Republican Chair Blasts "Christian Fascists" Within Own Party

In the November 9 Sioux City Journal, Woodbury County Republican chair Steve Salem blasted a broadside through the heart of his own local party.

"You've heard of IslamaFascists -- I think we now have Christian fascists. What is the definition of a fascist? Not only do they want to beat you, but they want to destroy you in the process."

Salem said "if things keep going the way things are going locally and statewide, it is going to be more and more difficult for Republicans to recruit candidates. We have elements of the party who are moral absolutists, who take the approach that if you don't take my position every step of the way, not only will I not support you, but I will destroy you."

Salem described the conflict between the local Christian activists who were pushing the unsuccessful campaign of Barbra Blanchard and her attacks against Democratic State Senator Steve Warnstadt.

Revealing the divide in the Woobury County GOP, Salem said "real simply, we had two headquarters offices, which were doors apart from each other. The public reaction was, 'What the heck is going on?' The message that was sent is that this party is split apart."

He said the schism resulted in a group that supported only Blanchard and King, two candidates who cooperated by sharing advertising mailings with information on each on opposite sides of the same postcard.

Perhaps best of all, Iowa Republican Party chair Ray Hoffman (who lives here in Woodbury County) claimed to be unaware of any problems in his local party.

Republican Party of Iowa chairman Ray Hoffmann, a Sioux Cityan as well, said he was "surprised" by Salem's Woodbury County schism comments, and that "I don't know where the idea is coming from, I don't know where he is getting his information."

Keep spinning away, Ray! After all, it sure worked well for Bush & Rove this year.