Patrick Dorinson, Former Dem, Now GOP Voice
I had Patrick Dorinson as my guest in-studio today at KTKZ. Patrick is the 'new' Communications Director for the California Republican Party. The best part, he is a former Al Gore and Bill Clinton campaign handler, as well as a Clinton Administration member.
A former Democrat offering the communication for the California GOP? That's right, he changed his voter registration three years back during the recall, and now he states that he is fully committed in getting Republicans elected to statewide seats in the Golden State.
Look for portions of the "audio interview" to be posted here soon. You can hear for yourself the new Party Voice (formerly Stutzman/Hanretty) of the GOP Machine.
Today, I've received numerous emails expressing some polarizing opinions. People either like the guy, or they hate the guy. He knew it would go this way, so he's not surprised.
Here's an example from a listener (and Sacto Dan Blog comment box) today:
Ex Gore, Clinton, Davis supporter AND a former DEMO?? Please...get real. This guy is sellout. Why, did he suddenly FIND HIMSELF and go with being a Repub?? Cause of our views and morals? Or, cause he jumped to the bandwagon?
IF, he was a staunch anything, he'd kept to his own party, and fought to purge it from the lefty whackjobs that currently infest the Demo's. Jumping ship to the R side means squat. Given what I've seen written on Aarons blog site, this guys nothing more than a Political hack, RINO, trying to buffalo the voters into believing he's " pure Repub " at heart, and he's PAID to sell the R message. Crap. All this done by Ahnold to boot.
Since last year, I've said loud and proud: LAME DUCK GOV.You're now watching a silent civil war within the Repub party in California. How those so called, LEADERS want to proceed, is one thing, but GIVING us this garbage dressed like a Conservative, is crap. You might be making NICE NICE within your " elite " ranks, but you're only pissing us off at the VOTER ranks.
Repubs this year in Cali, are going to take a huge ' bite in their collective Arse ' by this blatant/secretive move to appease the Demo's.
Come election time, we'll see: Either you'll be correct and voters will turn out, or I'll be right, and you'll see voter backlash. I don't buy this guy nor his answers for anything.
I guess the person commenting would have told Ronald Reagan to stay in the Democrat Party too. More evidence of the 'stupid party' at work in this mega-state.
If you ask my opinion after meeting Patrick this morning for the first time officially, He is 'not' a staunch conservative. He is a 'center-right' Republican at best. But he is serious about his political journey, a journey that has him now facing the heat, fielded the calls and answered every one honestly and clearly.
At this point, I don't know how well he will do over the long haul - he's in a very, very precarious spot - especially heading into this weekend's contentious convention.
Yet, what if he is really serious and sincere (one can't tell after one meeting, and he told me such in the studio this morning). I love his attitude, "listen to me, watch me work to get these GOP members elected and judge me for the work that I do." Who can complain about those standards? Should we refuse someone's talents and contribution because they 'used to be a high ranking' Democrat? I thought Republicans were in the business of debate and dialogue to convince more and more Democrats to return to the love of the country and our liberty, independence and the common cause keeping this great land healthy for the generations to come.
Now we refuse members because "they used to be Democrats"? With this narrow minded thinking, Republican should rush legislation for new a political health care package that provides heavy doses of Viagra to Republican males so we can challenge the liberal majority in this state. More evidence of the "Stupid Party" mentality.
Patrick is a 'growing' Republican. He left the Clinton Administration when Clinton left the reservation once he got inside of the White House. Dorinson worked at the ISO during the energy crisis, and experienced Gray Davis during the state's crisis. That's where he learned that the GOP members were the only individuals willing to problem solve. He then worked on the recall, and rubbed elbows with GOP members in common battle for the first time - he like what he saw and learned. He decided to vote for Bush, Arnold and for the GOP ballot over the past three years.
He is happy to be welcomed into the "big tent", and ready to roll up his sleeves to get statewide GOP members elected.
I may be wrong, but I thought the recipe to winning elections was (1) registering more party voters, (2) getting them out to vote on election day, (3) and getting them to support and work to elect Republican candidates and ideals. (75% with me, not against me!)
Maybe I was wrong...maybe we like being the "loser party" in California.
My conclusion: "give Patrick a chance", he has the attitude that he wants to prove himself by producing, not spinning rhetoric. I welcome a disgruntled former Democrat to the effort. I still remember my personal phone call from my 92 year-old, life long Democrat of a wonderful grandfather..."Eric, your party has convinced me that Bush is the guy for the times. My party has discouraged me, so much so, that all of my years of effort and contributions I see as a waist of time."
Grandpa is still kicking, and voting to this day...one-by-one I say.
Page Source (url): http://www.crosswalk.com/archive/patrick-dorinson-former-dem-now-gop-voice-1380193.html