The following statement was jointly prepared and issued tonight by Chairman Mark Fahleson on behalf of the Nebraska Republican Party and Chair Laura Ebke on behalf of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Nebraska, a group whose membership consists of a number of individuals who have aligned themselves with the Ron Paul for President campaign:
“We are both troubled by the rhetoric and heightened tensions surrounding the upcoming NEGOP Convention this Saturday in Grand Island.
There is something called “The Nebraska Way.” It’s honesty. Being cordial and neighborly. Practicing The Golden Rule. And, when differences occur, shaking hands and agreeing to disagree in a respectful way.
It’s important to us that the NEGOP Convention be conducted “The Nebraska Way.” For that reason we met to discuss ways in which we could more accurately reflect the cordiality and cooperation that actually exists between our two groups and express our mutual desire for the NEGOP Convention be conducted in an orderly and positive fashion.
To accomplish this, we pledge the following:
• The NEGOP and RLCNE will not engage in nor encourage and will actively discourage any kind of dilatory or disruptive tactics that could interfere with the mutual goal of an orderly and efficient convention.
• Based upon assurances provided by the RLCNE, the NEGOP has reconsidered and withdrawn its plan to hire additional security officers for the NEGOP Convention.
• The RLCNE will discourage those wishing to attend the NEGOP Convention for the purpose of intimidation, agitation or monitoring from attending.
• At the conclusion of the NEGOP convention, we will work together to accomplish the overarching goal we share: defeating Barack Obama in November.”
As RLCNE’s Ebke explained further: “We are all Republicans. The RLCNE is nothing more than a subset of the Nebraska Republican Party whose focus is individual liberty and smaller government. We share the NEGOP’s interest in running a fair convention that brings us all together in the end.”
NEGOP’s Fahleson reiterated his commitment to running a fair convention, explaining “Every minute spent on parliamentary gamesmanship is a minute we’re not spending defeating Barack Obama and sending Bob Kerrey back to his wife and son in New York. The NEGOP and RLCNE have pledged to work together for the greater good, and that’s what Saturday’s convention will be all about.”
