Davidson County GOP Sets Hearing For Ouster Of Ron Paul Supporter
Posted on November 17, 2009 at 10:31 pm
The Davidson County Republican Party has set a date for the closed-door hearing where its executive committee will decide whether controversial First Vice Chair Matt Collins will be stripped of his official party position.
The executive committee will meet at the Green Hills Hampton Inn at 6 p.m. Nov. 24 to decide Collins’ fate. A party spokeswoman confirms the meeting will be closed both to the public and to the press.
As the Davidson County party has no specific rules regarding the removal of a member, the county party will operate under Rule H of the state party’s bylaws.
The state bylaws list the parties who can conduct a removal hearing. In order of succession, they step down from county party chairman to county party vice chairman to a designate appointed by the state party chairman.
A DCRP spokeswoman tells Post Politics that Chairman Kathleen Starnes has recused herself from presiding over the hearing Tuesday. As Matt Collins is the first vice chair and is the member in question, the state party will choose the person who will preside over the hearing.
TNGOP chairman Chris Devaney told Post Politics in an email that a decision on who will preside over the hearing will be made in the “next couple of days.”
The Tennessee Republican Party, according spokeswoman Kim Ketchel, has been advising the Davidson County party on the process of removing Collins.
“The state party is a resource for anyone seeking interpretation or information regarding the state party’s bylaws,” Ketchel said. “Upon request, we provided the DCRP information about the bylaws and how they pertained to this specific situation.”
In October, the county party executive committee voted 14 to 5 (with two abstentions) to trigger the process of removal. The stated reasons for Collins’ removal were his “unprofessional actions and words” as well as his use of his title when expressing opinions “derogatory to and disrespectful of Republican candidates or elected officials.”
Collins, who is a Ron Paul supporter and a member of various small “L” libertarian groups, has had numerous dustups, both public and private, with the old guard of the party since his election to first vice chair in the spring.
The most notable clash was this summer when he refused to shake the hand of gubernatorial candidate and congressman Zach Wamp at a party picnic because Wamp had supported of one of Washington’s many “bailouts.”
The Davidson County Republican party has 24 members who will be eligible to vote in the special executive session to remove Collins. A two-thirds vote is required for removal.
Comments
55 Responses to “Davidson County GOP Sets Hearing For Ouster Of Ron Paul Supporter”
Outrageous. Good luck, Matt.
They should allow Rosalind Kurita to preside.
Is all this really worth it?
why are we throwing him out again? Shouldn’t we be working on other things than this?
Matt should start a movement to restore order to the GOP! What could he call it? Maybe… tea party!!
Now see, this is why I don’t officially join a political party. I know that eventually I would be thrown out.
What has happened to my party? Throw someone out because they’re standing up for the Republican Party platform?! That is outrageous! Deficits, bailouts, big government,… Is this what my party defends now?
Someone had better stand up! Instead of talking about throwing Mr. Collins out, maybe they should be listening to him instead.
No one is throwing him out of the party…cummon now he violates executive county rules by using his title when he writes opinion pieces and acts unprofessionally when representing the exec. committee…
I agree with most of his views…he should stick to blogging and writing and helping organize libertarians across Nashville (btw, there are many libertarians on the exec committee who dont violate the bylaws and they are welcomed with open arms)
If he wants to present his own views and not shake people’s hands who vilolate his principles, thats fine…just resign your position…
IT would be as if a RINO was elected to the Libertarian Party leadership and then blasted Ron Paul and Bob Barr because he didnt agree with everything they said
So, everyone just needs to chill out (and while they are at it they should remove Catheline Starnes for endorsing Hoffman a month ago and using her title as well)
its the rules folks, if you dont like them, dont run or that position
But for his anti-war stance Paul was right up there at the top for the best candidate above huckleberry hound and Romney.
hey,if the republicans want to boot out republicans, let them. i guess that is why in colorado, a ron paul republican will beat a party republican by running as a ron paul democratin 2010. The gop better get with the program or the gop will marginalize themselves to 3rd party status!! registered colorado republican
I wonder who the State Party will go after next?
Any statements made in firm belief by an elected official should be heard and respected evenly despite use or non-use of his or her rightfully-given title. If the party doesn’t agree, don’t vote that way next go-around. Isn’t that the essence of democracy? We’re kicking a guy out because he’s not boosting who we want and not blindly devoting himself to ideals when he strongly believes, and with well-researched and informed reason, that those ideals compromise civil liberty? This is insane.
So the real story is here, that Chairman Chris doesn’t want Matt to be aprt of the party.
Well we need to remember this, when they ask for help from the grassroots.
He won’t do it himself, the
Chairman will send someone to take the blame.This is only the beginning, before you know it the Chairman will start pushing to get Williams back in the party.
Lamar is calling Chris, you better see what he needs you to do.
As I recall, Mr. Collins has always ended his blog remarks with this signature, “Nothing I communicate is to be considered an official statement representative of any organization I belong to or am an officer of, including the Campaign for Liberty, Republican Liberty Caucus, WTN, Liberty on the Rocks, America’s Future Foundation, The Tennessee Liberty Alliance, Rand Paul for Senate, or the Davidson County (Nashville) Republican Party. My opinions are my own.”
So, where is the problem? Am I going to have to leave the party?
Matt’s ouster was being contemplated while Robin was still chairman, don’t pin this on Devaney.
It has to do with the fact that he is a douche not because he is a “Ron Paul” Republican.
Why would someone run for a leadership role in a party and then violate its rules. He either didn’t know what the rules were for the position he was seeking, or he was joining an organization to change or destroy it in a way contrary to it’s bylaws and constitution. Then when the organization tries to save itself from this either ignorant or dishonest threat the party is the bad guy.
I’ll make you guys a deal. you go back to your own 1% party and quit annoying us with sanctimonious dribble and I won’t join your group, ignore your rules, and blame you for it.
Wow.
Wears black with a beard.
Another pseudo-intellectual conservative.
Is he trying to impress Ayn Rand?
A legend in his own mind.
BTW, when is the last time a Libertarian won a major office compared to an establishment Republican?
earl ,i will make you a deal as a republican. i will help a ron paul republican who ran as a republican.Run as a Democrat and beat the failed republican. i look at it this way ,your big tent is shrinking . while the ron paul republican reviltuon grows. if the gop doesn’t need registered republicans. you can always grow the republican party by recruiting illegals to join the gop!! good luck ,registered republican
davy,when is the last time a registered republican ran as a republican got a good % of the vote. then the gop forces this republican to run republican ideals under the democratic platform . this 2010 expect many republicans to look outside of the failed gop. enough of the failed gop leadership. about the only thing worth a dam in the gop is the ron paul republican platform. The gop needs to be anti-drug war(small government) the gop needs to be for a strong defense,less intervention,no nation building,no policing the world and for civil libirties(smaller government) . the gop has along way to go to earn my republican vote! the gop is making their own bed, enjoy it:)
This is certainly nothing the Party needs. While
Matt does act a little lame on occasions so do
those that give up principal for winning. It’s
becoming a different party and those few that hold the
large purse strings and act as desiders for the last
many yrs are being rejected (NY-23).
You can try and cover it up.
This is the state part, if they didn’t want him out. We would not be talking about this right now. The blood is on the hands of the Chairman.
Robin Smith was gone in June I don’t think we were talking about it then.
The only thing the State GOP needs to be worried about. Is the out of control eating its staff will be doing over the Holidays.
I mean,have you see these guys? They look so disgusting and out of place. The State GOP should have a meeting about weight control.
HOW STUPID IS THIS!! This will show what is real and what is not. The truth is that we have a two headed one party system in this country and this is just proof of it. RON PAUL is the ONLY politico I have ever heard who does what he is supposed too. I think he said ti best during the campeign when he said” ITS REALLY NOT THAT HARD PEOPLE, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION” Another very simple truth is that if they followed his advice and follow the constitution, all of the other problems would pretty much rectify themselves. NAFTA,CAFTA, WTO all of these things are UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Get rid of them and things begin to self correct, business comes back to our country, with business comes JOBS, and with JOBS COMES INSURANCE COVERAGE. Suddenly the problems we are facing right now become very small and managable with some basic social programs and a little admin oversight. WAAKE UP PEOPLE, OUR GOVT HAS OVERTHROWN FROM WITHIN BUY A COMMUNIST DIRTBAG! IMPEACH BHO!
Its hard to keep your weight down when you run a trailer park. You know at a trailer park, you learn about politics. If you want to work at a State Republican Party you should go work at a trailer park. It is the new minor leagues for political operatives.
What a joke. Everybody is laughing at you! Everybody is laughing at you!
I worked at a trailer park and never got hired by a Stat Party.
The state and national party are trying to retaliate for what we TRUE conservatives were able to do in NY-23. They are scared out of their minds that true conservatives will take back the party from them, and they have vowed to stop us. The memo has gone out - OUST THE CONSERVATIVES. THat’s why the NRC has recruited Jim Tracy in the 6th. They’re trying to keep a true conservative, Lou Ann Zelenik, from taking over the race and turning this country back to its christian roots. I say let them try and purge us, we’ll come back stronger than ever.
As a Louisiana politican once said, the old guard of the Republicans will have to catch Obama in bed with a live boy or dead girl to reclaim the White House.
The old guard strategy may work in certain states but not at the national level where the real damage is done.
I agree, Earl. The “l”ibertarians who are so disruptive and destructive to the Republican Party act as if we did not survive without them when they were still “L”ibertarians. Indeed, we did better without them. It’s not the views of the libertarians that are sub-par; unfortunately, many of them, including Mr. Collins, simply cannot conduct themselves with a requisite amount of professionalism and display overall unity. They would rather tear down an entire party to advance personal agendas that will never gain any traction with such a minority than to embrace the party and try to show it why it should adopt or espouse thier ideas. It just doesn’t make sense.
It’s not just coincidence that this “civil war” within the Party began when the big “L” changed to a small “l” and they tried to infiltrate the Republican Party. Ideal-wise, we should welcome them, but the vast majority of them wear out their welcome through their counter-productive actions. Let’s not forget that this is the same faction that purposely held their own “convention” in the same city at the same time as the Republican National Convention, when Obama was on a roll and his opposition needed to be unified. It is almost as if they wanted Obama to win so long as they got a little press. Looks like they got thier wish.
This whole thing began turning into a circus locally when Collins began his shenanigans. Some people act as if this was brought on by the Republican Party, yet there have been many posts on the web — and many on this site — about the embarrasment that is Matt Collins. Oust him from the vice-chair spot, and then move on and try to rebuild without the distraction. There will be some uneasiness, but, much like the support for Ron Paul and for “L”ibertarians, it seems to be coming from a vocal but relatively small group of people.
After TN voted for Bush in 2000, I expect nothing from the GOP. They have lost their way and have helped in destroying our country as we lived before 2000. Go ahead and kick all the bums out. Maybe, TN can get back its grove back.
Hmmm. Should I go with Orville Redenbacher or Jiffy-Pop? choices, choices….
Pbbbt. Few if any of these so-called “l”ibertarians were ever “L”ibertarians. Or maybe they hung around for 6 months or so, until they realized that “L”ibertarians have little tolerance for their conservative baggage. I specifically remember this being the case with Collins. He showed up on the TNLP email list for a while, then quickly disappeared once he found out that Libertarians don’t suckle at Phil Valentine’s teat.
Jon — looks like neither of us wants to claim them! Maybe they should truly try forming their own party. Thank you, as a true Libertarian, for not trying to infiltrate and ruin my party!
I repeat: purges never ever work out well for either side.
If I could say something to Matt, it would be to resign as first chair. Things like being a part of leadership really ties your hands. I have never wanted to be a part of anything like this because you are expected to remain neutral for the good of the party.
I don’t just support someone because they are a Republican (I have only voted for a Democrat twice, in local races like Sheriff). I don’t know of anyone who accuses me of not being a real Republican, but maybe they do.
If a Republican is running, I give them every benefit of the doubt before I look for someone else to vote for. I voted for Baldwin in the Presidential race. I voted for Paul in the Republican Primary. I don’t consider myself a Ron Paul Republican. I have been a Republican for much longer than Ron Paul has really been on the national scene. I don’t consider myself a Libertarian or libertarian, either.
Matt, you are opinionated. You have to figure out which you want to be. Truthfully, I want more people who think the way you in leadership positions, but you cannot get into talking about individual Republican politicians apparently. Our party is becoming a big government party. Thankfully, things seem to be changing, but a lot of the party is coming kicking and screaming.
Maybe the Executive Committee just doesn’t appreciate how vocal Matt is. It is understandable that some people think their leadership groups should be completely professional. I am not always professional about things. I like to go after certain things from time to time. That is why I don’t get into leadership roles. Maybe they view things similarly, but don’t like his tactics. No problem with that.
I hope the Exec. Committee does one of two things. Either decide to have a referendum and reorganize the whole thing to see what is really thought by active party members, or issue a censure publicly and tell him what is unbecoming and then allow him to decide what to do next. We have so many possibilities coming up and we cannot have so much infighting over things like this to squander it. These are not character issues and they are not issues over political issues that go against the Republican Party stances.
Matt you’re at the right place for great advice?
Division among the leadership of any organization
needs to be handled/discussed behind closed doors
not tantrums among the membership.
I admittedly don’t know the ins and outs of this situation. However, I applaud him for not shaking Wamp’s hand and wish there were others in the GOP who had the internal fortitude to stand up for their convictions as well. Or perhaps they don’t really share our conservative values? Whatever the case, the GOP has firmly placed me in the Independent column after being a registered Republican for 24 years. I’m sick of the RINO’s!!!
Wow, a party in search of an identity. Should they be carpetbagger-teabaggers like Chairman Starnes’ involvement in NY 23 (we see how well that turned out)? Should they be anti-libertarian because libertarians don’t like war and don’t think government should be lurking in peoples’ bedrooms? One thing is clear, the loudest and nuttiest voices seem to be the ones being listened to. The party may be shooting themselves in the foot, something the Democrats used to do better.
Right On, Dan. The Libertarian movement is one that has gained footing because the GOP has forgotten what being a Republican truly means. The real Grand Old Party was a party of anti-interventionalist CONSERVATIVES that respected individual Civil Liberties, didn’t spend wastefully (See GW Bush), and didn’t pass legislation that makes it legal for the federal government to spy on American citizens (see Patriot act). The new GOP has made it abundantly clear that it supports a Corporatist agenda over the rights of individuals. I don’t blame this guy for being angry.
oh well…so much for a “big tent” republican party…at this point I’m beginning to wish I HAD voted for ron paul…some of his “crazy” rantings are beginning to ring true and make a lot more sense than anyone else I’m hearing…
You people are deluding yourselves. In case there is any question about if the establishment wants people like Matt out, We don’t care if the door hits you are not, just leave.
You people are poison. I like a big tent, and I like people who are libertarians ideologically, but that’s not what you are. Y’all a bizzare combination of euro-anarchist and wanna-be tyrants. Have you ever noticed that EVERYTHING you support loses. Let me give you a hint bout the cause of that: it’s you. You hate when any one, regardless of how little, disagrees with you, and fight tooth and nail to destroy them. You drape yourself in the constitution and completely forget that one of its cornerstones is LIMITED GOVERNMENT. There is no scenario in which the government of this country can constitutionally function without compromise.
Take you and you’re other .04% and go annoy someone else.
correction: or not are.
So, after the Paul folks supposedly “took over” the DCRP, after Matt almost won, then barely lost for chair, he has to get 9 of 24 people to stay in his court to avoid removal? Seems like that shouldn’t be too hard for such a “promising young man” to muster.
Earl,
Everything we support loses?
Of course it does, and will continue to lose as long as people like you are content with surrendering our individual rights to BIG GOVERNMENT.
The Constitution, which protects the rights of INDIVIDUALS, not groups has been completely trampled by both parties for many years. The last Republican administration was the biggest offender of our time.
Walter,
I beg to differ.
The Constitution protects the American People. The ‘Rights’ of which you speak are like Platonic Forms, they represent our imperfect understanding of Absolutes. They serve to guide how we govern ourselves. Without the society, those Rights are meaningless.
For example, the Right to Free Speech has never been interpreted to allow treason or conspiracy or slander. The Freedom of the Press does not allow lying or fraud.
The Framers, having read their Aristotle, believed that man lives best as part of the polis. The Framers further understood that without society, man would be helpless to the dangers of nature especially other men.
Does the Bill of Rights outline platonic forms? Seems pretty specific to me. Constitutional scholars will agree; The right of the individual is imperative and constituionally protected. Jefferson stated so on many occasions. Society is best served through the protection of individual rights, protection from our own government, in fact.
I decalre your comment bullshit Mark Rogers
So…if you don’t go along to get along..take a hike?
There can never be a strong GOP again as long as the old guard is still around bulling the new blood into to doing it “their way.” The GOP reminds me of a good ol’ boy county sheriff having his way with the people….
Makes me sick but, if RON PAUL shows up on the ticket in 2012, I will (as last time) convert from an “independent” to a (ugh) republican….The people need REAL leaders…
Hello TN GOP,
I was a long time Republican. Recently I have stopped all donations to Republicans (Except Constitutional Republicans). I don’t understand why the GOP in TN would want to throw out a member who has strong feelings about what kind of Republicans he wants to support. He is also a taxpayer and if he does not want to shake the had of a thief who took his money and gave it to someone else, what is the problem? You have made it clear that I have made the right decision in no longer supporting the GOP.
Sincerely,
Roger Hermann.
Ok, let’s assume just for a second that you guys are correct and everybody in the whole country, except for you, wants to destroy the individual rights guaranteed in the Constitution. Then you you really only have 3 ways to accomplish your political goals:
1 Your less than 1% non-silent minority does all by yourselves using Constitutional means…. good luck with that.
2 You join with others who think similarly, but not exactly the same. This is unacceptable to anyone who refuses to shake hands based on how they vote on one bill.
3 You try to take over using unconstitutional means. I’m not worried, you guys are far to busy talking about how much smarter and better you are than everyone else to do something that required that much work.
So the result will be: 4 You don’t do anything. Your egos and lack of initiative won’t let you do anything above. So, you will spend the rest of your lives sitting around blaming everyone but yourselves.
The Republican party is a joke.. tomorrow I am going down and changing over to the Constitution party.. the republicans and democrats are all the same.
Walter,
That must be why so few people disagree on the meaning of the Constitution.
Brian, where exactly are you going to, “go down and change” your party? What are going to do, walk over the the interstate and yell it to cars that drive by? I hope yall know that everyone, not just people in major parties, rolls their eyes at yall whenever you turn your head. It must be very difficult putting on that tin-foil hat with your head stuck so far up your a%#.
Earl, you fool. Everything we touch loses? Have you seen the Tea Parties? That was because of Ron Paul and HIS supporters. How bout’ the rise of people like Glenn Beck? That was because of Ron Paul and HIS supporters. The new found disdain for the Federal Reserve? That was because of Ron Paul and HIS supporters. Everyone else is just riding our coattails. Enjoy you fail.
[...] Earl, you fool. Everything we touch… [...]
Losertarians are a sure-path to electoral defeat. When the Libertarian party gets 5% in a national election or wins just one important federal office or even just wins something better than a county coroner spot in Colorado then we’ll talk.
Purge the Liberaltarian infiltrators!
Earl: “Have you ever noticed that EVERYTHING you support loses.”
Must be why Rand Paul is now leading in the polls in the Kentucky GOP primary race.
Can’t we all get along?
Here’s an enlighten analogy of the DCRP… Old RINO Republican Jingoism doesn’t fade away, it just rots like a dead carcass and stinks up the whole situation.
I hear all this started over someone refusing to shake the hand of a Tax and Spend Republican Congressman? Now we have Mandates at the local level? How Pathetic
Frankly being a true conservative for over 40 years, I would helped the Congressman move to a new district with a good swift kick in the ass to show him the way.
I’ve never seen such “Party First Above All and Total Allegiance” since my Intelligence days in the Warsaw Pact.
DCRP Fools, grow up!