James Bopp, Jr.'s Statement on RNC Platform Fidelity Resolution

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Republican and Conservative Leaders and Activists:

At its Winter Meeting last week, the Republican National Committee adopted an important and historic resolution "concerning party support for candidates." Sponsored by Bill Crocker of Texas, the unanimously-adopted resolution calls on all Republican Party leaders "to carefully screen" all candidates and to "determine that they wholeheartedly support the core principles and positions of the Republican Party as expressed in the Platform" and urges that "no support, financial or otherwise, be given to candidates who clearly do not support the core principles and positions of the Republican Party as expressed in the Platform." The text of the resolution can be found here (Politico).

This is the first time that the RNC has taken steps to ensure that Republican candidates are faithful to the Republican Platform. It empowers the RNC Chairman to consider the positions of candidates on issues and to deny funding to those candidates who are clearly out of the mainstream of our Party.  As Mr Crocker said after the resolution's adoption: "No more Scozzafavas, please. No more Specters, please. No more Chafees, please."

State and local Republican parties, the National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee are independent organizations and the resolution is not binding on them. The RNC, however, is calling all Republican leaders to follow the RNC lead.  After all, what each of us does effects everyone.

With the adoption of the Platform Fidelity Resolution, I withdrew from consideration the Reagan Resolution and the Accountability Resolution, since the Platform Fidelity Resolution accomplish our goal of demonstrating that this party is serious about standing for our principles, so that disaffected conservatives, such as tea party members, will be comfortable working with us in defense of freedom, and gained widespread support. See RNC Passes Compromise on "Purity" Resolutions.

For additional accounts of this historic action by the RNC see The Washington Times: "GOP Leaders Adopt Litmus Test of Values for Candidates" and the AP: "GOP Adopts Platform Test for Republican Candidates"

James Bopp Jr NCM IN
Vice Chairman
Republican National Committee
Bopp Coleson & Bostrom
1 South 6th Street
Terre Haute, IN 47807
voice:    812-232-2434

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