Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 3, 1993 TAG: 9312030076
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Two days before a showdown on McSweeney's future before the GOP State Central Committee, Allen spokesman Ken Stroupe detailed a litany of betrayals, from "stacking" a February meeting of Republican donors against Allen to "actively steering away the business community" from Allen's general election campaign.
McSweeney did not return calls Thursday night.
Allen allies are expected to ask the central committee on Saturday to pass a resolution of no confidence in McSweeney. The committee could remove the chairman if 75 percent of its members agree, but under party rules they might have to wait a month to do so. It was not clear Thursday if Allen can command that many votes.
"It is clear [McSweeney] does not enjoy majority support of Republican leaders. Without that support he cannot be effective," Stroupe asserted Thursday.
Stroupe's charges - the first time Allen's camp has publicly outlined its case against McSweeney - were bolstered Thursday by a Northern Virginia lawyer who said that in a September meeting McSweeney was "actively trying to discourage Allen supporters."
In a letter being circulated among party activists, Fredrick H. Goldbecker of Arlington said that when he brought several charges against Democratic nominee Mary Sue Terry to McSweeney's attention, the chairman tried to "impress upon me that George Allen didn't stand a snowball in hell's chance of election and that `George is 28 points behind Mary Sue.' "
"I knew that wasn't true," Goldbecker said Thursday. "This was about a week after the Washington Post had reported Allen was 6 points down. Do I think he was trying to dampen support for Allen? Damn right. Absolutely."
Goldbecker, who described himself as an independent, wrote the letter last week to two Northern Virginia Republican activists and Allen supporters, Ted and Marcy Dykes.
Stroupe said Goldbecker's charge is the latest in a series of incidents showing McSweeney's lack of support for Allen.
"For well over one year, the chairman has very actively worked to undermine Gov.-elect Allen's candidacy through behind-the-scenes maneuvers and then put up a public show of support for him," Stroupe said.
Stroupe said businessmen invited to the February meeting that McSweeney set up have told Allen "the purpose was to get him to withdraw from the race for governor and run for lieutenant governor."
Stroupe said that during the spring nomination contests, McSweeney "attempted to create division within the party by telling members of the Richmond business community that [lieutenant governor candidate] Mike Farris would be a disaster, while at the same time telling Mr. Farris' supporters we were backing his opponent" for the nomination.
Stroupe also charged that McSweeney worked prior to Allen's nomination "to steer potential donors away from George Allen by telling them to give to the state party because that money would be used to help George." Then, immediately after the convention, McSweeney blocked a request from Allen for $50,000 from the party to help his then-ailing campaign.
"The effect of this on our fund raising was devastating. It hurt the campaign financially for many, many months," Stroupe said.
Stroupe said Allen decided to make his grievances with McSweeney public to "definitively state that this is not a personality conflict, and by no means an ideological or philosophical conflict. This is a question of loyalty.
"This kind of activity is inexcusable by a party chairman," he added.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB