Pullen for the Party

McCaffrey on The Republic's "Live Talk" today

LIVE TALK

1. In Arizona today, what do you regard as the main differences between Republicans and Democrats?

MCCAFFREY: Arizona Republicans are getting the job done. We're working to protect the border which the governor failed to do, protect Arizona veterans which the governor failed to do, and protect our children which the governor failed to do. Next, we'll try to keep the Democrats in the legislature from raising taxes to pay for the crisis the governor's budget proposal would lead the state into.

2. Democrats are doing a bit better than Republicans in registration lately in Arizona, but both parties continue to lose voter registration share to Independents. Why do you think your party is not getting as many registered voters?

MCCAFFREY: Through the first six months of this year, GOP registration fell 2% and Democrat registration fell 2.9% while Independents gained 9.8%. In September, Republicans out-registered Democrats in Maricopa County and we believe that trend will continue and expand. While Democrats with their 11-percent approval rating in Congress don’t appear to have learned their lesson from past mistakes, Republicans have returned to their core principles of smaller government, lower taxes, stronger families, safer communities, better education for our children, and a secure border. Independents and, I hope, conservative Democrats, will again find a welcome home back in Arizona’s Grand Old Party.

3. Why do you think Independents largely vote Democrat in 2006 and appear to be strongly leaning that way in 2008?

MCCAFFREY: First, independents moved to leftward in 2006 not as a shift toward the Democrats in Arizona, but as a protest vote and a wake-up call for Republicans to hold true to Republican values, predominantly on fiscal issues like taxes and spending. Independents and conservative Democrats rejecting their own party are now responsible for the Democrat Congress having recently earned its 11-percent approval rating (the lowest in history). The challenge now for Republicans is to earn back those swing voters once more – like we did between 1994 and 2004.

4. Why do you think Democrats did so well in Arizona in last year's election, particularly in picking up two Congressional seats with the election of Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords? What are GOP strategies to retake them?

MCCAFFREY: First, I wasn't in Arizona and started at the state party on March 1, but it appeared to be something of a perfect storm: Democrats masquerading as Republicans, unhappy Independents, and a Republican Party that needed to find its way again. But three important factors to remember: this wasn’t a vote *for* the Democrats, these remain heavily GOP districts, and the freshmen Democrats now have a long, difficult record to explain and defend.

Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords have voted with Nancy Pelosi 89% and 92% of the time, respectively. For record-breaking budgets, against securing the borders, for secret union ballots, for the largest tax increases in history – for the liberal Democrat agenda they neglected to campaign on.

5. Republican Rep. Rick Renzi's decision to not seek re-election in the sprawling 1st Congressional District has thrown that race wide open. How do you win this seat, which has been held by Republicans despite a voter registration that favors Democrats?

MCCAFFREY: The first district is a classic swing district with a Republican edge because of several factors. The voters have been served well by Republicans in the US House and US Senate and the same reasons to vote Republican yesterday apply to voting for a qualified Republican candidate tomorrow.

6. Are GOP scandals threatening the core of Republican supporters? And is the Iraq war weighing heavily on GOP candidates this year?

MCCAFFREY: Scandals certainly had an impact in 2006, but we've always been good about learning from our mistakes. Democrats may promote their own congressmen who are caught by the FBI with $90,000 in corrupt money hidden in their freezer (Harry Mitchell voted for him), but we don't. We take these matters far more seriously, and voters recognize that.

Today, Arizona Republicans take extra care in our candidate recruitment and we teach extensive campaign finance and ethics at our campaign schools. Going the extra distance to prevent others' past mistakes is an important step to cleaning up government.

As for Iraq, the tide is turning very clearly in our favor. The President has just announced that our force in Iraq will be reduced by an entire brigade before the January. Even the left-leaning Washington Post is writing articles about how Al Qaeda in Iraq and the insurgents have been dealt “perhaps irreversible blows in recent months”. All this is detrimental to the Democrats and MoveOn.Org’s “America Can’t Win” election strategy.

The fact is, America can win and we will. That might not be how Nancy Pelosi or CNN wants to brand the war on terror, but that doesn't stop it from being the truth.

7. Immigration sharply divides the Republican Party. Until that issue is settled, how do you create a unified party going into an election? And are you afraid of losing the Hispanic vote, given the perceived racially charged rhetoric coming from the ultra-conservative right?

MCCAFFREY: First, 80% of Arizonans support border security. It’s hardly a divisive issue. The American people want to be secure. It’s the primary responsibility of government, and government isn’t doing its job. It’s about competence.

The Democrat Party loves trying to make this a racial issue. The critical distinction to make is a vast majority of Hispanic Arizonans are concerned about the guns, drugs and gang violence permeating the schools their children attend, too. The problem for the Democrat Party being morally-bankrupt and scaring people toward liberalism is that at the end of the day, Democrats still haven’t helped anyone.

8. Some social conservatives are saying they cannot vote for a pro-choice candidate such as Rudy Giuliani. If pro-life Republicans won't vote for a pro-choice nominee, why should pro-choice Republicans vote for a pro-life nominee?

MCCAFFREY: When it’s all said and done, I think you'll look back at this election cycle and see there were very few single issue voters.

9. I keep hearing about Arizona being a key state. In fact, all of the Southwest could play a major role in deciding who's elected president. For instance, if a Democrat wins the Southwest, he or she wouldn't need Florida or Ohio. What's your take on the Southwest?

MCCAFFREY: I think Southwest voters are no-nonsense voters who tolerate less of the politics and look for candidates with real solutions. Silliness like Democrats suggesting their congressional staff need to be vaccinated before going to NASCAR events or the Superbowl here in Arizona next year doesn't sit to well with bright, free-thinking voters in the Southwest. Results matter here.

10. Is having George Bush a plus or minus for GOP candidates? Most seem to be disassociating themselves from the president.

MCCAFFREY: Would you prefer a Democrat in the White House right now? Can you imagine the budget Hillary Clinton would be signing into law as your readers read this (assuming they could still afford their newspapers – and assuming you could still afford to print)? Seriously, though, 2008 is an open seat and I think you've seen candidates from both parties eager to talk about the need for change. What's will be interesting is if voters who are expecting more this election cycle buy into Senator Clinton's "I'm a DC-insider, I get it, I've got the DC experience" campaign.

11. Is there even such a thing as a Goldwater Republican anymore? His name is often evoked, but his principles less so.

MCCAFFREY: There is indeed a Goldwater Republican, and I would ask all those who read this to do two things: head to a bookstore or the library and take a look at Senator Goldwater's The Conscience of a Conservative. The first time I read it, I was shocked at how the conservative message hadn't really changed. Goldwater gave rise to a conservative movement which elected President Reagan, who set the stage for the 1994 Republican Revolution. Together, they put forth the notion that we can bring fundamental change to government. Real change, however, usually takes time – and that's not easy to accept in this age of 24-hour news cycles.

12. Which politicians or public policy experts do you admire? Why?

MCCAFFREY: I grew up with Ronald Reagan who said "What I'd really like to do is go down in history as the man who made Americans believe in themselves again." I grew up in politics with the Republican Revolution of 1994, and admired former Speaker Gingrich and those with him who tried very hard to change the way Washington did business: John Kasich, Dick Armey, John Boehner.

As Gingrich put it: "I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it." For me, it's not about amending the tax code; it's about scrapping the code and starting fresh with something fair for everyone. It's about proving that no matter how big our nation is, government can indeed be reined in to again work for the people.

And, of course, as Victor Hugo said: "There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come." That idea is change, and I think many of the answers are being brought forth from our reinvigorated Republican Party.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/aztalk/forum/articles/1017forum_livetalk-CR.html

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT - PULLEN TO MITCHELL: "DESERT IS NO PLACE FOR A TRAINED SEAL"

PHOENIX, AZ – “Harry Mitchell has proven to be little more than Nancy Pelosi’s trained seal,” said Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party at a press conference yesterday, drawing attention to Harry Mitchell’s (D-Tempe) flipped flopped vote on the floor of the House of Representatives causing mass chaos.

Mitchell initially voted with Republicans to send the Agriculture bill back to committee on August 2, 2007 because of the provisions in the bill allowing federal funds for the employment and housing of illegal immigrants. However, when it was clear that the Republicans were on the verge of victory, Mitchell suddenly switched his vote, sending the chamber into political upheaval.

Standing at a podium, with the Arizona Republican Party seal prominently displayed, Pullen made his comments with an oversized picture of Harry Mitchell to his right with the caption “November 2006,” an oversized photo of a seal balancing a ball its nose on his left with the caption “August 2007,” and a banner with the words, “Because the Desert is no place for a Trained Seal,” behind him.

Pullen went on to describe several of Mitchell’s votes in Congress including his vote to strip away workers privacy rights in the union formation process, his multiple votes to surrender in Iraq, and his support of egregious pork barrel spending.

“Mitchell has clearly demonstrated that he is out of touch with his constituents and the people of Arizona. Ninety percent of the time, Harry Mitchell votes with San Francisco liberal Nancy Pelosi – and against his Arizona district. Ninety percent of the time, Harry Mitchell puts politics ahead of his own campaign promises. This isn’t the same Harry Mitchell I’ve known in the past.”

Yesterday, Mitchell’s spokesman responded, “Nobody in Democratic leadership ever talked to the congressman, period.” [link]

Pullen rejected this assertion from Mitchell’s office. “Either Mr. Mitchell is a trained seal and voted against his Arizona constituents because Nancy Pelosi asked him to, or Mr. Mitchell did it because he instinctively puts the political games of his Democrat Party leaders ahead of the jobs and futures of Arizona farmers without even giving it a second thought. You tell me which is worse. Either way, the vote was wrong – but it’s certainly being rewarded because next week Speaker Nancy Pelosi herself is coming to raise money for Mr. Mitchell’s re-election. Six months of party-line votes and he got his fundraiser with the Speaker. Congratulations, Mr. Mitchell, it’s clear you’ve earned it,” Pullen said.

The YouTube video of last Thursday’s House debacle can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y08iTaGcm0. For more information, please contact Brett Mecum at 602.957.7770 or at bmecum@azgop.org.

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PULLEN, AZGOP COMMEND BUSH, HOMELAND SECURITY

Phoenix, AZ— Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen said today President Bush had “hit the nail on the head” with his forthcoming initiative designed to curb illegal hiring expected to be enacted next week by the Department of Homeland Security. The rules, proposed last year, would mandate employers fire employees who use fake Social Security Numbers to get their job.

“We have long been saying the first step is to secure our borders,” Pullen said. “Arizona residents – regardless of party affiliation – are tired of the drugs, the guns and the other problems that come across the border along with those individuals who are simply looking for a job.

“Once we have honestly, truthfully secured our borders with legislation backed by Arizona’s own Senator Kyl that would get the fence built and beef-up border patrols, we can then start meaningful discussions about worker programs and address the issues of those living illegally in the U.S. today,” Pullen said.

“At the Summer Meeting of the Republican National Committee last week, the RNC members from around the nation nearly unanimously passed my resolution reaffirming our commitment as a party to secure our borders first. These new Homeland Security rules show that President Bush, the Republican National Committee members, and our parties in the states are now working very closely together to make that a reality. National security is priority-number-one.”

A copy of Chairman Pullen’s resolution passed nearly-unanimously by the members of the Republican National Committee on Friday, August 3, 2007 follows.

RESOLUTION URGING IMMEDIATE CONGRESSIONAL ACTION
TO SECURE OUR BORDERS

WHEREAS, it is reliably estimated that at least twelve million citizens of other countries have entered and currently remain in the United States illegally;

WHEREAS, it is reliably estimated that between two and three million illegal crossings of the borders of the United States continue to occur each year;

WHEREAS, the ability of millions of unidentified persons to illegally enter and remain in the United States presents a grave risk to the sovereignty of the United States and security of the American people;

WHEREAS, Congress has already authorized the construction of 854 miles of border fencing and appropriated one billion dollars to construct it and it is reliably reported that at least 700 miles of fence needs to be constructed; and,

WHEREAS, over the past seven years President Bush has proposed increasing the funding for border security three-fold to nearly $12 billion for 2008, doubling the size of the border patrol to more than 18,000 officers, increasing the use of technology through more than 6,000 new ground sensors and nearly 800 new cameras and authorizing improved roads, barriers, and fencing to further secure our borders; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Members of the Republican National Committee urge that the Congress of the United States, as a matter of highest priority, take all necessary steps to provide appropriate authority and means to accomplish the following:

(1) Complete the construction of the border fencing that has been authorized as expeditiously as is reasonably possible; and

(2) Effectively secure the borders of the United States to illegal entry by every appropriate additional means, fully equipping and empowering the Border Patrol and using our National Guard and the U.S. military if necessary.

As approved by the Republican National Committee, August 3, 2007

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PULLEN: KYL AMDT. WILL IMPROVE BORDER SECURITY

Kyl co-sponsors amendment for 3 Billion in Border Security

PHOENIX, AZ – Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party expressed his gratitude and support of United States Senator Jon Kyl for his efforts to secure the border with the Border Security First Act as an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriation Act, 2008.
“I commend Senator Kyl for working towards a more safe and secure border. The Border Security First Act is a positive first step in gaining operation control of our southern border. A vast majority of Arizona Republicans want their state’s southern border secured. They want the drugs and guns which plague our schools to stop flowing across the border. They want their children safe. Senator Kyl hasn’t just rejoined that debate, he’s taken the lead in a very meaningful way.

“Once we have achieved this goal of a secure border, protecting our families and communities, our job will not be complete – but an important and historic step will have been taken and we will have the leadership of Senator Kyl to thank for it. Together we can then address issues important to our economy, such as a common sense guest worker program, with the security of knowing who is coming over our border, when, and why,” Pullen said.

“This border security amendment passed almost unanimously today in a Democrat Senate because of Jon Kyl’s leadership and the will of the American people. When those two powerful forces work together, great things can be accomplished,” Pullen concluded.

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FBI FINDS MIDDLE EASTERNERS BEING SMUGGLED ACROSS RIO GRANDE

The FBI is investigating a human smuggling ring that is bringing Iraqis and other middle easterners into the United States by crossing the Rio Grande into New Mexico.

From ABC News: "An FBI intelligence report distributed by the Washington, D.C. Joint Terrorism Task Force, obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com, says the illegal ring has been bringing Iraqis across the border illegally for more than a year."

Many of us have been warning of this problem for years, Democrats continue to deny it. Now here is proof positive that our concerns are justified. The United States Border Patrol has been finding middle east paraphernalia at border crossing locations for years. Now isn't it time to secure our borders?

CLICK HERE to read the entire ABC report.