GOP's Vovak to Scott: W-W-Welcome to the Internet
Daniel "The Whig Man" Vovak, one of two candidates for chairman of the Maryland Republican Party mass e-mailed a public letter to his competitor, Audrey Scott, yesterday evening "thanking" her for entering the race. But he also points out that, frankly, she seems rather inexperienced with the Internet, unlike him. She only joined Facebook three weeks ago!
Perhaps Vovak hasn't seen Scott's hip YouTube video.
Here's his letter (complete with -- you guessed it -- tons of embedded links):
October 29, 2009
Dear Audrey Scott:
Firstly, I want to publicly thank you for entering the contest to elect the next Maryland Republican Chairman, since this election defines our leadership differences. Secondly, I want to welcome you to the Internet world, which you entered three weeks ago by starting a Facebook page. I have to admit that it is exceedingly difficult to find your positions on any issues, following your prior-political-retirement from politics. For instance, if someone wants to learn something about me, he or she can simply go to my Wikipedia page or view multiple sources about me from hundreds of media outlets which put my interviews on the record. (NOTE: in the last hyperlink, click the photos to read the stories.)
On your Facebook page you have declared an impressive fact: "Thank you Harford County and Queen Anne [sic] County for unanimous support." In addition, I have been told by Calvert County Chairman Frank McCabe that his county will support you unanimously. Their approaches differ drastically from Robert Hodge in Cecil County who stated that "Cecil County not sign any petitions for nominations at this time given the fact that we need information on all candidates." Obviously, some committeemen reserve their votes until issues have been articulated.
My greatest complaint of our current United States Congress is their practice of signing bills before congressmen have read them. When Republican House Leader John Boehner publically (and physically) dropped the stimulus bill on the floor of the House of Representatives, I was appalled at what Democrats had done. To my utmost dismay, some Maryland Republican Committeemen are following the ruthless example of Democrats by not knowing your positions (or possibly mine) on issues relevant to our future as a Maryland Republican Party.
In the last 40 years, the weakest States for electing state-wide Republicans are Maryland and Hawaii, making it clear to me that our State needs to abandon its status quo position for Republican leadership. Therefore, neither of us should sing kumbaya when addressing elected Republican leaders. Maryland can have a Republican Party that loses; but we will no longer be the Party of losers. Because issues and principals are critical to make our Party a competitive minority-Party in Maryland, I ask you to openly answer the following 18 questions.
Respectfully,
Daniel "The Whig Man" Vovak
Bethesda, Maryland
Comments
Anyone remotely familiar with Maryland politics knows Audrey Scott and her credentials. She's also a Maryland Woman of Achievement. She deserves a little more respect and a little less ridicule.
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshall/html/scott.html
As for her positions on the issues, a party chairman's role is pretty straightforward:
1) Register more Republicans and grow the party.
2) Train and equip candidates and encouraging promising newcomers to run for office.
3) Raise money.
There aren't too many innovative ways to do these things, but credibility and relationships go a long way toward getting them done. Audrey has both and has been in the trenches with Republicans across the state for many years. That is why so many Central Committee chairpersons are willing to endorse her.
Finally, the rules on endorsing a candidate apply to contested primaries in which two Republicans are seeking public office. This is an internal party election and voting members are free to do as they wish and advocate for the person of their choice beforehand.
Posted by: Ron | October 30, 2009 12:58 PM
According to the Wigman's wikipedia entry (no doubt self-created , who else would care?), he is the youngest person to run for President. He ran as a Republican in 2004 at age 31. That is four years before the constitutional minimum.
Doesn't sound like he is much of a constitutional scholar.
Posted by: Jan | October 30, 2009 3:32 PM
It is shocking that Robert Hodge, a Cecil County Commissioner and former chair of the Republican Central Committee for the county, would make the comments given here. The Cecil County Republican landscape is torn asunder lately, between the older Republicans the the "Young Republicans" who despise anyone over the age of 30.
This sounds like Hodge is trying to suck up to the young Republicans-- who, locally, have been embarassingly naive. The Hodge comments are also disingenuous since the young Republicans have put forward primary candidates to challenge Hodge's hand-picked older candidates for county commissioner seats in 2010.
In other words, people should realize that Robert Hodge speaks out of both sides of his political mouth.
Posted by: laura grogh | October 31, 2009 7:59 PM