Parsky in The News Parsky Watch Archives
More Parsky Watch Parsky Watch - The Magazine Take the Parsky Watch IQ Test Visit the Parsky Watch Store	Back to Parsky Watch archives Inaugeral Issue Parsky Watch #1 April 23, 2002 We'll get right to the point: Does anyone truly believe Gerry Parsky is fit to lead the California Republican Party? The only candid answer is "no," for a host of reasons. Any honest examination of Parsky's action's and statements since being fingered as the Bush Administration's man in California lead inescapably to the distressing conclusion that he is in fact wrecking the party he claims to be saving. Let's back up a bit or perspective's sake. Gerry Parsky, a leading GOP money man for many moons, was anointed as the George W. Bush campaign's Numero Uno in California - an enshrinement that energized Parsky to launch a crusade to remake the California Republican Party as if Ronald Reagan had never existed. Parsky was not elected as California Republican Party chairman. Rather, he pressured the CRP leaders into transferring the powers of the CRP chairman to a special “operations committee” controlled by him. Thus, the state party structure is now in the grip of, essentially, a wealthy factional leader. He's an unelected shadow chairman whose authority flows from having a singularly powerful constituent. Parsky's like the bossy, abrasive, incompetent supervisor feared by co-workers because his dad owns the company. The California Republican Party has become the California Republican Parsky. Indeed, Parsky's words and actions are more fitting for a faction boss than a leader of all Republicans. Take, for example, his tantrum following Bill Simon's primary victory over Richard Riordan, quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle. You've probably read the famous quotes, but we'll repeat them anyway: 1) "I'm not going to be involved in the (general election) campaign," said Parsky told the Chronicle. "My job is to work with the party, to rebuild and strengthen it for the president. And that's what I'll continue to do." Not involved? How, in good conscience, can the President's man in California sit out the general election? How exactly does one separate party-building from defeating the Democratic governor and electing Republicans here in California? George W. Bush has been a great President, and we take a backseat to no one in our support and admiration, but the California GOP should be strong to benefit all Republican candidates -- not just the President. Parsky has since done some pro forma back-pedaling, but those were clearly candid words spoken from the heart. 2) “We're not going to stop the approach we started," Parsky also told the Chronicle. "This party can only win if we change the image . . . that the (state) GOP is dominated by extremists." “I will continue to advocate for the same approach we undertook when the president was running [in California],” Parsky continued. Reality check: Parsky's “approach” has already been tried twice. His hand-picked candidate for governor, Richard Riordan, took his “approach” and got crushed by Bill Simon. Gerry Parsky was also given complete control over Governor Bush’s California campaign. The result? Bush lost ground after Parsky took over, and wound up losing the state to Gore by a double-digit margin. Parsky’s “approach” has been to tell Republicans they are stupid, insensitive and backwards – but by the way we still want your vote. California does not need two Democratic parties, and Parsky's "approach," when boiled down to its essence, would transmute the GOP into what amounts to a conservative faction of the Democratic Party. And as an aside, wouldn't be refreshing if Mr. Parsky would articulate a positive message about the Republican Party, instead of always talking about the things he doesn't want it to talk about. Just as revealing is Chronicle story's lead paragraph: "A critical question in the aftermath of GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon's victory: Will he get the support of Gerald Parsky, a close friend of President Bush's and key mover behind the effort to pull California's Republicans back to the center?" "Will the president's agent in California support the gubernatorial nominee of his party?" The fact we must even ask this question speaks volumes about Parsky utter lack of qualification to be California's Maximum Republican. Such a question shouldn't even cross the minds of party leaders and activists, let alone lead off a story in a major daily newspaper. Parsky should take a cue from Tom Tucker and the Republicans for a New Majority. They actively backed Riordan, took his defeat with grace, announced their staunch support for Simon and back up their talk with a $100,000 contribution. That's the kind of action that earns respect even from those who disagree with their vision for the party. It's called leadership, Mr. Parsky. The President is a smart man and a shrewd politician. He appreciates and rewards loyalty, which is an admirable trait. At the same time, he is sincerely interested in strengthening the GOP here in the Golden State, in which he should consider anointing a builder as his point man in California, instead of the wrecker currently holding the job. Don't worry - there's more to come.