The Right Team, Right Now: Jones-LaPlante 2009

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Jones-LaPlante Press Release Announcement

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U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. on Gary Jones:“Chairman Jones has put together a good team at the Oklahoma Republican Party that is proven and ready to lead us in the critical 2010 elections. Our statewide wins in 2008 helped take the majority in the Oklahoma Senate for the first time in state history, and we will need this type of leadership going into the 2010 election cycle. I wholeheartedly support Chairman Jones in his re-election.

"If it Ain't Broke, Why Fix it? ---by Stephens County Chairman Steve Fair

Gary Jones, the current State Republican Chairman, is seeking re-election. Angie LaPlante, the current 5th District Chair of the State Party, is running for Vice Chair. The two are running as a team. I am wholeheartedly supporting this ticket because it's critical that Oklahoma Republicans continue to set the example of building the grassroots- precinct by precinct, county by county and district by district. The Republican National Committee could learn a valuable lesson by looking at what has been accomplished in Oklahoma in recent years.

Gary Jones has had his detractors during his tenure as State Chair. He has been maligned by conservative political Pharisees, undercut by powerful GOP elected officials, and bypassed by political pragmatists, yet through it all Jones has maintained his cool and been remarkably effective. The primary reason is that Gary doesn't hold a grudge and can forgive and move on better than anyone I know. That's a rare quality and one I wished I possessed. Gary believes in "the cause." Gary wants to leave Oklahoma a better place for his kids and grandkids. During Gary's tenure at the State Party, Republicans have taken the majority in the State House and the State Senate. Last cycle, Oklahoma was the reddest of the red states-all seventy seven counties in Oklahoma voted for John McCain, the State Senate became RED for the first time in state history. We won both Corporation Commission races and returned Senator Inhofe to the Senate. Gary wasn't given sufficient credit for those accomplishments, but rest assured if Oklahoma Republicans would have performed like most of the country, Gary Jones would have been singled out by party hacks and chumps as the reason for the failure. The inconsistency of that slays me. Every good election can't be the result of the consultants and elected officials' great strategy and every bad election can't be because Party officials failed. But we didn't fail in 2008 and a major reason for that was the leadership of Gary Jones!

Much of the success Republicans have enjoyed at the polls in the past few years is due to Gary's understanding that GRASSROOTS and GROUND GAME win races. It's not just about money and Gary understands that. Don't misunderstand- Gary is a successful fundraiser and has kept the Oklahoma State Republican Party in the black during tough economic times. Gary is fiscally conservative. He isn't wasteful with Party money. Jones is innovative and embraces new methods of reaching the voter. Gary is an ethical, principled man with strong family ties-he and his wife have been married over thirty years. Oklahoma Republicans are blessed to have a Chairman who is inclusive, fair-minded, and easy to work with. Those three characteristics are the reason I can unreservedly recommend Gary Jones for re-election.

Angie LaPlante and I have worked together for several years. We are both District Chairs in the State Party which allows us to serve on the State Executive Committee. Angie is an enthusiastic individual whose proven leadership in the OFRW resulted in amazing growth in that organization. Angie is a grassroots person-she knows that elections are won by engaging the voter-not debating among ourselves or preaching to the choir. Angie spearheaded a drive to distribute thousands of pieces of literature in Oklahoma County. Her program was not unlike the model the Stephens County GOP has used to engage voters. In 2008, dozens of people showed up every Saturday in Duncan to pass out literature for every local candidate on the ballot all across the county. They went house to house, street by street. They put RUBBER TO THE ROAD! Angie puts action behind her words. She helps candidates get elected by raising money and helping them get their message to the voter. Like Gary, Angie is easy to work with and fair-minded. I recommend that Angie LaPlante be elected Vice Chairperson at the State Convention April 18th

Those that know me--and those that think they know me but don't--recognize that I believe the answer to Republicans getting back into the majority is embracing GRASSROOTS involvement and emphasizing a strong GROUND GAME in campaigns instead of raising obscene sums of money, and using mass media to get their message out. Because few voters are paying attention, BIG MONEY often works, but it's a short sighted strategy that will result in an oligarchy. An oligarchy is a form of government where political power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society often distinguished by wealth and family. If the average citizen is not awakened and energized by what is going on around him, only the elite will have any voice in elections and the principle of SELF-RULE is dead.

The Oklahoma Republican Party in the not too recent past--before Gary--embraced the oligarchy method, but when Gary was elected Chairman, he begin the task to build the grassroots. Political consultants and hirelings viewed that philosophy as old school and out of touch and tried their dead level best to insure Jones' failure. But if you do your research and check where Republicans have performed best in Oklahoma the last four years, you'll find it was in geographic areas where GRASSROOTS and a strong GROUND GAME were emphasized.

Gary and Angie and their philosophy of political leadership is one of servitude and graciousness. What better way to attract uninvolved conservative citizens into becoming more active than by being nice? You don't have to compromise your convictions or change your value system to be civil to people. Jones and LaPlante are mature adults and understand that simple premise. Gary and Angie are not confrontational individuals or unpleasant to deal with. They can disagree without being disagreeable. Those are critical characteristics in effective leaders. If you are a delegate, I urge you to cast your vote for Jones/LaPlante at the Oklahoma State Republican Convention on Saturday April 18, 2009.

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Huck PAC National Volunteer Team

The following is a recent e-mail sent out by Huck PAC Oklahoma (unofficial grassroots) Meetup Organizer, Mike Ford. OKforHuckabee has heard from a source that the National Volunteer Team (NVT) has actually already grown to over 1,600 members. If you have not already signed up for this, PLEASE DO SO NOW! Thank You!

Dear HuckPAC volunteers,

Thanks to all of you who have responded to Mike Huckabee's call on January 1st to become HuckPAC volunteer group leaders. We are pleased to announce that by January 4th, the HuckPACvolunteer project response exceeded all expectations with 1,144 volunteers (our goal was 500 by Jan. 15). 614 people have indicated they are willing to signup as a Group Leader and 369 people have said they will raise money!

The goal for each state is to have at least one group leader operating within each county. We are currently loading all volunteer data into our files county by county.

I have been asked to request a brief (2 paragraphs) introduction telling HuckPAC a little about yourself. Who you are, why you believe in HuckPAC and your reason for stepping up to join our leadership team.

These can be sent back to me as a reply to this email. In addition to your introduction, please include any former political or campaign experience, leadership experience, skills and resources that will be helpful in organizing our Oklahoma leadership team.

Please also tell me what county you reside in and if you are willing to be a temporary leader in a nearby county that does not have a leader until we can fill it. Areas like Tulsa and Oklahoma County will likely have several leaders, so we can work as a team to be creative with ways to service other counties until they are filled.

The information is coming fast and we are thumbing through a lot of it, so please be patient as we get our databases organized. We will be introducing our initial action steps soon. Once we become active, it will be easier to recruit volunteers. Most people don't want to join a team that is doing nothing.

Here are some upcoming activities we will be planning:

Our first meetings will be held in February. I would like to see a meeting scheduled in each of our 4 major cities (Tulsa, OKC, Bartlesville and Muskogee) for all local HuckPAC volunteers to attend on a monthly basis. Our leadership team can have conference calls monthly and meet in person quarterly in various locations around the state. Of course, during elections, these meetings will become weekly.

The Republican Precinct Caucuses will be held in most counties on January 27th. It is very important that we get as many HuckPAC supporters and conservatives to their local precinct meetings. This is the beginning of the delegate process for the 2009 OKGOP conventions, where those who became delegates at the precinct caucuses will vote in our new County and State leaders, and be involved in other important matters. Unlike in the past, it is highly unlikely that anyone will be seated as a delegate who does not attend these meetings this year. Please note that 2008 delegates must attend as well, or they will not remain delegates in 2009!!! If you are unsure where your precinct meeting is, please call your County Chairman. If your precinct does not have a chairman, consider stepping up and becoming the precinct chairman in your area. I can help you with this.

I am speaking with some people around the state regarding a Human Life Amendment for the Oklahoma State Constitution. It is very likely that we could have one passed through our now Republican state congress, and also may be filing a petition to add a ballot initiative to one of the upcoming elections. The passage of the Human Life Amendment in Oklahoma would recognize unborn children as American citizens with full Constitutional rights under the 14th Amendment, rendering abortion unconstitutional.

We will also plan Fair Tax rallies for April 15th.

One of the things we are developing at HuckPAC is an online community similar to HucksArmy.com and Meetup.com. HucksArmy and Meetup members are encouraged to continue with their current formats if they would like to. However, once the new group formats are completed, I think we will find that it will enhance our internet base and eventually replace them both. Until then, I think we should continue to stay active on HucksArmy and the Oklahoma HuckPAC meetup group to generate web hits and stay in communication with others to build our team socially. If you are not currently a member of HuckPAC Oklahoma Meetup, please join if you would like.
Go to http://www.meetup.com/mikehuckabee-66/ .

Please send the link www.Huckpacvolunteer.com to your personal networks and encourage friends and family to participate. I honestly think we can grow HuckPAC Volunteer Team to 2,000 nationwide by the 15th, if we have not already. I'll keep you updated as I hear the progress reports.

Thanks for the response. I look forward to working with each of you.

Sincerely,

Mike Ford
HuckPAC Oklahoma
Mikef@huckpacvolunteer.com
918-361-5126