Pennsylvania TownHall -- Where the Voice of Pennsylvania is Heard!

Freindly Fire

Bob Asher's Outlook for the GOP

Part III

by Chris Freind

Bob Asher's Outlook for the GOP

(Last in a three part series with John McCain's Pennsylvania chairman)

TB: Why did the Republicans lose power so dramatically in 2006? What is the catalyst for change that needs to occur to avoid the same results this year? Has that change taken place?

BA: There are those who say we need to level the party and start over. The last time I heard that was 1933 in Germany, to be "pure". There are some of us who were conservative supporters when conservatives weren't in favor. We worked for Goldwater and for Reagan, and we brought the party to where it is. Do I think the Republicans of today have a coherent message? No. I think we've lost our way. In a political supermarket, the top shelf is Democrat, the next is Independent, the third is "I don't give a damn" and the bottom shelf is Republicans. I don't think we're delivering our message properly. We need to a better job at having a message that attracts voters.

TB: Will 2008 be as bad for the GOP as 2006?

BA: No. In 2006, we became fat, dumb and happy. We became arrogant and overconfident---and had no message. The Republican congress didn't act like a conservative congress when we were in charge. We were spending money like Democrats, and our base didn't appreciate that. So we have to win them back---with the right message and with good candidates. But also, there's no question that the war at that time was unpopular. I think President Bush is a wonderful human being but not a great communicator. I don't think he got the message out there the way it had to be done. But he's been proven right--- the (troop) surge in Iraq is working.

Why don't I think it will be as bad this year? First, we'll maintain the state senate, maybe even pick up a seat. Second, I think the Republicans have an excellent chance of winning the state house back. I think we have a real good shot at picking up (freshman Democratic Congressman Chris) Carney's seat, with (challenger Chris) Hackett winning that one. And we're going to carry the state for John McCain.

TB: You mention good candidates. We have two high profile races coming up in 2010. Senator Specter is running for re-election, and the governorship will be open. Any thoughts looking ahead?

BA: I look forward to 2010. We have a great candidate for governor right here---(former U.S. Attorney) Pat Meehan. He would be excellent. If (Pennsylvania Attorney General) Tom Corbett decides he wants to run, he's another good candidate. Whether (former Senate candidate) Pat Toomey runs or not, I don't know. He's made noise about it, but I'm not sure he appeals enough to mainstream voters. But he certainly has a place in the party. All voices have a place in the GOP, and always have. That's why I loved it when we had both Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter as senators. It was a big tent, and sometimes you agree with one, and other times with the other, but they did a good job.

TB: If you could ask Barack Obama one question, what would it be?

BA: Why don't you start telling the truth? For example, he says we could have caught Osama bin Laden if we weren't distracted by the Iraq war, but at the time he said we didn't catch him, there was no Iraq war. He's very slick though, a very dynamic campaigner and a wonderful orator. I give him all the credit in the world for that, but I don't think the guy has a clue. Frankly, it scares me to put him in as President. I find it a very disturbing possibility.

TB: National talk show host Chris Matthews has been mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate to run against Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter in 2010. Given Jim Matthews' role as a Republican Commissioner of a key county, how would that situation play out?

BA: (laughing) You have to ask Jim Matthews that! But I know who I'm for---I'm for Arlen!

TB: Let's talk about an issue that has been dogging you for two decades. Some of your opponents continue to talk about your felony conviction in 1986 in a political corruption case, and state that should disqualify you from being Republican National Committeeman and Party leader. Since so many accusations and innuendo fly around in this regard, let's hear from Bob Asher himself. How do you address these attacks, and what effect, if any, does this issue have on your ability to lead?

BA: The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I was just re-elected National Committeeman, and I didn't hear one negative vote. Every candidate who has run (statewide) in the Commonwealth since the 1980's has asked for my support--- and I've given it. I don't how certain people in the party say that candidates who run for office don't ask me to help them. I help them. I've covered that subject a thousand times. I look people in the eye and tell them that I never intentionally did anything improper.

The courts found differently. I've paid my dues, and here I am. A lot of people have confidence in me. I came back and started working, and worked my way up the chain. Like I said, I don't know a candidate who has run that hasn't asked for my support. And the interesting part is how many people in the Democratic party were supportive of me. To this day, I'm very friendly with a lot of people on the other side of the aisle.