Chad Brown, co-chairman of the Republican party in Iowa’s most populous county, has quit his post and changed his party affiliation to Independent to protest the Iowa GOP’s takeover by the Christian right and the National Rifle Association. Brown described himself in an interview with the Des Moines Register as a lifelong Republican and financial contributor who became disillusioned with the party at the national, state and local levels for having “declared war on science and common sense” by denying global climate change. He said it was increasingly “difficult to defend issues and statements” made by party officials at all three levels. He was irked, in addition, that the county’s GOP had no paid staff, no headquarters and lacked even a working telephone number.
This, mind you, in the Republican party that plays a key role in the national party’s nominating process. Even now would-be presidential nominees trek to Iowa to cash in on the attention lavished on Iowa by virtue of its first-in-the-nation caucuses.
Chad Brown’s defection might cause some politicians to have second thoughts about investing heavily in Iowa. If the GOP in heavily populated Des Moines doesn’t even rate a telephone listing, candidates have to wonder, “What kind of bush league place is this?”
Once, Republicans thrived where Chad Brown now has thrown in the towel. Bob Ray served as governor for 14 years. His brand of moderate Republicanism won him support from Democrats and Independents alike. He was so popular streets in Des Moines have been named for him. Then his party veered sharply to the right. Even venerated moderates like the GOP’s former national chairlady, the saintly Mary Louise Smith, was humiliated and virtually read out of the party. In the Stalin-like purge that ensued the party adopted positions that drove out the few remaining moderates. Among the party’ stances: abolish the Internal Revenue Service; eliminate Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; and get rid of the United Nations.
Chad Brown’s resignation may wake the party of Bob Ray out of its nightmare. If it doesn’t, look for more looniness and decay from a once-proud and vibrant Iowa Republican party.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is Brown’s resignation letter to the Iowa Republican Party Executive Committee.]
Dear Polk GOP Executive Committee Member,
I am writing to inform you that I changed my voter registration to Independent today – severing all ties to the Republican Party. Having been a Republican all my life, I did not take this decision lightly.
Having spoken with a pastor and having prayed about this for hours, I came to the conclusion that this is my only recourse. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the National level. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the Statewide level. I’m disappointed with the Republican Party at the Countywide level. I find it increasingly difficult to defend issues and statements made by Party leaders and officials from all three levels.
I decided to get back in this arena following the “contentious” 2012 Polk County GOP Convention. I was upset by what happened at the conventions, and I entered into the arena with the intent to help fix the problems. However, I think this level of dysfunction is not going to be fixed any time soon.
I donated time and financial resources to the Polk GOP and haven’t had a good return on my investment. In the 2000 Presidential Election, the Polk GOP lost Polk County by about 16,000 votes. In fall of 2000, the Polk GOP had no headquarters. The Polk GOP had no paid staff. The Polk GOP didn’t even have a working telephone number. Fundraising was minimal.
In 2012, the Polk GOP lost Polk County by over 32,000 votes. Until 2002, Republicans were elected to the State House from Des Moines. In 2012, Republicans lost 2 State House seats in suburban, Republican-leaning districts and came two dozen votes from losing a third. Facts are stubborn things. I think we are now headed in the wrong direction on several fronts and regretfully must step aside.
It’s my opinion that rather than fix the problems that led to such a massive 2012 defeat, the GOP does not seem to seriously want to fix the issues. I think helping a dysfunctional Party that does not want to address its problems is enabling. I do not believe in enabling. I debated this for weeks and am certain this is the only course.
I wish you the best of luck,
Chad Brown
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