Positively Republican Becomes Largest GOP Page on Facebook

Online, September 9, 2009 (Newswire.com) - With more than 150,000 fans, Positively Republican! has surpassed the Republican National Committee as the leading GOP site on Facebook, providing a critical forum to voice opinions on issues important to Republican grassroots activists.

Founded in the wake of last November's historic Democratic sweep into the White House, Positively Republican! is envisioned by founder Chris Widener as a proactive education and advocacy tool for politically conservative Americans everywhere.

"I started Positively Republican! in response to the negativism and general disheartened outlook I felt plagued the party last fall," explained Widener, a 43 year-old entrepreneur, nationally-renown motivational speaker and author of several best-selling books on leadership.

Utilized effectively throughout the 2008 campaign by Barack Obama's presidential campaign, Facebook's technology has broken down the geographic and economic barriers that have historically prevented average Americans from political participation. Widener believes Facebook and his site offer Republicans a tool which, if used effectively, will level the political playing field.

"For too long, we Republicans have blamed the media for our own failure to communicate and connect with voters," Widener said. "Those days are over; with social media technology, we can bypass traditional mainstream media and communicate directly with voters."

Fans of Positively Republican! enjoy frequent postings of timely news articles and politically relevant information. But the key, says its Washington state-based founder, is how the technology provides a forum for every American - young and old, rich and poor - to participate in the national debate.

"Positively Republican! offers a non-authoritative, open forum for grassroots Republicans throughout the country to have their say," explained Widener. "It's a novel, inexpensive tool that allows Americans to freely express their opinions, a true community of individuals who share the values of limited government, lower taxes and less regulation."

When Widener launched the site last fall, he knew it had the potential to grow quite rapidly. The viral nature of Facebook - in which members of various sites can recommend friends, pages and links to hundreds of other "friends" in a short amount of time - is what fuels popular Facebook pages like Positively Republican!.

And Republican leaders are noticing.

Three days after passing the official Republican National Committee Facebook page in sheer number of fans, Widener received a congratulatory call from the office of RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

In July, Positively Republican! hosted its first "offline" event, a conference call with United States Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina). More than 1,000 Positively Republican! members participated in the call, many of whom submitted questions to the Senator to learn what they could do to address important issues such as the economy and President Obama's plan for health care reform.

Washington State Republican Party chairman Luke Esser, who himself is active on Facebook, sees unlimited potential for Positively Republican! to help get more Republicans elected in his state and throughout the country.

"The social media revolution is all about leveraging technology to empower and equip others," explained Esser. "We in the Party are excited about what Positively Republican! is doing and believe it will play a major role in helping Republicans rebound in 2010."

Widener shares Esser's enthusiasm and believes there's nothing stopping grassroots activists and concerned Americans from making a difference.

"Positively Republican is proof that a committed, focused activist can start a movement from their home office with a laptop," concluded Widener. "It is changing the face of politics, decentralizing the power base and empowering the grassroots like never before."

Indeed, anyone with a Facebook profile can join Positively Republican! To become an official member of the Facebook page, visit www.facebook.com/positivelyrepublican. Click onto the "Become a Fan" button at the top of the page to become a member and start receiving updates. Positively Republican! members are encouraged to tell their friends about the page by clicking onto the "Suggest to Friends" feature on the upper left hand side of the home page.

To learn more about Positively Republican! founder Chris Widener, please visit www.chriswidener.com.

Chris Widener is available for additional comments or media interviews. Contact Chris at (425) 223-3959 or widenergroup@gmail.com, or contact Michael Suydam at (949) 981-5008 or mike@21strat.com.

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