Response to Battle for Saline County
by Conduit Founders
September 6, 2024
Like other states across the nation, there are clear divisions in Arkansas’ Republican Party. This battle typically pits the very active grassroots (patriots or America First or MAGA) members against the establishment (uni-party or old guard). The battle most often centers around “who will control the party” with that battle culminating in Arkansas this summer in a vote by the State Convention to close the Republican primaries. (RPA Rules say the State Convention, made up of members of the county committees, has final authority in all party matters.)
The rules changes made on June 8 at the State Convention were changes in the RPA party structure, a change for which the establishment could not abide. Therefore, within a few weeks, a lower-level body (Executive Committee) affirmed a random advisory opinion of a party Rules Chair and declared the rules changes made by the State Convention null and void. This act by the EC is totally without legal authority under the RPA rules and is an action some term as an act of “lawlessness”.
However, last night a different kind of division and lawlessness emerged within a very active County Committee, Saline County — hometown committee of Doyle Webb. In that meeting, a group of angry members from various counties, including Saline, led by the individual who had served admirably as State Convention chair on June 8, took it upon themselves to oust other hardworking long-time patriot members, using what some term as a method outside the guidelines of the RPA rules. As the discussions “for” and “against” these actions finally began, this deep and unhealthy division ultimately turned to unacceptable and indefensible violence, which we clearly condemn.
We have been watching this disagreement play itself out over the past several weeks. We believe that the disagreement is personal and not policy driven, which is disappointing. And we have expressed such disappointment to all parties involved. Our own policy divisions remain with those who are typically referred to as the establishment. And they, along with the Democrats, will and are obviously exploiting this unfortunate event.
We at Conduit News shall remain committed to focusing on the important work needed to return to first principles regardless of any manufactured distractions or desire for personal power and control. It is important to reject all who ignore or exploit our agreed upon and written rules of conduct in order to sow chaos or to advance themselves or their personal agendas.
We must continue to work together to end the tyranny of individuals as well as the cult of personalities (which Arkansas is so prone to support) whether at the national, state, or within our own county committees. Those who seek power over the people’s agenda of more freedom and less government should be resisted.
We at Conduit will continue to report, inform, and participate in that endeavor, regardless of tyranny, no matter the source.
There is too much at stake to go home now!
