Editor’s note: the following was received this morning, 10 days after self-described independent Liam Madden of Bellows Falls surprised Vermont Republicans by winning the GOP endorsement for the U.S. House race. Madden, who had promised to decline the nomination, changed his mind afterwards. Runner-up Ericka Redic is running as the Libertarian Party nominee.
On August 13 the Vermont Republican Party overwhelmingly passed a resolution prohibiting the party from providing financial or any other assistance to Liam Madden as a Republican candidate. The great majority of delegates felt that Mr. Madden’s actions and positions violated the ethics provisions of VTGOP Rules as not being in the best interests of the Party and he has misrepresented his intentions and beliefs in matters having to do with the Party.
Mr. Madden openly admits his original intention was to decline the Republican nomination if he won the primary and run as an Independent. In the event, he failed to follow the requirements for nomination as such and now pretends “we have a lot in common.”
Mr. Madden has continually stated he is not a Republican, will not commit to caucusing exclusively or at all with the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives or to voting for a Republican Speaker of the House (unless the candidate is Nancy Pelosi.) How can his actions and positions be in the best interests of the party?
While Mr. Madden claims to share the values and positions of our party, close examination of his statements reveal that many are in opposition to our party’s recently revised platform. For example, his support of abortion up to 24 weeks gestation violates our plank on the sanctity of life from the moment of conception. Madden’s stated support of universal health care is in direct contradiction to our plank supporting “Robust competition that promotes patient choice and allows individuals to purchase insurance across state lines.” While he assures us that he supports Second Amendment rights he has stated publicly that only well-regulated militias should lawfully carry certain categories of weapons.
His actual positions on these policies and others vastly outweigh any areas of agreement. Opposition to a carbon tax is hardly a profile in courage at a time when Vermonters are reeling from high energy costs and out of control inflation in food, housing, and other necessities.
After hearing Mr. Madden out, the VTGOP voted by a large margin not to support his candidacy. The intent of those voting for the resolution was that this meant no assistance now and through the November election. We stand by our decision.
Perhaps Governor Scott said it best when he pointed out on WVMT that Liam has said he doesn’t believe in the two=party system. “…I think it’s a bit counterintuitive in some respects to run on a ticket when your mission is actually to decimate the system he was part of.”
Janet Metz, Chittenden County Republican Chair
Randy Gray, Windsor County Republican Chair
Christopher Aaron Felker, Burlington City Republican Chair
Ron Lawrence, Essex Town Republican Chair
Wendy Wilton, Milton Republican Chair