.
If you make a statement & sign your name to it. It is your personal opinion.
If you make a statement & you sign your name to it, plus your organization title. This is an official statement from your organization.
Very simple, Wes