David Chung, author of Hawkeye GOP, has announced that he is resigning his elected position on the Iowa Republican State Central Committee so that he can freely volunteer for the gubernatorial campaign of Christian Fong. This move was done, he said, both because of promises he made to be neutral in primaries and perceived conflicts of interest.
In reading his letter, however, I was reminded of another case of conflict of interest that has yet to be addressed by Iowa Republicans.
In the fall of 2008, Iowa Right to Life published their pre-election newsletter. In that newsletter, the organization attacked a Republican candidate for U.S. House, labeling her "a great pretender" on anti-abortion issues. While this might have garnered limited blow-back in and of itself, the situation escalated because Kim Lehman, a then somewhat newly elected member to the Republican National Committee (who by virtue of that elected position also serves on the GOP SCC), was also executive director of Iowa Right to Life.
Eastern Iowa Republicans who had been knocking doors and otherwise campaigning on behalf of this congressional candidate took offense to the newsletter posting, and presented a letter to the RPI that called for Lehman's removal as RNC chairwoman. Chung and two other SCC members also penned a letter that called for Lehman to resign. Numerous conservative bloggers also joined the fray.
Lehman, who was interviewed by O. Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa, said that she did not personally write the newsletter article in question, although she did approve it and the entire newsletter prior to publication.
Long story made a bit shorter, the Republican SCC met in December and (narrowly) voted to censure Lehman. Chung, who was still serving on the SCC at that time, originally posted that Lehman "expressed regrets over her action and stated that she was stepping down from her position as president of IRLC." Chung then later corrected his original statement, indicating that Lehman expressed regrets over what happened, but not her actions. He also clarified that Lehman had already been seeking new employment, and hoped to reveal a new director for Iowa Right to Life in the spring.
If anyone is counting, spring has come and gone. Yet, this past Monday Lehman -- who said that people should be able to distinguish her as a person from the IRLC organization -- appeared on Jan Micelson's radio program as Iowa Right to Life. Her name is also the only one listed under contact information on IRLC's Web site.
Despite the Republican SCC providing Lehman a vote of no confidence and calling for her resignation from Iowa Right to Life, she continues to serve both as a Republican elected official and as executive director of an organization that publicly attacked a federal GOP candidate.
It makes one wonder why Chung felt the need to resign his position. It seems to me that if the RNC and the RPI are willing to put up with an elected official that is affliated with the bashing of a Republican candidate, they'd be uniquely thrilled to have one intent on supporting one.
In reading his letter, however, I was reminded of another case of conflict of interest that has yet to be addressed by Iowa Republicans.
In the fall of 2008, Iowa Right to Life published their pre-election newsletter. In that newsletter, the organization attacked a Republican candidate for U.S. House, labeling her "a great pretender" on anti-abortion issues. While this might have garnered limited blow-back in and of itself, the situation escalated because Kim Lehman, a then somewhat newly elected member to the Republican National Committee (who by virtue of that elected position also serves on the GOP SCC), was also executive director of Iowa Right to Life.
Eastern Iowa Republicans who had been knocking doors and otherwise campaigning on behalf of this congressional candidate took offense to the newsletter posting, and presented a letter to the RPI that called for Lehman's removal as RNC chairwoman. Chung and two other SCC members also penned a letter that called for Lehman to resign. Numerous conservative bloggers also joined the fray.
Lehman, who was interviewed by O. Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa, said that she did not personally write the newsletter article in question, although she did approve it and the entire newsletter prior to publication.
Long story made a bit shorter, the Republican SCC met in December and (narrowly) voted to censure Lehman. Chung, who was still serving on the SCC at that time, originally posted that Lehman "expressed regrets over her action and stated that she was stepping down from her position as president of IRLC." Chung then later corrected his original statement, indicating that Lehman expressed regrets over what happened, but not her actions. He also clarified that Lehman had already been seeking new employment, and hoped to reveal a new director for Iowa Right to Life in the spring.
If anyone is counting, spring has come and gone. Yet, this past Monday Lehman -- who said that people should be able to distinguish her as a person from the IRLC organization -- appeared on Jan Micelson's radio program as Iowa Right to Life. Her name is also the only one listed under contact information on IRLC's Web site.
Despite the Republican SCC providing Lehman a vote of no confidence and calling for her resignation from Iowa Right to Life, she continues to serve both as a Republican elected official and as executive director of an organization that publicly attacked a federal GOP candidate.
It makes one wonder why Chung felt the need to resign his position. It seems to me that if the RNC and the RPI are willing to put up with an elected official that is affliated with the bashing of a Republican candidate, they'd be uniquely thrilled to have one intent on supporting one.
Seriously Lynda are you asking for my party to be consistent? That's just too much to expect from us! LOL
Lynda: bottom line - only the National party can get rid of a National Committeewoman. There's nothing the State GOP can do.
Meanwhile Kim is free to do whatever she wants. Sucks but that's the way it is. Personally I think she's going to undo herself before this is all over.