John McCain's untimely withdrawal from Michigan has caused a significant internal squabble amongst GOP leaders and former GOP victory center employees, with charges of unseemly actions being levied in both directions. The squabble though is a symptom of a larger problem that must be addressed.
Below, I will reprint the e-mails. The problem appears to have started with an e-mail Justin Zatkoff started circulating. Zatkoff, chair of the College Republicans who've we've reported on in the past when his eye was swollen and required facial reconstructive surgery after being badly beaten up during a college drinking party (the story was originally thought to have been BAMN-Proposal 2 related violence, which was later dispelled, and even DailyKos quoted us here), was a Victory Center employee who had already been moved from at least two victory centers for unknown reasons. Zatkoff's e-mail raises some issues, but also takes unnecessary shots at State party leadership (for a situation largely the responsibility of McCain strategists). After the e-mail bounced around considerably with others forwarding it, the Party issued a response, with ambiguous (not naming names, which is probably appropriate given the seriousness of the) charges about stolen cell phones and other resources.
Our opinion bottom-line - both sides in this mess need to get their bearings straight. Zatkoff was clearly wrong to let the McCain transition become personal, but whether this requires a public response from the Party is another story.
This is a sign of lack of mission clarity. It's time that Michigan (and other States') Republicans redefine themselves and re-brand their efforts. If one identifies the mission clearly, their will be fewer problems amongst the missionaries. It's not necessarily that we need to be more conservative, or more like Reagan - it needs to be a synthesis of that to some extent but with adaptation to newer circumstances. The retort to Reagan is itself an implicit denial of the current Bush legacy - McCain's own admissions of Bush's failures at multiple levels is refreshing, but Republicans must be precise in identifying what precisely didn't work and why and come clean rather than letting Democrats script and paint the entire philosophy of limited government with a broad brush.
Additionally, the state Party's mission should never have been so heavily tied to the Presidential race. Sure, supporting your top of ticket is important, but the presidential candidate's team will tell you what it needs and when.
Each of the folks below are using mass-mailing software, so I have no qualms about reposting it or belief that its not already in other hands.
From: Dan Tollis Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 1:56 PM To: chetly@chetlyzarko.com Subject: Mich. GOP Threatens To Arrest Volunteers! This is Crazy!
Dear Chetly,
This email was just forwarded to me. This is ridiculous that State Party staff would threaten to arrest these guys for delivering literature that we all badly need!! I now understand that there is nearly 300,000 pieces of literature that has been collecting dust in Farmington for over a week and we have not gotten it and may be arrested if we try to get it!
As a candidate for State House in Macomb County, I'm putting myself on the line for the Party. It's disappointing to see these sorts of distractions because I could sure use their help.
Sincerely,
Dan Tollis Candidate Michigan House of Representatives District 31
From: Justin Zatkoff Date: October 7, 2008 7:59:00 AM GMT-04:00 To: Justin Zatkoff Subject: Sorry, No Literature Today
Hey Everyone,
Hey - I know that I told you I would get your county's allotment of the 300,00 pieces of the John McCain literature over to your HQ last night and this morning, but a funny thing happened. Sad actually. As you know, that literature has been sitting in Farmington since last week and hasn't gone out to anyone! This literature does us no good sitting in the office collecting dust when it could be out in the hands of our grassroots activists! In accordance with our arrangements with the County and McCain grassroots leaders, like you, we were going to get it out all over the state as mentioned and had a plan to get it everywhere in the state in 48 hours - most places by this morning (or last night!), and even had direction from Jennifer Hallowell, the Regional Campaign Manager of the McCain Campaign, to do so.
Anyway, we got the van half loaded (a lot of work to load 300,000 pieces of lit!) and then got a call from Jeff Timmer, the Executive Director of MIGOP, who had heard about our plan to distribute literature to you guys. The first thing he said was, "I'm recording this conversation so it's admissible in a court of law." Then Jeff Timmer told us that if we take even 1 piece of literature he was going to call the police and have us arrested. Seriously! All because we want to keep fighting here in Michigan and deliver the lit to people who need it - like you. He was going to have us a arrested for this!
I am really frustrated by all of this. Actually, three of us volunteers yesterday were those who got fired from the Michigan GOP Victory Program on Friday. And we still wanted to help turn Michigan red! Two of them even drove over from Grand Rapids and paid for gas and a van to do this. Anyway, I guess I can't help on this one, and I would not go over there if I were you as you may get arrested as well. I have never heard of anything like this in politics. What good does the stuff do over there in an office? When will they ever get it out? Oh well, as I mentioned I am frustrated and venting now.
Take care and I will keep trying to help you as much as I am able to. __________ Justin Zatkoff
From: Scott Greenlee Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 9:30 PM To: chetly@chetlyzarko.com Subject: Real Story on Yesterday's Incident -- Since I Was There
Fellow GOP Friends
Good evening from Grand Rapids, I hope all is well with each of you as you watch what I am sure will be a great performance by Senator McCain tonight in the debate.
Unfortunately, I must give you some Straight Talk of my own given the events of the last 24 hours. If you are not already aware, I apologize for dragging you into this issue, but emails have been flying around the state and calls have been made and I feel it is important to set the record straight. I am sorry it is lengthy but it has to be in the interest of giving you the full and honest account in a transparent fashion. This should clear up the questions.
Like several others who worked for Senator McCain and/or Victory here in Michigan, I was officially laid off Friday. The last thing I am is a disgruntled employee. In fact, I let folks know I would not accept deployment to another state in a paid capacity to instead stay here and volunteer the next 30 days. This is nothing new I did not need the position of Deputy Victory Director as I have other business interests that are a lot more profitable, but essentially dedicated this year to Senator McCain. I first volunteered as the Acting State Director after the Primary until I was hired into Victory as the Deputy Victory Director. In fact, speaking with many of the folks who are no longer employed, I can tell you that none of them are disgruntled and all are ready to volunteer or work in some capacity until November 4.
Now, when I was laid off, along with others, I rededicated myself to the idea that we would win Michigan. As such, I started thinking about the fact that I have heard from so many grassroots leaders around the state needing lit, stickers, and signs. I checked with some folks on the east side of the state and found out that there was about 300,000 pieces of McCain lit (see attached photo) in the Farmington Hills office. Apparently this has been there for the last week, and we wanted to get them out. I shared this with the State Grassroots Co-Chair who contacted by email the McCain Regional Campaign Director, Jen Hallowell who said get them out at once. The exact quote when asked if grassroots volunteers should take them and get them out was Absolutely, thank you!
So, I secured a truck, three volunteers, and another truck from the east side of the state and drove across the state to get the stuff and start getting it out. I have distribution centers set up in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Metro Detroit with much of it planned to be dropped at Victory Centers that are still open and Local County Party Offices last night the rest of Lower Michigan today, and the UP tomorrow morning. We had the volunteers and were all set.
We arrived (myself and three volunteers) at the Farmington Hills Office and started loading the truck. We got it about half full when I got a call relayed to me from a Victory Center Director, Chuck Wright, which was from Larry Ward, the State Party Political Director and 8th District Chair. Larry asked what I was doing and I explained it all. I told him I had the apportionment percentages from when the yard signs and bumper stickers were distributed, so each county would get the proper amount and a network of volunteers were set to hand it out. He pointed out that the State Party was going to do it, but I noted that the McCain Campaign asked us to get it out since it does no good sitting in that office. He said ok, thanked me, and hung up.
We kept loading but quickly got another call relayed from Chuck Wright, this one from Jeff Timmer, the State Party Executive Director. Jeff was very direct and clear with me; first he noted that he was recording the call for possible legal action, and then he said I was to unload the truck and not take one brochure as they were the property of MI GOP and I was not authorized. He then noted that it did not matter what the McCain Campaign said as these were property of MI GOP and they would distribute them when they were ready. He said if I took even one brochure he would call the police, have me arrested, and that I would be prosecuted. Of course, I was not going to fight that, so we unloaded the truck for the next half hour, called Jeff Timmer back to let him know it was completed, and left the property. I then bought dinner for the volunteers as I felt bad that their time was wasted.
I have asked Jeff Timmer for a copy of the recorded discussion, and have not received it.
To say it was one of the strangest things I have seen in politics is correct. I was let go, like others, but still willing to work. The brochures do no good in the office they need to be out in people?s hands to help keep the polls close and give us momentum. With reduced media buys, I feel they are more important than ever. We were taking them to the local county organizations so they could get them out on walks, many would have been to voters right now as I know there are walks going on throughout the state tonight. This would have been done quickly and at no cost to MRP.
I have no real spin on this other than that it is very unfortunate. I have given you 100% truth here and I have the witnesses to back it up, as well as the email giving permission in writing from the McCain Campaign to get it done. I simply want to win that is what I have always been about in 20 years of political activism and employment in Michigan. Now is not the time to fight, threaten to arrest volunteers, or do anything other than work together as a team for the McCain/Palin team, Jack Hoogendyk, our Congressional Delegation and Candidates, our Statewide Education Candidates, Chief Justice Cliff Taylor, our State House, County Commission, and Township Candidates.
I take my responsibility to the Party, my role as a member of the State Committee, and my reputation seriously.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Keep fighting the good fight -
Thanks So Much!
Scott Greenlee
From: Larry Ward, Michigan Republican Party Political Director [mailto:lward@migop.org] Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 3:34 PM To: chetly@chetlyzarko.com Subject: We Won't Be Distracted
Today, you may have received an email from a disgruntled former employee, Justin Zatkoff, that is an example of game-playing that is distracting from our efforts this fall. It has been leaked to the press and being circulated by the same old group of troublemakers who are more interested in intra-party political silliness than helping Republicans win general elections.
To make our situation clear, I just wanted to fill you in on some information regarding equipment, collateral materials and supplies as we allocate resources in the coming days.
Since last Thursday when the news came out about the McCain campaigns withdrawal from Michigan, we have been actively working on a plan to allocate remaining resources around the state.
In the meantime, there have been several individuals, including some disgruntled former employees, who have tried to take advantage of the situation by stealing cell phones, and other electronic equipment, as well as substantial amounts of collateral materials. In at least one instance there was an employee who vandalized their victory center on the way out the door.
We have done everything in our power to hold on to these resources until we can re-allocate them appropriately. Some of those decisions had to wait until we had a chance to determine which victory centers would stay open and which staff would stay in place. Some of these resources are designed specifically for the 72 Hour program. If we disperse them now, we will have nothing for the final push of the campaign.
I would like to assure you of three things:
1. we are implementing a plan to make sure that what precious resources we have are distributed and used to maximum benefit for the entire state; 2. we will do whatever is necessary to protect any of our equipment and resources from "growing legs" and walking out the door; and, 3. We will prosecute anyone who attempts to take valuable collateral or equipment that belongs to the Republican party or the victory program and inhibits our effort to achieve victory in November.
Unfortunately this is what happens when there is any kind of confusion, so i wanted to give you as much information as possible and I also want to thank you for your patience and confidence in our efforts.
Larry Ward Political Director, Michigan Republican Party 8th District GOP Chairman
Paid for by Michigan Republican Party
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
