Grass-roots conservatives target Republican establishment

The party endorsement is a liability:

From the story: For more than a year, grass-roots conservatives have been a thorn in the side to the national Democratic Party. Now, it may be the Republican establishment, at least at the state and local levels, who feel their wrath.

Perhaps exemplified by people like Simon Campbell. The Lower Makefield man is seeking positions on both the county state committee and as a state committeeman. A conservative activist, he lambastes what he calls "the RINO Bucks County establishment."

RINO, or Republican In Name Only, refers to a Republican perceived as not sufficiently conservative enough by others in the party.

"I believe in open and free markets. That's what Republicans are supposed to stand for," said Campbell, a self-described constitutional Republican. "How can you have endorsements, which go against the free market and are gained by doing favors for party bosses, and be a Republican? Folks want to see an open, competitive primary where folks are given a real choice."

Campbell became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. from England in January 2009, and began a successful run for Pennsbury school board one month later, winning all 12 precincts by campaigning to freeze teacher salaries.

"People want to get back to limited, constitutional government," he said, "and the Republican Party has too often deserted these principles. Now you've got folks trying to hold the Republican Party accountable."

He takes exception to the endorsement process and cites the state committee, which endorses candidates, as an example.

"The concept of becoming an endorsed endorser is a joke," he said. Read more....