The fast approaching date for the Delaware Republican primary is Tuesday September, 14th. The choice before the voters could not be more stark. Nor could it be more momentous. On this day, the choice of a senate nominee will be made between a dynamic, young committed conservative and a cynical old liberal career politician. This little noticed primary has implications far beyond the borders of the First State.

Who shall represent us? What qualifies one to be senator? Unlike her liberal Republican opponent, Christine O’Donnell is not a career politician. In contrast to Mike Castle, she has not spent the past forty years living off the taxpayers and accumulating an estimated $8 million in personal net worth as a “public servant.” Unlike Mr. Castle, she has not received $3 million in corporate campaign donations this election cycle alone. And unlike him, she did not bankrupt the country in order to fund TARP.

Therefore, unlike Mike Castle, she has not received substantial kicked back campaign contributions from these sameTARP recipients. While the average American, of which Christine O’Donnell is one, has struggled under the burdensome economic disaster brought on by irresponsible liberal policies, Mr. Castle has directly benefitted from them.

Christine O’Donnell describes herself as a “citizen politician” and one who is committed to the “politics of principle over the politics of power.” She has earned her living in marketing and in political consulting. In this capacity, she has been committed to, and active in, the conservative movement since the 1980′s. In contradistinction to her opponent, who could be described as a poster boy for “the culture of death,” Christine is unapologetically pro life. If one were tempted to believe that Christine is simply another political wannabe, one only needs to listen to her boldly field questions concerning the third rail issue of abortion. The way in which a politician handles this issue reveals, more than any other, the character of the candidate. You will never hear Christine utter the nauseating platitude of being “personally opposed” etc. In addition to this stance, Ms. O’Donnell is committed to the Second Amendment. In this regard as well, the contrast with her opponent, who has received an F- rating from The NRA, could not be more clear. She has been vigorously opposed to the recent and unprecedented growth of government and assaults upon the free market. Voters can compare these positions with the record of Mike Castle. In his capacity as governor and the sole member of congress from Delaware, Mr. Castle has supported virtually every tax increase he has had the opportunity to vote upon. Besides voting for TARP, Mr. Castle supported Cash for Clunkers, the failed Pelosi economic stimulus packages, and the government take overs of the auto and banking industries.

From the beginning, Christine O’Donnell was vehemently opposed to the national socialized medicine legislation that was recently forced down the throats of the American people. Although Mr. Castle eventually voted against this bill, he waited until only three days prior to the vote before declaring his intentions. It is now clear that at that point Speaker Pelosi no longer required his vote. Furthermore, unlike Ms. O’Donnell, he does not support repeal of this intrusive and destructive legislation.

With an overconfident arrogance only possible in a “life long” member of the liberal political ruling class, Mike Castle has almost literally “given the finger” to conservatives during this election cycle. In this period of backlash over the attempted socialist remake of our country, Mike Castle is one of only a handful of Republicans to actively support Obama, Reid and Pelosi. In the face of overwhelming opposition among his constituents, he actually voted for the Cap and Trade energy scam. He co sponsored the Disclose Act, which is nothing more than a gag on political speech for all but those who are a part of the establishment, and most recently he voted for the “financial reform legislation” designed to reward his big corporate contributors.

It seems that Mr. Castle, an enthusiastic supporter of all entitlements, feels entitled to the Delaware Senate seat. This is, after all, the former seat of Delaware’s other political embarrassment, Joe Biden. Mike and Joe have enjoyed a long and close political partnership as well as a very cordial personal relationship. It is only natural, in Mr. Castle’s mind, that he should ascend still higher among the ruling elite. This is the way it has always worked in Delaware. 

But will Delaware Republicans cooperate? The argument in favor of supporting Mike Castle in this closed Republican primary is cynical and pathetically weak. The notion that, in November, Mike Castle would be a stronger candidate for Republicans than Christine O’Donnell is fallacious. The Democrat opponent in this race is Chris Coons. Mr. Coons is no more than a third rate New Castle County political hack. He would be an easy mark for the sincere and dynamic Ms. O’Donnell. In this season of discontent with incumbents, Chris Coons can only be seen as the lesser of two evils, when viewed in comparison to Mike Castle’s forty year record of titanic irresponsibility. 

In 1964 Ronald Reagan gave one of the most profound political speeches of all time, “A Time For Choosing.” In that speech, he outlined what was at stake in the coming election. Americans did choose that year. Among the consequences of that choice were the deaths of 57,000 American service personnel in a war that elected officials never intended to win. America’s choice that year also enabled Lyndon Johnson to enact his “Great Society” legislation. In a very real sense, it was this choice that has set us on the path of socialism that we find ourselves today. This choice has provided the springboard for President Obama, Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Castle to “fundamentally transform America.” The election of 1964 had profound implications for The United States and, indeed, the world. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that the September, Republican Primary in Delaware also has profound and far reaching implications. Here is the rub: the election for senator in November is a special election to fill the prematurely vacated seat of the current Vice President. Unlike other senators, the winner of this race will not need to wait until January in order to be sworn in. It is openly acknowledged that following the major anticipated Republican gains in the coming election, Harry Reid will attempt, in a lame duck session of congress, to complete the socialist transformation of the country that is now well under way. Mike Castle’s record can leave no doubt that he would be a enthusiastic supporter of this project, as would Chris Coons. “First State” Republicans have a chance to make a difference that may never come again. Conservatives around the country can also contribute to this most vital cause and support a rising conservative star, Christine O’Donnell.

A recent post written by Eric Erickson on RedState has caused quite a stir. In his post Eric contends that, if elected senator in a special election in Delaware this November, forty year RINO Mike Castle would switch parties, resign, and allow Beau Biden, the current Delaware A.G. and son of Vice President Joe Biden, to be appointed senator. Even discounting the fact that a large number of the comments to that post were made by Mike Castle’s army of paid campaign workers, it is easy to see that the fat, arthritic GOP establishment has truly blown a gasket over this one. But why? The post is criticized as not being “fact based.” Eric’s post is a prediction. A prediction, by it’s very nature cannot be fact based. This prediction is a rumor. However, for those of us in Delaware who have known Mike Castle for years, it is an extremely credible rumor. Who is Mike Castle? He is a forty year career politician who happens to call himself a Republican, as once did Charlie Crist, Arlen Specter and Jim Jeffords. Mr. Castle is a habitual tax raiser. He is unwaveringly pro abortion and he has earned an F- rating from The NRA. He voted for TARP, Porkulus, the auto and banking industry takeovers, Cash for Clunkers as well as Cap and Trade. Most recently, he co-sponsored the disclose act which is nothing more than an assault on the first amendment designed to muzzle his political opposition.

While on the topic of opposition; Mr. Castle has made it clear that were he elected senator, regardless of his political affiliation, he has no intention of opposing current Democrat policies. This is entirely consistent with Mike Castle’s long liberal record of growing government.

In his forty years as a “public servant” Mike Castle has managed to accumulate for himself an estimated $8 million dollar personal net worth. Now he has decided to make an issue of his conservative primary challenger’s finances. Christine O’Donnell, it seems, was left with a small campaign debt following her 2008 senate campaign. Also, in connection with that challenge to Joe Biden, she was coincidentally audited by The IRS, as were several members of her family. Over the years Christine, at various times, has struggled with her home payments and college loans. I suppose the average American can’t really relate to that, right? In any case, she currently has no personal debt. These factors should be viewed in the context of the multi trillion dollar debt that Mike Castle has placed upon us, our children and grandchildren. Mike Castle, by contrast, has no money challenges. In fact, he has received over $3 million in corporate campaign donations this cycle. But where does Mike Castle really obtain his money? A quick look will reveal the fact that many of the corporations donating to Mr. Castle are, not surprisingly, TARP recipients. What is happening is that Mike Castle has taxed the life out of hard working Americans. He has taken our money and given it to failing corporations in the form of bailouts. These bailed out corporations are now kicking back our hard earned money to support their benefactor. Ain’t Mike Castle’s American great?

When those of us in Delaware first learned that Beau Biden would not run for his father’s former senate seat, but that Mike Castle would, we all naturally assumed that some kind of a deal had been made. This election in Delaware is a special election to fill the remainder of Joe Biden’s term. Most of us simply assumed that Mike Castle, an old man and exhausted from his forty year effort to destroy the country, was simply planning to serve out the remainder of Joe’s term. He could then retire as a senator leaving the seat available to Beau in a more favorable political environment for Democrats. Mike Castle and Joe Biden have always had an openly close relationship. They are both well established members of the ruling elite.

However, if Mike Castle were elected senator in November, what would he really do? Would he switch parties and become a Democrat? It is certainly conceivable, and it is consistent with Mike Castle’s record and his character. To a large extent, it does not really matter. Mike Castle is essentially a socialist. Were he to win in November, he would, based upon his record, continue to support socialist policies. If he remained a Republican, he could perhaps do even more long term damage by giving President Obama the bipartisan cover he would need to continue his radical transformation of this country. In the short term, because this is a special election and the winner will be seated immediately, the new Senator from Delaware will participate in the coming lame duck session. Both Mike Castle and the Democratic candidate Chris Coons have a lifetime commitments to big government and an animosity toward personal liberty. Either of them, based on their records, would certainly support this attempted socialist power grab.

Thankfully, we will never know what Mike Castle would really do were he to become a U.S. Senator. Mike Castle must face a young, attractive and committed conservative in the September, 14th Delaware Republican primary. This is an off year special closed primary in which the turn out will be small. The only ones who count that day will be informed and energized Delaware Republicans. The paid Castle campaign workers now lurking on the internet will be without a voice. Money only buys so much. Paradoxically, the millions of kicked back campaign donations at Mr. Castle’s disposal are worthless in this race. The more money he spends and the more attention he draws to this race, the larger will be the turnout of energized Republicans, the very voters who know Castle the best. This is asymmetric political warfare at it’s best. Unlike his distant ancestor, Ben Franklin; Mike Castle must feel a lot like King George about now. In his retirement, he might reflect upon the fact that Ben Franklin himself disowned his own son when he failed to support the cause of liberty.

More and more people in Delaware are beginning say “Anybody But Castle.” However, this is actually a positive development for Republicans. Mike Castle, you will remember, is a forty-year career far Left liberal Republican member of congress. He voted for Cap and Trade, TARP, the auto and banking industry takeovers. More recently he co sponsored the infamous “Disclose Act” designed to muzzle the first amendment rights of his detractors, and he supported the “Banking Reform Act” which rewards the very banks who have so heavily supported him. He is consistently pro abortion and has earned an F- rating from the NRA. Castle has been compared to Charlie Crist.

However, “tax hike Mike” faces a strong conservative opponent in Delaware’s closed September, 14 primary. Up until now, Castle’s paid internet workers have really only been able to muster a single weak talking point, that Mike Castle calls himself a Republican, and they claim that he can win. Whereas they have asserted that his opponent Christine O’Donnell cannot. A recent Rasmussen poll has put this claim to rest. The interesting thing about this poll is that, although it shows both Castle and O’Donnell beating the Democrat, Chris Coons, it demonstrates a dramatic collapse in support for Castle. Just a few months ago Castle was beating Coons by over 20 points. It is hardly surprising that an “anybody but Castle” trend is beginning to appear. This year there is a strong anti incumbency sentiment throughout the country, and Delaware is no different. Mike Castle is the ultimate incumbent. This race is for the senate seat that Joe Biden vacated in order to assume the role of Vice Dunce. Delaware Republicans remember the close working relationship between Castle and Biden. After all they are both privileged members of the “ruling establishment.”

Deprived of their only argument, Castle’s online lurkers have begun to attack Ms. O’Donnell for such horrendous misdeeds as finishing her 2008 campaign against Joe Biden in debt. They are now so very concerned about Ms. O’Donnell’s personal finances. They, however, seem to be OK with the fact that Mike Castle has brought the entire nation to the brink of financial ruin. Everyone’s personal finances have been imperiled by the reckless actions of Mr. Castle.

For all of these reasons the career of Mike Castle is entering a death spiral. If Delaware Republicans do the right thing and overwhelmingly reject him on September, 14, we stand a strong chance of placing a solid conservative in Joe Biden’s old senate seat. If Mike Castle somehow manages to buy the nomination, his opponent will have a field day. It will be only too easy for him to point out that Mike Castle has received massive financial support from the financial institutions that he voted to protect.

The Case for Mike Castle

There is a case for Republicans in Delaware to support career liberal politician Mike Castle in the upcoming Republican senate primary. It is a weak and cynical case, and it denies the political realities of 2010. But nevertheless, there is a case. What, you might ask, could induce a conservative who believes in The First Amendment to vote for a politician who co-sponsored the recently passed “Disclose Act,” an act designed to stifle free speech and gag opposition to establishment politicians? What would cause a Second Amendment supporter to vote for a politician who has earned an F- grade from The NRA? And how could an advocate for life pull the lever for a pro-abortion candidate? There must be a compelling reason for “free enterprise believing” Republicans to be asked to support a man who supported TARP, “Cash for Clunkers,” “Cap and Trade” and the auto industry and bank takeovers. Those who oppose socialized medicine would need to have a strong motivation to support a candidate opposed to the repeal of Obama-care. What is the case for Castle? It comes down to this. Castle campaign workers and old guard GOP operatives, supported by corporate money, are parroting a single talking point. It is that Mike Castle can supposedly win, giving the Republicans a senate pickup, and his opponent, Christine O’Donnell, supposedly cannot.

Besides the fact that this argument is cynical if not immoral, it is patently fallacious.
Paid Castle internet operatives will point out that Delaware is a blue state and only a moderate Republican can prevail. Ignoring the fact that Mark Levin recently said of Castle that he “is not a moderate, he is a radical liberal.” They fail to acknowledge the fact that the socialist nightmare, made possible by the likes of Mike Castle, has completely shuffled the political deck. The solid blue liberal State of New Jersey elected a committed and outspoken conservative Republican as governor this year. And this year there could be no weaker candidate for Democrat Chris Coons to face in November than Mike Castle. He has been a career politician for the past forty years. During that time he has never met a tax hike that he did not like. In 2010 even worthy incumbents are at risk. Mike Castle is politically dead. He just does not know it yet. The surest way to miss a chance for a senate pickup is for DE Republicans to nominate this liberal fossil. Voters of all parties will justifiably hold him accountable for all that has gone wrong in America.

Fortunately, there is a fantastic conservative alternative. For those who learned the lessons of 2006 and 2008, and more importantly, of 1980, 1984 and 1994, the choice is clear. Support Christine O’Donnell and send her some money if you can. The liberal Castle campaign has all the money that stagnant incumbency can provide. The only problem with that is that their currency has been debased this year by their own contemptible actions.

Christine2010

The concept of principle before power is one that is foreign to the majority of career politicians. The secret to longevity in politics is the ability to shift positions and make deals. This requires either an absence of or an abandonment of principles. Witness the long career of Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. Another politician of this stripe is Representative Mike Castle (R?) DE. Mr. Castle has made his living by spending taxpayer money for over forty years. Throughout his tenure as a congressmen, Mr. Castle, who calls himself a Republican, has voted with The Democrats more often than he has voted with his own party. Most recently he voted with The Democrats FOR Cap-and-Trade and the $700 billion TARP bill and AGAINST the surge in Iraq. He waited until the last minute to declare his weak opposition to Obama-care and has now refused to support the repeal movement. During his time in office He has voted for virtually every major tax increase, and he is steadfastly pro abortion. Mr. Castle is also a champion of entitlements of every sort. He himself feels entitled to the Republican nomination for Senate this year. He can be excused for that misconception because that is how things work in Mr. Castle’s world, the corrupt world of politicians who value power over principle. However, Mike Castle faces a strong conservative challenger, Christine O’Donnell, in the upcoming September, 14, 2010, Delaware Republican primary.

There are those who say that this election is simply about gaining a Republican majority in the senate this year. I am sympathetic to that point of view because over the past thirty years I myself have espoused it. It was the basis upon which as a former Pennsylvania resident I once supported Arlen Specter. It is the type of thinking that many Florida voters used when supporting Charlie Crist. However, as years have passed, I have come to see that this type of thinking is itself old. It is cynical and, in fact, cowardly. Most of all, it is self-defeating.

Christine O’Donnell is a dynamic young and committed conservative who will place principle before power. She supports smaller government, responsible fiscal policy and a strong military. Furthermore, she is unapologetically pro-life. She faced Joe Biden in the 2008 DE senate race and lost, as did an army of republican candidates in that blue tidal wave of “hope and change.” That wave turned out to be made of red ink and radical socialism. The American people, including those in Delaware, have recognized this. The political “climate change” is obvious enough for a climate scientist to demonstrate without resorting to false data.

The O’Donnell campaign is hosting an on-line political “money bomb” for twenty four hours beginning on June, 8. This candidate deserves the support of conservatives.

In 2008 Joe Biden won two elections; he was elected Vice President and he was also re elected to the U.S. Senate from Delaware. Opposing him in that election was conservative Republican Christine O’Donnell. It is both an obstacle and an opportunity for Ms. O’Donnell that many of those who voted for her in 2008 still do not know her. The votes she garnered then were mainly from those who were not buying the “hope & change” scam being peddled by Obama and Biden. At that time, not many voters had woken up to the fact that liberal Republicans were part of the problem. In political terms 2008 is light years behind us. The radical leftist transition that has occurred in this country as a result of the recent Democrat lock on power would not have been possible without the active cooperation, over many years, of career liberal politicians from both parties.

One of the most liberal Republicans in congress has been Rep. Mike Castle from Delaware. He has been a career politician since before Ms. O’Donnell was born. He voted for Nancy Pelosi’s cap and tax energy scheme and also voted for the job-killing minimum wage hike. He voted to increase the national debt and has consistently supported Washington’s reckless spending. Accordingly, he has voted for virtually every tax bill that has crossed his desk including the “death tax.” Mr. Castle is anti life. He has voted to subject children to out-of-state abortions without consent of parents, has voted to use U.S. funds to support Planned Parenthood at home and abroad, has supported human cloning, and sponsored the bill to destroy, exploit and experiment on unborn children. He voted with the Democrats for the federal bailouts and the government takeovers of private industry. Although he did ultimately oppose it, he remained undecided about Obama care until four days before the vote, and he has indicated that he would not work to repeal it.

Mike Castle is quite fond of entitlements. In fact, he now considers himself entitled to the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. He has only two problems in this regard. Problem number one is an army of newly minted registered republican activists who have had enough of Mike Castle’s betrayals. Problem number two is a September, 14 Senate primary and Christine O’Donnell.

Christine

In contrast to Mike Castle, Christine O’Donnell is an unapologetic pro life conservative. She is on the right side of every issue that matters. She supports smaller government and lower taxes and the active roll back of recent socialist advances. She is opposed to an activist judiciary. She believes terrorism is an act of war and not a civil crime, and she believes in meaningful school choice. As U.S. Senator from Delaware, Christine O’Donnell would be a courageous conservative leader. She deserves the support of Delaware conservatives and the endorsement of leading national conservatives.