OPINION: Matt Gaetz on the agenda

The process for selecting the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee’s Lincoln Day speaker is straightforward. Our Lincoln Day sub-committee researched possible speakers that would be available and whose honorarium would be within budget. Last year, it was suggested that we get Tucker Carlson, which sounded like a great idea until we were told that Tucker comes with a $250,000 price tag plus a private jet. So we didn’t get Tucker …

This year, the Lincoln Day committee developed a list of four potential speakers that was presented to the central committee during our regular meeting in September. Lincoln Day Chairman Beverly Guenette asked to vote by a show of hands as she read each of the four names so the committee could pursue the most popular candidate. Victor Davis Hansen had the most support followed by Matt Gaetz. In the following weeks it was determined that Mr. Hansen would not be available so the Lincoln Day committee negotiated a discounted speaking fee with the Gaetz representative and signed a contract so marketing materials could be developed.