By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, August 08, 2007 at 9:45 AM
Still fuming over Senator Chris Koster's defection to the blue team, the Missouri Republican Party today issued a statement calling on the former GOP senate leader to return the hundreds of thousands of dollars he raised as a Republican. Labels: Chris_Koster, Republicans
"The Missouri Republican Party’s telephone lines in Jefferson City have been ringing off-the hook since Koster turned his back on Republicans who not only gave their money to Koster but also sacrificed their time and energy on his behalf over the years," read the statement.
"The hard working people of Cass County have been betrayed by Chris Koster and we are demanding that he return our hard-earned money so that it can used to support real Republicans instead of being used by a charlatan and turncoat like this disgrace of a senator," said Ronald Johnson, the Cass County Republican Committee chairman who's committee has donated over $4,000 to Koster over the years.
"Koster smashed a solemn trust and if he has one shred of decency or moral character left, then he should return every penny he took from us," he continued.
The MRP also continues to call on Koster to resign his Senate seat. GOP Communications Director Paul Sloca said Koster should run as a Democrat in a special election.
"The voters of the 31st Senatorial District have a right to expect him to resign his seat," said Sloca.
"While Koster resumes accepting donations from his liberal friends in Big Labor and among his fellow trial attorneys, his once loyal and hard-working Republican supporters are being left out in the cold both financially and politically."
14 Comments:
Mayor Bloomberg has enough cash to cover the claims against Koster----and he will----because he knows it is not right to leave the republican party.
kj
8/08/2007 12:01 PM
Don't we have several "Demopublicans" in the City of St. Louis? And I have never heard the Missouri Republican Committee say how unfair it to 'real Democrats" that these "charlatans and turncoats" consistently support the Republican Agenda. Granted Koster did "change yards, and not move from one shady spot to another", but for me, this just feels like a cool breeze breaking up the long summer heat.
YD
8/08/2007 12:55 PM
Isn't this kind of insane? If a candidate changes their position on a key issue, and you send him a letter saying "you changed, give me my 500 dollar donation," he is going to laugh. Why is this any different? Don't send him more money or votes, but you ain't getting shit.
8/08/2007 1:53 PM
whine! whine! whine! The GOP has screwed many and deserves a little payback.
8/08/2007 2:43 PM
Koster is not obligated to honor refund requests. They were unconditional gifts.
On the other hand, refunding contributions to those who specifically request them (and not just a blanket refund of everything contributed prior to the party switch) would indeed be the honorable thing to do, even though not required by law.
Similarly, Koster is not obligated to resign his senate seat. Former Sen. Phil Gramm set an honorable precedent when he switched parties, by resigning and then running for his old spot as a member of the new party.
Koster could set himself above other politicians by honorably doing what he is not obligated to do, but which the public perceives as the "right" thing to do. Sentiment about "keeping Republican money" sits well with Democrat politicians, but not with the general public.
8/08/2007 3:25 PM
Koster better keep that money, because he sho ain't getting any money from loyal dems that have proven themselves.
8/08/2007 4:26 PM
Unconditional gift, very true. If contributions were conditional, talk about corruption.
8/08/2007 4:38 PM
I'll bet the phones at Republican headquarters were ringing off the hook. And if it was, in fact, donors calling I'll bet a few of them want to know wtf is going on in the party that would send Koster away. Republican donors are getting weary of the 'social conservatives' and they are also becoming terrified that next year they're going to lose everything.
8/08/2007 5:12 PM
Anon 5:12, if republicans actually thought like that they probably wouldnt be republicans.
8/09/2007 9:39 AM
I can only assume that the GOP candidates who took money from Koster will feel a moral obligation to give it back.
8/09/2007 3:35 PM
This comment has been removed by the author.
8/09/2007 3:36 PM
Wouldn't this really be a recall offense? I am generally not in favor of recalls, but there seems to be a reason for it. Koster has changed his affiliation/voting pattern. Voters were pitched one bill of goods and are receiving another.
This being America, it is all about dead presidents, people killed in a duel and ambassadors to France.
8/09/2007 4:01 PM
Only the state legislators can recall a fellow legislator in missouri...
do the republicans a b voting block that could ... yes
Would they ... no
8/09/2007 6:47 PM
I understand that Representative Rodney Hubbard is considering switching parties to become a Democrat. I wonder how his conservative constituent Rex Sinquefeld will react?
8/10/2007 5:10 PM
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