Opinion: ‘Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican’

Clark County Republican Party Chairman Matthew Bumala reflects on how Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment applies to area Republicans

Matthew Bumala, chairman
Clark County Republican Party

I wanted to make a post with my “chairman” hat on for a minute.

I’m connected to nearly 2,000 people on Facebook right now. I’m far from being a social media “influencer” nor am I trying to be. I was off of Facebook for nearly 2 years and came back on to help manage my business page months back and here I am again engaging in a myriad of posts and discussions, many of which are far from political.

Matthew Bumula, chairman, Clark County Republican Party — Matthew Bumala, chairman, Clark County Republican Party

There are people on here that have known me my whole life. Some through church, school, music or business.

In regards to politics, I have posted and engaged in political discussions for many, many years with people who are on the opposite side of the fence, oftentimes in a fruitful way. It wasn’t until I got involved in the Republican Party that I found myself at odds with so many people within the same party. It was eye opening. Our jungle primaries in Washington have pitted people from the same party against each other in ways I never imagined was possible. I had even fallen into that to some degree.

In these moments of dissent, I have heard a phrase from Ronald Reagan used many times in order to keep Republicans from fighting against each other and that phrase is “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” It was Reagan’s 11th Commandment. Remember, this was a time when Republicans were unified on the vast majority of issues. Reagan also was by far one of the most popular Presidents ever. We will never see an electoral election dominance like his ever again, I’m sure.

I agree with the 11th commandment in the proper context. What is speaking ill of another “Republican?”

First, I would confidently say that speaking against ideas and actions that are antithetical to the Republican platform from someone who is claiming to be a Republican is not only permissible but necessary.

Secondly, I’m certain Reagan was focused on making sure Republicans were not publicly defaming each other in the eyes of the masses, especially over benign, inconsequential issues.

Why am I making this post, you might ask? Well, if you’re involved in the local party and even the state party, you’re aware that there are conflicts within the ranks of some leaders. These conflicts go beyond personality cohesion and into the realm of self interest, power and influence. Some sit on the executive board of the WAGOP and are actively disparaging the party publicly.

What should be done in these situations? How do you deal with people who are actively undermining the work of their own party for their own interests? How do you answer someone who stands up at the e-board meeting and says “we cannot do to each other what the democrats are doing to us!”, in response to accountability being brought toward “another Republican”?

Context matters and the appropriate place matters.

If we cannot deal with bad actions BEHIND CLOSED DOORS as a leadership team regarding one of our own members, then where can we ever deal with it? The 11th Commandment should be, for the most part, adhered to in regards to publicly calling out specific people – even then there’s a time and place to do so if the misconduct is egregious enough. Most of the time these matters can be handled in the appropriate place away from the public eye.

So, as chairman, I’m careful not to dishonor my position and abuse it by using it as a place of authority and influence over specific people publicly. I have other counterparts that don’t adhere to that. They’ll use their platform to get “likes” and supportive comments. They’ll engage into the gallows of social media insults and infighting.

Could I do the same? Could I call out several people and bring receipts for their misconduct? Absolutely. But I will choose which fights and issues to bring public, if necessary. Those moments will be far and few between at most.

Overall, this godforsaken state is spiraling into an abyss of a leftist dystopia. In order to stop the bleeding and gain some common sense ground back, we need to work together productively. We also need to hold people accountable. It’s a balance and a difficult dance at times but my commitment as chair of the great Clark County Republican Party is to deal with bad actors in the appropriate settings while building necessary coalitions with other conservatives in our backyard. Both things can be accomplished.

Some people will always be self-serving. Some need an inspirational mission to get behind that will take their outrage and turn it into action. I’m interested in focusing the majority of my time finding the latter and dealing with the former when needed.

Am I perfect? Far from it. But I diligently try to honor the position that I am serving in.

When I’m done being the Chair someday, maybe you’ll hear me be more vocal and unvarnished. Maybe.

As for running for public office some day …

Nope.

Matthew Bumala shared these thoughts first on Facebook.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this column included an incorrect spelling of the author’s last name. Clark County Today regrets the error.