Lt. Gov. Dan Forest to Beaufort Republicans: "Stick to our conservative principles" | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    The Beaufort County Republican Party celebrated its annual Reagan Day Dinner Friday (3-15-13) night. A record crowd heard a report from newly installed Lt. Governor Dan Forest who told the group what this new administration had discovered as it took over the Executive Branch in January and some of the issues being confronted by the GOP General Assembly. He told the group that, in spite of the challenges, returning North Carolina to conservative principles in government is the key to moving the state into a position of being "Number One" in critical areas.

    He kicked off his comments by declaring that Washington/Beaufort County is one of his most favorite places in North Carolina.

    The Lt. Governor was introduced by Sen. Bill Cook, from Beaufort County. In attendance also was Sen. Norm Sanderson from the Second Senate District, along with Rep. Michael Speciale who represents southern Beaufort County in the N. C. House. All spoke briefly, reporting on happenings in Raleigh.

    The event was started with a prayer, led by Rev. Mike Isbell and the Pledge of Allegiance. Kipp Hodnett sang the National Anthem and Jonathan Sawyer then offered a stiring rendition of God Bless the USA which brought the crowd to its feet.

    We are not able to post the video because of YouTube's copyright practices.

    The next clip is Lt. Governor Forest's keynote address:



    In the final clip you will hear introductions (note who was and was not in attendance) as well as comments from Sen. Sanderson and Rep. Speciale as well as Dr. Greg Brannon, candidate for U. S. Senate in 2014 against Kay Hagan. The program is concluded by comments from the Reagan Day Committee Chair Jackie Van Essendelft.



Commentary

    We found the Lt. Governor's comments extremely timely as the Republican Party wrestles with what course it will take to 2014 and the next presidential election. It came the same weekend as the CPAC conference clearly shifted from the "moderate, go along to get along" approach in embracing Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Sara Palin and Michelle Bachman. It comes as the state GOP goes into its spring convention having to decide what kind of top leadership it will choose.

    Forest clearly advocated that the State GOP build its base on the grassroots (local) supporters. Coincidentally, Palin got one of the biggest reactions at CPAC when she called on the national Republican Party to send the hired consultants on furlough and listen to Republicans at the grassroots/local level, particularly in recruiting and selecting candidates at the local level.

    These comments speak to the battle now going on in Beaufort County by some in the local GOP who want to shift back to the crew that favors "working with Democrats" even if such compromise abandons the principles Forest was extolling. That will be the essence of the local GOP convention in two weeks.

    Sources tell us that if the RINO take over the local GOP that many in the TEA Party will abandon the Republican Party. That remains to be seen but what happens at the county convention will no doubt be a bellwether event.

    For more on that topic see: This commentary by GOP Commissioner Stan Deatherage, the dean of local GOP officials, being the longest serving Republican elected official in the County.
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