Omar Navarro, speaks in Murrieta

By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host

This morning at a conservative leadership meeting I attend each Monday Morning in Murrieta, California, our guest was Omar Navarro.  Mr. Navarro is currently the only Republican in the race to go up against Maxine Waters of the 43rd Congressional District in California.  This is Navarro's second try to beat the Democrat, but this time he believes he has enough of a ground game, and money coming in, to complete the job and defeat her.

Speaking to him, he gave all of the right answers when it came to policy and platform.  He's conservative, Christian, and according to Alex Jones, Navarro might have a legitimate chance to beat Waters in the 2018 Election.

So, if Navarro is the lead Republican, and at the moment the only Republican in the race challenging Maxine Waters for her congressional seat, why has the Los Angeles County Republican leadership refused to support him?  Why has the party refused to help him financially?  The LA County GOP has even blocked Navarro on Twitter.

Did they find out Navarro is a liberal in conservative clothing?  Has he broken the 11th Commandment, and went after fellow Republicans when he shouldn't have?  Did he emerge as a secret supporter of Amnesty?  Did he dare to act in a manner that is not within the good graces of the party's leadership?

I had an opportunity to speak with someone who knows because he's a part of that leadership, and from what I understand, the Republican Party leadership has a number of complaints.  According to that source, Navarro had harsh things to say about fellow Republicans, he's also allegedly too harsh with his conservative talk (talking about building Trump's Wall in a district with a huge Democrat Mexican presence who finds talk about the wall offensive), and besides the seat is unwinnable by Republicans so why give him any support?  Why waste the money and energy?

I respect greatly the source I spoke to.  He is an incredible individual, and a sound conservative.  I kind of see his points regarding Navarro.  But, does Reagan's 11th Commandment apply to Republicans who have betrayed the Republican Platform?  Is it possible the elements within the Republican Party Navarro was addressing have abandoned the GOP platform and are too busy trying to play the "we don't want to offend the independents" game too much?  Are they sure that Navarro talking about building the wall is a losing strategy?  Is it possible Navarro's crusade is not a losing one, and if only the Republican Party were to give him some support, he might have a big chance to win?

I refuse to fully take sides, at this juncture, because I am still collecting information.  But, one of the things that has been driving me nuts is the fact that as the Democrats play dirty, and in California they maintain a super-majority in Sacramento, the Republicans are fighting among themselves.  Is it possible that there is a better candidate than Navarro?  Perhaps.  But, Navarro has quite a good head start on the other candidates (if they are going to materialize).  Is it possible they are right and in the 43rd District, a purely conservative message won't sell, so you have to moderate?  Isn't that the same attitude that has kept the GOP in defeat mode until Trump proved the theory to be wrong as hell even when everyone was proclaiming Hillary Clinton was destined to win the presidency?

In the end, right now Omar Navarro is the guy we have to beat Maxine Waters.  He has the Democrat establishment against him, and possibly the Republican establishment against him.  Navarro comes across as a good guy.  He's trying to be Trump-like, I think.  That's why he's running on things like Trump's border wall.  However, Trump sometimes says things that may not help him, much.  I think there's a method to his madness, and I believe Trump's Tweets and the things he sometimes says are dangerous to his cause, and feeds the liberal left media beast.  That said, Navarro has got to stay away from that kind of thing if he wants to make sure he's not providing fuel for the Democrat Party's attack - like his recent "Wetback" comment. . . probably something that is not in his best interest.  Granted, the messages have not been verified as being his.  It may simply be a bunch of junk.  Or, Navarro may have sealed his fate with those messages.

Again, I am still trying to figure all of this out.  I don't have all of the details at the moment.  Right now, I am simply talking to people so that I can work my way to the truth.

You know the old saying.  There's always three sides to every story.  What he said, what she said, and what really happened.

That said, it is still early, as well.  There may be other candidates on the horizon.  There may be more reasons than we know of that has encouraged the L.A. County Republican Party to shy away from Navarro.  Or, Navarro might be the best candidate for this election.  He might be exactly what we need to dethrone Maxine Waters.

I have gotten to know Omar Navarro, and members of the Republican Party Leadership in Los Angeles as well as one of the possible individuals who is considering also running against Maxine Waters. . . so as this all unfolds, I will be sure to keep you posted.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary