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Eminentoes
Anuzis on Deck
ON THE PHONE, Saul Anuzis doesn't stutter. That's fitting for the former telecom executive and current Michigan state GOP chairman who's running for Republican National Committee Chairman. After all, he's been the first to actually announce his intention to run.
Anuzis is also the first to announce his candidacy using web platforms -- speaking to Republicans via YouTube, changing his status message on the social networking site Facebook, and sending a message via Twitter. [UPDATE: I neglected to mention his website, here.] The significance of such a move cannot be underestimated: At a time when Republicans are regrouping and looking for a path forward, there is a great deal of consensus that whatever the national party does, it has to make better use of the web. That doesn't mean putting up a nice website. It means creating a vast online social network of activists, who can then use web tools to organize meetings, raise money, or even announce their own candidacies.
When asked how he's used the Internet to get candidates elected, he cites the use of Facebook to organize rallies, that he has blogged almost daily during his time as chairman, and he has an email address list of over 100,000 emails. When pushed, he doesn't offer any names of candidates who benefitted from the effort. On the other hand, most other party chairs don't come near even this kind of engagement with the Internet.
Anuzis knows that the technology gap isn't the only area where the RNC needs reform. "I think we need to be more inclusive of the chairmen from each state party. Those members serve on the national committee but most of the time it works like a politburo. It's not a working meeting." That's what happens when the party has a president in office. Decisions are made top down, rather than from the ground up. Anuzis wants to change that.
He also wants to implement a "40 under 40" plan. Recruiting and grooming candidates for office helps renew the image of the party, he says, so it's a priority to "get them the exposure that allows them to compete."
One area in which Republicans are likely to face Democratic challenges are on issues of transparency. As Democratic special interests begin to cash in on favors earned during campaign '08, Anuzis sees the best strategy in '10 and '12 as running against the typical Washington tendency toward hypocrisy. "We can't be duplicitous or hypocritical. That sort of thing has hurt us."
IT'S A HARD SELL. Just what can a state GOP chairman do in increasingly blue Michigan? This year alone saw two Republican districts go blue, one of which (the 7th) had been red for over ten years. Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos lost by 14 points to incumbent governor Jennifer Granholm. The Michigan state Senate has the lowest number of Republicans in years. Yet Granholm and Democratic incumbent Senator Stabenow were both vulnerable at a time when Michigan was in a single-state depression. In other words, in the time that Anuzis has been state party chair, there have been no actual major electoral accomplishments, and perhaps even blown opportunities.
Two thousand eight can be explained by two words: "Barack Obama." And despite being a firmly Democratic year, Michigan did in fact retain most of its Republican House members in Congress. And Democratic billionaire Jon Stryker gave enough money to help the Democrats outspend Republicans. But maintaining the status quo is hardly a recommendation for Anuzis, and explains why there are five candidates running to replace him who have campaign statements pinning the blame solidly on Saul.
Dan Tollis is running for Michigan state chair and announced his candidacy with a direct attack on Anuzis, his executive director, and the Michigan GOP's preferred vendor:
"With Anuzis, Timmer, and Sterling at the helm, we've been creamed at the top of the ticket, as well as losing the majority in the Michigan House of Representatives, two Congressmen, The Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, Republican majorities on several County Board of Commissioners, and several seats on the statewide education boards.… Corruption and infighting has withered the Michigan Republican Party into an ineffective organization, and because of this, I am announcing my candidacy for Michigan Republican Party Chairman."
Jerry Zandstra, who had previously attempted to run for Senate but couldn't get on the ballot, is also running for chairman:
"I am not sure what RNC Members would find attractive about the results of the Michigan Republican Party over the last 4 years.… It is easy for us to make comments about Gov. Granholm being in Washington elbowing for a seat in Barrack Obama's cabinet while her state is in an economic meltdown. But isn't our Chairman doing something similar?"
Zandstra's grievances aren't purely in terms of electoral success. While he's upset that the county map has gotten progressively bluer since 2002, he sees Anuzis as being more interested in "getting involved in party fights rather than trying to win elections." One such party fight was Zandstra's own Senate race, where every signature on his petition to run was challenged not by a Democrat, but by an attorney who was affiliated with the Republican Party. Zandstra suspected state party interference, and felt that Anuzis favored Mike Bouchard, one of the two other competitors for the Republican nomination. Anuzis has denied the allegation about favoring Bouchard, and has stated he knows nothing about the signature challenges. Bouchard got the nomination, but lost in the general.
Anuzis cites this and other controversies as pure mud drummed up to prevent his success. "There is a very small group of people that has not been on my side. I consistently get unanimous support from 12 out of 15 congressional districts. On the other three I have the leadership that may have a problem with me because they're part of a different crowd."
J. Peter Freire is contributing editor of The American Spectator. Freire first came to the Spectator as an intern and editorial assistant under a journalism fellowship from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Since then, he has written for the New York Times, Reason, and Human Events. Prior to returning to The American Spectator, he was editor of Brainwash, an online journal of opinion from America's Future Foundation, worked for the Evans-Novak Political Report, and researched and wrote for the New York Times. Freire studied English Renaissance literature and political science at Cornell University, where he served as senior editor and columnist at the Cornell Review. He is also a 2008 Phillips Foundation Journalism Fellow and the CPAC 2009 Journalist of the Year.
You can reach his Twitter page by clicking here, or follow him @JPFreire.
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Bill Spence| 11.14.08 @ 8:24AM
Dear Mr. Freire,
I am a resident of Michigan. I am also an ex-Republican turned Independent. I voted for McCain and Carl Levin. For the RNC to have a chance in 2010 or 2012, the RNC should not have anyone from Michigan, especially Mr. Anuzis, as the chairman. I am still steamed by the memory of the Republican controlled Senate rolling over like a dead fish and voting for increased taxes last year. Maybe one indication of Mr. Anuzis’ effectiveness can be judged by an incident at the Fourth of July Parade in Holland. The crew cleaning up after the horses received greater applause than our State Senator (Republican) in a Republican district.
Respectfully,
Bill Spence
Holland, Michigan
blackelkspeaks| 11.14.08 @ 8:54AM
The recipe for certain defeat in any election is to put a Michigan Republican in charge. These creatures have sat on their asses for fifty years and morphed into stealth members of the Jackass Party. From Gov Milliken, to Gov Engler, to Sen Abraham, to every gutless wonder in between, the Republican Party in Michigan have become nothing more than enablers for the welfare state. The fact that Anuzis hasn't been able to win anything during the biggest collapse of the Michigan economy since the Great Depression should disqualify this guy out of hand. Most recently, their decision to run that idiot Bouchard against an eminently beatable fool (Stabenow) simply because he was a formulaic political hack (he was a sheriff), showed that Anuzis had no vision, or even common sense.
Speaking of common sense, Michigan Republicans have not exhibited that trait in virtually anything they do. For example, another writer posted here, Bill Spense, laments the fact that the Michigan Republican Senate voted for hated tax increases, then states that he "voted for McCain AND LEVIN". My God! It is this kind of asininity that pervades the thinking of the entire state population! I can provide no more better example of why the National Republican Party should avoid any Michigan Republican like the plague!
J David| 11.14.08 @ 9:38AM
Anuzis has the gall to expect what could be considered a promotion because the RINO Party is now just commie-lib Dem-lite, and liberals ALWAYS reward abject, abysmal failure with promotion. He knows that he is part of a machine that preserves the the power of connected individuals while handing the country over, piece- by-piece, to Marxists, as Bush has done on a national scale, with the aid of a porkified House and Senate. I left MI some years ago, after Engler, when the Republican Party handed the state over to a Canadian socialist.
Harry| 11.14.08 @ 9:41AM
You know, I don't know the first thing about Michigan politics, but I do know that Anuzis sends out daily updates with serious content and is more web savy and active than almost anyone I've seen in politics. Seems to me that if we're going to win the battle of ideas, we may want a Chairman who has proven he knows how to distribute them effectively in the "wired world" we live in.
Blaming any one person for the political losses in any state seems a little silly to me. My hope is that whoever the RNC picks it's based on what they've tried to do to advance sensible solutions rather than where they're from.
Kingfish| 11.14.08 @ 10:01AM
"The scoreboard doesn't lie," said one. "If the Detroit Lions needed a new head coach, they wouldn’t go looking for a college coach with a losing record."
Not true, The Oakland Raiders did this. oops, never mind.
Bill Spence| 11.14.08 @ 10:28AM
Dear Mr. Blackelspeaks,
Your comment emphasizes my confusion and my sadness of the state of the Republican Party nationally and especially here in Michigan. The Michigan Republicans are not showing either courage or leadership. When Mr. McCain announced that he would no longer campaign in Michigan, I lost what respect I had for the Republican Party. Can somebody list for me just what does the Republican Party stands for?
Let me explain why I did vote for Mr. Levin - With the financial crisis our state of Michigan is experiencing, my vote was for the person who has the best possibility of aiding Michigan. This is pretty sad as this is the first time I’ve ever voted Democratic.
Mr. Anuzis, with his knowledge of the internet and 21st Century communications, should be an aid, but not the leader.
Regards,
Bill Spence
Holland, Michigan
Glenn| 11.14.08 @ 11:39AM
Sorry Bill
But anyone that would vote for Levin is an idiot. I heard him on WJR say that "well we threw a bunch of pork on the bail out bill 'cause we could not get it passed any other way" We need conservatives FIRST in Michigan. Levin and Stabinaw are a discrase.
J. Peter Freire| 11.14.08 @ 11:41AM
Specifically regarding blaming the party leader for losses in the state: I am 100% on your page -- it clearly has been rough going for the GOP in general. But the hope is that a leader can unite a fractured coalition. In his interviews with me, Anuzis wasn't able to furnish evidence of building a coalition aside from the 12 out of 15 argument, which was tenuous.
If Anuzis wants to win this, he can't simply say he has a plan. He needs to rely on his record.
Bill Spence| 11.14.08 @ 12:21PM
Dear Glenn,
What is needed is to restructure the Republican Party and bring the GOP back to its roots. For now, I do not see were the GOP is or where the party is going. Name calling will not help. Do not blame the voters if the candidate or the party cannot communicate their message. Only work, sweat, and honest discourse will bring this phoenix back from the ashes.
Regards,
Bill Spence
Holland, Michigan
robert| 11.14.08 @ 2:30PM
the author fails to provide the website for Anuzis' candidacy so that we can learn about his plan for the RNC. http://www.anuzisforchair.com
we're proud of what Saul has done here in Michigan to bring the party into the age of the internet. he's accessible and informative...that's been a great asset to grassroots leaders like myself. but on the other hand, that's why he's a threat to the "old boys network" of power brokers that ruled the party before him...
J. Peter Freire| 11.14.08 @ 3:57PM
Robert,
I've added the link to his website -- thanks for that. But I will note that Anuzis is hardly set apart from the Michigan old boys network. No one is clear of that charge.
In that sense, I ought to offer another part of this. Anuzis was very concerned about this old rivalry, and even accused me (and probably still is) of being complicit in it. That's a big mistake, first of all because it's retrospective, and second of all, *I'M JUST DOING MY JOB*.
I'm happy to continue speaking to Saul. I didn't twist his quotes, I allowed him the chance to respond to the allegations, but if his communications strategy is to accuse every reporter that brings up past controversies as being complicit in them, then that's indicative of another problem entirely.
vitadmd| 11.14.08 @ 5:59PM
If this column is an attempt to destroy Mr.Anuzis before he ever gets a chance to get his message out nationally - it's not very effective. In fact, it raises questions about your credibility and agenda, Mr. Freire.
I am closely following media coverage regarding Mr. Anuzis. So far I get the impression that he is an authentic conservative who is extremely tech-savy, with an inspiring heritage story, and of impeccable character. He seems to be exactly who we need to lead the RNC.
We Lithuanians don't back down easily.... and we are quite familiar with Soviet tactics.
Steve Schaefer| 11.14.08 @ 9:35PM
First, I really appreciate the quality reporting involved in the above article. It is nice to see a writer interview multiple sources about the topic as well as providing accurate context for the story. This may be the expectation within journalism, but it often goes unfulfilled.
I am a life-long resident of Michigan, living in Metro-Detroit. Michigan's Republican Party has experienced a battle for its identity or lack thereof. A few years ago, the more socially conservative Republican Tom McMillin and his supporters in northern Oakland County were in open conflict with long-time Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson over whether the Republican Party should be more activist in its opposition to homosexual marriage and other hot-button social issues.
L. Brooks is a very popular leader in Oakland County for his opposition to the City of Detroit's many attempts to collectivize any bills and/or building projects that they would like Oakland County and Macomb County to help pay for.
Gubernatorial Candidate Dick DeVos was well-funded, led incumbent Governor Jennifer Granholm throughout the summer before her reelection, but came off as inarticulate and downright strange in his body language. (Also, his family's background with Amway was brought up, and further reinforced an image of someone who has business savvy, but lives in another subculture from the rest of Michiganders.)
Saul Anuzis uses the internet effectively to send out weekly (and sometimes daily) e-mails to make conservatives and center-right supporters aware of articles pertaining to furthering conservative principles on the local and national level.
On the local public affairs shows, he is calm, articulate, and excellent at explaining the conservative position on issues impacting Michigan.
Michigan is a bubble of nostalgia that continuously talks of the Detroit of the 1950's along with the Golden Age of the American Automobile Industry. This anesthetizes many citizens from the realities of what needs to be done-namely pushing right to work provisions (will never happen), diversifying the state economy (hasn't happened yet), and finding quality GOP candidates for state office (apparently hard to find). In short, I do not think Saul should be blamed for the a purple state that is trending ever more blue. He may not be the best candidate for RNC Chair, but he certainly does not deserve to be held accountable for many factors well outside of his control.
Steve Schaefer
Shelby Township, MI
Sean Conness| 11.15.08 @ 1:42AM
Isn't Saul the guy that wanted to ban Ron Paul from the debates? What the Republicans need is a real conservative to run the organization. Republicans can't win with people like Saul in charge. The base has had enough of these big government liberals in the party. Time for Saul to join with the Democrats.
J. Peter Freire| 11.15.08 @ 1:56AM
Steve,
That's an excellent summary -- the main point being that there's a very toxic environment in Michigan, and I don't think Saul can be blamed. The trouble is that there's no record beyond this. Vitadmd -- bringing up controversy isn't the same as indicting him. I'm sorry that you feel otherwise.
Eric Dondero| 11.15.08 @ 8:31AM
I like Saul. I've had him on my blog talk radio show twice. He's a self-described "libertarian Republican." As the Publisher of Libertarian Republican blog, I should be enthusiastically backing his campaign. But I'm not. Michael Steele would be a far superior choice IMHO.
Problem with Saul is precisely what the article points out: His losing record in Michigan. This should have been a blow out year for Michigan Republicans. Instead, the GOP lost two House races, and tons of state legislative seats.
Saul needs to give an explanation first for the poor performance of the Michigan GOP before he thinks of running for RNC Chair.
Eric Dondero, Publisher
Libertarian Republican blog
Gazinya| 11.16.08 @ 10:43AM
Here's one of those 'You think you got it bad' stories. Here in New Mexico Sen. Deminichi (sic) announced his departure and that set in motion a complete turning of the political wheel in this state. The two Repubs who occupied seats in the House, Heather Wilson and Steve Pierce, went after each other for the Senate seat like cats and dogs. Pierce won the primary but lost big to a Dem. Udal. This state, for the first since joining the Republic, has no Republicans in the House or Senate. No Republican influence in our State gov. There is no Repulican influence in Santa Fe or Albuquerque. Conservatives are as scarce as chickens teeth.
Mgm| 11.17.08 @ 12:21AM
I love Saul like a brother. I’ve known him for more than 20 years. I’d be surprised if he became RNC Chair. I’d also be surprised if he lost as Michigan party chair. Reforms at party HQ on East Grand River are overdue.
I would never describe former Governor John Engler or party chairman then U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham as “gutless.” The Michigan party treasury was flush and both the state Senate and House had Republican majorities
Joe the Plummer| 12.5.08 @ 8:13PM
Saul has a horrible record that is well documented. He gets too involved in intra-party fueds (see Zandstra and the Yobs for a taste). Besides that he is a self-promoter, not a leader for the party. Besides that there are rumors that he spread the nasty news about one of his rivals, Kayton Dawson, for the head RNC job to win over some votes. We just don't need him. He is wrong on too many levels.
Joe the Plummer (in Michigan)