TOMS RIVER, NJ – Ocean County GOP Chairman Frank B. Holman today said that it’s time to start electing responsible leaders in America. This comes days after his club organized a bus trip, with a charter bus full of local Republicans to join the protest at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday. The statement drew criticism from rank and file members of the party. Holman joined Jackson GOP President Todd Porter in denouncing President Trump and his supporters.
“As we recover from our depression of this week, let us rededicate ourselves to improving our country. Let’s work hard to elect leaders who can unite us. Let’s look to God for guidance. Let us dust off our Abraham Lincoln biography. He led us through our country’s darkest time,” Holman said.
Porter, who heads the Jackson GOP organization in one of the most “Trumpiest” towns in New Jersey called Trump supporters, “boot lickers” and mocked Trump’s defeat to former Vice President Joe Biden. In 2016, Porter opposed the endorsement of President Trump at the Ocean County GOP nominating convention and split his votes among each of the Republican primary candidates.
Porter said Trump and his supporters can “Get right the [expletive] out of this party”.
“Your boy lost,” he told Trump supporters.
He has since modified and removed several comments he made on Facebook regarding Wednesday’s incident at the U.S. Capitol Building.
Regarding the bus trip to D.C., Holman assured members of the party that the Ocean County contingent was not part of the insurrection inside the Capitol building.
“Please know that the Ocean County contingent who traveled to Washington protested peacefully and returned home safely without incident,” Holman added.
Supporters on the organization’s Facebook page expressed their disappointment in Holman and the local Republican party in Ocean County.
“Republican party is officially dead,” said Mark Averso.
“I’ve rescinded my party affiliation and won’t vote R again until you start acting to defend free speech and the rule of law,” said Greg Williams.
“The RINO’s all turned their back on President Trump. I’m doing the same for next election,” said Joseph Todaro. “Libertarian party, independent for now on 32 years as a Republican no more , the established did nothing to secure the voting process in 2020, absolutely no reason to fight, gave no fight and watched it breakdown and did nothing. You’ll never see a Republican prez again, you may never see the majority in house & senate, all is lost period . disgusting.”
Another member of the party criticized Holman on his relative silence and absenteeism since becoming chairman of the county organization.
“When are you going to make more noise? Why do I see only Jeff Van Drew on TV? I don’t see any real grass root effort to mitigate Democrats here or in the state,” Gary Miller said of Holman and his local organization
Now, Holman who has divided the Ocean County GOP along with his minions is asking Republicans to come together.
“Let us work hard at restoring issues, oriented conversations with our families and friends without animus. Let us discourage personality based arguments. We have the greatest Democracy on earth. We must be able to talk about issues and cast educated votes,” Holman said. “I share in your grief over Wednesday’s terrible events.”
