The American Spectator

ML: There was great sentiment at CPPAC from our leaders throughout the state to mobilize rapidly behind our own candidate. This is important to help make the point to the Republicans that Weld is a no-go. If we pick the right candidate, it could position them to win a Republican primary statewide. I think most of our folks are willing to support either Faso or Manning as long as there’s a clear commitment to run on the conservative party line regardless of whether they ultimately win the Republican nomination — so that they will be our candidate, and in it to the end, regardless.

CJ: What is wrong with the NY Republican Party? Is it arrogance? Ineptitude? Both?

ML: None of the above, really. They have simply lost the will to stand for principle. They have lost the will to stand for true Republican ideas. They now believe in their own theory that New York State is a Blue State, so we all might as well start acting more like Democrats and less like Republicans — particularly Conservative Republicans in the mold of Reagan.

CJ: Some have suggested a compromise scenario, whereby the Conservatives might go along with Weld if they were given the opportunity to choose his running mate. True?

ML: False.

CJ: Can conservatives outside of New York do anything to support you all in this?

ML: At the moment, not really. Once we designate a candidate for Governor, we’ll need help in the form of contributions to the candidate, endorsements, columns in publications like the Spectator… we’ll need all the help we can get from conservatives everywhere. I urge our allies to keep up with the developments by visiting the party website, www.cpnys.org.