Dear RNC Member,
As the longest serving state chairman on the Republican National Committee, I have personally witnessed many of our successes and our failures. I have seen what works and what doesn’t, and I have recognized those chairmen whose leadership has been effective and who know how to win elections.
With that in mind, I am pleased to offer my wholehearted endorsement of Mike Duncan for re-election as Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
I watched the CSPAN debate; I was in Washington for the special meeting of the RNC; and I have personally spoken to each candidate. I have been waiting for another candidate for this position to offer a sound reason why they would provide better leadership than Mike. All of our candidates present a positive vision for our future and would bring excellent qualities to the table. But recent comments by former Chairman Haley Barbour helped me reach my own conclusion.
I was a member of our committee during Haley Barbour’s chairmanship. No one energized our party more or brought more innovation and forward thinking to our party than Haley Barbour. When commenting recently about the current campaign for chairman of the RNC, Haley told USA Today that he was “not for anybody or against anybody.” But he added, “There are some people that want to attack us as being too Southern. I don’t think we ought to make it easier for them to do that.” I found that to be an extremely honest and frank comment from a dedicated Mississippian like Haley.
Further, Ralph Hallow of The Washington Times has emailed committee members and others informing them that, “Haley told me at RGA in Miami that RNC doesn’t need to reach outside its own ranks for a star this time. He reminded me that he wasn’t a star until long after he emerged as the 5th ballot victor in the ’93 chairman race. Who fits Haley’s criteria?” I can answer Ralph’s question pretty easily.
Some of our candidates for Chairman and their supporters insist that we need star power, someone who can be a media superstar. But as Haley pointed out, he was not a star when he campaigned for the job. What Haley Barbour brought to the RNC is exactly the same vision Mike Duncan is bringing to the table – a member-driven committee dedicated to recapturing its role as the Party of Ideas.
As Chairman, Haley Barbour faced many of the same challenges we face today. In response, he created new avenues to generate ideas and philosophies from the best conservative minds of the time. He reestablished our Commonsense magazine and created a separate entity to develop policy ideas.
He explained this initiative by noting that he was driven by “three premises: that fundamentally, ideas make a difference in politics; that, traditionally, ideas which make a difference have been associated with political parties; and, that currently, such ideas are less likely to be found inside the Washington beltway – and its thinking – than outside.” Haley’s commitment to this direction helped lead to the ultimate development of the Contract with America and the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994.
Today, the candidate for chairman of the RNC who seems to me to be most dedicated to emulating Haley’s efforts is Mike Duncan. Mike has proposed the Center for Republican Renewal, a new office that will “identify, generate, and promote public policies that advance Republican principles of sound governance.” Mike’s plans for this new Center, as well as his dedication to a Speakers Bureau to promote and develop many voices carrying our message to every coalition and constituency, as well as having a personal RNC presence in every state, are plans which best mirror Haley Barbour’s own philosophy, adopted to today’s advanced technologies.
Like many of you, I am impressed with Mike’s successes in the face of daunting challenges. As a state chairman who faced fundraising challenges of his own in the last campaign, Mike’s ability to set fundraising records in spite of countless obstacles beyond his control cannot be understated. His leadership in building one of the best and most effective national conventions we have ever witnessed was admired by friend and foe alike. His hands-on guidance and dedication to the nuts and bolts of party infrastructure is beyond compare.
But I could not support Mike based solely on his past achievements. What we need moving forward is a strong vision and the knowledge and ability to accomplish our many goals. Who better to have leading our party than a 17-year veteran of the Committee who understands the changes we need and understands how to engage RNC members in executing that change?
As I prepare to step aside after two decades as Chairman in Ohio and entrust our future to the next generation, I want to do so with the confidence that I have supported a leader who understands the challenges we face, has a plan to meet each of those challenges, and has the experience to accomplish the hard work ahead of us. I have that kind of confidence in Mike Duncan.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our party and for your friendship over the years. I look forward to seeing you later this month when we make this crucial decision and prepare for the victories to come.
With warm personal regards,
Bob Bennett
Politico
1/13/9
Magnolia Tribune
