Rep. John Shadegg, the U.S. Congressman representing Arizona’s Third District, was the featured speaker at a political forum hosted by the Arizona Chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition. His topic was rebuilding the Republican Party.
Shadegg surprised the audience by urging them to get involved in GOP politics at the grassroots level, but to steer clear of involvement in the State or County Republican Party organizations because, in his opinion, they were being poorly led and were at the lowest level since Ev Mecham was governor of Arizona.
Shadegg stated that the Arizona State and Maricopa County leadership used the illegal immigration issue to create conflicts in the Republican Party. Instead, he said, GOP leaders should focus on the “big tent” approach, welcoming people with both liberal and conservative views on immigration and life issues into the Republican Party.
In response to a question, Shadegg backpedaled on his recommendation that people not get involved with the Republican Party. Instead he declared that people should get involved in order to remove the current Arizona and Maricopa County Party Chairmen. GOPUSA AZ editor Howard Levine noted in his report that Shadegg’s newly appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, Lisa James, was in attendance. She has twice run for State Party Chairman with Rep. Shadegg’s backing and lost both times to the recently re-elected chairman Randy Pullen.
Many will recall that Shadegg gave a particularly divisive interview on the same topic to the New York Times last October. At the time, he said Arizonans desirous of lawful and orderly immigration were “xenophobic” and “intolerant” in their attitude toward the illegal aliens who enter the United States in violation of our law and sovereignty.
I thought the big tent was where the clowns performed in the circus!
Apparently Congressman Shadegg has forgotten that a GOP Platform was ratified by the Republican National Convention this past fall. It clearly indicates a respect for life, secure borders and does not embrace amnesty.
Here it is for a much needed refresher, Mr. Shadegg:
http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/
Amnesty for illegal immigrants in the United States, will cost taxpayers more than the Liberals will admit? The majority who have no papers are paid under the proverbial table, by parasite employers. Those who are using fraudulent or bogus Social Security Numbers, do pay Federal taxes. A great example of the pathway illegal aliens have fraudulently, exploited free money is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In his book financial analyst and economist Edwin Rubinstein. He states that (EITC) is the largest anti-poverty program in the United States — and the most illegal-immigrant friendly. In 2007, more than 23 million households received more than $47 billion in the EITC payments. Much of the so-called “tax relief” goes to people who never paid a cent in taxes, and may have already defrauded the government of huge sums each year. EITC has become yet another means of depriving hard-working Americans of their own resources. It robs some to give to others. The EITC is the most accessible of the major entitlement programs and used by more people than food stamps and welfare (TANF)* combined the author admits.
The open border factions, including the payed-off politicians will offer you nothing but propaganda, to stifle any truth. The momentum is building to push for anther AMNESTY. Not only will taxpayers be carrying the out-of-shadows new immigrants, because most have only a 7th grade education and will not find work–while 10 million US workers are jobless. Billions of dollars sent back to other countries. Not forgetting the sponsoring of immediate family members, who will be even a larger burden of American taxpayers. Then their are millions more, impoverished, uneducated waiting for a 3rd AMNESTY to rush the undermanned border. Read undisclosed facts at: VDARE, FAIRUS, JUDICIALWATCH, NUMBERSUSA, AMERICANPATROL, CAPSWEB.ALIPAC.
The more I hear from Shadegg lately the less inclined I am to support him. He sounds exactly like the type of politician I’d like to see removed from the Republican party leadership. I have more confidence in Randy Pullen than I do in Mr. Shadegg. He sounds like a McCain shill. BTW, McCain has to be replaced in this next go around. Let’s make it happen.
Shadegg takes the approach that if you do not agree with the Flake-McCane-Kyl Amnesty legislation, either keep quiet or we will take you out. He should join a left wing radical group that protest against illegal immigration speakers on US campuses. He would fit in.
Rep. Shadegg has shown himself to be a star pupil of Professor McCain. One of my neighbors called him “Mini-Me” the other day when we were discussing politics. I defended Rep. Shadegg then, but now I’m having second, third and fourth thoughts.
Where is his loyalty to the Republicans who have repeatedly reelected him? For him to tell this group that the state and county GOP leadership needs to be replaced is shameful. I voted for both State Chairman Randy Pullen and Maricopa County Chairman Rob Haney, and would do so again in a heartbeat. It’s Rep. Shadegg I’m having misgivings about, not them.
Does anyone have the real inside scoop on what happened to this guy? I suspected something was amiss when he removed the word “conservative” from his campaign billboards this last election. My husband and I thought that was a glaring omission. I guess we were right!!
The one good thing I can say about Rep. Shadegg’s latest salvo is that at least now he is inserting his knife from the front as opposed to the back. What happened to uniting behind the winners after a hard fought campaign? Pullen and I won our leadership positions, so where’s the unity Lisa James (Shadegg staffer)promised?
One thing you can absolutely depend on is the delegation quartet(Shadegg,Flake,McCain,Kyl) will never accept any blame for the loss of the Republican Brand. Instead they blame it on local leadership for not following them on the McCain bandwagon to liberalism.
Their cry now is that we must move farther left to regain majority status. It will never dawn on them that we lost majority status because they led us left in an attempt to co-op the Democrat agenda.
If they are so bent on reaching across the isle in a bipartisan move to spend trillions on Amnesty and Cap & Trade(while they loudly proclaim they are fiscal conservatives), why not be honest and rename ourselves the Moderate Democrat Party and compete against the Liberal Democrat Party?
Why compete as Republicans if when elected we will implement a Democrat agenda? No wonder we have lost Brand Name Recognition in the elector’s eye.
Rep. Shadegg declares us the worst thing that has happened to the Party since Gov. Mecham, when we simply represent a return to the principals that had given us majority status. Shadegg wants the status quo, and woe be to anyone who dares to represent the voices of those wanting a return to the Republican Platform and the U.S. Constitution.
His take is that we must follow McCain’s lead to more Campaign Finance Legislation, another Comprehensive Immigration Bill, and Al Gore’s Global Warming Initiative. We object and, therefore, he wants us removed from Republican leadership for daring to do so.
It will never occur to him that we ran on our record of opposition to their agenda and we won. We won despite all they did in having their combined staffs work to recruit PCs who would vote against us. Who is representing the true will of the AZ Republican base?
They speak a great deal of Republican Unity.
The only unity they support is unity behind John McCain. You have to decide if that is the New Brand of Republicanism that will regain majority status for us.
Re: Rep. Shadegg Speaks to Republican Jewish Coalition
There were realy only two thingds Rep. Shadegg said of any importance:
1) “…once Republicans took control of Congress, many were corrupted by their power as members of the majority…” these people are still there! McCain, Flake, Shadegg, and Kyl. The second important thing he said was:
2) “Rep. Shadegg said that the country would be better off if all incumbent Congressmen were defeated for re-election”. I would like to add a little something…. that should include incumbent Representatives….
Didn’t get a chance to finish our comment….. we completely agree with both of the two identified statements above; along with Carl’s statement from D19…..
Ed & Ceil
PC’s D11
Cheryl Precinct
I make note that Shadegg is doing such a wonderful job with ease in Congress that he has lots of extra time to campaign against the grassroots leadership in Az. He also had the time to campaign for an inexperienced life-long Democrat turned Republican who ran for an AZ House seat against two life-long conservative Republicans. The life-long Democrat was backed by those who supported a policy of no law enforcement against illegal aliens. Bet you would have never guessed.
This sickens and saddens me and is no way to finish what was an outstanding political career. Another of my heroes bites the dust, apparently McPoisoned!
Shadegg addressed the Arizona Capitol Tea Party tonight. He was soundly booed. Most of those in attendance were protesting Shadegg’s vote for Obama’s “stimulus” bill. It took at least two minutes for the crowd to quiet enough for Shadegg to give his one minute address. When he was done he was soundly booed again. Those were the only boos of the night. Well done crowd!
I am not in the least bit surprised at John Shadegg’s latest attempt to discredit Arizona GOP Leadership. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The one common denominator to the fall of the Republican Party is the rise of John McCain. The man’s destructive power is unlimited. He is Arizona’s Arlen Specter. Will we find a Pat Toomey to remove this white elephant from around our neck?
Incredible arrogance by Shadegg. This is what passes for conservative leadership in Congress. He is right about one thing….he is an incumbent who should be removed by the voters.
Reminded me of “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers” when I recently saw a picture of McCain and thought of all the people who are now supporting him.
[...] so many in positions of authority turning a blind eye to violations of our law, Arpaio continues to defend it and carry out his law enforcement duties. [...]
McShadegg, McFlake, McKyl & McCain
What a great company name. A brand that you have grown to know and trust to do everything in their power to undermine conservative values, at all costs. They have been Arizona political “leaders”
for how long? And what have they done for the GOP? This bunch of Napoleonic BEHAG’s? Bupkis. Cipher. Nada.
John Shadegg suffers from the same “Short man syndrome” that plagues John McCain. Short men cannot tolerate any criticism whatsoever and are quick to try to suppress it with whatever means readily available, whether it be by fists or, as in this case, paid political organizations. Grow up John!
Come to think of it, Diogidog, I can’t remember one time when any of the quartet you mentioned ever defended or praised Arpaio, Thomas, or Pearce. Kind of takes the cover off what they are all about doesn’t it?
McCain, Kyl, Shadegg, and Flake are beholden to the illegal immigration lobby. To hell with defending the country or advocating conservative causes. It is all about them and maintaining their power. They will destroy the Party and country before they will yield their position in favor of illegal immigration.
If I were the County or State Chairman, I would ask for a restraining order to protect me from the lunatic fringe of the delegation.
John Shadegg will have to go on his merry way without my help. I will not stand for his insults or his McCain imitations any longer. I actually thought he was a conservative. Foolish me!!
What is really so funny, if it were not such a pathetic show of the duplicity of the McCain delegation, is the claim over and over again by McCainiacs that Randy Pullen couldn’t raise funds for the Party.
The McCainiacs, including Senator Kyl, then went out and told their followers not to donate and told big name Republican speakers, who were already scheduled for fundraising dinners, not to come. The Republican State Party was therefore forced to cancel the fundraisers. This was not a one time happening.
Pullen was able to raise money despite the sabotaging delegation. Any wonder why they hate this guy? He opposes them on illegal immigration, and he can raise money without them, and he has now been elected as treasurer of the Republican National Committee. Of no importance, Shadegg still says Pullen has to go!
Really makes you proud of our delegation doesn’t it?
You still wonder why they were ineffective in congress?
I attended this event and it is regrettable that the focus of the article above is on Rep. Shadegg’s criticisms of the party and its leaders. The most important points he made in my opinion had to do with the fact that there is a need for the membership to be vigorously engaged. The “Tea Party” effort is a good example. He made the point that the Republican Congressional members cannot significantly oppose the current administration’s agenda without strong populist involvement. He indicated we “cannot be the party of NO,” or we lose all credibility in the Congressional debates. This is why he indicated there is a need for a “Big Tent” model and that the current leaders are the divisive ones and not working to unify the party. The party platform may need to be reviewed and revised at this point in order to create the maximum “Big Tent” possible. Clearly, somone needs to be assertive and get our leaders into a room and hammer out or mediat the issues so we can work cooperatively.
Mike:
I too attended the RJC meeting where Shadegg made his absurd comments. Why should it be “regrettable” that the focus of the blog post was on his criticism of the state and county ELECTED party leadership? State GOP Chairman Randy Pullen and County GOP Chairman Rob Haney are doing an excellent job under very difficult circumstances, that being the continuing efforts to undercut them and Haney’s predecessor Tom Husband, by the supporters of Congressman Shadegg and his two US Senate colleagues.
A couple of points:
Both the state and county chairman represent a broader base than John Shadegg does. He runs from a congressional district within a large county (Maricopa) that elects several other congressional representatives. The haughtiness exhibited by this little man with a colossal ego is a turnoff to many of us who previously supported him.
And, the term “big tent” has long been code talk for the pro-abortion and homosexual rights agenda crowds. As to rewriting the Republican Platform: maybe its time you rethought your allegiance to the GOP. You are obviously a bank account conservative, not a social one. There are plenty of wealthy Democrats who agree with you. I am a social and fiscal conservative, and I don’t.
The grandest irony here was it was Shadegg’s people, specifically Lisa James, his deputy chief of staff, that were the ones calling for “unity”.
Just one more example of the Shadegg/Kyl/McCain scorched earth “my way or the highway” unity approach.
LOL
I suspect John McShadegg thought he was talking to an audience responsive to this verbal spew. Obviously he was not. He has lost his gauge of people and his moral compass. I never thought this would be the congressman to disgust me, but I was wrong. He did the same thing when he reviled Arizona Republicans in the New York press, thinking we wouldn’t see his scathing remarks. Is he not aware of the Internet? I’ve had my fill of his arrogance. He needs a good challenger. Someone with credentials and character could do this twerp in.
I am very disappointed in Mr. Shadegg. I think he should have been a man of his word and stayed retired. He is just as bad as most of our other elected officals. Lisa James lost because she is one of John McCains gophers. I hope we don’t forget about Mr. McCain and Mr.Symington’s attempt to take over LD11, it was shameful. Republicans need to rise up and replace the entire Federal Republican??? delegation…
Mr. Shadegg you don’t build the Republican party by wanting to make it democratic light.Why do you oppose the Republican party platform which strongly opposed illegal immigration?I am proud of both our County and State leadership.We are moving in the right direction and don’t need the devisiveness of Mr.Shadegg.We need to stand for our principles or the results at the ballot of 2006 and 2008 will continue.Shame on my congressman!
Too right. Shadegg was booed off stage. He voted for the bailout despite an overwhelming request by his constituents to vote no.
Mr.Shadegg, we need unity among us all. What you have said in public is a disgrace to all. The state and the maricopa republican party are doing a good job, and we the people voted for them. Enough is Enough !!!!!!!!!!!