Democratic defector not welcomed by County Party

By Wally Edge

Tony Bouie was a Democrat earlier this year, but has since switched to the Republican Party and is running for state Representative against Stan Crump and Carl Seel.

Bouie has been welcomed with open arms by many of those who have taken the time to sit down with him, hear his story and to ask where he stands on a lot of the issues. Conservatives such as Congressman John Shadegg and state Senator Pam Gorman have come out and endorsed Bouie. Republican leaning organizations such as the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, the NFIB and the Arizona Realtors have also come out and endorsed Bouie in his campaign.

But not all conservatives are welcoming Bouie with open arms. Most of the prominent conservative blogs in the state have come out in support of Crump and Seel and have taken to gloves off against Bouie. Also the Maricopa County Republican Committee has come out and endorsed Crump and Seel in the primary and have basically told Bouie he is not welcome here.

A prominent Republican mentioned to me earlier this week how disappointed he was because the party had been trying to recruit conservative minorities to become more involved and conservative groups and organizations were coming out so strongly with the message of we don’t want Democrats switching parties. Based on that conversation I set out to talk to a large group of leaders in the Republican Party and overwhelmingly heard the same sentiment.

Most of the leaders I communicated with who had actually talked to Bouie were very impressed with him as a candidate and thought he was a conservative they could work with. One party leader wanted Bouie to know he was welcome when he said “Like Dick Armey, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, and Ronald Reagan before him, Tony Bouie found a home in the Republican Party.”

Most of the contacts I had said they understood why Carl Seel would come out so strong against Bouie. “It’s a primary campaign, I would expect Seel to use whatever information he had to help his campaign.” But many were upset with the Maricopa County Republican Committee’s actions of endorsing in the primary. “We want Democrats to switch, that is what we try to do, convince them our ideas are better so they should join us.”

One source who had met with Bouie told Inside Edge “He is very impressive, and a solid guy. Small business owner, fiscally conservative, socially conservative – what’s not to like?”

One of the key criticisms of Bouie from the County Committee and from conservative blogs is he received donations from Jason LeVecke. But as was pointed out to Inside Edge “so did Crump and you don’t see any of them out for Crump’s head. It’s a real double standard.”

One Maricopa County leader who agreed to talk to Inside Edge on background told us he was concerned about letting “left-leaning R's reach positions of power. The open border crowd cannot be permitted to elect folks who will weaken our defense against invasion by people who will skirt our legal system. I would be delighted to have D's convert to R's but the question must be asked: What took you so long and why are you running against proven R's?” This insider was asked twice by Inside Edge if he had actually ever talked to Bouie, but did not reply.

While the County Committee has taken a strong stance against Bouie, his campaign and his supporters stress the fact the Committee leaders have never talked to him in person to ask him where he stands on issues.

Another conservative leader said he loved the “idea” of Bouie but had “serious concerns about Tony Bouie himself.” “He didn’t know what employer sanctions were. He didn’t know if he would sign a No New Taxes pledge and wouldn’t answer the question until he asked his consultant first. He favors affirmative action, and so on and so on. Early indications are that he doesn’t know what he thinks about many issues, but those issues he does have an opinion on do not reflect positions that are consistent with this party’s platform.” He did go on to say he hoped if Bouie lost and truly wanted to be involved in the party and with conservatives he would stay active and “earn his stripes.”

One group who is enjoying what is going on are Democrats. “This is yet another reason why Republicans are doing so poorly in Arizona. They’re focusing on internal ideological purity tests instead of actually solving problems voters care about,” said one gleeful Democrat.

The one thing that seems to be clear is there is a rift in the Republican Party over the Maricopa County endorsement. Supporters of Bouie are frustrated that party never talked to Bouie before they made the endorsement and they wish the party stayed out of the primary and gave Bouie a real shot to earn their trust while those inside the county leadership are more concerned with Bouie’s lack of Republican credentials.

More Inside Edge

WALLY EDGE can be reached via email at politickeraz@aol.com.

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Comments

Welcoming newcomers/signing of pledges

posted by Mary Melcher

First of all, I agree that defeat is in the air for a party that turns away talented new members who were formerly of another party.

Secondly: I can never vote for anyone for any office who signs a "pledge" such as the one described by Mr. Bruno in this morning's paper. Closing up your minds when the country is so in need of people opening them to consider others' views and to look at new ideas? Foolishness and the reason I am registered Independent now.

10/04/08 1:58 pm

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09/16/08 9:38 pm

Tony Bouie Endorsements

posted by BOB HARAN

An Open Appeal to Congressman John Shadegg, State Senator Pam Gorman, and State Senator Jim Waring, to Withdraw their endorsement of Tony Bouie.

We all make mistakes, sometimes we make a purchase and later on have buyers remorse, sometimes we support something and later regret it and, sometimes we support a candidate for public office and later wish we had supported his opponent. Such is the situation in Legislative District 6.

A political unknown, Tony Bouie, decided to run for the Republican nomination for the Arizona House of Representatives in District 6, which he has every right to do. Not long after announcing his candidacy, Congressman Shadegg, State Senator Gorman and, State Senator Waring, endorsed Mr. Bouie.

Since Mr. Bouie entered the political arena, more information about him has become known. First it was discovered that Bouie didn't register as a Republican until only five days before filing for the Republican nomination for the Arizona House. A five day commitment to the GOP before seeking office isn't exactly a sign of long party loyalty.

Much more disturbing information then Bouie's very short time as a Republican was revealed in an invitation for a fund raising reception to benefit him on July 17th. Some of the names on the host committee, which was headed by Jason LeVecke, included other well known opponents of employer sanctions against knowingly hiring undocumented workers, the Legal Arizona Workers Act. In addition to LeVecke, owner of Carl's Jr. fast food franchises are: Mac Magruder, who heads the employers group known as the Wake Up Arizona Coalition, which has done everything possible to obstruct enforcement of the Legal Arizona Workers Act and has vowed to defeat any legislator or candidate that supports the employer sanctions law. Mr. Magruder is also the owner of many McDonald's fast food franchises. Another well known member of the Wake Up Arizona Coalition on Bouie's host committee is Jim Click, Tucson auto dealer and big money campaign contributor. Other lesser known members of the Wake Up Arizona gang also on Bouie's host committee include: Steve Chucri, of the Arizona Restaurant Association; Gordon and Lisa James, public relations firm owners and; Farrell Quinlan, outspoken opponent of employer sanctions, representing the Arizona Chamber. With so many members of Bouie's fundraising host committee who are dedicated to obstructing any meaningful sanctions against employers who illegally hire undocumented workers, it very obvious why Tony Bouie is running and who he will represent if elected.

Also on Bouie's host committee were lobbyist for the cotton growers and cattle growers. There are no cotton or cattle growers in District 6.

The Maricopa County Republican Committee was so alarmed by Bouie's lack of GOP credentials and support by those opposed to the enforcement of the law against hiring illegal immigrants, they unanimously endorsed Bouie's two dedicated Republican opponents who are in favor of enforcement of employer sanctions and endorsed by Arizona Right to Life, incumbent Arizona Representative Sam Crump and Republican activist Carl Seel. Political parties usually do not make endorsements in primary elections except in very unusual circumstances, a life long Democrat running for the Republican nomination for the Arizona House is very unusual.

Tony Bouie has stated to the press that he was not a life long Democrat and that he was registered as a Republican while a Florida resident, a claim by Bouie that has been proven untrue by the press. As you know, lying to the press is a cardinal sin in politics, Tony Bouie now has no credibility with the press.

The latest insult to the grassroots of the Republican party has come from Bouie's wife, Allison Bouie, who is now claiming that "Carl Seel's crowd is planning an attack against Tony at the LD6 meeting." She further claims that, "this group of people are part of a white supremacy group, so they will stop at no costs." I have proudly endorsed both Sam Crump and Carl Seel, therefore I suppose Mrs. Bouie is referring to people like me and other members of the District 6 Republican Committee. I am not a part of any white supremacy group and neither is Mr. Seel or the District 6 Republican Committee and no attack on Tony Bouie at the LD6 meeting has been planned.

This is the last straw in a campaign of deceit by Tony Bouie, This candidate is nothing more then a life long Democrat attempting to fool the GOP into giving him the Republican nomination for a seat in the Arizona House from a Republican district. He claims to support illegal immigration control, but he is supported by those opposed to enforcement of our immigration laws. he lies to the press and has no credibility and makes unfounded claims that those that oppose him belong to a white supremacy group.

Is Tony Bouie really the type of person you want to endorse for any public office? I urge, now that we know more about Tony Bouie, to now withdraw your support of his campaign of deceit before he causes the GOP or yourself, further embarrassment.

Respectfully,

BOB HARAN,
Republican

08/23/08 7:40 pm

eve of destruction

posted by Republican Richard Grayson for Congress AZ-06

When a political party basically says that it doesn't want people to join them, you know they are headed for electoral disaster, if not now, then very soon. With Arizona becoming a minority/majority state within 20-25 years, with very few Latinos wanting to join a party that vilified them (and is telling the young ones born here that, the Constitution notwithstanding, they are not citizens), with insults like this one to African American Republicans, with telling gay and lesbian people and their friends and families that they are not welcome either, with an emphasis on ideological purity that's just the opposite of what the Democrats are doing -- saying "represent your district, not the national party" to conservative Democrats who've been winning majority-white Congressional seats in states like North Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama -- this is a party that's basically saying they're going out of business.

08/15/08 9:33 pm