Katon Dawson: Not ready for the big leagues
A lot of buzz surrounds the six candidates for national GOP chair. We've got ones we think can do a good job, and SCGOP Chair Katon Dawson ain't one of them.
We like the guy, and think he's made some positive contributions to the SCGOP during his tenure as chair, but don't see where he's shown that he has what it takes to play in the big leagues of national politics.
While he did much to restore the state GOP to financial health following the tenure of former Chair Henry McMaster, the state GOP's health in recent years has been in question. The party holds the same number of Senate seats that it held five years ago, and has lost seats in the House during that time - all during Dawson's tenure.
Party infighting has broken out in several counties, as well as at the state level, and Dawson has been unable, or unwilling, to play roles in resolving these conflicts. These conflicts wore down the GOP in costly primary battles and left the party unable to make stronger efforts in the fall. The narrow losses of four legislative races in GOP leaning districts in recent elections could have been avoided if more was done to head off some of the infighting which bled the GOP dry in the spring. This certainly runs counter to the image of South Carolina as a GOP stronghold.
Dawson's involvement with groups with whites-only groups will create negative perceptions. Even though we're sure these affilations were not motivated by racism, in politics, perception is often reality. That's the kind of reality we can't have hurting efforts to grow and diversify the national GOP.
The next RNC chair has to be able to develop a vision of a restored GOP majority and help lead efforts to stop the current bleeding and reverse the party's declining electoral fortunes. It makes sense that whoever Republicans pick to hold that office have a record of doing what it takes to make this happen.
If Katon Dawson could do more to stop the costly and vicious party infighting and grow the party in South Carolina, we'd love to recommend him for this office the next time it comes open. But later is not now, and we can't afford to wait for someone to prove he can do at the national level what he has been unable to do in the office he currently holds.
We like the guy, and think he's made some positive contributions to the SCGOP during his tenure as chair, but don't see where he's shown that he has what it takes to play in the big leagues of national politics.
While he did much to restore the state GOP to financial health following the tenure of former Chair Henry McMaster, the state GOP's health in recent years has been in question. The party holds the same number of Senate seats that it held five years ago, and has lost seats in the House during that time - all during Dawson's tenure.
Party infighting has broken out in several counties, as well as at the state level, and Dawson has been unable, or unwilling, to play roles in resolving these conflicts. These conflicts wore down the GOP in costly primary battles and left the party unable to make stronger efforts in the fall. The narrow losses of four legislative races in GOP leaning districts in recent elections could have been avoided if more was done to head off some of the infighting which bled the GOP dry in the spring. This certainly runs counter to the image of South Carolina as a GOP stronghold.
Dawson's involvement with groups with whites-only groups will create negative perceptions. Even though we're sure these affilations were not motivated by racism, in politics, perception is often reality. That's the kind of reality we can't have hurting efforts to grow and diversify the national GOP.
The next RNC chair has to be able to develop a vision of a restored GOP majority and help lead efforts to stop the current bleeding and reverse the party's declining electoral fortunes. It makes sense that whoever Republicans pick to hold that office have a record of doing what it takes to make this happen.
If Katon Dawson could do more to stop the costly and vicious party infighting and grow the party in South Carolina, we'd love to recommend him for this office the next time it comes open. But later is not now, and we can't afford to wait for someone to prove he can do at the national level what he has been unable to do in the office he currently holds.
Imagine how you'd feel about the DNC being led by someone who was affiliated with all-black organizations. You'd probably tell their people to f*** themselves because their party was full of racists.
Steele was able to run for the Senate in Maryland and get 45% of the vote in a tough year in a hardcore blue state, with a good bit of vocal support from black leaders. That shows more political skill than leading a party in a red state that can't their presidential nominee a ten point margin on election day.
You gonna make sand castles with the sand?
He can quit his membership, and join the YMCA, but it doesn't matter much. It is what it is...
It requires a moral courage to speak out about this issue.
Your stock with me has gone up considerably.
The GOP needs more men of courage...keep at it.
I appreciate that you separated things out and didn't make it personal or question his integrity. Too many blogers have to make it nasty and personal.
The standing of the SCGOP when he became Chairman and where it stood when he stepped down, compared to Dawson, says a lot about Dawson. Dawson is still a loser.