Sheldon Adelson-Backed Super PAC’s Funds Boost Georgia Nonprofit

Independence Virginia PAC’s donation to Rise and Shine America was first reported by Roll Call’s Kent Cooper, who posited that the funds might be used in connection with the state’s upcoming U.S. Senate election.

However, Doug Chalmers, the attorney for Rise and Shine America, Inc., told the Center for Public Integrity that the nonprofit “does not intend to be involved in the Georgia U.S. Senate race.”

“We’re not sure how that story got started, but it’s pure speculation and incorrect,” he wrote in an email to the Center for Public Integrity.

Chalmers declined to specify how the money would be put to use.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss announced that he will not seek re-election, sparking a flurry of interest from Georgia Republicans who are eyeing the seat including three sitting U.S. House members, Reps. Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey and Jack Kingston.

In filings with the Internal Revenue Service, Rise and Shine America describes its mission as “protecting conservative values” such as “limited government” and “fiscal responsibility.”

via Sheldon Adelson-Backed Super PAC’s Funds Boost Georgia Nonprofit.

A few minutes with Congressman Allen West, Part Two

Congressman Allen West

Congressman Allen West addressed the Georgia Republican Party State Convention Victory Dinner on Friday night. I caught up with him for a few minutes earlier that day. My personal thanks to Congressman West, and I hope to follow-up on this one day.

Here is Part One of the interview.

GaPundit: “How do we, as a Republican Party, get beyond the balkanization of America and talk to Black Americans as individuals?”

Allen West: “Talk to everybody. And that’s what I’m going to talk about tonight [at the GAGOP Victory Dinner]. The thing is, we have a superior message, we just don’t take our message to every single corner of this country.”

“You know, I grew up in the inner city. My parents were registered Democrats. My parents voted for [Georgia Congressman] John Lewis, but my parents raised me in a very conservative manner.”

“We need to start talking to people about principles. We need to start talking to people about the opportunities they want to have for themselves, and they want to have for their kids. Everybody wants that. No one wants to be a failure. Everyone wants to try to be a success.”

“So, we talk to individuals about how we revitalize our inner city communities.”

“I go back to my neighborhood, it’s been decimated.”

Continue reading

GA GOP: 2013 State Convention Sponsors

Your Georgia Desk:

From the Georgia Republican Party

GA GOP BEST LOGO CONVENTION

Thank you to our 2013 State Convention Sponsors!
Governor Nathan Deal
Secretary of State Brian Kemp
Attorney General Sam Olens
Commissioner Ralph Hudgens
Commissioner Gary Black
Benson’s Inc/Benson’s Hospitality Group-Athens, GA
The Coca-Cola Company
John Padgett
Liberty Mutual
Congressman Lynn Westmoreland
Congressman Tom Price
burton+BURTON
Catherine Bernard
John McCann
Bob Barr for Congress
Ray Smith

Christian Coalition Questions for the GAGOP Chair Candidates

Georgia Christian Coalition
In Their Own Words: The Candidates for GOP Chair 

May 16, 2013

DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES TO THE STATE GOP CONVENTION

It is a pleasure to provide additional information regarding some of the candidates running for State GOP Chair. As you make your voting choices, the Georgia Christian Coalition wanted you to have as much information as possible.

The GCC sent a questionnaire with 15 questions to the four candidates. We are passing to you their answers, unedited. If they did not respond, it is reported in the answer section of each question. Neither candidate said the questions were unfair to their candidacy.Those who responded also supplied contact information should you wish to contact them for more details.

Thanks to Chairman Sue Everhart, under whom a Republican was elected to every Georgia Constitutional office, the chair has become one of the most important positions in state government and in politics. She cannot run again due to term limits.

1. At the local, district, or state levels, what services have you given the GOP?

VanGundy: I served as Precinct Chairman, Gwinnett YR Treasurer, Gwinnett Chairman (4 Years), 6th and 7th District Chairman (6 Years), and 2nd Vice Chairman (4 Years) for the GAGOP. Additionally, I have served as a campaign advisor and volunteer to numerous Republican campaigns.

Harp: I have served at all levels of the party. Precinct Chairman, Muscogee Co, County Chair, Muscogee Co, Third District Chair, General Counsel GA GOP. Delegate to National Conventions, Member Electoral College. I began my service as a worker for Barry Goldwater in 1963-4.

Johnson: DeKalb YR Chairman (2 terms), DeKalb GOP: Legal Counsel, Executive Board Member, Senate District Chair, Precinct Chairman. Republican Nominee for Georgia State Senate in District 41 in 2010, received over 40% of vote in general election.  For further details regarding my experience see: http://www.AdvanceTheGOP.com/about.html and http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jordan-%22alex%22-johnson/4/715/441

Padgett: Did not respond to questionnaire.

Continue reading

Georgia Republican Party State Convention May 18, 2013

Congressman Allen WestYesterday I got to sit down with former Congressman Allen West, who would later speak to the Victory Dinner. We discussed a little bit about how Republicans can reach out to Blacks. I say Blacks because that’s how the Congressman prefers to be described. It was an interesting conversation and I’ve posted part of it on GaPundit.com and will follow up with the rest. Here’s an excerpt:

GP: “One of the big issues that we’re beginning to struggle with as a party is outreach to African-Americans….”

AW: “First of all, I would rather you say Black American, because when people say ‘African-American,’ that is a collectivizing term. I have friends in South Florida who are Caucasian and they’re from the former Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, they’re from South Africa, and now they’re American citizens, and they consider themselves what? I think that we have to be careful about that because the other side does a good job of balkanizing us and so I don’t like to hyphenate. I’m an American Black. That’s how I like to be referred to.”

Saturday Convention Schedule

7-10 AM Registration in Olympia 2

7:00 AM Sergeant At Arms & Volunteers Convene in Oak Room 1

7:30 AM Victory Breakfast in the Athena Ballroom

Honoring Governor and First Lady Deal

Continue reading