The Becker Report
Volume II, Issue VII
December 31, 2006

Published by:
John Becker
Republican State Central Committeeman
Ohio's 14th Senate District
Clermont, Brown, Adams, Scioto, and Lawrence Counties
513-753-6440
www.BeckerGOP.com
mailto:John@BeckerGOP.com
www.BeckerGOP.com/TheBeckerReport.htm

Distribution:
Tim Rudd, Clermont County GOP Chairman
Paul Hall, Brown County GOP Chairman
Harty Wallingford, Adams County GOP Chairman
Rodney Barnett, Scioto County GOP Chairman
Ray “Moose” Dutey, Lawrence County GOP Chairman

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This issue and all back issues are available at: www.BeckerGOP.com/TheBeckerReport.htm.

Final Update on Bill Jenny
All tumors have shrunk and there are no new ones.
Bill is now back to his full time job.
The prayers have worked!
Keep praying that his miraculous recovery continues.

Editorial Page
My last newsletter was my most popular issue.
Although I received some "constructive" criticism, it was wildly popular with most of my constituents.
Additionally, I received more e-mails regarding Chairman Bennett and the Ohio Republican Party.
Most of them were anti-Bennett, but three were supportive.
Rather than risking a "piling on penalty," in this issue, I have published only the three from "the other side."
(I'm trying to be "fair and balanced.")

From one of my colleagues on the State Central Committee:
John, I read your latest report with great interest. I support your remarks concerning Chairman Bennett. It's lonesome at the top. When we have a failure, we want to blame someone else. Just anyone, but me. Bob Bennett did not put Bob Taft, Betty Montgomery, or Mike DeWine in office. We Republican voters did. Some of the comments you received from fellow Republicans sounded like they want a dictator, as head of our party. Let's admit the truth. The Republican Party is seriously split, and until we all decide that a Republican candidate will serve our state and our country better than a Democrat, we will continue to be losers. If all Republican voters had supported all of our candidates in the General Election, the outcome would have been different. When we have influential Republicans with the concept: "We will show the Republican voters they must elect Primary Candidates with our philosophy, or they will not be successful in the General Election." We will continue to be losers. We need open free Primary Elections with all Republicans working to influence the independent voters to support the choice of our party in the General Elections. How long will it take: 4 years, 8 years, 12 years? Does anyone remember the eighties? Has the pendulum swung the other way? Will we learn from the past? John, thank you for the time and support you give to the "Grand Ole Party."

From another one of my colleagues on the State Central Committee:
John…I thought you had gone overboard with all the negative quotes about Bennett. You could have summarized them as only half of your County Chairs took a negative view.

The Republican left has spoken:
Dear John: Very interesting reading the emails that you received. One of my many questions to you and your readers is why do you blame Bennett for the terrible loss the right-wing conservatives of our party took instead of laying the blame on the Republican voters in the Primary? They are the ones who chose the ticket, not Bennett. Maybe if they had voted for "big tent" Republicans like Jennette Bradley and Jim Petro, we would have won some offices or at least been competitive. It seems like the social - agenda conservatives learned nothing from this election. As a Republican who votes on the ISSUES rather than the church values of one, I have learned we need to elect Republicans in our Primary who cross party lines and represent the core concerns of the electorate and those are: education, jobs and the economy. I don't care about who sleeps with whom while my family is desperately trying to get a meal on the table. Let's quit fooling ourselves. Ohio wants their officials that are addressing these issues, not those that are running for "Chief of Morality."

Past Events
December 20, 2006
Congresswoman Jean Schmidt hosted a Holiday Open House at the Towers of Kenwood.
The lobby was filled with supporters from across her district.
Jean thanked Mary Glasgow for her service and wished her a good retirement.
Adams County's Stephen Caraway will be replacing Mary.

December 14, 2006
About 100 people attended the Scioto County Republican Club Christmas Party in Portsmouth.
The highlight of the event was a local high school's senior choir singing Christmas Carols.
Audience members were selected to help sing the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Chairman Barnett and I were drafted to be singers.

December 9, 2006
The following is a press release issued by Glen Chapman:
The Clermont County Republican Club had a very successful Christmas Dinner on Saturday December 9th. The festivities were made available at no charge to members and their families and friends after a tumultuous election season. Clermont County was celebrating their achievements in electing all their countywide officials as well as returning Congresswoman Jean Schmidt to her rightful place in Washington.
In attendance were State Senator Tom Niehaus, State Representatives Joe Uecker and Danny Bubp, Clerk of Courts Barb Weidenbein and a host of others. It was also nice to see former County Commissioner Martha Dorsey at the party and Assistant County Prosecutor Tony Brock, who was recommended by the Clermont County Republican Party to an appointment to the Municipal Court Bench, also came to support the Club.
There were updates from the State House by Danny Bubp and Joe Uecker. Those two have a regular Abbot and Costello act going on. There was an update from State Central Committeeman John Becker on the upcoming election of our state Party Chairman. Suffice it to say, John Becker fully understands the no-confidence sentiment in Southern Ohio for Party Chairman Bob Bennett. Glen Chapman, Club President, served as the emcee for the evening and gave out door prizes, t-shirts and car magnets to all who came. The flowing chocolate fountain and wonderful dinner was enjoyed by all.
As anyone can attest putting on a dinner of this type takes a lot of hard work. Club Treasurer, Jon Kraus and his wife Debbie were instrumental in preparing for this event. Patty Chapman worked hard to prepare the hall and the door prizes. The Club would like to thank all those who came with unwrapped toys to donate during this season of giving. The Clermont County Republican Club wishes everyone a safe and Merry Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year.

December 6, 2006
The Anderson Twp Republican Club held a meeting to discuss what went wrong and what changes need to be made.
Elected officials in attendance included Tom Brinkman, Greg Hartmann, and Phil Heimlich.
And as you would expect, the legendary Whistleblower was dutifully taking notes.

December 1, 2006
At the State Central Committee meeting, Chairman Bennett stated that he was not opposed to a minimum wage increase.
He is opposed to it being in the constitution as well as the draconian record keeping and privacy issues.
Kay Ayres gave a rousing and encouraging speech referring to the ORP being the Phoenix rising from the ashes.
Election analysis and a plan to move forward consumed most of the meeting.

November 30, 2006
Chairman Bennett hosted his annual Christmas Party at The Athenaeum in Columbus.
It was great to see my friends Linda Fraley and Jim Bushman from Clermont County.
I also enjoyed chatting with Rob Portman. He didn't reveal his future plans.
Afterwards, I enjoyed a nice dinner with Bill Pikor and Dale Fellows and his family.

November 29, 2006
GOP HQ in Batavia packed in 143 members to decide on a nominee for a judicial appointment.
Congratulations to Tony Brock for his overwhelming victory.
Afterwards, I addressed the membership and told them about the January 12, 2007 election for ORP leadership.
They overwhelmingly shouted out for me to vote "NO" on Chairman Bennett.
I asked them if they would want me to stand-alone and be the only State Central Committeeman to vote "NO" on Chairman Bennett's re-election.
Again, in what may have been a unanimous chorus, I was told to vote "NO" on Chairman Bennett.
The feelings of my fellow Clermont County Central Committee members were so powerful, and overwhelming, that I went home that night thinking that I must vote "NO" on Chairman Bennett or move out of the county.

Future Events
January 2, 2007
Union Twp (Clermont County) Central Committee meeting at the Civic Center at 7:30 pm

January 9, 2007
Brown County Republican Club meeting at the library in Georgetown at 7:00 pm

January 9, 2007
Scioto County Central Committee meeting in New Boston at 7:00 pm

January 12, 2007
Republican State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

January 17, 2007
Clermont County Central Committee meeting at 7:00 pm at HQ in Batavia

January 22, 2007
Annual March for Life in Washington DC.
Call 513-728-7870 for more information.

January 22, 2007
Greater Loveland Republican Club will meet to elect new officers for 2007

February 3, 2007
Southern Ohio GOP Chairman's Association meeting
For Chairman only and in Piketon

February 10, 2007
Brown County Lincoln Day Dinner

February 13, 2007
Scioto County Central Committee meeting in New Boston at 7:00 pm

February 16, 2007
Clermont County Lincoln Day Dinner at the Eastgate Holiday Inn

February 28, 2007
2007 Good Scout Award Luncheon from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Cincinnati Convention Center
Keynote Speaker: Jim Koch, The Boston Beer Company

March 13, 2007
Scioto County Central Committee meeting in New Boston at 7:00 pm

April 7, 2007
Southern Ohio GOP Chairman's Association meeting

June 2, 2007
Southern Ohio GOP Chairman's Association meeting