Friday, June 08, 2012

Bopp Ousted As Indiana's National GOP Committeeman

The Indiana Republican State Central Committee today voted to oust GOP National Committeeman Jim Bopp in favor of Ice Miller attorney/lobbyist John Hammond. IndyPolitics reports that the vote was 16-6 in favor of Hammond. Bopp has been a favorite in national GOP conservative circles because of his successes as a nationally-renowned elections/campaign finance lawyer for conservative causes. Hammond is viewed as a non-ideological, moderate Republican compared to Bopp's strong ideological leanings. Bopp irked state central committee members partial to Sen. Richard Lugar when he backed Richard Mourdock in his successful primary race against Lugar. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman has also been chosen to replace Dee Dee Benkie as the state party's National Committeewoman. Benkie frequently appears as a Fox News contributor on Sean Hannity's show.

4 comments:

Pete Boggs said...

Dumb, dumb-dumb, dumb-dumb?

Morning Constitutional said...

So what's your own informed take on this, AI? Does it signal some discontent with Mr. Bopp and his colleague maybe going a bit too far on social issues even for most conservative members of the GOP? Is there some fire where the smoke is?

Gary R. Welsh said...

I don't think it had anything to do with Bopp's position on social issues. If that were the case, you would see the party dumping most of the elected Republicans in the state. A majority of the state committee supported Lugar's re-election, and I think there was some resentment that Bopp had used his influence to help Mourdock defeat Lugar. Part of it may have been a belief that it was time for someone else to hold the position since Bopp has held it for a number of years.

Pete Boggs said...

New blood can be a good thing, unless this is a swipe at the tea party whom this columnist credits in the Wisconsin victory

www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/06/08/walker_victory_this_is_what_the_tea_party_is_about_114416.html