GOP plans rally for unity in community

LANE FILLER, Staff Writer
Published January 9, 2006

Tonight at the Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park, Republicans will hold a forum on race, unity, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and inclusiveness.

The county Republicans hold a meeting each quarter, but this will be a larger and better-publicized one than usual because of recent controversies.

The impending visit of Arizona Sen. John McCain to both a fundraiser for Republicans and the city's MLK Day celebration has created some furor in the community. County Republican Chairman Rick Beltram hopes that can be addressed, and even mended.

"We're calling this meeting 'Unity in the Greater Community' and we really want it to be a forum where people can express all their concerns," Beltram said. "We want to be an inclusive party, and that means we have to open these paths of communication."

Marvin Rogers, who works for the U.S. House of Representatives as a constituent liaison, will moderate the event.

Rogers, who is both black and Republican, said, "The premise is on how we can create diversity, synergy and inclusiveness. The Republican Party is passionate about building bridges, into all communities, and that's what this is all about."

Rogers went on to say the nation, the state and Spartanburg had reached a point where all the intellectual and civic resources available must be tapped into if these communities are to succeed.

The event panel will include participants from diverse backgrounds.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m.

Lane Filler can be reached at 562-7426, or lane.filler@shj.com.

User Comments

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Re: PUBLIC EVENT
think I'll skip this one
- thiefinstealer

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GOP plans rally for unity in community
I'll skip this one
- thiefinstealer

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They're All the Same!
Republicans, Democrats - why should people who are not the concern of either of these groups once their candidate is elected go to a unity in the community meeting? I don't see any Republicans or Democrats, for that matter, walking around the South Converse Street area from Duncan Park to Barksdale Blvd. asking any of the residents in that area what they can and actually will press to have done to rid the area of the gangs and other elements that have created an under seize mentality among the residents. Where were the Republicans or Democrats when I spent over 3 hours Saturday putting the piles of leaves I had raked into piles in bags to prevent them from blowing back into my yard and into the street, thinking the City sanitation would come to pick them up, but had not for over 4 weeks, although I see them practically every morning in Converse Heights picking up leaves and debris when I drive through on my way to work?
Republican - Democrat - they're all a waste of time!
- Evie B

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PUBLIC EVENT
A nice easy location for a free event.
Please come along!
Rick Beltram
- apron

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Re: Too Funny...
Yea that's really funny. They don't really expect the poorer folks to show up at the almighty Marriott now do they? Of course not, that's the purpose of it being there. That's on purpose.
Rogers, who is both black and Republican, said, "The premise is on how we can create diversity, synergy and inclusiveness. The Republican Party is passionate about building bridges, into all communities, and that's what this is all about."
Nothing but buzzwords... nothing more. No substance here.
- mindctrl

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Too Funny...
The Marriott--what an interesting location to have a meeting of unity for ALL in the community...it's such a welcoming place for people from all socioeconomic classes...
- tdreamweaver

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