RNC, NCGOP teaming to help Michael Whatley through Senate primary
The Republican establishment loves to browbeat party leaders about staying out of party primary races. It sure would be nice if you could get these people to follow their own advice.
This invite is already floating around for a September fundraiser for Mike Whatley in in Charlotte:
The interesting part is the description of Whatley Victory Committee in the fine print at the bottom of the invite: “[…] a joint fundraising committee authorized and composed of Whatley for Senate, North Carolina First. Republican National Committee, NRSC, and North Carolina Republican Party“.
This would all be kosher if Whatley was the only GOP candidate in the race. But, he is not. Mecklenburg County attorney Don Brown is also campaigning for the GOP nomination.
I am sure that 100 lawyers have been all over this. But how does this Whatley Victory campaign committee square with party rules and rhetoric about leaders staying out of primary races?
As of today, Michael Whatley is still identified on the RNC website as the group’s chairman.
The invitation above identifies the RNC as one of the authorizers and organizers of this Whatley Victory Committee. So, Whatley got the organization he heads to put all this together for him — while he’s still chairman and will be facing a primary opponent.
How does all this square with party rules? (Seriously.)
It’s maddening to see a political organization controlled by President Trump working so hard to shut out and shut down a long-time MAGA activist to the benefit of a guy who is basically Thom Tillis’s little brother. Michael Whatley has gone on record bashing the J6 prisoners. Michael Whatley had no problem – as NCGOP chairman — with the Young Republicans joining a Black Lives Matter picket line outside the NCGOP HQ.
Whatley has lobbied for government-subsidized solar farms.
He’s also declared that North Carolina is no longer a Republican state, and that the party needs to move left to accommodate that so-called reality.
There are disturbing reports that thugs affiliated with the state and national GOP are putting “the word” out to vendors, consultants and activists that — if they are seen helping Don Brown in any way — they are finished in the Republican Party.
GOP-affiliated non-profits are acting as though there is no Senate primary in North Carolina. Media outlets – apparently scared of losing their access to GOP leaders – are acting as though there will be no primary. Sounds like a third-world banana republic. But, no. We’re still in North Carolina and the greatest country in the world.
GOPe types meaner to conservatives than they are to liberals and Democrats. *Gotta love it.*
All of this looks like a huge extended middle finger from TrumpWorld in DC to the folks back home who have busted their butts for The Don in three straight elections. They’re going to war on behalf of Thom Tillis‘s little brother and leaving an actual MAGA warrior twisting in the wind.
This is establishment folks in the state and national capital trying to force their choice down our collective throats. It’s the people’s decision. There needs to be a healthy debate and discussion among the party faithful. We won’t see this because Mike Whatley – in all honesty — is, to put it diplomatically, a hard sell.
He’ll do what he’s told. And that’s what is most important to power brokers in both capitals.
Picking someone as unaccomplished as Whatley and telling us he’s our senator flies against our party’s alleged dedication to freedom and liberty.
Dallas Woodhouse and the NCGOP pulled this same crap on me when I ran against Richard Burr in the 2016 primary. Don Brown needs to scream bloody murder about this “unholy alliance” to every TV/radio station, newspaper, and GOP group in North Carolina that will give him a hearing, as well as plaster it everywhere on Facebook and all social media. This flies in the face of fair play, and should be repugnant to every conservative and Republican in our state!