Colorado Republican Party besieged by infighting for years, current Colorado GOP Chair Steve House fooled supporters by turning out to be 'rubber stamp for the RNC'-Denver Post, 6/16/2015

June 2015 article

6/16/2015, "Colorado GOP chairman Steve House resists efforts to oust him," Denver Post, Lynn Bartels

"The Colorado Republican Party, besieged by infighting for years, erupted again this week when chairman Steve House said he would resign, but then rescinded it, saying he had been "threatened" into stepping down. 

Among those who sought House's resignation: Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, the Republican many believe helped House win the chairman's race in March against Ryan Call. Coffman endorsed House, while most establishment Republicans backed Call, who was seeking his third term as chairman....

House said he was told if he didn't resign, there was potential for litigation and his "affairs" with other women would be made public. House said he wasn't having any affairs, but he was concerned about the future of the party and his family, so he sent Coffman a text message after the meeting.

"I will resign tomorrow," he wrote. "I will say it is for personal undisclosed reasons. If anyone attacks me, I will attack back."
But House said that after talking with his wife and his advisers, he decided against resigning.

"No one should be bullied out of running for office or serving as a leader in our party," he said. "I am not only staying on as your chairman, but I am doubling down on my efforts to lead us to victory in 2016."

But others said House was never threatened, only confronted about his "bad decisions."

Coffman on Tuesday declined to comment.

"I am not going to comment on all the rumors and lies," she said.

"This matter belongs in a confidential session with the party's executive committee, and that's where this is headed. It is a personnel matter, and I am attempting to honor a prescribed process."

Mizel and Tancredo — both of whom backed House's bid for chairman — also declined to comment.

Republicans praised House this year when he invited the Log Cabin Republicans to share space with the state party at the Western Conservative Summit. Event organizers created a national firestorm when they refused to allow the gay group to set up a display.

But the same wing of the party that led House to victory has been unhappy with him since his election. 

Some are upset with his decision not to hire Harvey, a hard-right conservative. Some Republicans say Harvey was promised the job, but House hedged after some GOP leaders opposed the idea.
Harvey did not return requests for comment.

Other Republicans, including activist George Athanasopoulo, are upset about House's ideas for winning in 2016. Colorado is expected to play a crucial role in determining which party wins the White House. And the National Republican Committee is determined to try to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.

"What Steve doesn't understand is the grassroots (GOP) in Colorado is remarkably more sophisticated than the Democrats or the establishment perceive it to be," Athanasopoulo said Tuesday.

He has posted his concerns about House on Facebook.

"We all supported Steve because we thought he would end Ryan's program of purposeful obfuscation," he wrote in one post. "Steve House has become a rubber stamp for the RNC.""...



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