GOP chairman attacks GOP governor, GOP senator and sneers at biggest donor, Sheldon Adelson

by Jon Ralston Fri, 09/27/2013 - 09:33

UPDATE: Chairman McDonald, responding to the missive I clearly identified as a draft with his name, put out a statement that indicated I said he sent this to the central committee. I did not say that, as any plain reading of my post would reveal. But he may have sent it if I hadn't mocked it -- we will never know. And it came straight from GOP HQ, where a mole made sure I'd see it.

This is very sad, especially because the chairman knows this is the very pitch he has been making to voters in Saturday's election. The chairman, who will not return emails or phone calls, may have been busy preparing his next pitch for the Democratic special interest, the Culinary union. By the way, as you will see below, he wants to investigate who leaked the draft -- this is the same ex-cop (!) who did nothing on this scandal.

But I will helpfully annotate his statement for him:

 

It has come to my attention that a Las Vegas political columnist has published a copy of a draft campaign letter that he claims was sent to NRCC members in advance of Saturday's election for NRP Chairman. (I claimed no such thing.) Because you're an NRCC member, you know that this never happened, but I wanted you to know exactly how I feel about this.

 

I want to be very clear that while this letter was written and suggested to me by an overzealous supporter, I refused to use it, and it never got past the first draft that was suggested to me. (Easy to say now.)

 

I'm extremely distressed that Jon Ralston published this draft, without contacting me first. (I should have. But he never returns phone calls or emails, and I got this from inside GOP HQ.) If he'd checked his facts, I could have let him know that this draft was rejected and had never been sent. I've run a clean campaign, and I refuse to disrespect my opponent like this. For the record, I fully support Governor Sandoval and Senator Heller, and welcome their involvement with the party. Anybody that (or who)  has ever heard me speak or observed my actions during the 2012 campaign knows that my goal is party unity and that I support our elected Republicans.

 

This letter was never edited beyond draft form, and was never sent to anyone beyond the few people that were in the room when it was suggested. I'll be investigating to see who allowed this draft to become public, and they will be answering to me. (Yes! A leak investigation. He wants to discipline this person but not his pal who is accused of identity theft and is the No. 2 guy in the party!)

 

As always, please contact me anytime that you have questions about me or the Nevada Republican Party.

  

 

 

In an amazing missive addressed to central committee members to preserve his chairmanship, GOP boss Michael McDonald attacks Gov. Brian Sandoval and Sen. Dean Heller and derides opponent Robert Uithoven for working for....Sheldon Adelson.

You can't make this stuff up.

The missive is below, with annotations (it's obviously a draft I have obtained because he doesn't seem to know how many years he has been active in the GOP):

Dear Fellow Nevada Republicans and Central Committee Members,

As you know, there is an election this Saturday for Nevada State Party officials. I am running for re-election as Chairman along with a slate of other capable officers.

I am asking for your vote and support. Here's why:

(1) FINANCIALLY, THE NRP IS IN SOLID SHAPE. WE HAVE RAISED $200,000 OVER THE PAST 8 MONTHS; WE ARE ONE OF ONLY 31 STATES WITHOUT ANY DEBT; AND WE HAVE OVER $60,000 IN THE BANK OR AT OUR DISPOSAL. WE HAVE ORGANIZED DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS WITH GOOD RESULTS. (Can't wait to see the proof!)

By contrast, our opponent, a lobbyist for the Las Vegas Sands Corporation has no track record of raising money; and, has made vague claims that "the Sands will give us money," when, in fact, Mr. Adelson was out of the country and knew little if anything about our opponent's campaign. (Oh, his people do and they want you out!)

(2) I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEEFOR THE PAST TK (Ahem. Don't you know?) YEARS.

Our opponent has not been a member since 2008 and has been rarely seen at NRP headquarters since. His reported backers, Governor Sandoval and Senator Heller, have been equally distant from the NRP.

(3) OUR PARTY HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL STRIDES SINCE THE NOVEMBER 2012 ELECTIONS. WE HAVE OPENED A NEW OFFICE (WELL BEYOND MCCARRAN AIRPORT'S LANDING PATTERN); WE HAVE HOSTED NRP FUND RAISERS FEATURING WISCONSIN GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER AND KENTUCKY SENATOR RAND PAUL; AND, WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE HISPANIC AND ASIAN-PACIFIC COMMUNITIES (AMONG OTHERS); WE HAVE ORGANIZED DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS WITH GOOD RESULTS. (It's all good.)

I HAVE PERSONALLY ATTENDED EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE INCLUDING LINCOLN DAY BREAKFASTS, LUNCHEONS, AND DINNERS; COUNTY FAIRS, PARTY MEETINGS, AND OTHER EVENTS WHERE THE STATE PARTY CHAIRMAN'S ATTENDANCE WAS WELCOME-AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

Our opponent has been nowhere to be seen outside of his lobbyist quarters. (Who does he lobby for again?)

(4) We have developed a solid relationship with the RNC including a strong effort to host the 2016 National Convention in Las Vegas. Moreover, the RNC has already sent two staff members to work with us in our outreach and political activities.

Our opponent has been, uh, lobbying for the Las Vegas Sands. (Yes, for the most important donor in the country for the GOP. You have a problem with that?)

I have been a strong advocate for the Party and our members; have been involved in NRP and State Central Committee activities for over TK (just make it up) years; have raised funds in anenvironment where we have had no support from the Governor or Senator (very nice) and have had to contend with an unhappy membership; have personally attended—and will continue to do so—many events throughout the State; and, have reached out to traditionally non- Republican voters to bring them into our party.

Our opponent has done none of the above. Other than announcing that he is running seven days before Saturday's election, he has long disassociated himself from the Nevada Republican Party; has made vague promises about raising money for the party from a

person who was not even in Nevada when he made them; and, has spent his career as a political consultant. (Yes, as opposed to spending his career as a lobbyist for the Culinary union).

The choice is yours. I ask for your vote. Sincerely,

// Michael J. McDonald Chairman Nevada Republican Party

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