Archive for the ‘News’ Category

« Older Entries

Speech to State Committee Members 1.22.2011

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

The RNC is under new management! The members of the Republican National Committee met in DC last week to elect a new Chairman. Reince Priebus is a young, dynamic, tireless fundraiser and proven leader. He’s already making changes and changing faces. He began work immediately on his plan to restore our donor’s faith in the RNC. He’s not a rock star – but he’s a rock-solid conservative. And today, as we mark the 38th anniversary of Roe v Wade, it’s notable that our new Chairman describes himself as a 100%, Psalm 139, pro-life Republican!

Congratulations on becoming a member of one of the largest Republican State Committees in the country! Ronald Reagan once said, “A political party is a mechanical structure created to further a cause. The cause, not the mechanism, brings and holds the members together.” We stand united today because our cause is the very salvation of our Republic.

With our basic freedoms at risk, the stakes are high. We must elect a Republican president in 2012. America can’t continue to slip toward becoming the land of the “partially free.” We took back our state last year; we’ll take back our country next year!

Our state will play a key role in this effort. The eyes of the country will be focused on our First InThe Nation primary. We have a responsibility to be fully engaged in the process of launching the very best candidate out of New Hampshire

Our next RNC convention will be held in Tampa Bay, Fl. As Chairman Priebus said, “We are committed to holding a world-class 2012 Republican National Convention worthy of the next President of the United States.”

It’s been an exciting year working with you. Over the last 12 months I’ve traveled the state to attend numerous meetings, events and fundraisers in support of our committees and candidates. Besides serving on the E-Board and Platform Committee, I worked on candidate recruitment and training, campaign schools, and hosted the first NH Women’s Summit. I assisted local committees and acted as liaison to 912 and grassroots groups. You’ve all been a part of our success!

As your National Committeewoman, during the last year I traveled to Honolulu, Kansas City, Maryland and Washington DC. I’m on the RNC’s Rules Committee and Ethics Committee. I continue to fight to defend our primary. Ironically today, Arizona is considering violating the rules and moving their primary ahead; but rest assured, nothing will stop NH from being first!

Thank you for the honor of serving you and for the privilege of representing our state.

Posted in Events, News | Comments Off

Phyllis Woods on Annual RNC Meeting

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Remarks before the NH State Committee at their Annual Meeting
April 17, 2010

The RNC has had some rough going lately. I won’t deny it, spin it, or sugar coat it. Serious, inexcusable and unacceptable mistakes have been made. I intend to be part of the solution. We’ll fix the problems and the problem maker! I’ve networked and forged alliances with principled conservatives on the committee. We’re determined to resolve our internal problems. We share your concerns and have brought them to the Chairman. We’re committed to ensuring that every donor dollar goes to our core mission of winning elections. You deserve nothing less!

But in fairness we can’t let our problems or the press define us. We’ve had successes and there is cause for optimism. (People are focused on the disaster unfolding in Washington and there’s an “American awakening” building in reaction to the most liberal administration in the history of the Republic.)

After the passage of the Healthcare Bill, the RNC organized a “Money Bomb.” They asked people to donate $40 to take back 40 House Seats and fire Nancy Pelosi! In 24 hours we raised $1.5 million dollars!! People all across the country are rising up and pushing back. They have no stomach for an ideological agenda being forced on them against their will.

Even with Democrats in control of Congress and the White House the RNC has outraised the DNC 9 out of 14 months and we have over 556,000 new first time donors.

The RNC will have the resources needed to elect conservative candidates who believe in the fundamental principles of lower taxes and smaller government that the American people are clearly demanding.

There is ample evidence that Americans are frustrated and dissatisfied with the country’s direction; they’re showing it by electing Republicans! We’ve seen it here in NH where we’ve won 7 out of 8 special elections (due in no small part to the efforts of our fabulous state staff!) but it’s happening everywhere. Besides the races in New Jersey, Virginia, and Massachusetts that you’ve heard about, last year the RNC won 26 out of 37 special elections.

Despite the challenges, the RNC continues to succeed in fundraising, recruitment, and candidate development.

The RNC is dedicated to building a strong victory program. We’re making significant investments in field staff, office space, telephones and computers so our state parties have the infrastructures to win in November. In New Hampshire we will be hiring in-state local activists to lead that victory effort.

As your Committeewoman I’ll continue to be accessible and accountable and remain involved in the unglamorous work of fundraising and grassroots party building here in NH. At the RNC I’ll be serving on the Ethics Committee and the Rules Committee where I’m pledged to work to preserve our first in the nation primary. As a member of this small group of leaders who are dedicated to renovating the party from the bottom up and the inside out, I’m absolutely committed to staying the course. Our success is crucial; the future of our country depends on it!

I think we’re on the brink of a Republican resurgence like we’ve never seen and nothing should distract us from that goal. I am grateful for the honor of representing you on the RNC. Thank you all for the support you’ve shown me.

Phyllis Woods
RNC National Committeewoman for New Hampshire

Posted in News, RNC News | Comments Off

Phyllis Woods on Resignation of Sean Mahoney

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

In light of the recent resignation and protest statement by our National Committeeman, I think it’s appropriate that I make my feelings known regarding the events that took place by the RNC that have been in the press. To put it into perspective, a twenty-four year old, mid-level staffer made an imprudent decision to violate policy and reimburse an inappropriate expense for entertainment at a Voyeur club in East Hollywood. She knew better, was wrong to do it, and she paid the price by being terminated immediately. Her actions were a flat out violation of RNC rules and procedures.

The good news is that someone picked up on this questionable expense and because of the transparency which we practice, it was made known and dealt with publicly. There was no attempt to hide, diminish, or excuse such a violation. The funds were returned and an effort was begun to further tighten policies to assure that this would not occur again. Subsequently, additional changes were made as a new Chief of Staff was put in place as well as a new Communications Director who are expected to provide a fresh approach and a different direction for the organization.

The fact that our Committeeman from New Hampshire was the only one of our 168 RNC members to resign his position should not be construed to mean that the rest of the members condone, tolerate, or dismiss such actions. What happened was indefensible and an embarrassment to us all. It should not have happened and we wish it had not happened, but the appropriate response was swift and definitive.

Frankly I think the incident has received far more press than it deserves when compared to the magnitude of the challenge we are involved with in correcting the course of our country. The role of the RNC is to raise funds and elect Republicans and that is our focus and our goal. This has been an unwanted and unnecessary distraction.

Despite the fact that the Democrats control congress and the White House, the RNC has outraised the DNC nine out of fourteen months and has over 370,000 first time donors. March was a record breaking month, raising $11.4 million. The proof has been in the successes we’ve experienced in major races throughout the country and in special elections here in New Hampshire. The RNC played a major and defining role in the Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts races and brought their considerable manpower, resources, and funding to those states. The GOP is now in play in areas that have formerly been Democrat strongholds like California and Nevada.

We are on the brink of a Republican Resurgence the likes of which we have not seen before and nothing should distract us from this mission. All of our energy, time, resources, and attention must be brought to bear to take back control of Congress and put our country on the right path to prosperity and preserving our freedoms and liberties.

I cannot fault anyone for their decision to fight corruption and waste in the way they see fit but as for me, I will stay the course and do the best job I can to represent New Hampshire honorably on the RNC along with Gov. Sununu. We will defend and protect our first in the nation primary and speak out to preserve internal integrity and accountability. I will work from within to advance Republican principles of limited government, personal liberty, and fiscal responsibility. New Hampshire will have a seat at the table and your concerns will be heard, that’s my commitment to you.

Phyllis Woods
Republican National Committeewoman for New Hampshire

Posted in News | Comments Off

« Older Entries