What is the MN GOP Hiding?

Yesterday, Sunday July 29, Pat Shortridge, MN GOP Chair was on a radio program on AM 1130 to discuss the state of the MN GOP. Prior to the Shortridge segment the station teased that they would be discussing the July 23, 2012 commentary in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about the group Minnesota Republicans for Financial Accountability and Justice, LLC, offering to conduct a free forensic audit of the MN GOP Party financial books: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/163241416.html

Once Shortridge was on the air nothing was mentioned about the audit article. Two sources contacted me to say they called into the program and asked to speak on the radio. When the call screener asked their question for Shortridge they said they wanted to discuss the audit article in the Star Tribune. Both callers were placed on hold and within minutes they were both disconnected.

Most likely Shortridge told the station he would not address the audit commentary which then begs the question, what else is the MN GOP hiding from the voters of Minnesota?

Please read my Minneapolis Star Tribune Commentary for today

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/163241416.html

Let’s take a look at the truth. In 2008, the RPM under Chairman Ron Carey said that an audit of the books only showed that a small clerical error was to blame for some Federal Election Commission (FEC) reporting errors. Under questioning the party lawyer admitted the errors were 7 digits big. The FEC fined the RPM $170,000 in 2011 for their financial mismanagement from 2006 to 2008. On May 7, 2012, the RPM released a report that review of 11 items in their books showed no illegality, but a month later the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board fined the RPM $33,000 and turned over documentation of alleged criminal activity to the Ramsey County Attorney. Their report stated evidence that FEC reports were falsified by former party boss Tony Sutton. Is there anyone out there how would like to guess how much the RPM will be fined by the FEC for those actions?

All through this process the RPM has said there is nothing to indicate wrong doing and time after time they have been proven to have not told the truth to the people of Minnesota. I left the RPM in 2009 after Tony Sutton was elected chairman warning that the Carey, Sutton & Michael Brodkorb team would destroy a once great and respected party and they did Only after December 2, 2011, when Sutton resigned did I return to the RPM. I have been called the “conscience of the RPM” because of my efforts to reform and re-establish trust, truthfulness, honesty and transparency of the Party. That is one title I will gladly wear.

Sorry I was Off Line

Finally back from an extended vacation. Fishing was so - so but had a good time up north away from computers and cell phones. I did manage to catch a couple of Twins games last week. Now I'll finally have time to prepare another Commentary piece for the local papers for later this month.

Is it Time to Build that Ark?

I will be writin more next week. Sorry that this week my writing is sparse but we are in the middle of a major landscaping project at our home and it has taken up most of my time. 

Republican Unity? Not from this Convention!

Now that the MN GOP 2012 Convention is over I thought I would share some of my observations. Please let me first state that I did not attend the convention or the state central meeting that followed since I’m not a delegate or alternate. Although there were numerous false reports of sightings of me at the convention and hotels in St. Cloud I can assure you all that I was not there. Friday I had numerous contractors at my home and Saturday we attended a wedding in Shakopee, MN.

I would like to compliment Marianne Stebbins on the masterful job that she accomplished after the harsh and disrespectful treatment by the RPM in 2008. She and others mobilized a grassroots army that resulted in the takeover of the RPM this year. Although I disagree on some of Dr. Ron Paul’s positions, I have always believed that the RPM leadership made a tragic decision in 2008 to bar him from addressing the state convention in Rochester.

Now that the RPM is essentially the Ron Paul Party I have heard from many of the “Old Guard Faithful” who have told me that after witnessing the jeers and boos each time Mitt Romney’s name was mentioned by speakers including the former Governor Tim Pawlenty that their activism within the party is over. Many of these folks were the grassroots workers who over the last 20 years+ could be counted on to stuff envelopes, do lit drops, march in parades and man the phone banks.

The RPM with all its troubles: sex scandals, alleged cover-up of past financial mismanagement, lack of fund raising and now deep division within its grassroots support base one must wonder the outcome of the November elections.

As I have written previously, I believe a takeover of the Minnesota House and Senate by the DFL is very possible. Confidence and trust of the RPM is at an all-time low within the state. Current GOP office holders have been silent about the failure of the RPM to do a proper forensic audit. RPM leadership refuses to investigate and hold past leaders accountable for their financial mismanagement which has many asking is the corruption deeper then we have imagined?  Now many within the base are sitting out this election. The ramifications for all listed above could be a massive backlash against the MN GOP and their candidates this November.

For now it appears that there is little unity and in many cases hope for the Minnesota Republican Party.

RPM At-Large Delegate Battle is Joined

Minnesota GOP Convention about to vote on National At-Large Delegates. Here is the list I was sent last night. According to press reports Chairman Pat Shortridge is on the Liberty (Ron Paul) slate.

National Delegate and National Alternate Conservative Unity Slates.

Conservative Unity National Delegate Slate:1) Michele Bachmann
2) Chris Barden
3) Ken Cobb
4) Keith Downey
5) Kelly Fenton
6) David FitzSimmons
7) Marjorie Holsten
8) Mark Kennedy
9) Jen Niska
10) Branden Petersen
11) Bron Scherer
12) Chris Teideman
13) Michael Vekich


Conservative Unity National Alternate Slate:1) Becky Alery
2) David Asp
3) Sheri Auclair
4) Chuck Bradford
5) Terry Flower
6) Mandy Heffron
7) Luke Hellier
8) Barbara Malzacher
9) Mark Miller
10) Monique Morton
11) Darrel Trulson
12) Ellen Wade
13) Joe Westrup

So Much To Do But So Little Time!

The Republican Party of Minnesota’s governing body, the State Central Delegates, hold their State Convention in Saint Cloud, MN today. They will endorse candidates, select RNC delegates and discuss the state of the party’s finances. With the elections less than six months away will the RPM be able to overcome their financial scandals, a torrid sex scandal, and the virtual take over by the Ron Paul movement. The RPM Convention over the next two days could spell victory or defeat in the November 2012 elections for RPM candidates.

As a Republican activist who has spoken out since 2007 against the mismanagement of the party’s finances I fear the worst will come from the convention. Many RPM Executive Board members have been asking for a forensic audit of the party’s financial books dating back to 2007, when Tony Sutton became Party Treasurer and then Chairman in 2009. Upon his resignation December 2, 2011, Sutton left the party some two+ million dollars in debt.

The RPM under new leadership investigated into the financial problem and on May 7, 2012 issued a 20 page report to the press by the RPM Budget, Financial Controls & Oversight Committee. Throughout the report the committee went to great lengths to point out that although calls were made for a forensic audit, no audit of any kind was completed, but rather a review of 11 specific transactions was undertaken.

After a thorough reading of the report I see little chance that Minnesota voters will be satisfied with the conclusion that gross financial mismanagement occurred but no alleged criminal or civil wrong doing took place. Their conclusion admits that former Chairman Tony Sutton lied about the party’s finances to the RPM Executive Board Members, filed false Federal Election Commission reports, and that former RPM Executive Director, Ryan Griffin could not be located by the committee to discuss his involvement in large amounts of the debt. How is that possible?

The May 7, report runs counter to any logic. If nothing else the report screams for a forensic audit to prove to the voters of Minnesota that the RPM is not engaged in a cover-up. As politicians throughout history have learned, it is always the cover-up that provides the greatest punishment to a wrong doing. For that reason alone, RPM elected political figures and party activists should be demanding a forensic audit at the state convention today.

The new RPM Chairman Pat Shortridge has taken the position or some say excuse that the party is financially broke and can’t afford a forensic audit. That is a very good point since the RPM hasn’t paid their headquarters rent for over 11 months. However, as many contend the RPM can’t afford not to have a forensic audit. The simple solution is to establish an independent team to raise the money and conduct a transparent forensic audit. I’ll gladly volunteer to head that team.

I’m convinced this is the only path to getting the voters of Minnesota to once again trust the RPM with their money. Minnesota needs a two party system for checking and balancing policies and budgets. One political party dominating state politics often spells economic disaster. The DFL will claim a more sinister reason that a forensic audit will implicate major GOP politicians both past and present. You can't counter that argument without a forensic audit.

In the words of former RPM Chair Ron Carey in 2008; "At the end of the day, those that are criticizing us are to be shamed - because the truth will get out and the truth shall set us free."

Well the truth has set us free and it proved that those of us who were calling for an investigation were correct. Financial mismanagement by the party of fiscal responsibility may cause an enormous voter backlash unless immediate action isn’t taken. Will the RPM prove it has nothing to hide and launch the investigation necessary to prove it?