Tulsa County GOP Chairman Mike Ford
By Michael F. Ford
Tulsa County Republican Chairman posting on Facebook
I listen to the concerns of Republican voters every day. I get their phone calls, I read their emails, and I see their social media posts. They are fed up with some Republican politicians, and it isn’t Donald Trump.
The “Party Leaders” these media personalities have been referring to, who are freaking out about Trump, are not real “GOP-Party-organization” leaders. The ones freaking out are career politicians in Washington DC who hold leadership positions in their respective caucuses. People who have drawn the ire of average Republican voters. People like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell on the national level, who have lost the trust and confidence of average Republican voters.
Republicans are getting fed up with their collective representation of politicians, not their “Party”. Republican voters ARE the Party by definition and rule. They like their Platform of principles and ideals just fine. What they don’t like is status-quo politics, where too many Republican politicians govern differently than they campaign.
Donald Trump is not destroying the Republican Party. He is just bringing some much needed debate to the table. Career political insiders who forsake their constituents to protect the status quo, are destroying the Republican Party.
As one congressman put it a few months ago, “We just won numerous seats in the House and Senate across the nation, in a historic election season (2014), yet our leaders want us to govern as if we just lost.”
Donald Trump is striking this nerve with voters by speaking out against a destructive political sub-culture, and it’s working. Not necessarily because he is the best long term option to them, but because they have waited for someone to stand out from the pack and say what needs to be said. It may not be pretty. It may not be politically correct. It may be taken out of context, but if there wasn’t some truth to it, it would not be resonating.
Every elected Republican or potential candidate for future elections should take heed, because this collective irritation among our voters is not a passing phase. Politicians are running out of grace with them, because voters see their nation and their freedoms slipping away. They fully expect our elected Republicans to be vigilant and represent them in DC, and at the State Capitol. They expect their elected Republicans to be champions. And why not? Republicans talk the talk of creating a smaller, more efficient, and limited government. We have the solutions needed to combat our problems. The question is, when will we make it happen?
Very well put Mike. You are absolutely correct. Some, if not many people think that supporting their candidate is denigrating another candidate. This is not Big XII football or OU-OSU where we support our team like fans. We need to listen to what each candidate is saying and evaluate if they are sincere or not, then choose to support or not support them.
So far Trump is saying what other should have been saying. Others have joined in and I think more will do so as well. As you said , Mike, it is good for the Party.
You are spot on MIke I have been telling elected officials that for some time – on both sides of the aisle. People in general of elected officials who say anything to get elected and do nothing in hope that they remain elected.
Good job, Mike Ford! I especially like, “Republican voters ARE the Party by definition and rule.” AMEN
I don’t support Trump and I will not. However, like Sen Cruz, I recognize that Trump is addressing issues of import in a no nonsense, (scratch that, there is a lot of nonsense coming out of the Don) straightforward manner.
I think the other candidates are going to step up and speak up on the issues WE want to hear about and perhaps they will have real solutions. Perhaps not.
As Ted Cruz said, Republicans were told “If only we had control of the House”, then we were told, “If we only had control of the Senate”. Now we have control of BOTH houses, and what is the difference between what the Republicans in control of both houses have done, and if Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi were still in charge? Not much!
Spot on! Thanks!
Thank you for speaking out, Mr. Ford. I believe you hit the nail on the head. Will you please replace Mr. Brogden as Republican chair?!?
OK Kevin, you were doing so well, now you went a step too far.