On Saturday, January 16 the members of the Maricopa County Republican Committee sent a loud message to the Party’s establishment by passing the “Anybody BUT McCain” Resolution at its annual mandatory meeting. The resolution passed by a vote of approximately 921 to 582.
Supporters of the resolution say the victory reinforced the previous censure of McCain.
Saturday’s meeting was described by one attendee as “both amusing and painful.” According to sources, Republican Party establishment precinct committeemen employed delay tactics in an effort to garner support for embattled MCRC officers Jenni White and Aaron Borders. The vote to remove the two from their executive positions was eventually held and they lost by the same margin as the anti-McCain resolution won.
Borders and White had led an attack on the MCRC Chairman Tyler Bowyer, who easily retained his position after Saturday’s vote.
Anti-establishment precinct committeemen Linda Brickman, Wesley Harris, Tom Morrissey, and Mark Spencer were elected as Members at Large, along with establishment candidate Joshua Askey. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio endorsed Brickman and the rest of her anti-establishment slate.
A.J. LaFaro, a precinct committeeman and popular former chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Party, announced the anti-McCain resolution in November. The “AZGOP State Committeemen Endorse Anyone BUT Senator John McCain,” resolution is expected to be considered a vote at the Party’s annual meeting later this month.
Former Arizona State Senator Dr. Kelli Ward, who is challenging McCain in the Republican Primary, received a standing ovation. Ward’s reception on Saturday was in stark contrast to the one McCain received last year when the majority of precinct committeemen booed, hissed and turned their backs on the senator at the Arizona GOP’s mandatory meeting last year.
The atmosphere on Saturday was tense as the Party establishment fought the grassroots for power. Ward’s supporters offered humor to ease tensions, and comfort to disenchanted former McCain supporters at the McPain First Aid tent. Popular Republican PCs dressed as nurses “gave a remedy to those with pain with McCain.”
Many republicans had hoped McCain would announce his retirement this year in light of the passage of resolutions to censure him. However McCain, known for his stubbornness, refused to step aside and has ramped up attacks on the conservatives in the Party.
Ryan O’Daniel, McCain’s campaign manager, was not well-received by the crowd when he was introduced. O’Daniel was met with repeated shouts of “RINO!”
“The ‘Anyone But McCain’ sentiment expressed by the grassroots Republicans perfectly mirrors the dissatisfaction of the millions of everyday Arizonans who are tired of an out-of-control federal government,” said Bowyer. “From the commentary of many activists, Senator McCain’s recent vote to increase the national debt to more than $20 trillion, while fully funding Planned Parenthood was a clear message that he is more inclined to choose President Obama and Harry Reid over the will of the Arizona voters in order to retain his D.C. establishment power.”
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