GOP in Turmoil: Gio and Gov. Carcieri Killed the Party
Thursday, October 06, 2011
The prominent Republicans supporting Brendan Doherty’s Congressional bid, including former party chairman Gio Cicione and Governor Don Carcieri, are largely responsible for a party that is crumbling in Rhode Island, several current and former state GOP officials said Wednesday.
The comments are the latest in an escalating feud between former State Rep. and Congressional candidate John Loughlin’s backers and the Doherty camp, which named Cicione as campaign manager early this week. Loughlin, who is currently serving in Iraq, is expected to oppose Doherty in a Republican primary for the right the challenge first-term Democratic Congressman David Cicilline next November.
The Loughlin supporters, which come from the more conservative wing of the party and include all but one GOP town chairmen in the 1st Congressional District, have constantly challenged Doherty’s Republican credentials since he announced his candidacy in May.
Now they’re blasting the GOP members who are supporting Doherty as well.
The Party Is Moribund
According to former State GOP parliamentarian John Clarke, the Doherty team is made up of Republicans that put their own interests well ahead of the party. When Cicione became party chairman, he followed the same path as Governor Carcieri, former state GOP chair John Holmes and former Lieutenant Governor Bernard Jackvony, Clarke told GoLocalProv.
“Unfortunately that does nothing for the Republican Party at all,” Clarke said. “There has been a predominate group dominating the party for too long. All they look to do is better their own interests and Gio made it clear from the beginning that he wanted to be with them.”
Prior to the 2010 election, Clarke said he was asked three times to support former General Treasurer Frank Caprio’s gubernatorial campaign if he joined the Republican Party, a move he says Cicione supported. Clarke claims Caprio’s potential shift to GOP was a major reason why Cicione was opposed to closing the Republican primary to Independent voters.
So were Cicione and Governor Carcieri responsible for damaging the Party?
“Absolutely they’re responsible,” Clarke said. “The party is effectively moribund. We have no money in the Republican coffers, so I’d say it’s moribund.”
Most Divisive Person In the Party
Clarke isn’t the only Republican criticizing Doherty’s supporters. Mark Smiley, Chairman of the Republican Chairman’s Caucus, said he doesn’t understand why Doherty would hire Cicione if he is trying to earn the support of rank-and-file GOP members.
“It’s a confusing move if you understand the party right now,” Smiley said. “Gio is the most divisive person in the party. Most of the problems and infighting have something to do with him. The party is still reeling from Gio and Don Carcieri and Brendan Doherty is operating just like them.”
Smiley said he has only met briefly with Doherty, but the candidate didn’t seem to be interested in his support.
“Brendan could have better support if he acted like he wants it,” Smiley said. “But if he’s the primary winner, I’m not going to thwart him. I’d rather have him than David Cicilline.”
Loughlin Has Grassroots Support
Doherty has been criticized in recent weeks for not doing enough to reach out to members of the party. Last week, House Minority leader Brian Newberry called on Doherty to drop out of the race and support Loughlin or run in the 2nd Congressional District against Congressman James Langevin.
Doherty later admitted to having never met with Newberry, but said he intends to remain in the race for the long run.
“The bottom line is that, from what I can observe, nearly all of Col. Doherty's support among Republicans comes from either his hometown of Cumberland (understandable) or from the 2nd District,” Newberry wrote in a Facebook message. “By contrast John has a huge network of grassroots support within the 1st. District stemming not just from his run in 2010 but from his years of working with the GOP in Rhode Island. Further, not all of John's support is from Republicans. As we all know, he was endorsed across the political spectrum by many Democrats in 2010.”
Defending Doherty
But Cicione said the question over where Doherty stands on the conservative spectrum is unfair, noting that “in some cases, he’s more conservative than I am. He hits it across the board on conservative values. He’s a natural when it comes to Republican politics.”
Cicione said he can sympathize with the anger toward him for his time as chairman of the party. He said the way the system is structured, city and town chairs have little power and they often don’t have the resources they need. He compared their struggles with his problems he had raising money from the national party.
Cicione also disputed the idea that he wasn’t honest with the party. As soon as he was elected chair, he said he rolled out ten year plan for strengthening the party that involved recruiting conservative Democrats and Independents. He said solely blaming the GOP’s struggles on one person is “a bit much.”
“The Republican Party in Rhode Island has been struggling for the better part of the last century,” he said. “When I came in, I was the guy that going to change things, but I became part of the establishment and they were against me.”
Cicione said he is concerned personal grudges could get in the way of the real goal in 2012: Winning the Congressional seat.
“I think primaries are always a mixed bag,” he said. “They draw attention to the race, but if people are more concerned about petty jealousy than beating David Cicilline, it’s certainly an issue.”
“The biggest problem with the Republican Party is that people stop helping when their guy loses.”
If you valued this article, please LIKE GoLocalProv.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Comments:
Lis Velva
7:30am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
Really so McKay, and Trillo are going to carry the checkered flag, with know pit crew.
Peter Cassels
7:44am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
The RI Republican Party is starting to remind me of the sometimes dysfunctional gay community. We're known for occasionally eating our own (holding personal grudges, back-biting, etc.).
noel davis
7:55am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
I Gio knows this, then how come the colonel doesn't??
>>>Cicione said he is concerned personal grudges could get in the way of the real goal in 2012: Winning the Congressional seat.>> BIG MISTAKE..lousy lobbyist, lousy lawyer, lousy candidate, lousy chair..well then, he'll make an excellent campaign manager...NOT
WAKE UP COLONEL..Gio will turn you into Col Sanders !!
Peter Cassels
7:58am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
At least the gay community has reason to be sometimes dysfunctional (discrimination, homophobia, bullying, etc.). The RI Republicans don't.
ed curtis
8:16am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
This type of BS will make sure lil Davey get's re-elected.
Doherty is a Democrat/RINO no matter who backs him. The only way to eliminate the same old, same old in the local GOP is to remove all RINOs from the mix.
*
stephanie zhou
8:21am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
and we wonder why the Democrats have been able to dominate the state, get you party in order..
Careabout RI
8:48am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
There are many individuals working to clean up this party, but the same greedy, self-serving individuals keep raring their ugly heads!
Republicans know that Gio Cicione did more to hurt the party than anyone. He performed so badly and in secret that his own city and town leaders as well as his own officers voted no confidence in him twice. His own delegates also voted no confidence in him when he refused to hold meetings in accordance with the already lop-sided by-laws. The main point here is Gio Cicione cared little about the individuals who elected him to his position of authority. He cared more about being a player in a much bigger scheme.
Doherty has made mistakes from day one, but this is by far his biggest! He clearly doesn’t care about GOP support by hiring the two people the members of the GOP couldn’t wait to get rid of. These self-serving individuals are getting 6 figures to run the Doherty campaign. Doherty either doesn’t care or did not do his homework. Either way it makes him look bad. He is now tied to Democrats and the individuals who conspired with them to bring Frank Caprio over and sell their own GOP gubernatorial candidate down the river. Now let’s see how long their “sworn secret” about the whole Caprio mess stays silent.
This isn’t about rino’s vs. non-rino’s, or conservatives vs. non-conservatives. This is about self-serving greedy individuals who want to extract their own pound of flesh and have a seat at the table. They still haven’t learned their lesson from dancing with Frank Caprio while shafting their own party. They only thing they stand for is themselves. They all need to be sent packing.
Ask yourself, would you hire an individual whose own party voted no-confidence in him, to run your campaign? Especially when you need support from that party.
noel davis
8:51am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
Gio & the 'Don" killed the party?? who hosted it? Guy Dufault?
ProJo Login
9:05am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
The biggest problem with the Rhode Island GOP is a lack of organization. This is largely due to the fact that the lack of patronage jobs and other goodies make it impossible to attract the army of well connected hacks that make the Democratic machine work.
Governor Carcieri had the stature and chance to build such an organziation but he showed no interest. Instead he became the most successful of a long line of men on horseback who have tried to use the GOP as their own personal vehicle for success while building a cult of personality that does not survive their tenure in the public eye. That is Brendan Doherty's biggest problem, even though he may not realize it. He looks like just another opportunist. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. It doesn't matter because that is how he is perceived. Perhaps he can convince others that he is the real deal, but he has a hard hill to climb because of this history.
Gio came in and had the chance to build an organization too but instead thought it was a brilliant idea to fight with all the people who he needed to do it. Good job Gio.
We need another John Chaffee. That was a man who knew the importance of party building and that it wasn't all about him. John Clarke is right. The talent and energy is there to revive the GOP but real leadership is needed to do it, not people like Holmes and company.
Joe Penkala
9:08am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
There are several reasons why Loughlin is getting GOP support despite Doherty's cash. Doherty has a long history of supporting Democrats even though he is now running as a Republican, while Loughlin's history shows a consistency in principles. He ran as a Republican, helped other Republicans run, etc. The second division involves the personality of the candidates. Loughlin earned a reputation as being independent in the General Assembly. He wouldn't always kowtow to Carcieri, particularly when Carcieri took actions that negatively impacted Loughlin's district. On the other hand, Doherty earned a reputation of following the "powers that be"--that loyalty or subservience was one of the reasons Carcieri made Doherty head of the State Police.
Donn Roach
9:24am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
And still the split in the RI GOP is the number one issue in the GOP. i really hope McKay and Sweeney leave a different legacy in the party.
Lance Chappell
10:09am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
There needs to be new leadership in the GOP for this to all work. There should not be any primaries on the Congressional seats as that will only weaken the winner and make the Dems a shoe in.
Perhaps the over stay of John Holmes helped to weaken this party. No new leadership, new ideas will not attract new money. Internal party squabbling doesn’t help either.
Rhode Island is a dead state economically and continues to lumber along. We have had 40 years of failed democratic leadership with the GOP sitting on the sidelines or not there at all.
If a viable two party form government is not attainable, then perhaps the days for this state are numbered.
john paycheck
11:14am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
The fall of the republican party started way back with lincoln almond.
The scales were tipped back then for the dems but at least the GOP had some structure and organization.
whatever existed when he started was completely dead 8 years later when he left office. the party system lives on patronage and he did nothing.
and he has done nothing since then , so that speaks for itself.
carcieri tried very hard to jump start it but it was too far gone i think and he had the wrong people in place. also, the state ran out of money so there was no more patronage. in o the old dayys, there was plenty of money for jobs,etc.
its too bad, that the gop cant work together, there has always been so much in fighting over really stupid issues and petty grudges. it alienates people that want to get involved.
christine spaziano
11:15am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
So what you are saying is that I am stuck with David Cicilline for another 2 years....thanks!!
Joe Penkala
11:18am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
If the RI GOP wants to grow as an organization, it must reflect the philosophies of the middle class suburban voter. Today, the GOP apportions its' membership based upon population, so urban areas like Providence have greater representation on the RI GOP than more Republican-leaning suburban areas. The RI GOP should base its' apportionment on Republican voter registration and develop a suburban, middle-class oriented platform on issues such as educational aid formulas, pension reform etc. The strategy for winning Republican winning statewide is unchanged for the past 40 years: a candidate must win the majority of suburbs, Warwick and Cranston in order to offset Democratic strength in the urban core of Providence, Pawtucket, etc.
Joe Penkala
11:25am on Thursday, October 06, 2011
(con't) On a different note, blaming for Carcieri for the GOP's problems is somewhat unfair. As far as I can tell, Carcieri didn't do a great job building the party. But he was more involved with the GOP while Governor than Linc Almond. What the GOP is missing is an elected leader who will actively recruit and support GOP candidates the way John Chafee used to do--regardless of whether the candidate was conservative or moderate. The good news is that Loughlin seems poised to accept that role if he gets elected.
Just some thoughts from on old RI GOP executive director now living out of state.....
jack flash
12:29pm on Thursday, October 06, 2011
@Joe Good point,this really is not about the Governor, it is about Gio Cicionne. He as an elected leader failed to perform his job properly. He also ploted against his own to favor a democrat for his own personal gain! There are many who have been fighting and doing all of the work to get this party on track.
As far as a platform, you can also blame Gio for the lack of one, as he did all he could to stop that as well.
ProJo Login
1:48pm on Thursday, October 06, 2011
On reflection this headline is very misleading and typical of Go Local's sensationalistic journalism. The "GOP" is not in turmoil. The "GOP" is pretty much in agreement, with some exceptions, that the CD 1 race is John Loughlin's to lose. Doherty has every right to run a primary challenge and if he manages to win, most GOP people will support him over whoever emerges from the coming Democratic free-for-all. The only thing newsworthy about this piece is the revelation to the general public that within the GOP Gio is viewed as a complete failure with no credibility. Maybe the headline should have been: "GOP spokesmen agree: Gio killed his own future. News at 11."
Rhonda Bennett
3:20pm on Thursday, October 06, 2011
The thing about Gio Cicionne is no matter how many people go after him, (and he does deserve it) he just keeps resurfacing. I can't beleive that someone would be dumb enough to hire this man to run their campaign when he has failed so miserably in these areas in the past. After all he did recruit Dan Gordon and he did give us Clean Slate! A very poor lack of judgement on Doherty's part. There seems to be a pattern here.
guy smily
6:08pm on Thursday, October 06, 2011
Gio is old news as what he did to the party happened before the new team of McKay and Sweeney. City and town leaders are happy he is no longer in the leadership position. The party is healthier since his departure. This appointment just stirred up old wounds. Given the Doherty campaign has not reached out to Republicans in District 1, his choice of Cicione is just another one in a very clear strategic pattern of not recognizing ones own party members. This too was Gio Cicione's method of ruling which lead to his downfall.
Joe Penkala
5:33am on Friday, October 07, 2011
@jack: I wasn't in RI for Gio's tenure, so I can't comment on his success or lack thereof. I've found Gio to be personable and as mentioned previously, I believe many of the RI GOP's problems pre-dated Gio and can be attributed to a structure in need of reform. The RI GOP chair position is probably one of the most thankless jobs in the state of RI. I was ED for a year back when Leo Fontaine was chairman and in that off-cycle year of 2011, we helped recruit John Loughlin, Brian Newberry and Rick Singleton among others to first run for office while committing funds to local races. As I recall, three city/town councils went Republican that year, to include Woonsocket, where Leo eventually became mayor, and where the GOP continues to have a degree of influence today that was unimaginable in 2000. We also improved the party's financial condition (granted, this condition was later decimated by the failure of Leo's successor to file basic paperwork!). At the risk of sounding immodest, I thought that was a pretty good track record for a such a brief period of time. But even then, I recall Leo taking flak and the RI GOP bogged down with "issues" such as "should the RI GOP allow the RI Republican Assemblies to use the word 'Republican' in its' name?" My point is simply that the RI GOP's entire structure needs to be overhauled to better attract middle-class suburban voters. The question as to whether or no GIo was a good party chair or whether Governor Carcieri helped the party enough while is certainly a valid debate, although it is really all water under the bridge at this point. However, I do think it is unfair to blame either man for "killing" the RI GOP.
Joe Penkala
5:34am on Friday, October 07, 2011
A quick correction in the preceding post: obviously, I was ED in 2001, not 2011--sorry for the typo.
guy smily
8:08am on Friday, October 07, 2011
@Joe, Everyone finds Gio to be personable, which is not the issue. Also the sensational headline is overdone. What really occurred under Gio was so momentous that the entire group of city and town chairman and the many delegates from our state party rose up and united to send a clear message about what was going on. Gio in a desperate move to bring over some democrats turned a blind ear to his own party and cancelled all of the meetings for the year so that there would never even be a discussion about what was occurring or any talk of having a closed primary. He knew once the E-Board approved going forward with a vote on closing the primary, it would probably pass. He could not allow that! So instead of letting democracy occur, he rigged the system. The reaction was inspiring, and brought life into the party. The party is far from dead.
He also did much more damage then the issue above, as one could fill the page. Speak to the individuals who were officers under him and you will get an earful.