GOP ruse to keep power

[rusty charly]

The recent proposal by Monmouth County Republican Party Chairman Adam Puharic to change the way campaigns are conducted in our county is disingenuous, an attempt to change the rules when voters have lost faith in his party and an attempt to divert attention from state investigations into as many as 10 improper Republican fundraising committees.

There is clearly a need for campaign finance reform, but the Republican proposal is one designed to keep them in power and to ignore their numerous transgressions. It is akin to a bank robber returning some of the money he stole, but still keeping some and asking to not be arrested.

First, the Republican proposal suggests limiting campaign expenditures to $75,000, but ignores these facts:

There are criminal investigations into Republican fundraising accounts that contain more than $120,000. Puharic just held a fundraising event for this year's campaign and touts it as yielding more than $100,000. Republicans have built a two-decade foundation of money from vendors with no-bid contracts and county employees. County Republicans have been arrested and convicted for taking kickbacks.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060903/OPINION/609030357/1030/POLITICS

The Republican Party's conduct has caused voters to turn away from them in droves. Last year, 15,000 more voters cast ballots against the Republican candidates than for them as punishment. Now that Democrats are better able to compete and communicate the Republicans' misconduct, Puharic wants to change the rules in an attempt to maintain a dynasty built on illicit fundraising.