Email exchange hints at Mo. GOP rift

Friday, March 15, 2013

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A rift appears to be growing between the new and veteran factions of the Missouri Republican Party.

Missouri Republican chairman Ed Martin sent an email this week chastising what he called the “old guard” for failing to embrace Sen. Rand Paul’s recent filibuster on drones.

“The old guard of the GOP missed the significance of the event, which is a reminder that our party has a great deal yet to learn about leadership,” Martin wrote.

He said that in his goals for the party, he was more like Paul, of Kentucky, and less like fellow Republican senators John McCain, of Arizona, and Lindsay Graham, of South Carolina.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/155gWEU ) reports that John Danforth, a leader in the party for decades and former three-term senator, responded with an email of his own to Martin on Thursday, a message that landed in the inboxes of leading Missouri Republican officials and financial supporters.

“I could not be more dismayed by the content and threatening tone of the attached newsletter about Senators Paul, McCain and Graham,” Danforth wrote.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Danforth, 72, asked. “This big tent Republican smells a purge in the air. Who else do you want to kick out of our party?”

He declined to comment specifically on the message to Martin.

Danforth’s reaction suggests a further split in the party that began during the Senate primary season in 2012. Danforth was among moderates who sought to expand the field of hopefuls to run against incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill.

Todd Akin won the primary and was soundly defeated in the general election, in part because of comments he made about rape soon after winning the August primary.

Martin is a former chief of staff for former Gov. Matt Blunt. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress and, last year, for state attorney general. He is associated with the party’s more conservative wing, and has promised aggressive leadership since taking over as GOP chairman in January.

Martin said he responded to Danforth in an email, but he declined to divulge the contents.

“You try your best to communicate a message, and if somebody finds it unhelpful, you have a conversation about it,” he said.

As for the initial email, he said, “I aspire to be part of a party and a Republican who stands up like Rand Paul did. I think he showed incredible courage.”

Paul’s lengthy filibuster questioning the constitutionality of using drones to target American citizens won praise in some circles. But McCain and Graham were among those critical of the performance, with McCain calling it “ridiculous” to infer that the president would attempt to kill someone who disagreed with his policies.

Martin, in the email, called Paul’s effort “a sharp contrast to the back-room dinner party attitude of certain establishment Republicans.”

Martin told the Post-Dispatch that he regarded criticism of Paul as “negative and hurtful. I think when the country coalesces to watch and the party coalesces the message to me is, ‘Hey, let’s be excited.”’

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com

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JCLifer 3 months ago

How about state republican office-holders start doing the jobs they were elected to do: STATE BUSINESS, and what is best for the citizens of this state? So far this legislative session, Missouri Republicans have spent most of their time on federal issues for which they have no control and no business wasting state legislative time discussing.

It is distressing to see that the Cole County representatives and senator are among the worst of these legislators who help others besided their own electorate.

Missouri is rapidly becoming the worst state in the nation due to neglect and sillyness of state Republicans not doing their elected jobs. Missouri used to be a state to look up to for so many reasons, now we are the laughing stock lowest #50 state by so many measures. Yes, it is shameful that our state legislature has helped propel us below West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, etc.

I am glad there is a rift developing in the Republican Party. They have strayed so far from the Republicans of even 10-20 years ago. They are out in far right field on so many things. I used to vote nearly all Republican, but not any more. I am embarassed and ashamed at how goofy and destructive these id1ots have become to their own country and people.

Focus on the Missouri issues, and focus on getting government off our back and bringing in some JOBS for the people, not for Rex Sinqufield or Wall Street fatcats. Work for the people who elected you, not your party leaders and donors.

As for me, I am going to continue to vote for the best CANDIDATE, which in local and statewide elections appears to be mostly the DEMOCRATS. I have given up on the Missouri Republican Party. You guys embarass me.

3blindmice 3 months ago

Looks like the teabaggers are trying to wrestle control from the true republicans. Everytime i hear someone from those extremist all i can think of is a missouri version of a 1930's mississippi

RobHunterJohnson 3 months ago

I side with you both, thus the comment to a couple of others on another page! The Far right seems to be in everybody's limelite today! The Far Left is just as bad, but the extreme right is trying to disect itself to the point that it could be fatal to Republican Party! Find the waste, and there is plenty of it at all levels, but turning our state into a Michigan, or Wisconsin for the wealthy? This latest Senate bill, is a baby step towards a national problem that we could make us the next Capital on the Evening News, and for what a bunch of Republican Politicians who have lost their FOCUS on their constituants! Their Focus is on their Rich out of town donors, the likes of Mark Mix, or the Koch Brothers! Hobrock, does the majority of his insulating work with Spanish Speaking individuals as of late? Sinquefeild! rob

connor 3 months ago

Martin is right. Time to kick the RINOs to the curb and embrace real conservative values especially on spending and stop rolling over to long term Democrat power grabbing though attrition. You might notice Missouri at least has a balanced budget something the Cleftwingers on here seem to think is a bad thing.

Perhaps they would be happier in Illinois, New York or Kalifornia.

Talk about getting into someone's personal life. The Union goons can't even handle letting their victims have a choice. Now that is oppression.

RobHunterJohnson 3 months ago

Martin was wrong, his idiology is skewed to the rich, and that was his demise. Sorry you do not like Unions another item in the long list you evidently have not been able to participate in! To Bad! I have worked half my life in the Non Union, and the other half in the Union. There is no comparison, and I gladly give my money when asked, if I get a request for something from my Union it goes out the Next day! I have something i never had in the Non Union, Good health insurance, and a retirement! In the non Union the amount of unemployment was more, and the uncertainty was way more intense! It is alot nicer to go to the emergency room, and not worry about the bill, or making the trip down to the cashiers window handing 20s, or 100 dollar bill each month till those stitches got paid for! rob

connor 3 months ago

As usual with your comments and your politics the entire diatribe was about one thing.

You.

That explains it all.

RobHunterJohnson 3 months ago

The world circles around each and everyone of us, with our families coming first! Rob

3blindmice 3 months ago

The only way they were to get any power in missouri was through gerrymandering

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