New Oregon Republican Chair

Paulie Brading

Suzanne Gallagher won the Oregon Republican Party chairmanship over two other candidates. In a 66-52 vote over John Lee, Jr., the chair of the Clackamas County GOP and Art Robinson, former congressional candidate was dropped from the race after he came in third in the first round of votes.

Gallagher, from Tigard, age 65, owner of an interior design business, ran unsucessfully for the state Senate in 2012 described herself in a letter sent to the party's central committe prior to the vote. The letter began with a quote from Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776. " These are the times which try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of men and women". Gallagher begins:

"I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Chair of the Oregon Republican Party and ask you, a winter Republican patriot, for your vote, support, and commitment of time and talent, to put our party back on the path to victory in 2014 and beyond.

We may be down but are in no way out! The constitutional ideals that Oregon Republicans espouse have carried our nation to prominence for over 200 years. We must stand tall and show Oregonians that these core principles will bring Oregon and America back from the pit of one-party government, oppressive taxes, unreasonable regulation, and stealth socialism. Republicans believe in personal freedom, the free market, respect for Constitutional rights, and limited/affordable government, as do most Americans.

It's time to show people what we stand for, and not allow the other side to maliciousy label/brand our party. We are not "bigots, racists, or haters of women." Many of us are women! We must reach out to all groups with the truth about the Oregon Republican Party, beginning now, not just during election cycles."

Gallagher's letter goes on to mention recruiting a strong PCP team, asking the Central committee members to be ambassadors for their cause and ending with a committment to their cause - the cause of freedom.

Americans convincingly voted for a second Obama term. In a recent AP-GFK survey 61% of Americans favor federal action to deal with income inequality. In a Wall St. Journal poll for the first time a majority of American's want abortions to be legal in all or most cases. Gallup polling revealed 53% of Americans support same sex marriage. A Fox news poll found 66% of people in their polling favor allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country and eventually qualify for U.S. citizenship. 91%, according to Gallup support universal background checks for gun buyers and 60% support a ban on assault weapons.

Are Oregon Republicans going to continue their outside the mainstream of America thinking? What do you expect?

By Paulie Brading Feb. 04, 2013