By Illinois Review
As the deciding votes that saved embattled Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy’s job on Saturday, IL GOP Grassroots Committee co-chairs Larry Smith and Rhonda Belford have come under fire from the grassroots – with many calling for their resignations as chairs, as Smith and Belford spent the weekend lashing out on social media and making phone calls to defend Tracy and their decision to keep him as party chairman.
“Don Tracy supports grassroots conservatives more than anyone,” was a message that Smith repeated, as he spoke with Illinois conservatives over the weekend who expressed their outrage that the co-chairs of the grassroots committee – Smith and Belford – would support a party chairman who views the conservative grassroots base of the party as “steerage,” or third-class citizens.
Ironically, Smith is also a founder of YANA (You Are Not Alone), a local grassroots organization. He’s also the chairman of the Lasalle County Republicans.
Belford, who serves as co-chair of the Grassroots Committee alongside Smith, also serves on Tracy’s newly-created Endorsement Policy Committee, which Tracy will chair – paving the way for the chairman and the state party to officially endorse their preferred candidates in primary elections, in an apparent dig at the grassroots-base of the party.
Over the weekend, Belford went on social media to slam Illinois Review, posting on Facebook,
“If we continue to let the Democrats infiltrate, punk, play and rek havoc there will never be unified efforts – stop letting fake narratives and news, leaks, and lynching mentality be the guiding force. Get the facts, get educated, get united and let’s win some races.”
Publish factual stories that Tracy and his allies don’t like, and they accuse you of being a Democrat.
Publish stories about the IL GOP weaponizing their postage discount to target conservative grassroots candidates, and they accuse you of being a Democrat.
Criticize Tracy’s leadership, and they accuse you of being a Democrat.
Challenge IL GOP-backed candidates, and they accuse you of being a Democrat.
Point out that under the current anti-grassroots regime, Republicans can’t win races in Illinois, and they accuse you of being a Democrat.
And the response from grassroots over the weekend was swift and direct.
“Wonder how much it takes to betray your constituents.”
“What Bull. I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Larry Smith this evening while he was driving up from the meeting. I had NO idea he was one of the life saving votes for Tracy. I even invited him to speak at our next grassroots meeting on the 24th. There is no way that he deserves the opportunity to speak with us until Tracy is GONE. It’s either us or Tracy. All grassroots leaders please don’t give the IL GOP the time of day until they have another vote.”
And in another Facebook post, a grassroots leader wrote that on a phone call with Smith over the weekend, he said that he did not consult with any grassroots leaders prior to his vote on Saturday in support of Tracy because he “could not find us.”
An absurd statement coming from a man who co-chairs the Grassroots Committee, prompting Stacey to write,
“I know! Guess lying is easier when under fire.”
Earlier on Monday, Rob Cruz, a member of the Grassroots Committee, resigned – expressing his disappointment that the co-chairs of the committee “were key figures in retaining” Don Tracy as party chairman.
It’s hard to serve the grassroots – as Smith and Belfored have been tasked to do, when their real mission is to serve Tracy, instead.
And their rhetoric and votes prove it.
