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McCain's Home State Party Imploding, Plagued By Infighting And Scandal
PHOENIX -- The Republican Party in John McCain's home state is fracturing under the weight of a series of misconduct charges that threaten to sink the party's already deeply troubled Arizona candidacies. The GOP problems here, which include infighting and ideological splits, underline arguments made nationally in the final weeks of the presidential campaign that the Republican party is in crisis.
Asked for comment at a fundraiser last week, a Republican consultant here simply said that the state GOP is in "desperate straits."
At the top of the list, perhaps, is news that the party is being forced to return $105,000 to an unidentified group originally reported only as "SCA" and which increasingly appears to be linked to GOP candidate Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Party insiders are also now publicly feuding with one another, some vowing to unseat the state party chair after the election season. Local television stations, meantime, are refusing to air at least one state GOP ad and perhaps two for stretching the facts even beyond the standards that presently govern election campaign TV ads. As if these problems weren't enough, Democratic Party officials are asking incumbent GOP Rep. John Shadegg embarrassing questions concerning election-season espionage after a credit card belonging to Shadegg's campaign manager was found under a desk in the offices of the Arizona Democratic Party headquarters.
Last tuesday Democratic Party Executive Director Maria Weeg filed complaints with the Arizona Secretary of State and the Maricopa County Recorder requesting the swift and formal investigation of the Arizona Republican Party, one of its affiliated committees Arizonans for Public Safety, and the a contributor known at the time only as "SCA." It has since been reported that the acronym stands for "Sheriff's Command Association."
Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen says he accepted the funds from SCA (two donations, $80,000 and $25,000) under the assumption that SCA would provide him with the names and information of donors, but those names haven't been delivered. Arizona Democrats are accusing the GOP of using SCA to funnel donations to candidates while hiding the identity of the donors, a felony violation of campaign finance laws.
In addition, the Arizona Democratic Party alleges that SCA violated the law by failing to register as a political organization and failing to report its financial activities to the Arizona Secretary of State or the Maricopa County Recorder.
Pullen apparently also told the Arizona Capital Times that the SCA money was "set aside for county races" despite an Arizona statute that prohibits political entities from accepting earmarked contributions. Although the Arizona Republican Party only reported a $100 payment to Arizonans for Public Safety, Pullen also told the Arizona Capital Times that it transferred $78,000 of the SCA funds to Arizonans for Public Safety, which is also headed by Pullen, for county races.
The East Valley Tribune uncovered the identity of the person behind SCA, Division Captain Joel Fox of Sheriff Arpaio's Maricopa County office. Fox is listed as the contact person for SCA. Because Sheriff Arpaio's campaign could not legally collaborate with the ads run by Arizonans for Public Safety, this connection has further raised suspicions of illegal campaign activity. Sheriff Arpaio has emphatically denied any knowledge or collaboration with the group and the ad buy, calling it an "independent expenditure."
Despite the large amount of the donations and the high profile identity of Captain Fox, Pullen says that he "never even talked to [Fox] before I got the check. I didn't know him from Adam." Pullen says that he was unaware that Fox is a ranking member of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Although the Arizona Republican Party now says it will return all $105,000 of the SCA donations, Secretary of State Jan Brewer is asking the Arizona Republican Party for a formal response to the complaint, along with a list of the SCA donors by October 31. The Arizona Elections Office has referred the case to a local law firm. The Arizona Democratic Party is asking the Arizona Secretary of State and the Maricopa County Recorder to fine the GOP the requisite three times the amount of the funds received.
The bad press and possible financial set-back comes when the state party has already been suffering from long-term infighting and diminishing enthusiasm. According to the Democratic Party, the latest reports show the Arizona GOP with only $73,000 on hand in non-federal money, and the SCA donations were already being used to fund controversial television advertisements. One of those ads was the one "pulled" by the party after a local station refused to air it and another station questioned the ad's assertions.
Pullen said the ad was pulled after further research showed that the ad "wasn't quite accurate."
Republican party membership has also declined dramatically in Arizona over the last few years, with most defectors re-registering without party affiliation.
Republican consultant and former state Senator Stan Barnes says it is the my-way-or-the-highway attitude that is driving away Republican supporters. Others say it is the lack of an adherence to Republican principles. Pullen, a long time immigration-control activist, for example, took over the state party last year and has made it his goal to return the state party to its core principles.
Infighting within McCain's home-state party has been cut throat. Many party leaders, office holders, and key supporters have divided themselves into factions based on ideology and specific issues such as immigration, with party leaders calling other party leaders out. Indeed, much of the party infighting has centered around the issue of immigration, and many party members have cited John McCain's immigration policy as a primary reason for leaving the party. Barnes also notes that McCain is "reviled" by many in the Arizona Republican Party leadership.
The party has been in a civil war for the last few years, with a conservative grassroots arm pitted against libertarian-leaning Republicans, and Pullen has been at the center of the controversy as a conservative stalwart. Last year, some party leaders even voiced concern that Pullen would sabotage McCain's chances in the presidential election due to longstanding political differences on immigration and other conservative issues.
And just Monday evening, news broke that the Arizona Democratic Party found a credit card belonging to an Arizona Republican operative under a desk in the state headquarters of the Democratic Party.
The credit card was issued to Ryan Anderson, the re-election campaign manager of Republican Representative John Shadegg. Anderson claims that he went into the Democratic Party office to purchase an Obama bumper sticker. However, because all merchandise purchases are legally considered to be donations, a signed donation form is required each time an item is purchased.
No record exists of Ryan Anderson's purchase, but a "Bryan Anderson" whose address is a "near match" did fill out a donation form. According to the Democratic Party, each number in the street address is one digit off. Nevertheless, the Shadegg campaign sent an email to PolitickerAZ claiming that Anderson gave the card to a volunteer who stopped by the Democratic office to buy an Obama sticker.
Democratic Party officials believe that Anderson was the one who came to the office and that he purposely lied about his identity in order to access their office for information about the Bob Lord campaign for Shadegg's Congressional seat. Emily DeRose, spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party said,
Why would Anderson need to lie if he was just there to buy a bumper sticker? Why would a Republican campaign operative go to a Democratic office to buy bumper stickers when they're online? This story just doesn't hold water.
Arizona Democrats are asking Shadegg to fire Anderson.
As I was finishing this article, I received a robocall from Pullen asking for volunteers to help with phonebanking at the Arizona Republican Party headquarters. It smacks of desperation when the home state party of a presidential nominee is forced to robocall potential volunteers.
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As an Obama supporter and an AZ resident for the last 14 years, I was surprised to see so many fellow residents voice their support for Obama instead of McCain. Every time I see the "map" on the news shows I look at our red state with disappointment I truly never thought we would turn pink, or possibly even blue. This thread has given me some level of hope that we could see a change.
Another huge win would be to finally get Arapaio out of the Sheriff's Office. I have voted for him since I've moved here but that's because I listened to his self-promotion rather than the facts. He is continually acting like he is above the law. He abuses the position and power that we have entrusted him with.
VOTE EARLY!! I have already mailed in my ballot. Although I haven't voted totally Democrat, I did vote for some Republican candidates. Not all Republicans are selfish, greedy, religious fanatics, just like not all Democrats are bleeding-heart liberals.
I am a lifelong Arizona Repub and I am not voting for the senior senator- No way. No how. No McGelding! The senator was my neighbor on Central Avenue when I was a resident of "The Towers."
He has done absolutely nothing for veterans and I ought to know!!
My support for 0bama and story here:
http://www.barackobama-joebiden2008.com/
SCA what part of illegal you do not understand???
Many Arizonans, regardless of party, are voting for Obama. I live very near McCain's AZ house #2 (which is not in Sedona by the way) and in talking with friends and neighbors, most are voting for Obama. Some of us who have been around for a long time remember how evil Keating was and how involved he was with McCain. So to us, the mudslinging is very hypocritical!. And it most certainly is not improving our image abroad!
I agree with you and am also Embarrassed in Arizona. I too live about 35 miles from McCain's home in Cornville, AZ (guess Sedona sounds classier for McCain to say than "Cornville") and I and my husband are voting for Senator Obama.
McCain's very dirty and dishororable campaign is a disgrace, not to mention his very poor judgement in selecting Gov. Palin as his pick for VP - she is govenor of a state that has a population smaller than Phoenix Arizona!
"The number of people living in Alaska climbed from 627,533 in 2000 to 676,987 in 2007" http://www.sitnews.us/0208news/021008/021008_ak_population.html
"As of 2007, Phoenix's population is 1,512,986 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 14.53 percent." http://www.bestplaces.net/city/Profile.aspx?city=Phoenix_AZ
America needs to know that when she is often referred to as the "most popular" govenor in America; they are talking about a very, very small population in the state of Alaska; smaller than most large cities in the US. That darn devil that is still in the details!
Rats leaving a sinking ship. Honestly, my hope is that this election so weakens the current neocon strand of the Republican party that they can't victimize Americans with their lies and slogans for at least fifty years, hopefully longer. I respect conservatism, but there must be an ongoing debate, not ruled by fear, lies and voter suppression, about just what the role of government should be and how extensively it should guard us all against the abuses of free market capitalism.
My son attended Embry Riddle in Prescott AZ..Wish i could cast a vote in AZ for Obama. But Ill do it in Michigan and because of McCains dirty tricks Im afraid to go to the poles but I certainley will? Im a white female the middle class suburbs.. I will be watching for anything inappropriate and with my camera. Thank you John for this experience and job losses (no economic knowlege)and your war monger mentality. May you fade away in oblivion I hope.
I'm one of the thousands and thousands of Obama supporters in Arizona (Phoenix). I voted by mail last week.
I think people might be surprised at how close the elcetion is in Arizona, McCain will still win it, but not by a gigantic margin.
i've always said Obama should be campaigning heavily in Arizona and take it from McCain. Arizona has the lowest voter turnout of all states! and the republican party there is not completely behind McCain. Obama can take it if he put the money and resources there.
I am am Arizona Resident and avid Obama supporter...
the registered voters in arizona are 37% republican, 34% democratic and 29% independent....
this means if ALL DEMOCRATS and a little over half of the independents vote for Obama he could actually turn Arizona blue!!!!
Get the word out and let's turn this thing around!!! In light of the smear tactics and negative campaigning... I think it is time to SEND A MESSAGE to McCain that we DONT APPRECIATE him being so irresponsible with his VP choice or all the hate and division that they are promoting. That is the last thing our country needs right now....
Not to mention his behavior is embarrassing to ALL Arizonans and we need to put a stop to it!
Burn, Baby, Burn!!!
How does McCain expect to lead his party when everyone in the sandbox cannot play nice with each other ?? Poor leadership....With poor leadership and mass corruption within their party everyone is pretty much fighting for themselves....Washington needs a revamp of the whole GOP party...
POLITICAL TV AD ATTACKS!! http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/
The "scandal" involving Anderson is a whole lot of bull. If he was trying to "spy" then how about some actual evidence... you know, like "He asked to see confidential documents" or "He was left alone in a back room". As a liberal I'm annoyed at how eager members of the Democratic party are to ruin someone's career for simply wanting to add an Obama bumper sticker to his collection of political memorabilia. This isn't Watergate. There's no conspiracy. But the AZ Dems are so eager to try to get this seat, they're trying to destroy Ryan Anderson's life by exploiting a simple mistake. Politics makes me sick sometimes.
Isn't it possible that the reverse opinion also has merit?
Simple minds are satisfied with simple interpretations of criminal activity.
It would be "Sweet" if he failed to carry Arizona! That would send a message.
Oh, I really do not think that he will get Arizona.
Even before all of this, he was having a hard time in Arizona. MANY, people jjust don't like him.................
I lived there, which does not make me an expert on the issue but diffinately an insider.
OBAMA-BIDEN
AnalyzeIT,
I beg the differ. I am currently a Phoenician and there is a lot of love here for Senator O. We have bumper stickers, lawn signs, t-shirts and we are far greater than the electoral map is giving credit. Arizona should not be considered RED, it should be considered PINK, at the very least.
Although, I share your sentiment, that just for the sake of saving face, they will not even give Arizona to Senator O even if he wins.
But just for the record, Senator M does not have the endorsement of any mayor or newspaper down here. That should speak volumes to his favoribility rating!
And I am definitely a testament to this as I work in the building where one of his campaign offices is located. There are O stickers on the cars, vans, SUVs, lawns, there are protests in front of this building almost daily.
Arizona has the lowest voter turnout of any state, so McCain may lose it if the people show up to Vote!
I hope all those Constitution loving republicans join forces together, and revolt, reclaiming their party, and taking back their leadership because McCain and Palin, Rove and Cheney, and all the self aggrandizing McCain lobbyists have sent them ALL onto Palin's Bridge to Nowhere, where it must be getting really tough to find one's way off of. There are some great minds in the republican party, but they are not the ones running it nor giving direction to its leadership.
they should just close the party and create another one.
And not only that - but I'll betcha the AZ GOP has a higher ratio of Cowboy to Cardinal fans than do the Democrats.
Old Arpaio is finally stepping on his ****. His publicity hound antics are catching up to him. Can anyone think of a Sheriff anywhere in the nation that has such a high profile? AZ needs to clean house.
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