What John Owens and His Supporters Did!

The U.S. Constitution, Amendment I, says:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

North Carolina Republican Party Platform under Article III: Individual Liberty, says:

"5. Government should treat all citizens fairly and impartially and should assure equal opportunity without regard to wealth, race, religion, sex, or national origin. We oppose all forms of invidious discrimination. We oppose efforts to include sexual orientation as a category for preferential status under civil rights laws.”

The Moore County Republican Party Plan of Organization says:

“Any Member of the Republican Party who shall meet the residency requirements may be a voting member of the Precinct Organization.”

But that's NOT what John Owen says:

“…Mrs. Kelly and a large number of the members of her church conspired to disrupt the recent precinct meeting and in order to elect their own precinct slate of officers and delegates.”, and “Mr. Taylor has worked within the Party structure for some time now and has always seemed honest and forthright. Nevertheless. Mr. Taylor is a teacher at the Calvary Christian School and may well share some of the single-minded thinking…”

Mr. Owen, which of these church members was not a member of the Republican Party? Which of them did not meet the residency requirements? How does their particular church affiliation constitute a conspiracy? What could possibly be wrong with “Any Member of the Republican Party who shall meet the residency requirements” voting as they wish? How does Mr. Taylor’s decades of exemplary performance as a high school teacher at Calvary Christian School and his single-minded thinking make him anything but well qualified to serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee? (John, being single-minded is a very good thing, it is double mindedness like yours that is a bad thing, [James 1:8, 4:8]). How can you make these and those other outlandish statements you have made and still support The United States Constitution, and the National and North Carolina Republican Party Platforms? [its all here, on party letterhead no less (PDF)]fs

Mr. Owen, you simply cannot believe what you wrote AND support our Constitution and Party platforms and, unless you are a liar on top of everything else, you do clearly believe what you wrote! Furthermore, publishing what you wrote and publishing it on Moore County Republican Party letterhead, and doing so while campaigning for reelection as Chairman of our party's County organization is just plain wrong on top of wrong on top of wrong! The things you have done are the very things our party stands firmly against everywhere we find it in this great country of ours! Shame on you and on all who support you in your gross misconduct in office!

Dear fellow Republicans,

Our state party leadership exercised their authority to arbitrate this matter on an emergency basis after Mr. Owen appointed several 'additional' members to the credentials committee and subsequently rejected the entire slate of delegates from the precinct against which he (John Owen) had leveled his deceitful, false, baseless, and libelous charges. He did all of this just before our County Convention where he fully intended to reap the benefits of his dastardly plan and be reelected as Chairman. He expected he would be a shoe-in without the delegates from this precinct.

State arbitration ruled against John Owen and ordered the reinstatement of the slate of delegates from the precinct just in time for our County Convention; but, John and his henchmen would not abandon the other despicable tactics they had devised. There was much more to come. From the floor of the convention they tried and very nearly succeeded in closing nominations after ONLY John Owen had been nominated and in spite of the raucous protest that erupted. John Owen's hand picked crony, George Little, was presiding over this travesty and had it not been for the very persuasive argument made from the floor by our own Representative Joe Boylan against what George Little had already ruled, i.e., the floor was closed to nominations and closed to any further discussion, George Little would have pulled off the coup that John Owen envisioned. But, they still had some more tricks up their sleeves. They made a quick motion to change the manner of voting from a secret ballot to a public standing vote. The motion was quickly seconded and even more quickly voted on (by voice vote). Not surprisingly the chair declared the motion had been passed. After this slick piece of work the John Owen supporters locked in their 'majority' by openly intimidating delegates and even flatly demanding that some of the very obviously stunned delegates stand up and vote with them in their preplanned assault on our convention. (I personally witnessed a delegate who was very clearly and purposefully voting NO to a question by having remained seated who very hesitantly, apologetically, and uncomfortably stood (and was counted in the affirmative) after being intensely and directly ordered to do so by the precinct chairman. Several others also witnessed the blatant intimidation during votes on the floor of our convention).

Statements like that of John Owen above and the subsequent disgraceful tactics he and his supporters employed to ensure his reelection make it clear they assume to themselves an authority that even Congress does not have. Their actions and statements are designed to prohibit those who freely exercise their religion from also exercising their political will, and they are designed to abridge (deprive) religious people of their freedom of political speech, and deny the right of religious people to peaceably assemble (at their precinct meetings), and to petition their Government for a redress of grievances (by voting for whomever or whatever they want) without threat, intimidation, or repercussion.

John Owen and his supporters have unabashedly trampled on the U.S. Constitution, The National and State GOP Party Platforms, and the State, District, and County Republican Party Plans of Organization. John and all those who hold office and support him in these contemptible statements and actions should be expelled from the NCGOP under Article IV.D for “Failure to comply with the County, District, or State Party Plans of Organization”. His words and actions are completely incompatible with long established Republican principles. John Owen and those who have helped him do his dirty deed are inexcusable.

If you find the actions of John Owen and his supporters as reprehensible as I do won't you please get active in your Moore County precinct and work with us to bring honesty, decency, civility and order back into our Moore County Republican Party leadership? Return here for periodic updates and information on how you can help and when precinct and party elections will be held.

Yours for good government OF, BY, and FOR ALL the good people of Moore County,

Henry C. Francis







				The U.S. Constitution, Amendment I, says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” North Carolina Republican Party Platform under Article III: Individual Liberty, says: "5. Government should treat all citizens fairly and impartially and should assure equal opportunity without regard to wealth, race, religion, sex, or national origin. We oppose all forms of invidious discrimination. We oppose efforts to include sexual orientation as a category for preferential status under civil rights laws.” The Moore County Republican Party Plan of Organization says: “Any Member of the Republican Party who shall meet the residency requirements may be a voting member of the Precinct Organization.” But that's NOT what John Owen says: “…Mrs. Kelly and a large number of the members of her church conspired to disrupt the recent precinct meeting and in order to elect their own precinct slate of officers and delegates.”, and “Mr. Taylor has worked within the Party structure for some time now and has always seemed honest and forthright. Nevertheless. Mr. Taylor is a teacher at the Calvary Christian School and may well share some of the single-minded thinking…” Mr. Owen, which of these church members was not a member of the Republican Party? Which of them did not meet the residency requirements? How does their particular church affiliation constitute a conspiracy? What could possibly be wrong with “Any Member of the Republican Party who shall meet the residency requirements” voting as they wish? How does Mr. Taylor’s decades of exemplary performance as a high school teacher at Calvary Christian School and his single-minded thinking make him anything but well qualified to serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee? (John, being single-minded is a very good thing, it is double mindedness like yours that is a bad thing, [James 1:8, 4:8]). How can you make these and those other outlandish statements you have made and still support The United States Constitution, and the National and North Carolina Republican Party Platforms? [its all here, on party letterhead no less (PDF)]fs Mr. Owen, you simply cannot believe what you wrote AND support our Constitution and Party platforms and, unless you are a liar on top of everything else, you do clearly believe what you wrote! Furthermore, publishing what you wrote and publishing it on Moore County Republican Party letterhead, and doing so while campaigning for reelection as Chairman of our party's County organization is just plain wrong on top of wrong on top of wrong! The things you have done are the very things our party stands firmly against everywhere we find it in this great country of ours! Shame on you and on all who support you in your gross misconduct in office! Dear fellow Republicans, Our state party leadership exercised their authority to arbitrate this matter on an emergency basis after Mr. Owen appointed several 'additional' members to the credentials committee and subsequently rejected the entire slate of delegates from the precinct against which he (John Owen) had leveled his deceitful, false, baseless, and libelous charges. He did all of this just before our County Convention where he fully intended to reap the benefits of his dastardly plan and be reelected as Chairman. He expected he would be a shoe-in without the delegates from this precinct. State arbitration ruled against John Owen and ordered the reinstatement of the slate of delegates from the precinct just in time for our County Convention; but, John and his henchmen would not abandon the other despicable tactics they had devised. There was much more to come. From the floor of the convention they tried and very nearly succeeded in closing nominations after ONLY John Owen had been nominated and in spite of the raucous protest that erupted. John Owen's hand picked crony, George Little, was presiding over this travesty and had it not been for the very persuasive argument made from the floor by our own Representative Joe Boylan against what George Little had already ruled, i.e., the floor was closed to nominations and closed to any further discussion, George Little would have pulled off the coup that John Owen envisioned. But, they still had some more tricks up their sleeves. They made a quick motion to change the manner of voting from a secret ballot to a public standing vote. The motion was quickly seconded and even more quickly voted on (by voice vote). Not surprisingly the chair declared the motion had been passed. After this slick piece of work the John Owen supporters locked in their 'majority' by openly intimidating delegates and even flatly demanding that some of the very obviously stunned delegates stand up and vote with them in their preplanned assault on our convention. (I personally witnessed a delegate who was very clearly and purposefully voting NO to a question by having remained seated who very hesitantly, apologetically, and uncomfortably stood (and was counted in the affirmative) after being intensely and directly ordered to do so by the precinct chairman. Several others also witnessed the blatant intimidation during votes on the floor of our convention). Statements like that of John Owen above and the subsequent disgraceful tactics he and his supporters employed to ensure his reelection make it clear they assume to themselves an authority that even Congress does not have. Their actions and statements are designed to prohibit those who freely exercise their religion from also exercising their political will, and they are designed to abridge (deprive) religious people of their freedom of political speech, and deny the right of religious people to peaceably assemble (at their precinct meetings), and to petition their Government for a redress of grievances (by voting for whomever or whatever they want) without threat, intimidation, or repercussion. John Owen and his supporters have unabashedly trampled on the U.S. Constitution, The National and State GOP Party Platforms, and the State, District, and County Republican Party Plans of Organization. John and all those who hold office and support him in these contemptible statements and actions should be expelled from the NCGOP under Article IV.D for “Failure to comply with the County, District, or State Party Plans of Organization”. His words and actions are completely incompatible with long established Republican principles. John Owen and those who have helped him do his dirty deed are inexcusable. If you find the actions of John Owen and his supporters as reprehensible as I do won't you please get active in your Moore County precinct and work with us to bring honesty, decency, civility and order back into our Moore County Republican Party leadership? Return here for periodic updates and information on how you can help and when precinct and party elections will be held. Yours for good government OF, BY, and FOR ALL the good people of Moore County, Henry C. Francis









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