By the end of the day today, the fate of one man, and the entire Republican Party of Virginia, will be clearer:
From the moment Jeffrey M. Frederick plunged into politics, he impressed people as a young Republican in a hurry. Now, Frederick, who was only 32 when he seized the top spot in the Republican Party of Virginia last year, is fighting to stay there.
Today, Frederick faces a fierce challenge from members of his party who want to sack him. The dissidents, including gubernatorial candidate Robert F. McDonnell, have presented a list of complaints that covers matters of substance, such as allegations that his private company improperly benefited from party business, and matters of style.
Frederick, who presents himself a champion of grassroots Republicans, has denied each accusation and dismissed the rebellion as the work of “insiders.”
At stake is not only Frederick’s career but also the philosophical direction of the party — and perhaps its chances of retaking the governor’s mansion from Democrats this fall.
I stated my own opinion of the anti-Frederick campaign a month ago:
If Frederick does intend on engaging in a battle that will do little more than harm the Republican Party of Virginia in a year where it looks like they have a decent shot at all three statewide races, then it’s just further evidence, along with his apparent disdain for New Media campaigning, his stupid remarks about Barack Obama during the `08 Campaign, the Twitter debacle, and his insanely stupid remarks about Charles Darwin, that he needs to go. Now.
Since then Frederick’s own conduct, along with the list of charges brought against him, have only convinced me more of the fact that he needs to be removed before he does anything further to damage the Republican Party of Virginia in what is clearly a crucial election year.
And now, on the eve of the vote itself, comes another serious charge; that Frederick essentially forced RPV employees to make a campaign video for his wife:
Read this statement from a former RPV Staffer who was ordered to make a campaign ad for Amy Frederick for Delegate while this Staffer was still employed by RPV!! This former RPV Staffer, with the initials M.A., was forced to make the below video of Amy during the last week of the 2009 General Assembly session.
This is the statement from the RPV Staffer: “While I was working at RPV, I was instructed from higher ups to direct, shoot and edit Amy Frederick’s campaign announcement video. I had originally questioned whether or not this was a conflict of interest seeing that she is the Chairman’s wife and she was not officially a candidate or even the nominee, but I was told that she was allowed to utilize RPV’s resources and it was non of my concern” —signed M.A., former RPV Staffer
Both Bearing Drift and The Contemporary Conservative have the Amy Frederick video in question up at their sites, so I don’t feel the need to give her campaign any more attention.
In any event, if this charge is true, then I think the outcome of today’s vote ought to be inevitable, but, as with all things, we shall see.
Doug, even that won’t change the minds of the “true believers”, and there are more than a few on State Central Committee. It will be interesting – I wish I could be there!