Commentary
Tuesday, August 1, 2006

OR GOP Platform Resolution Calls Saxton's Immigration Bluff

The OR GOP platform resolution over the illegality of anchor babies achieving U.S. Citizenship has called Ron Saxton's bluff.

That wasn't necessarily the intention. Many delegates believed Saxton when he said he'd use the governor's position to fight illegal immigration in any way he could. They thought they were adding to his campaign clout. Some delegates (like The Oregon Conservative) knew the resolution could either sink him or make him.

The decision, as to which, is Saxton's.

Saxton has been allowed to talk tough on immigration without any a commitment to a specific and meaningful action as governor. As of today, he is refusing to take a stand on the OR GOP platform resolution which clarifies a specific gubernatorial action. His campaign manager has told Lars Larson that they are not going to talk about the issue. Saxton has changed his cell phone number and has not yet given it to Larson.

Those who were snookered by Saxton, and abandoned Atkinson, are trying to cover for Saxton. The Oregonians For Immigration Reform (OFIR) founder Jim Ludwick phoned Larson to remind listeners that Saxton is still better than Kulongoski. John McIntire, of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon (TAO), phoned in and told Lars "I don't want to butt-back Saxton into a corner. I'm going to vote for Saxton whether or not he supports this measure." "The measure" is the tax-limit initiative that will be on the November ballot.

Well, now this is really helpful isn't it? And, what are these organizations' endorsements for?

Thus far, Saxton has not come out in support of McIntire's spending-limit initiative. The self-centered, one-issue groups, who guaranteed Republicans this RINO candidate are now telling Oregonians that even though Saxton is a fake Republican, on their own issues, he is better than the real Democrat. Aren't we lucky?

The honest, and pro-life, Jason Atkinson has already been forfeited for a phony-baloney. The only gubernatorial candidate we have left who really would do what any of these one-issue organizations want is Mary Starrett and they certainly won't support her.

Having Saxton as the OR GOP candidate has already been embarrassing to the OR GOP. Saxton will continue to embarrass. Immigration is hardly the only issue on the GOP platform that will not be supported by Saxton.

Saxton is another Senator Gordon Smith. Like Smith he will diss Lars Larson (and conservatives) at will, just as Smith routinely does, whenever Lars wants to hold him accountable for his Senate votes. Saxton will be as perennially unavailable as Kulongoski.

Smith has continued to get the endorsements of the Oregon Right to Life (ORTL) despite his funding abortion. He has continued to get the support of the Oregon Family Council (OFC) despite his support of pro-homosexual legislation. Saxton also has already received the support of these organizations despite his not having the correct stances on these issues.

Although Saxton has recently denied he supports civil unions, he does, and will support them in the future. If the Supreme Court sends the abortion issue to the states Saxton will NOT sign a bill making abortion illegal. The Oregon Conservative does not care what he has promised anyone in private. Saxton will honor his old friends in the Mainstream Republicans, not new conservative acquaintances.

Saxton has refused to answer questionnaires asking for any commitment to legislation making abortion illegal.

Now the OFIR and TAO have now joined the ranks of the ORTL and OFC by endorsing candidates who don't even support their own issues.

Where are the truely conservative organizations who will pass on reliable information about candidates to Oregon Conservatives? How intelligent is it to accept mere lip service without the support of past actions? Nothing in Saxton's background gives any indication of supporting tax cuts or fighting illegal immigration. Why did the TAO ignore's Saxton's past pro-tax behavior? Are they sincerely, surprised that Saxton is now slow to support their initiative?

Single issue groups with tunnel vision, hurt the voter and their own credibility. They should know that when a candidate betrays Republicans on another issue he will eventually betray them on their issue as well. A RINO is a RINO.

With so-called "conservative organizations" endorsing RINOs who needs political enemies?

The OFIR and TAO were a major influence in convincing Lars Larson to switch his support from Jason Atkinson to Saxton. Larson had better get wise to just how conservative his cigar buddies really are not. Economic conservatives aren't conservatives. They don't support conservatives.

One of Larson's buddies, Rob Kremer, said on the Jeff Kropf Talk Show, that he has always said that only a "moderate Republican" can win as governor in Oregon. Kropf didn't protest on the air. Does Kropf accept this lie? Does Larson?

THIS is the real battle. Rush Limbaugh alludes to it all the time. The first job of RINOs is to kill off the conservatives in the party. This will include the conservatives who were snookered into supporting Saxton in the primaries. Oregon will be paying the price for not supporting Jason Atkinson for a very long time.

Republicans in Name Only (RINOs) hurt, and divide, the Republican Party. Conservative Democrats have no place to turn. Conservatives are too discouraged to vote at all.

Saxton's past flip-flopping should have already been too embarrassing for anyone to support him in the primaries. But, it is nothing compared to what is to come. The writing is on the wall. Republicans are already saying to each other, "We've got to elect a 'real Republican' next time."

Atkinson?

But, if Saxton wins he and his liberal Republican cronies will insist that he has proven that only moderates can win.

Thank you Lars. Thank you Rob Kremer, Jim Ludwick, John McIntire and conservative legislators who allowed themselves to be snookered. You know who you are.

Get ready for a litany of poor excuses from those who were snookered despite all the adequate warnings.



                             

He couldn't be a Larson Parrot forever! It must have been agony being that dang parrot during the primary. A RINO is a RINO.