Ever hear of the Reform Republican Victory Caucus? Me either. And if Hawaii's Republican Party had their way, nobody would... Check out this story from the Star Bulletin.The Hawaii Republican Party adopted its 2006 party platform at its annual convention this weekend, despite a fight by a group of conservative Republicans calling for reform.The reform movement within the conservative conference of the GOP rank-and-file is spreading. This is exactly the sort of thing we saw in Summit County and the result of the sort of action I was talking about last week (Susan asked a great question!).
A group calling itself the Reform Republican Victory Caucus -- headed by Eric Ryan, a graphic artist -- criticized the state Republican Party officials for staging the convention by not allowing further discussion.
But party leaders rejected Ryan's criticism, saying there was an "overwhelming majority" to adopt the 2006 party platforms. There had been a push by some Republicans on the state platform committee to add a plank condemning a bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka for special native Hawaiian recognition.
"If we get typecast into the doomsayers and the naysayers, then we're destined to fail," Sen. Fred Hemmings (R, Lanikai-Waimanalo) said yesterday. "There definitely was a contingent of people there, some of whom I've never seen before, that wanted to ride into the effort and change the party."
The reformers were rebuffed...this time...but the movement is growing and gaining strength. Some will try to pass this off as the Ronulan cranks, but I know better...
