Republicans gather for Lincoln Day Dinner
Republicans gather for Lincoln Day Dinner
Speaker highlights relationship between GOP, blacks
MOSES LAKE — The party of Abraham Lincoln was launched approximately 150 years ago with a platform opposing the institution of slavery, and the keynote speaker at Saturday's annual Republican dinner said the party continues to aid in the accomplishments of blacks.
Rev. Wayne Perryman is a community activist and author of "Unfounded Loyalty," and told party members Saturday that no other party in American history has done more for civil rights and blacks than the Republican party.
"I often tell people black history is Republican history and Republican history is black history," Perryman said.
Perryman was the keynote speaker at the Grant County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner. Party faithful packed into the Best Western Lake Inn and Conference Center Saturday night to quote and pay tribute to America's 16th president, and to raise money for the Grant County Republican Party with a dinner and auction.
Perryman pointed to the aid Republicans gave to the passage of the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery, and the subsequent amendments helping to give blacks the right to vote. He also pointed to civil rights legislation passed by the Republican party over the generations, and the fact many black colleges were started in the name of white Republicans, in saying the party has done great work for blacks.
"You are the only political party that laid down your lives for blacks," Perryman told the Republicans Saturday, referring to the Civil War.
No one ever talks about the relationship between blacks and Republicans, he said, in part blaming the news media and in part the party itself for not getting its story out. He told Grant County Republicans he hoped his book would bring reconciliation with blacks and the Republican party, and urged the two groups to come back together again.
County Committeeman Ron Baker agreed with the need to reach out to everyone, and with the need to get out the vote in the coming election season.
"We do need to reach out to everybody as good Republicans," Baker said. "And if we're successful, we're going to win these next elections."
To win those elections, Grant County GOP Chairman Tom Dent said one of his goals is to have the highest Republican turnout of any county in the state this fall. He told attendees Saturday he has made a challenge with the 38 other county GOP chairs to produce the highest Republican percentage turnout of any county in the state.
One of Dent's other goals is to ensure victory in every county post this November. The party candidate's committee has already begun interviewing candidates for open races this November, who will go to county conventions later this year.
"We still have a few Democrats in Grant County," Dent said, noting his goal is a Republican victory in those positions.
Dent told the Republicans that Dan Stout has shown an interest to run for Grant County Auditor, with Linda Holden and Kimberly Allen each interested to run for the Grant County Clerk. Stout was absent Saturday, but Allen and Holden each spoke to the attendees about their desire to run.
Saturday's event was also attended by Gaelyn McGavick, wife of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McGavick. Gaelyn McGavick said her husband was running because of a deep love for Washington state, and running for the position was an opportunity to give back.
U.S. Congressman Doc Hastings, R-4th District, told the crowd he was confident about the party keeping a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and urged everyone to get Republicans out to vote this year.
Also speaking at Saturday's dinner were state Sen. Joyce Mulliken, R-Moses Lake, state Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee, and state Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum.
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