McCain shunned by majority of Maricopa County PCs

mccainArizona Senator John McCain and the Republican Party establishment suffered a major setback this weekend when Tyler Bowyer was elected the new chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Party. Bowyer defeated establishment operative Lisa Gray for the top spot.

The Maricopa County Republican Party (MCRC) statutory meeting held at Grace Community Church featured a straw poll in which Matt Salmon took first place as the candidate of preference for the seat currently held by McCain. Salmon earned 106 votes to McCain’s paltry 39 votes.

Just recently McCain told AP reporters that he still thinks, “I have a lot to do.” In a telephone interview with the Associated Press McCain said, “I’m most likely going to run for re-election.”

He won’t be getting help from the boots-on-the-ground. When asked: “Should the Tea Party element be purged from Republican Party leadership,” a mere 38 pcs said “Yes” and a resounding 318 said “No.” When asked: “Should Republican PCs be openly critical and hold their elected officials accountable who do not support the Republican Party Platform and/or the Constitutions of the United States and Arizona,” 315 PCs said “Yes” and only 39 said “No.”

McCain and his operatives have waged war on the grassroots of the Party, and a large portion of those members consider themselves members of the Tea Party. They are opposed to the crony capitalism promoted by the McCain crowd. When asked: “The Party Establishment is trying to marginalize Conservatives. Should Conservatives find and elect more of their own to replace the Establishment or moderate their actions in the interest of harmony within the Party,” 285 said “replace and only 59 said “Moderate.”

The Arizona Freedom Alliance reported this month:

In recent months precinct committeemen around the state have been solicited by a group called ‘Arizona Grassroots Action PAC’ which is, oddly enough, based in the Beltway according to OpenSecrets. Conservative PCs allege this is being done to support McCain-approved candidates for precinct committeemen in order for these PCs to support Liberal Republicans for Legislative District leadership positions and subsequently, State Committeemen who can vote for AZGOP leadership.

This hijacking of the AZGOP comes as no surprise for many Conservative activists as Jon Kyl tipped his hand in this Hill.com article where Kyl was asked to respond to the AZGOP censuring McCain. Kyl’s response indicates this campaign was well thought out in advance.

“I think you’ll see a different party make-up after the primary election. There will be a new group of precinct committeemen. I don’t think you’ll see many of the same old faces” ~ Jon Kyl

Resistance against the purge was evident when MCRC members answered the question: “Should the Republican Party hierarchy (LD Officers to RNC Chairman) be determined by the PCs or by elected Republican officials?” Only 14 PCs choice “Officials,” and 339 chose “Precinct Committeemen.”

The grassroots organized in response to the scheme and on January 7, “submitted 116 applications to fill PC vacancies, including 98 in Legislative District 30, where anti-McCain chairman Timothy Schwartz was ousted in December amid a well-organized effort to moderate inside party politics,” according to the Arizona Republic.

The move reportedly sent McCain through the proverbial roof and he sent his minions to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting to plead with supervisors to “set aside the appointments until after the Jan 24 AZGOP meeting,” according to the MCRC Briefs.

The supervisors approved the appointments unanimously 5-0.

In an email to supporters, popular outgoing head of the MCRC, A,J, LaFaro wrote, “John McCain is a big loser. John McCain lost all the way around. John McCain was a mediocre 39 votes [in the straw poll]. The survey issues speak volumes with regards to the fact that John McCain is out of touch with his constituents in Arizona, and he really needs to just not seek reelection, serve out his term and retire to his ranch up near Sedona.”

LaFaro told the Yellow sheet, “I hate to say this. He’s pathetic, old and vindictive.”

McCain is vindictive with deep pockets and shallow roots.

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