Craven Co. GOP - Thom Tillis spat MAY cost Craven GOP chairman HIS JOB, NCGOP HQ | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Brant Clifton casts a keen eye on Craven County Republican Party in his "bare knuckles" Conservative online publication known as The Daily Haymaker.

    You may recall our previous coverage of efforts by Craven County Republicans to censure state House Speaker Thom Tillis. What is behind all of this?

    Well, local activists have long memories - just like their party's mascot. They recall stuff like THIS, THIS, THIS and THIS involving the speaker and aspiring US senator.

    Initially, establishment types in Craven County had turned to NCGOP HQ to help stamp out this local grassroots act of rebellion. Craven chairman Paul Hill conversed with party attorneys and produced reasons to question the legitimacy of the letter of censure.

    Well, censure proponents decided to revisit the letter this past week - just to take some ammo away from the establishment types. The letter of censure got passed ONCE AGAIN. The Craven Executive Committee instructed their chairman - already out as an opponent of the censure move - to send the letter of censure to NCGOP Chairman Claude Pope via certified mail.

    The day after THAT meeting, my sources in Craven County tell me that Chairman Hill sent out an email saying that he had "emailed" the letter of censure to Pope - as opposed to sending it certified mail, as he was reportedly instructed by his executive committee.

    According to my sources on the ground there, tempers were hot over this unexpected, unauthorized change of strategy initiated by the chairman. Late last week, demands were issued for the chairman to produce an actual digital copy of the email and attachment sent to Claude Pope.

    As of this writing, my sources tell me Chairman Hill has not complied with those demands. Local party sources tell me plans are being drawn up for a vote of NO CONFIDENCE against Hill for reportedly defying the wishes of a majority on the county party's executive committee.

    I am told that the committee will meet again at the end of July - and the earliest Hill could be removed from office would be mid-August.

Comment from NC GOP Chairman Claude Pope to Brant Clifton

    Claude Pope July 5, 2013 at 12:05 pm

    Brant,

    Craven County's Letter of Censure was indeed delivered via email to me by Chairman Hill on June 28, noting that the vote to Censure was 13-12.

    During the campaign for the Chairmanship of the NCGOP, I was often asked if the NCGOP would get involved (or "meddle") in a Primary - an action that certainly can cause consternation among the various supporters of the primary opponents. My response was always "no - let the candidates duke it out, and let our primary voters decide for themselves". Primaries are the ultimate "bottom-up" approach to sorting out the candidates.

    The issue has come up several times since the convention, prompting me to send a note to all of our Executive Committee members reminding them of the prohibition in the POO against "utilizing the powers and dignity of his or her office or position in any Republican Primary for public office at any level."

    The Letter of Censure, in part, alleges (among other items) just such an action by Speaker Tillis in previous races - an action that is not condoned by our Party. Ironically, the Letter of Censure itself could be construed or interpreted as an endorsement of a primary opponent since it is openly critical of an announced US Senate candidate.

    Individuals are free to voice their support or opposition for any of our primary opponents, and I encourage a vigorous dialog and debate of the relevant issues. It is, in my opinion, counter-productive to this process to have a local GOP Executive Committee make statements or pass any sort of resolution that could be construed or interpreted as favoring or opposing any of our announced candidates.

    The field for the US Senate is far from being settled, as others may join the race. I pledge the full support, resources, and the dignity of my office to the eventual winner of the various primaries to help get them across the ultimate finish line. Until then, we will remain neutral, and provide resources to all announced candidates in equal measure.

    One of my (many) jobs as Chairman of the NCGOP is to foster an open and transparent dialog (and debate) among the many factions of conservatives across the State. It's equally important that after all of the debates, and after all of the votes and resolutions are recorded - that we unite and rally behind those votes - unified - and fully committed to our resolutions - platform - and the primary contest winners in the real battle that will take place on Election Day.

    Only when we work together will we beat back the decades of liberal corruption, cronyism and wasteful spending by the democrats. The only ones cheering on the internal squabbles of our Party are the democrats themselves - yearning to break us apart - for it is their only chance to retain the Senate or the White House, or to regain the majority in the NC Legislature in years to come. I look forward to working with all conservatives across the state to solidify our majorities and take back the US Senate.

    Claude E. Pope, Jr.

    Chairman

    North Carolina Republican Party