Real Republicans vs. Not Real Republicans

BY GARY L. SNYDER

It now appears the "Real Republicans" have moved what up to now has been a mostly covert battle against the local TEA Party movement, to a more overt operation.  What used to be a "just ignore them and they will go away" attitude by the "Real Republicans" has now moved to all out hostility towards the "Not Real Republicans" by the face of the Huntington Republican Party.  

Why would they do this you ask?  Pretty simple if you think about it.  Power!  You see an orchestrated effort by the Huntington Republican party to minimize attendance at TEA Party events:  "Hey, most of those people were from out of town," or "They scared me with their speeches," are just some of the comments heard from our Huntington Republican elite.

Next up are comments like, "It's nice to be here with real Republicans ," from Mayor Updike at the Huntington County Republican Party breakfast last Saturday, which by the way, received an overwhelming response from most of the 300-plus people there.  Oh wait, I'm sorry, the 300 people were at the TEA Party the night before and there were only 70 people at the "Real Republican" breakfast.  And don't think for a minute that the "Real Republicans" don't have their allies.  Keep in mind, the Herald-Press(less) had NO coverage of the 300-plus crowd at the TEA Party event where 4 US Senate candidates were speaking, while offering up full page coverage of the "Real Republican" breakfast.  They even put a big color picture of Pam Updike conversing with Dr. John McGoff. And if you want to know who the "STRONG Republicans" are, just give Huntington County Auditor Kathy Juillerat a ring, she will be more than happy to tell you.

Finally, there was an effort to keep "TEA Party" candidates off the Republican ballot in the spring, which hasn't materialized as of yet, and not invite "TEA Party" candidates to Republican events to speak or participate.  We'll see on that one.  The "REAL Republicans" are used to using intimidation and bullying to keep power and are trying their best to do it now.  While the TEA Party movement initially may have been a national movement and while some TEA Party organizations may be working with the Republican Party in other counties, that is just not the case in Huntington.  

Comments

[Kathy Stutzman]

I am a politically active Republican and have for years. I would encourage the Republican Party in all areas of Indiana to embrace them and include them. In working with State Senator Marlin Stutzman's campaign for US Senator, I have met a number of Tea Party/Patriots and if you lined up their beliefs and concerns with the Republican Party, you would see more points of agreements than disagreements.

Let' work together and win back as well as take over Democrat seats and any of those who don't represent Hoosier values.

[abcd...]

Get rid of the Republicans, Democrats, independents, tea baggers...if you're not all alike, you will be someday! How about NO parties. Eliminate them. Vote for the candiate and what he/she proposes to do for the people they represent!!!

[Ryder]

Is the TEA party a movement, a PAC or a legitmate (3rd) political party?

If they are fielding candidates for office then I'd say they are definately a party and have no seat at Republican or Democrat events.

If they are a PAC, then they should file as such and be open with their intentions.

[Sam]

Only two of the senate candidates have really shown that they appreciate the TeaParty movement: Marlin Stutzman and Behney.

I still can't figure Behney out, especially when he uses some of the rhetoric he is known for, but Marlin Stutzman is a solid conservative and he's shown that as a legislator. Between me and my friends, Stutzman has votes coming his way.

[Huntington Politics Supporter]

I would try to call Kathy in her office, but it seems they like to close it down whenever they please. Last Friday Kathy closed the Auditor's Office from 12-3 to have a super bowl party. Seems to me like this is a waste of our tax dollars!

[John Galt]

I think that would be illegal and is called "ghost employment" to shut down offices and have a party.

[burp]

Eliminating parties, will do nothing. The people running for office are still going to promise the same exact things they promised when they were party associated.

[For the Right]

I can not speak for the rest of the party but I have never heard Kris Underwood speak negative toward the Tea Party folks. He has told me he wants to see as many people involved as possible.

[Stewart Griffin]

For the right,

Dont be so sure about Underwoods involvement to discredit the TEA Party movement in Huntington County, I for one have heard him try to minimize their organization. You are correct in one aspect, it is more of the face of the party; Updikes, Stoffels, Juillerats and etc. that are the real force to try to not only minimize, but to destroy the Huntington TEA Party.

[Seeking Justice]

I agree with you Stewart Griffin. Underwood was the person responsible in appointing Steve Juillerat as the Dallas Township Trustee recently. I wonder if Steve ran unopposed for that position? It's becoming difficult to trust the majority of Huntington's Republican Party anymore. What a shame.