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After weeks of controversy following the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, Matt Strawn, the chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, today said he will step down from his role with the party at the end of next week.
Strawn, who has served as the GOP chairman in the first-in-the-nation caucus state since 2009, announced his resignation in a statement. “It is only because the Iowa GOP has returned as a strong and relevant voice in Iowa politics that I am now able to evaluate all the competing priorities in my personal, business and political life."
He added, "The party is strong and has the resources in place for victory in November. Now is the time to transition to new leadership."
Strawn's resignation is effective Friday, Feb. 10.
Mitt Romney was declared the winner of the caucus by a mere eight votes during the wee hours of the morning on caucus night. After the certified results came in nearly two weeks later, Rick Santorum pulled ahead of Romney by 34 votes.
The Iowa GOP was also never able to account for all 1,774 precincts –- 8 precinct votes could not be tabulated because the Form Es were not collected.
On Jan. 19, the Iowa GOP sent out a press release congratulating both Santorum and Romney on their performance in Iowa, but did not declare a winner despite Santorum being ahead by 34 votes.
The Santorum campaign and supporters were unhappy with the lack of official word declaring their candidate the winner.
Later that day, however, Strawn went on an Iowa radio station and began to change his tone on the subject -- and leaned towards saying Santorum was the winner.
This switch brought additional criticisms of the chairman as well –- and confusion nationally as to who was the true winner in Iowa.
The Iowa GOP was forced to send a press release on Jan. 20 stating: "In order to clarify conflicting reports and to affirm the results released Jan. 18 by the Republican Party of Iowa, Chairman Matthew Strawn and the State Central Committee declared Senator Rick Santorum the winner of the 2012 Iowa Caucus."
But many in Iowa are sad to see Strawn step down.
"For three years, Matt's focus on fundraising and voter registration was unparalleled. Because of him, the Iowa GOP is better prepared to go in to the 2012 elections,” State Central Committee member Tim Moran told NBC News. "I wish him well as he prepares for the next stage of his life"
The Governor of Iowa also thanked the Chairman for his dedication to the state.
“I want to thank Matt Strawn for his three years of leadership at the Republican Party of Iowa. Matt took over at a time when the party was in desperate shape, and rebuilt it precinct-by-precinct, putting it in the strongest position in years,” Gov. Terry Branstad said in a written statement. “Matt’s leadership will be missed, but I am confident a smooth transition will take place at the Republican Party of Iowa and we will continue our party’s successes this November.”
The State Central Committee will be tasked with electing Strawn’s replacement. The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11.
Leave a Comment:
Think we can agree, regardless of party affiliation, the results from Iowa were a hot mess. People need to be able to trust that results are accurate.
newday,
As a Floridian who has seen the voting problems in my state - I am not going to touch this issue with a ten foot pole!
phinephancy-4252115
newday,
As a Floridian who has seen the voting problems in my state - I am not going to touch this issue with a ten foot pole!
phine,
You have my deepest sympathy. We celebrated my dad's 93rd birthday over the weekend. The old man wore us out. He knows how to party. I hope I have inherited his genes for longevity. I'm just now recuperating.
When he started talking about the changing times of the old south vs the new south and how the republicans think they can turn the clock back it was like daddy was a historian. We had fun.
Daddy said we ain't going back to counting jelly beans. He liked my moon joke about Newt Gingrich too.
A 50 or so , vote discrepancy...that was found soon after an election...is nothing to condemn anyone for...
Tends to happen when you count votes in undisclosed locations!
@Bev - Happy Belated Birthday to your PaPa!
But many in Iowa are sad to see Strawn step down.
Although, I don't live in Iowa I can say this for the sake of the nation. All dishonest republicans need to step down. If they want to run let them run as far away as they can and never come back.
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Tends to happen when you count votes in undisclosed locations!
@Bev - Happy Belated Birthday to your PaPa!
But, But, But, RepubliCONS say the Democrats are guilty of voter fraud.
Thanks Feisty, daddy is still kicking. I'll tell him. Watch out though Feisty. He may want your phone number; he's a big flirt. LOL
Bev,
I am always amazed at how an elderly person (don't tell my mother I included her in that group) can wear one out! My mother can out shop me any day of the week (and drink me under the table).
My mother's favorite line about today's world/politics "That genie is out of the bottle and we can't put it back. So live with it!"
FYI, Mom will be 88 on election day!
"This switch brought additional criticisms of the chairman as well –- and confusion nationally as to who was the true winner in Iowa."
I'm not confused about who won Iowa. Obviously Obama did. What I'm confused about is how they thought counting the votes in private and then losing 8 districts' votes was OK.
BTW... Anybody want to give me a schooling on how to do those fancy quotes from the story like Feisty, maybe? Thanks.
TO: bigbenalaska who wrote:
Ask the loser if 50 votes matter, or ask the 50 people who voted if their vote should count.
That's what an election is all about, the vote count; and if a person can't get it right the first time, they should NOT be doing that type of work (re-counts are very expensive).
We've already seen people in certain positions CHEAT that way by claiming one person won the election who didn't actually have the votes but was announced the winner anyway.
An accurate vote count is absolutely crucial in every election!
Hopefully, this is NOT Romney's plan for November!
And I should be worried about Democrats stealing the election when they can't even get in right in Iowa? Hell I live in Louisiana, another place that normally has problems, but hasn't in a long time. So what happened to those votes in Iowa?
Another republi-scum bites the dust! That party is obviously a scum magnet. All the scum must go down the drain in 2012!
seems like every time there is a vote and the Republicans are involved something sketchy happens with the results...
.
In other words... "Under my tutelage the Iowa GOP is thought of as a laughingstock of the GOP due to my bumbling leadership and the Romney/Santorum debacle".
Care to parse Obama's comments from when Daley resigned?
Or are you just good at interpreting Republicans?
Well I do read Republican thoughts better but since you asked...
"I'm resigning my post with great joy knowing that I can better help the President by raising money through a super PAC to kick some GOP backsides this Fall".
White Collar Auto
Care to parse Obama's comments from when Daley resigned?
Or are you just good at interpreting Republicans?
Stiff Collar,
Do try and keep up. Fact check websites have debunked just about every GOP/Tea Potty LIE.
Had it not been for President Obama making GM the world's #1 in auto making you wouldn't have your plush white collar job.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/44481705/World_s_10_Largest_Auto_Markets
Devie-who knew you had ESP? Maybe you can tell us what Newt and Mitt are thinking about each other (assuming it is suitable for publication)?
Bev, I may be a bit biased, but I tend to believe that the employees of General Motors have more to do with any success that they are having than President Obama.
BTW the government(taxpayers) are still on the hook for billions and billions of dollars. Stock price needs to get into the 50's to break even.
Do you know the last time GM stock was in the 50's? Do you know what it is today? Do you know what the trend has been for past year and a half?
Sure you do.
Actually Devie I think it was more like:
"I'm bailing on this sinking ship before the rest of the rats drown."
WCA, I like my version better. Your view is to dark and bitter.
Republican leadership has decreed: He failed to deliver Iowa for Romney, he's out. PS If they'd used Diebold for the caucus voting, this never would have happened.
Amy B. Portland, ME
Republican leadership has decreed: He failed to deliver Iowa for Romney, he's out. PS If they'd used Diebold for the caucus voting, this never would have happened.
Amy, it would have been worst.
Actually Bev, I think Amy is correct. With Diebold machines they would simply hack the results and declare that Romney had won. Remember Ohio & Florida? With technology, they can manufacture any results they like. Stalin said [paraphrase]: "it matters not who casts the votes, it only matters who counts the votes."
All the hype and hoopla about voter fraud and fair/honest elections....yet the two biggest incidents of questionable election results - Florida 2000 & Iowa Caucus 2012 come from Republicans.
Mark,
You forgot Ohio in 2004 - the Diebold debacle!
Pssst. Don't tell anyone, but in Florida, we still keep having problems. I know you all will keep that secret, right?
Is James O'Keefe trying to get dead guys to vote there, too?
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Mark,
You forgot Ohio in 2004 - the Diebold debacle!
Don't forget turd blossom. That'd be Karl Rove who was charged with racketeering.
The complaint reads that "…we identified Karl Rove as the principal perpetrator in an Ohio racketeering conspiracy." The complaint goes on to explain that: "in the current election cycle the election corruption enterprise of Rove and [Tom] Donahue [head of the US Chamber of Commerce] is being manifested through the influx of billionaire/global corporate money where the actual source of the funding and speech is concealed."
The complaint also discloses new information about the December 19, 2008, air crash death of Michael Connell, Rove's computer guru. Connell was deposed one day prior to the November, 2008, presidential election. He has been linked to construction of a computer apparatus that was tied directly to Rove and was capable of election manipulations. These activities have been at the center of the King-Lincoln-Bronzeville lawsuit. We will report further on this matter in an upcoming story.
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/10/29/why-we-filed-racketeering-charges-against-karl-roves-election-operations/
Da Noid
Is James O'Keefe trying to get dead guys to vote there, too?
He's too busy begging for money for his defense.
That moron O'Keefe is begging for money from his 'followers' (sheeple) because he needs to pay legal fees for his criminal acts that he is being prosecuted for.
James O'Keefe sent out a letter to supporters asking for money. O'Keefe needs to go to prison for his undercover, heavily, edited, bullsh!th he uses to smear people and groups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UcysPncN-Q
O'Keefe is so despicable even a Freddy Kruger disguise would dignify him!!! But, a clown outfit with a big red nose and flipper shoes would.
We all know the real reason why they are enacting laws to combat alleged voter fraud and it has nothing to do with voter fraud. When you have a shrinking base, no message for the future and an opposition party with the largest growing demographic in the country, you have no choice but to suppress the vote.
You forgot about or didn't know about all the dead people that voted for John Kennedy in Chicago in 1960.
I am so happy that in my state, we are so removed from this primary voting mess that the party bosses just get to dictate who the candidates are. Thank you Supreme Court.
FUBAR will be resigning before Summer. Just my prediction.
Damage,
I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT
The Iowa GOP was also never able to account for all 1,774 precincts –- 8 precinct votes could not be tabulated because the Form Es were not collected.
The real vote was 33, 33, 33,1 or some form there of. That is how the delegates played out: 9, 9, 9 as Hermain Cain used to say = 27. We really would like to know who received the other 9 delagates and why the media did not report about this other candidate?
I really wonder if Corp. Amerika is going to allow fair elections? Look at the potential candidates who decide not to run as they found a better paying media position, owned by B... Capitol?
The caucus vote was just another straw poll, the only thing that matters are the delegates. Most sources allocate delegates proportionally to the straw poll, but the delegates are not actually bound by the straw poll results but will attend the state convention. So the question is who are the delegates and who will they support? Since the head of the GOP has just been "resigned" from his position, we must assume that all of or the majority of the delegates are Ron Paul supporters.
The National GOP had warned the Iowa GOP in advance that if Ron Paul won the caucuses, then the Iowa GOP would lose their first in the nation position. Well, so now 8 precincts are "lost" and the winner is declared to be Romney then Santorum, but now someone has to pay for allowing all those Paul delegates in and now the new guy will be looking to invalidate as many Paul delegates as he can by the time Tampa rolls around. My guess is that Strawn was or became a Paul supporter and had to go since the National GOP can't have Paul winning the nomination, beating Obama and stopping the gravy train in its tracks, they would actually rather have another 4 years of Obama which is exactly what they will get with Romney or Gingrich or Santorum.
Stop smoking whatever it is your smoking its completely rotted your brain.
""The party is strong and has the resources in place for victory in November. Now is the time to transition to new leadership"
Couldn't have something to do with Republicans nationwide going through recall elections could it?
Translation:
I really don't give a rat's patootie about the Republican chairman in Iowa or anywhere else, for that matter.
He had his reasons and so many speculate but may never know.
We give Solemn and Holy reverence to "Iowa" as the First to hold a primary and , of course, when ever the GOP is involved, the results are always a Circus .. they should hold the next caucus in a Circus Tent ...
The GOP actually tossed that idea around. But then Mitt kept flip flopping off the trapeze all over the elephant dung and Newt and Herman Cain kept hitting on the bearded ladies. These clowns were scary........it was real dog and pony show.
The GOP reminds me of that little car you see at the circus. It drives around drives around and then it stops and out comes 12 little people dressed as clowns.
Sounds like some one got sick of all of the B.S and had a flash back of florida with Bush Jr and his little brother Jeb.
I just had a flashback to November 2008 when we put a virus in the Oval Office that has been spreading vermin ever since
Carl Hubert- at least the "virus" put into the office in November 2008 won the election without the taint of "cheating" and won by a clear majority.
The previous virus got us into two Land wars and cratered the economy.
R u a buffoon or just playing the part? Love ya picture also
Carl Hubert: You can keep the flip-flop intellect because being stupid on purpose and hiding from the real facts about the teatards and their lack of real intellect is no concern of mine. Even they have a right to be dumb and illiterate at the same time because this is america. A perfect example is Glover Norquist because every time he open's up mouth he takes being stupid and dumb to another all time low and he is your leader, remember no child left behind? Glover Norquist was left behind on purpose.
yada...yada...yada
According to the headline, it looks like his resignation has to resign as well. Did I miss something?
No wonder the GOP is consumed with the paranoid delusion of voter fraud - they look at their own results
If you are a Republican, you shouldn't worry about the vote count, it can be fixed.
Remember -
Vote Republican - They create jobs (overseas) and Prosperity (for the 1%)
how hard is it to count.
If you are a Republican, its not about the counting, its about reporting a number that gets you on top
Ya see how numbers and votes get messed up, so when they say (GOP) are the "fiscally responsible" party, I wonder because they can't even tally a agricultural state caucas such as Iowa, so probably that is why Ronald Reagan never balanced the budget and either did either Bush's but they claim to be "fiscally responsible"
You'd be hard pressed to find a more incompetent performance for an election official. I travel extensively for my job and have seen 3rd world countries handle elections and voting better. I mean this literally with no hyperbole. The man and the party's losing of entire precincts was a complete embarasement to the country.
I knew there was something about Scrotorum I really, really didn't like.
Thanks to loons like this we don't even negotiate trillion dollar Part D pill purchases from Big Pharma.
Canada does and they pay 40% less across the board.
Thanks Rick you POS and a special thanks for embarrassing that Mom today at your press conference.
Talk about putting a spin on something. He caved to Liar Santorum and quit because the Good Ship R is sinking fast. They have no leaders to right the ship and never will as long as they only look out for the top 1%.
So Senator Santorum states that opinion? Does not surprise me. After all, he is one of the many "little bitches" for big pharma. The rest of the U.S. government negotiaties for the prices and best and final bids for not only drugs, but medical supplies of all kinds. The Defense Logistics Agency does this with a dedicated section for the Uniformed Armed Services. The Department of Veterans's Affairs does this on behalf of America's wounded veterans, of which I am one. I get some prescriptions every 3 months in the mail. Although some are generic drugs. sometimes I get a brand name of that generic. If the drug is capable of being cut to a lower dosage and not losing its effect...or making it dangerous, the V.A. pharmacy always sends a "made in China" pill cutter for us to follow the instructions and cut up our meds as per the advice of the pharmacist or pharmacy techician.
So, why is it for Republicans that multimillionaires and billionaires are "sacrosanct and sacred cows" and some American that is "just trying to make it" is allowed to be screwed over by BIG PHARMA, among others. "that stand out in the rain and snow to wait their turn to screw over those Americans that are not protected by at least millions of $$$USD.
You can easily tell where the loyalty of the Republican Partiy lies....and it sure as hell is not with average or "poor Americans."
OBAMA 2012!
LTC Rattus, USA, ret. USMA '89
Eight precinct ballot boxes missing? Standard GOP procedure.