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March 27, 2012
Official Statement
Contact: Paul Sorum
(701) 219-5601
[email protected]
Dear Convention Attendees,
Candidates for national and statewide offices have been asked to
sign a pledge (attached) indicating their support of the
adopted principles of the North Dakota Republican Party.
The pledge is titled: Declaration of Republican Principles. The
principles include: (1) Individual Liberty, (2) Persona
Responsibility, (3) Limited Government, (4) Peace Through
strength and the Rule of Law, (5) Lower Taxes, (6) Family
Integrity and the American Moral Tradition, (7) Quality
Education and (8) Legislative Integrity. What could be less
controversial at a Republican Convention?
This request has created concern for the Chairman of the NDGOP.
Stan Stein, in a message to Convention Attendees
said: In the past couple of days, you may have received an
e-mail from a small group of individuals that have asked
statewide candidates to sign a pledge relating to previous
Resolutions of the NDGOP.
Stan knows the Resolutions referenced in this Pledge ARE the
adopted resolutions of the NDGOP. They are not theprevious
Resolutions of the NDGOP.
He suggests Convention delegate names and contact information
are NOT to be used to disseminate information. He
says doing so is a breach of trust. He opines the currently
adopted Republican Resolutions are not to be referenced
and that requesting candidates acknowledge and/or pledge their
support of these Resolutions is inappropriate.
I find this troublesome. The purpose of the Convention is to vet
our candidates. Those of us attending a convention as
delegates have a responsibility to know what those seeking our
support stand for and what they dont.
Asking whether or not a candidate supports the adopted
Resolutions of the Republican Party provides a good basis on
which to evaluate a candidate.
While our NDGOP Resolutions are debated at each Convention,
until new ones are vetted and adopted, until that
process is complete, those adopted in 2010 ARE the Resolutions
of our Party.
I understand many candidates actively attempt to avoid making
pledges or committing themselves to any position.
The 2012 Republican Convention is going to be a watershed
convention. Stans message highlights what is at stake.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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At stake is whether or not North Dakota will continue to grow
government by double digit percentages; will continue to
drag its feet in addressing our infrastructure needs; will
protect a machine that is distributing hundreds of millions of
our
dollars to special interests. All of which are contrary to our
Republican Principles
Republican principles call for less government spending;
removing government from our lives and businesses not
expanding it; ensuring government fully performs the duties it
is charged with performing; encouraging personal
responsibility not expanding welfare; lowering taxes, not
growing them; reducing waste; protecting life and stopping the
redistribution of citizens earnings to those who havent earned
it.
The only way to accomplish this is through ROBUST debate on all
issues. Attempts to silence such debate, attempts to
minimize the vetting process, attempts to insulate candidates
from being challenged on what they believe is hostile to
the very concept of democracy and self-government. It is the
antithesis of freedom.
To call the vetting process inconvenient, to suggest it causes
confusion or is a breach of trust exemplifies exactly
what is wrong with our political system today.
I embrace and proudly PLEDGE my support for the currently
adopted Declaration of Republican Principles. I also
believe any candidate unwilling to Pledge their support for our
Republican Principles does not deserve and should not be
given the privilege of placing an R behind their name on a
ballot for public office.
Respectfully,
Paul Sorum
Candidate for Governor of North Dakota
