Being pro-Trump (only when it’s ‘convenient’)
Many Republican members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation are doing quite the balancing act while walking a tightrope: keeping the RINO establishment Trump-haters happy and writing checks while, at the same time, keeping the Trump crowd happy so they don’t primary you.
President Trump is coming to North Carolina in a few weeks. At that time, you’ll see all kinds of RINOs who are frequently heard cursing Trump (off-camera and off-the-record) now praising him to high heaven.
For those of you out there new to politics, here is Rule #1: It’s ALL about CA$H MONEY.
The RINO establishment has all the cash. In comparison, the pro-Trump grassroots warriors don’t have as much money. But they do have the contacts and energy to make a primary – that shouldn’t be interesting — VERY interesting.
RINOs have learned a lot about how to keep the Trump folks calm. Just pepper your campaign rhetoric with mentions of Trump’s name and how great he is. At the same time, you meet privately with your fellow RINOs — the ones with deep pockets — to explain that you’re saying all that pro-Trump stuff just to keep the unwashed Trumpists off your back. These RINO candidates then hit the trail painting themselves as “outsiders” ready to “drain the swamp” in DC.
If said RINO is successful in making it to DC, they are told they can’t get anything done without paying their dues. Not paying their dues as far as time served but in cold-hard cash to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the RNC or National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Here are some things to review and ponder:
Fact #1 – A competitive General Election race for Congress in North Carolina is rare. Richard Hudson’s district was the closest in 2020 and it had roughly a 6 point margin of victory. The only way you lose your seat if you are a GOP congressman is via a primary challenge.
Fact #2 – To win a GOP Congressional primary in North Carolina’s current political environment, you need to be perceived as conservative and pro-Trump.
Fact #3 – The BIG political money isn’t in the hands of Conservatives and Pro-Trump folks.
So, the aforementioned Facts lead to situations for RINO candidates we like to call Dilemmas:
Dilemma #1 – How do I justify raising lots and lots of money when I really don’t need it to keep my Congressional seat? Won’t it be obvious I’m raising this money for the Establishment that I claim to be fighting ?
Dilemma # 2 – I have to downplay Trump to get the BIG money from the RINO “whales.” But it’s the rest of the fish in North Carolina’s political ocean that get me elected. Those “fish” LOVE Trump.
Dilemma # 3 – How do I get away with having one message for the Establishment and one message for the Grassroots without coming across as a politician who speaks out of both sides of their mouth?
The answer to Dilemma #3 is — YOU DON’T. (At least, not for long.)
Unfortunately for a few members of our congressional delegation, the little people back home are comparing notes and beginning to realize that some of these RINO’s are morphing into a new breed: TICCs. (Trumpster In Certain Circles.)
Here’s an example of how the TICC scam works:
“Hi this is Congressman _____________ calling. I need you to write me a BIG check to make sure Trump and his crazies don’t take over our Party.”
Aaaaaaaaand minutes later:
“Hi this is Congressman ____________ and I am so happy to announce that our great President Donald Trump is coming to North Carolina. Won’t you click on the link below to send me $5 so I can put your name on a Welcome Card for him?”
Seriously.
This TICC condition isn’t limited to seated congressmen. Remember in 2016 when then- Governor Pat McCrory couldn’t attend a Trump campaign event in North Carolina because McCrory had a previous engagement with his wife he couldn’t break? (That was when the so-called experts were saying Trump didn’t have a prayer against Hillary.)
You can bet that now-Senate candidate McCrory won’t miss this upcoming Trump event which will afford him a chance to get a picture with the best Republican leader since Ronald Reagan. And I’d place another bet the picture will be used in a grassroots fundraising email before Trump’s plane leaves North Carolina airspace.
But McCroy better hurry to get a good place in line. There will be a lot of TICC candidates and congressmen ahead of McCrory trying to do the same.
As great as the NCGA has become with ‘R leadership’ and the Dept of Educ has become so CRT-crazed under Truitt, how does/can the R Party in NC stay in power? R’s cave at every turn. Truitt’s first hire was a Dem, liberal as any Californian and has gone south ever since. R’s allowed Cooper full reign and power to destroy our freedoms and liberties. Write, email or call any Raleigh office and see how many responses you get? Assure you it will be NONE. THEY don’t won’t to hear your concerns, your issues NOR your desires. Sounds good to me. Come 2022 and 2024, I expect the same results when casting votes.
Truitt has been a real disaster. She is likely toast in the next primary unless she shapes up in a big way.
After McCrory’s comments on the radio dissing Trump and claiming there was no fraud in the 2020 election, it would be outrageous for McCrory to posture as a Trump supporter, but political chameleon McCrory will probably try to do it.
McCrory was way out of touch with the GOP base as governor and as mayor. He would be another Burr or Tillis. Having Burr and Tillis’ consultant Shumaker working for McCrory’s campaign is a clear sign of that. If you liked Burr and Tillis, you will love McCrory.
Every person in North Carolina Republican politics needs to read this post. I hope they do.
McCrory’s allies in the Republican Establishment just hired CRT mega-advocate Hannah Jones to teach at UNC. These RHINOs will say or do anything and totally lie about it. Just holding power is all they care about. They ultimately will be the death of the GOP.
I believe that the NC GOP is using the guy who still should be President to raise money from us little people. I hope they don’t use Mark Robinson in the same way.
The NCGOP is playing stupid games with the convention. There are going to be a lot of unhappy delegates who bought tickets only to discover they’re not going to be able to see Trump unless they pay extra for the dinner, which is sold out. They’re pushing Zoom signups as a fundraiser. There’s really no reason to go to the convention this year. It’s in a terrible location that is too small. King Whatley is unopposed in the chairman’s race, at least so far. He has sucked in enough people on the Central Committee that he does whatever he wants even when his actions violate the Plan of Organization. Speaking of the Plan of Organization, we don’t need no stinking Plan of Organization. And you’re right about Mark Robinson. He needs to wise up. He does not have a good team around him.
As long as they let a lobbyist be state chair, you’re probably correct.
Using Zoom raises real questions about manipulation of votes in the vice chairman’s race. And why would the GOP use a company all of whose actual operations are in Red China, even if they are on paper a US company, for anything?
There is also a last minute rule change out purporting to require candidates for chairman and vice chairman to declare prior to the convention’s opening. What authoritarian nonsense. Whatley will probably also try to strongarm his own flunkies in to the lower party offices which are supposed to be elected by the ExCom.
Lot of disturbing changes coming. The new POO, if approved, will allow district chairs to remain district chairs after redistricting, even if they no longer reside in the district they chair. That didn’t work out so well last time.
Good article. Please name the names. Who are the Donald Trumps on the NCGOP? Do we really need the NCGOP? Why not back independents? Washington warned us against organized political parties. Isn’t it time we dumped them? Same with government schools. Just say no. See exodusmandate.org. And say no to college – apprentice to enter careers and get paid to learn. How my three kids did it. Cost me nothing. Entrepreneurs don’t need college degrees – their customers couldn’t care less. Avoid government schools and colleges and you suck the life out of the left and leftists bureaucracy.