05/04/2008
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Staff photo by Jim Evans"While John McCain wasn't my first choice, Republicans better unite behind him or they will regret it," he said.
Speaking before the Republican State Convention at the Augusta Civic Center, Thomas talked about Republican ideals of self control and personal responsibility.
"Conservatives and the Republican Party are in trouble because they've been cross dressing as Democrats," he said.
Thomas' comments of party unity echoed the sentiment expressed the night before by former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. And while most of those at the convention appeared to be onboard with McCain, a strong showing of Ron Paul supporters made their presence known throughout the day.
Of the 21 delegates that Maine will send to the national convention, only one, Patrick Eisenhart of Augusta, is a Ron Paul supporter.
Eisenhart, a retired commander of the U.S. Coast Guard, said he opposes McCain's support of the war and is a fiscal conservative.
"I intend to be a Ron Paul supporter right straight through on to the convention," he said.
The state convention, which drew 2,500 people to Augusta, featured a blend of party business and a chance for candidates to drum up support for their elections. Some face primary opponents on June 10, while others are already looking ahead to the November elections.
Kennebec County delegate Lorraine Bowdoin of Winslow -- who carried a McCain and Sen. Susan Collins sign as she left the convention -- said she was glad to see new faces in the crowd.
"I am pleased to see more people involved in the process," she said. "Whether you agree with them or not, is not the point."
The morning belonged to Collins, who is most likely to face U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat, in the fall.
Collins addressed an enthusiastic crowd who wore red T-shirts, waved signs and thumped rally sticks together.
Collins, dressed in her trademark red, made jabs at presidential candidates and worked to draw a bright line between herself and Allen.
She made light of the controversy over Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor. "When Republicans distance themselves from their pastor, all it means is we're sitting in a pew in the back of the church," she said.
Firefighters joined Collins on stage after the speech, as they played "Still the One" over the public address system. Bagpipers played as she left the auditorium, and the firefighters chanted "six more years."
She also emphasized party unity around McCain, as did Sen. Olympia Snowe, who said they must work to "move heaven and earth" to get Republicans elected.
"All of us as Republicans must do everything possible to demonstrate to Maine and America they should place their faith in us," Snowe said.
Toward the end of Snowe's speech, a group of Paul supporters marched silently at the back of the room, holding campaign signs. A few minutes later, a bevy of McCain signs made their way into the room, until they quickly outnumbered the Paul signs.
During the lunch break, Paul supporters made their way to the front of the room where they waived their signs and chanted campaign slogans. A short speech from Paul played on the public address system.
Kennebec County delegate Joseph Tilly of Albion said event organizers shortened a four minute message from Paul to about 30 seconds. "I think it was all one sided for McCain," he said. "I think it was really disorganized."
Paul supporters also proposed several changes to the party platform. All told, 21 amendments came up for consideration, with most of them defeated.
There were no changes made to either of the social issue planks on abortion or gay marriage. The convention did adopt changes that strengthen opposition to tax and fee increases, and to require a two-thirds majority vote of the Legislature for spending increases.
To open the convention, Charles Bennett, commander of the American Legion District 4, offered the pledge of allegiance. Bennett was in the news recently for protesting against an art display at the University of Maine at Farmington in which flags were on the floor inside a university building.
The convention struck many patriotic themes, from red, white and blue napkins, to the choice of music and standing ovations for those who praised the troops.
Thomas, who makes frequent appearances on Fox News, said Republicans need to win in November so they continue to have the power to fill Supreme Court vacancies.
He also called the economic stimulus package, which calls for sending checks to taxpayers, "a joke."
"People are going to be given money borrowed from the Chinese to go to Wal-Mart and buy products from China," he said.
Susan Cover -- 623-1056
scover@centralmaine.com
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