Counterpoint to views on one GOP analysis

Ms. Palm has made so many misstatements of facts it is hard to know where to begin.

1. The Central Committee exists to "raise money for the candidates and protect your rights." State Party Rules and our Kootenai County By-Laws make no mention of those supposed duties. A majority of the membership votes on where the money is spent.

2. When speaking of money raised at our Lincoln Day Dinner, she has never seen accountability, "there have been thousands of dollars not accounted for." The KCRCC treasurer gives a verbal report at each monthly meeting listing all incoming and outgoing funds. The proceeds and expenses from Lincoln Day will be reported at the next regular meeting. Additionally, during an election year KCRCC is required to file six sunshine reports. I find it hard to believe that she or anyone else does not know where the money goes. The idea that there are thousands of dollars missing from the KCRCC coffers is ridiculous.

3. "The KCRCC was instrumental in starting the closed Republican Primary." Members of the KCRCC, along with members of 43 other county Central Committees, cast their votes at a State Central Committee Meeting in favor of or against the closed primary. Obliviously, a majority of voting members wanted the closed primary. The State Party then had to sue the State of Idaho in federal court to win the right to close our primary.

4. She accuses members of the KCRCC of initiating the Presidential Caucus. Again, the Caucus was the result of a vote taken at a State Central Committee meeting. If Ms. Palm paid any attention at our meetings she would know the northern five counties attempted a rule change to abolish the Presidential Caucus at the January 2014 State Meeting. This fact has been reported at least twice at our KCRCC meetings.

5. "The majority of KCRCC also voted to repeal the 17th amendment." The whole argument about the 17th amendment is pointless at this time as there is no groundswell among the necessary number of states (34) to change the constitution back to its original wording and intent.

6. "The KCRCC is currently controlled by a select few with Tina Jacobson and Bob Pederson at the helm." Bob Pederson is not now nor has he ever been a member of the KCRCC. Tina Jacobson is one of the most honest, politically knowledgeable, hardworking people in the KCRCC. She was the Chairman from 2010 until 2012. As for all of the others mentioned by name in Palm's article including Angela and I, we are passionate about politics and work hard to help candidates get elected. I cannot speak for all of those named but it has never been my intention to "hijack the Republican Party." The difference is, today the KCRCC and the State Party is being run from the bottom up not top down as was the case for many years. When you allow individuals in any organization the freedom to have a say, you will get many varied opinions. However, important issues always come down to vote, with the majority winning. You will occasionally upset those in power and their supporters as you will have disagreements about policies and positions. That is politics, not a hijacking of the Republican Party.

7. Ms. Palm writes of her vast experience as a board member or leader of various groups including The local Republican Women's group. A recent example of her common sense decision making ability occurred at a recent Republican Women's Meeting. She refused to allow one of Sen. Russ Fulcher's campaign workers to place Sen. Fulcher's campaign material on the tables. The excuse was the material didn't have an identifiable Republican symbol and the written word Republican wasn't large enough.

If I were a voter in Precinct 15, I would be very concerned about electing someone to a position of responsibility who is clearly confused about many issues.

John Cross represents Precinct 36.