April 8, 2012
Mr. Reince Priebus Chairman, Republican National Committee 310 1st Street, SE Washington, DC 20003
Dear Chairman Priebus,
On behalf of the millions of grassroots conservatives around the country that our organizations represent, we are writing in support of the efforts of our friend and colleague Morton Blackwell, outlined in the letter he sent to you last month. Your work to turn around the RNC financial situation has been commendable. Movement conservative leaders and grassroots activists have supported much of it. We urge you not to betray that goodwill and earned respect by failing to enact the positive reforms that would undo the rules power grab done in Tampa last year.
Like you, we believe that the strength of the Conservative Movement and Republican Party lies in the strength of our ideas and the millions of citizens who believe in them and work tirelessly through the political process on behalf of our shared principles. Enacting rules changes that centrally consolidate power not only violates our political principles, it will alienate the very people who have been the most loyal foot soldiers in support of Republican candidates.
We also ask you to carefully consider any proposed changes recommended in the “Growth and Opportunity Project.” Conservatism and the Reagan coalition that created the modern Republican Party represents the fusion of economic conservatives, social conservatives, and national security conservatives. Rather than allowing political consultants and other elite minorities to shed our principles in the name of political expediency, we must reaffirm our commitment to these timeless American principles and the work that it will take to again make them relevant to a majority of our citizens.
Thank you for your efforts and for your attention to these requests.
Sincerely,
Edwin Meese III The Honorable David McIntosh Stuart Epperson General Chairman Former Member of Congress President Conservative Action Project Indiana Council for National Policy
The Honorable Ken Blackwell Tony Perkins Mike Needham President President CEO Constitutional Congress, Inc. Family Research Council Heritage Action for America
Colin Hanna Erick Erickson William L. Walton President Editor President Let Freedom Ring RedState Rappahannock Ventures
Marjorie Dannenfelser T. Kenneth Cribb Alfred S. Regnery President Former Reagan Domestic Former Publisher Susan B. Anthony List Advisor American Spectator
Bob Reccord Becky Norton Dunlop Al Cardenas Executive Director Arlington County, Virginia, Former Chairman Council for National Policy Republican Republican Party of Florida Herman Pirchner Grover Norquist Matt Kibbe Washington, DC, President President and CEO Republican Americans for Tax Reform FreedomWorks
David Bossie Phyllis Sclafly Cleta Mitchell President President Chairman, American Citizens United Eagle Forum Conservative Union Foundation
Duane Parde C. Preston Noell Angelo M. Codevilla President President Professor Emeritus National Taxpayers Union Tradition, Family, Property Boston University
Jim Martin Elaine Donnelly Gary Bauer Chairman President President, Campaign for 60 Plus Association Center for Military Readiness Working Families
Gary Aldrich David Bozell Eli Lehrer Chairman, Council for National Executive Director President Policy Action, Inc. ForAmerica R Street Institute
Richard Viguerie Dan Bongino Joe Miller President 2012 Republican Nominee for Chairman ConservativeHQ.com U.S. Senate, Maryland Restoring Liberty
Brian Brown Catherine Engelbrecht Richard and Susan Faulkner President, National President Publishers Organization for Marriage True the Vote Now Blue Ridge Forum
Frank Cannon Susan Carleson Larry Cirignano President President President American Principles Project American Civil Rights Union Faithful Catholic Citizens
Gary Marx Seton Motley Mat Staver Executive Director President Chairman Faith and Freedom Coalition Less Government Liberty Counsel Action
Jeff Frazee Ralph Benko George Landrith Executive Director Senior Advisor President Young Americans for Liberty American Principles in Action Frontiers of Freedom
Kristan Hawkins Andresen Blom Jim Backlin President Senior Strategist Vice President Students for Life of America Center for Civic Virtue Christian Coalition of America
Craig Shirley Jenny Beth Martin Austin Ruse Biographer of President Ronald Co-Founder President, Catholic Family and Reagan Tea Party Patriots Human Rights Institute
Lew Uhler Donald Devine Matt Smith President, National Tax Editor President Limitation Committee Conservative Battleline Catholic Advocate
Dr. William Greene Donna Hearne Alex St. James President President Executive Special Assistant RightMarch.com The Constitutional Coalition Republican National Policy Committee Jeffrey B. Gayner Peter J. Thomas Chairman Chairman Diana Bannister Americans for Sovereignty The Conservative Caucus, Inc. Vice President, Shirley & Bannister Public Affairs Lee Beaman Mark Fitzgibbons Secretary, Republican Party of Nashville, Tennessee, President of Corporate Affairs Virginia State Central Republican American Target Advertising Committee
Robert K. Fischer Dee Hodges President President, Maryland Taxpayers Fischer Furniture, Inc. Association
CC: RNC MEMBERS