As CJ earlier noted, the state of Oregon’s GOP is not good, to say the least. A new project is trying to form a league of “new blood and new leaders” to move the Oregon Republican Party into a position with respectable political clout.

 

The Conservative Majority Project is headed by Robert Kremer and Jared McKinney. Kremer is a native Oregonian, the founder and president of the Oregon Education Coalition and host of a radio show, “Kremer & Abrams.” The fact that he was a major player in killing the CIM/CAM education reform, a.k.a. the biggest waste of tax dollars EVER, is reason enough to like the guy.

 

McKinney is a younger guy and Native Alaskan who has worked on several political campaigns nationwide. He seems to be a true grassroots activist with a fond eye for the ideals of the Founding Fathers and the original intent of the Constitution.

 

Kremer also runs a blog that focuses on politics in the Portland area. The heading of it reads:

Portland, Oregon is occupied territory. It was invaded years ago by a non-native species of political animal from back east who took over our political and cultural institutions in order to try out their utopian socialist dreams on our great state. This blog will chronicle the insurgency that is trying to free Oregon from the occupiers’ grip by shining a bright light on their most egregious schemes.

The CMP’s plan is to plant a core group of people in the Oregon Legislature that will act as heralds for traditional Oregon conservatism while regaining majority control for Oregon’s GOP. It is definitely acting like the All-American little guy with enough grit and tenacity to take on the status quo and big money. It promotes the kind of leaders “who believe in conservative principles, can articulate them, and defend them.” Like the Wu-Tang Clan, the project may start with a bang and then spiral throughout the system, leaving its footprint wherever possible. From a February blog post by Kremer announcing the project:

Our strategy will be to select a careful few races where there is a reasonable prospect of picking up a legislative seat, and where our resources and tactical campaign expertise can perhaps make the difference.

We are not simply going to be channeling funds to candidates shotgun-style. We will apply our resources in a thoughtful way where we have reason to believe that either we can be the difference in the Republicans holding a seat, or, better yet, picking a seat up.

We will not be interested in candidates unless they are true conservatives. We understand that our party must be a big tent, and that means in some districts, only a less conservative Republican can win. That is fine – but we will almost certainly not be involved in these races.

From the CMP website:

All candidates that we support, with the help of Oregonians like you, must be:

~ Dedicated to improving educational quality through school choice. A strong belief that parents know how to make the best decisions for their children, instead of bureaucrats and unions is essential.

~ Dedicated to limited government. One of the first questions in any elected officials decision-making process should be, “Can this problem be solved in the free market?”

~ Dedicated to lowering taxes and cutting government waste. We recognize that your money is a reflection of your time and creative energy. Every elected official should treat all fiscal decisions with this principle as a guidepost.

~ Dedicated to preserving Oregonians First and Second Amendment Rights. The right to keep and bear arms is essential to the survival of any republic.

~ Dedicated to preserving and protecting traditional family values. The family unit is the core of our society. It must be preserved.

~ Dedicated to stopping illegal immigration. The Oregon worker has been immeasurably harmed by a system that allows those who are in this state illegally to drive down wages. This problem places a growing burden on schools, and hospitals, transportation, police, and fire departments.

~ Dedicated to protecting private property rights. The right to control your own property is a fundamental pillar in a free society. You have worked hard to call your property your own. You should not be forced to fight with state and local governments who look for reasons to devalue your property.

~ Dedicated to protecting your civil liberties and your initiative freedoms. State politicians, public employee unions, and bureaucrats have been waging a 15-year war against the initiative process. Whether it is by limiting your ability to petition your government, or by circumventing laws that the people of Oregon have voted on, this is an issue that can no longer be over looked.

Our candidates are not “anti-government” candidates, but rather candidates who believe that government’s primary role should be to protect the liberties of its citizens.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 11:52 by Ossie and is filed under Oregon, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.