The Republican establishment did not learn their lesson from the absolute debacle that we witnessed this past fall in upstate New York.
I know they haven’t because they are again backing a moderate candidate in another critical Congressional election.
We all remember the rightful firestorm that erupted across the country and throughout upstate New York when, in smoke-filled back rooms, the Washington-based GOP establishment lined up behind the most liberal candidate in a special election for New York’s 23rd Congressional seat.
Only when principled conservatives like former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX), former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN), and former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) put their reputations on the line to oppose the officially-backed GOP candidate did others follow suit, changing that race and inspiring an important debate about the future of the Republican party.
In that race, principled conservative Doug Hoffman surged in the polls and nearly won as the Conservative Party candidate. In the end, Hoffman was hamstrung by his ballot position and the liberal GOP nominee endorsing the Democratic candidate. And the result wasn’t just a missed opportunity; instead a seat that was held by a Republican for over 100 years went Democratic just in time for the new Congressman to provide half of the two vote margin needed for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to pass a left-wing bill that will lead to a government takeover of health care.
In light of the strategic failure and disastrous result that we all witnessed in NY-23, one would think that the NationalRepublican Congressional Committee (NRCC) would operate with tremendous political caution and instead support greater competition to produce the most prepared and best performing GOP nominees in races across the country.
Nope.
As the saying goes, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
In Virginia’s 5th district, the Beltway insiders have determined that blue blood State Senator Robert Hurt must be the GOP candidate to take on the incredibly weak and politically vulnerable freshman Rep. Tom Periello (D-VA).
So in an anti-competitive manner, the NRCC has endorsed the most liberal candidate in the primary in Senator Hurt, whose establishment praise reflects his establishment record. The NRCC’s endorsement of Hurt comes in a seven-way GOP primary more than six months away from the election, only weeks after Hurt joined the race officially.
But Sen. Hurt has a record that will outrage conservatives when they become aware of it. Let me give you two critically important examples.
Hurt voted for then-Democratic Governor Mark Warner’s $1.4 billion tax increase, the largest in Virginia history. If that wasn’t bad enough, the state had a surplus at the time, negating any shallow argument that the state needed more money.
Unfortunately, this isn’t my opponent’s only misguided vote. He also voted for outgoing Democratic Governor Tim Kaine’s unconstitutional transportation bill which attempted to appoint regional tax authorities to tax Virginians without their approval. Thankfully the State Supreme Court was more prudent than Hurt when it unanimously decided (by a 7-0 vote) that the law was unconstitutional for imposing a system that amounted to taxation without representation.
Conservatives should be outraged about this. We know that the NRCC has demonstrated terrible political judgment and unchecked arrogance.
There are two reasons that conservatives must get involved in this race.
First, we need to send a message to the NRCC that their endorsement is a huge mistake and must be retracted.
But second, we all want to see Speaker Nancy Pelosi lose her job on Election Day next year. The best way to do that is to provide the starkest contrast with conservative candidates running against the excesses and damaging left-wing policies of this administration and the Democratic Congress.
This is a time for bold colors, not pale pastels.
I can already hear incumbent Rep. Periello, in defending his votes for the health care bill and the Cap and Tax bill in Congress, say: “Sen Hurt, it’s ironic that you are attacking me for voting to increase taxes when you voted for the largest tax increase in Virginia history.”
There are six other principled conservatives running to be the GOP nominee in this Congressional race, and I am one.
Sen. Hurt should not be the GOP nominee. The NRCC needs to stay out of Virginia.
Conservatives who care about the direction of the Republican party and the country need to send a clear message that we will win again when we go back to our conservative roots and principles and demand that our leadership do the same.
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
I suspect you're going to have to unify around a single alternative candidate
civil truth (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 8:49AM EST (link)I’m not an expert, but simple math indicates that if one candidate in a seven-person race gains the support and money of the NRCC – that the conservatives (and the conservative candidates) are going to have to rally around a single alternative or else the vote will be hopelessly split and Hunt will win in a walk. Even two conservative is almost certainly one too many.
Time for some serious soul-searching and talks among you six and among conservative party officials (local and national) to come up with a winning strategy.
The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis
http://www.gmsplace.com/
Is this accurate?
mschmitt (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 8:52AM EST (link)I actually haven’t seen an endorsement yet in VA-5 (link please?)… An actual endorsement would be highly flame-worthy.
At this point, it appears (to me) that the NRCC is simply acknowledging the candidate with the most name recognition… I also second civil_truth’s notion that the six of you need your own pre-primary process to figure out who the best person to run against Hurt.
usque ad finem
mschmitt- Here's a link
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 10:26AM EST (link)directly from the NRCC website-
http://www.nrcc.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=886
While this is not an official endorsement, why is this article about Hurt posted there? There are no articles there about any of the other candidates. The NRCC spokesman, Andy Sere, was quoted in another article in the local newspaper, The Daily Progress, as saying he “was thrilled that Senator Hurt has entered the race.” If you read this NRCC article, page down as it is further down on the page, Larry Sabado is also quoted as saying, the national committee is definately in favor of Senator Hurt as the Republican candidate, whether they say so or not. I doubt they will come out with any outright endorsement because of the problems they created in NY23.
I promise you Hurt is absolutely not the favord candidate within the district. His own area, Chatham VA, is totally against him, and I’ve read that most conservatives will stay home if he is the candidate. Hurt touts his “electability” but, of course he would never tell anyone that he won the state senate race because he ran opposed. He says he represents 1/5 of the district, but, that portion of the district is rural and highly republican. Anyone with an R after their name normally would get elected there. It does not represent the most populated areas such as Charlottesville.
You may remember the article in The Hill a while back, The 10 Conservative Conundrums for 2010? Hurt’s vote for the tax increase is listed as number 7.
I agree with you and civil truth that the candidates need to get together and widdle down the field, as so many in the race is damaging and destructive, but, each believe that they are the best choice. On December there will be a meeting in Appomattox to determine if there will be a Convention, a Primary, or a Canvass to choose the candidate. I hope for a convention, as if there is a primary, it will be open, and, there is no doubt that Perriello will bring in his Soros money, and his ACORN and SEIU friends to vote for the weakest candidate, that would be Hurt. SEIU is currently running tv ads promoting Perriello.
The article still has Bradley Rees listed as an R candidate, but, he dropped out and is running on the VA Conservative party ticket. When he dropped out he said “If all he gets is enough votes to help the Republican lose, and Perriello wins again, so be it.” Nice huh?
correction- I meant to type that Hurt ran unopposed
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 10:37AM EST (link)in his state senator race.
Also, I heard McPadden, another of the 6 R candidates this morning on local radio talking about Obamas speech, and his war policy. I thought I was hearing an endorsement for Ron Paul. He said that we need to bring our troops home from around the world, and, close the bases because they cost too much money. He particularly mentioned the base in Germany. Isn’t that where the military hospital is that our troops are taken to when injured on the battlefield?
My point was...
mschmitt (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 10:38AM EST (link)… there is no NRCC endorsement yet, and I have yet to see it stated elsewhere (you’re right, they did learn from NY-23, which is actually opposite to what LV is saying in this diary).
There are plenty of examples where the NRCC is mentioning the guy with the biggest recognition; but that’s more or less to be expected (it’s hard to give equal time to a big field of candidates, particularly when one has far and away the most recognition). While I’m not terribly interested in defending the NRCC, it looks to me like their actions are a symptom of no suitable competition, not a cause of it (again, as the diary suggests).
Right now, the VA-5 GOP candidates are in a Nash Equilibrium, and in that equilibrium, Hurt is the primary winner (and likely general election winner); unless the other candidates realize that (if they’re even in agreement that Hurt is the worst possibility) any one of them would constitute a better possibility. If they’re all just interested in gambling on their own political future (in a 1 + 6 race that they can’t win) and don’t give a damn about VA-5, then they probably all deserve to lose.
usque ad finem
That's part of the game mschmitt...They won't say they are endorsing him to cover their behinds...all they time backing him with party resources...
AceInTX (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 2:26PM EST (link)holding closed door meetings with the “Money” as Sessions calls them…and they’ll let slip all kinds of negativity about any legitimate challenger that arises…It’s what they establishment does…let the riff raff think they have a voice while working in the shadows to ensure they don’t!
I'd be on board if the word endorsement wasn't used...
mschmitt (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 2:37PM EST (link)… but it was. When I looked, I saw no endorsement.
Instead, what I saw is a group of candidates with relatively little name recognition going up against somebody with a reasonable amount of name recognition. Say the NRCC recruited Hurt (surveying the field, they probably did). Say the NRCC isn’t treating the competition seriously (they probably aren’t). But don’t say they endorsed Hurt (they haven’t — hey haven’t even issued a weak “we endorsed him only because he asked us to” endorsement).
It was false; and I’m not going along with it.
It’s up to these candidates to establish some name recognition. The easiest way to do this is for them to rally around the best candidate. The others can angle for a quid pro quo once that candidate wins (an endorsement for a state congress seat, for example). A way to garner name recognition that I cannot support is to come here and unfairly trash the NRCC (honestly, never thought those words would come out of my mouth — there are so many good reasons to trash them without having to make one up) over an endorsement they didn’t make.
usque ad finem
mschmitt- I understand what you are saying
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 4:39PM EST (link)and to a degree I will say that the Verga campaign should not have used the word “endorsement.” There is no question that Hurt is who the NRCC is pushing. Ace is correct, they are doing it behind closed doors with money. Even Hurt apparently knew better not to get in the race because of his past tax increase record, that is until the NRCC most likely recruited him. He was among the last ones to throw their hats in the ring. Verga was either the first or second. That was after Virgil Goode decided he would not run against Perriello again. One of the 6 just decided to run in the last few days/weeks. It’s like a free for all.
mschmitt, with respect, as I admire your opinions and comments, anyone can decide to run for any seat, just like the kook franken. I’m not quite sure how you narrow the field other than to have a Convention or Primary to choose the Republican to run against Perriello. I can’t see the candidates themselves getting in a room and fighting to the death until the last person is standing. The SCC (Southern Central Committee), the GOP for the entire district surely cannot ask anyone to drop out. How would you do that without having a Primary or Convention? Wasn’t it a fact that NY23, who didn’t have a primary, but let the GOP there (with NRCC help) choose the candidate. Wasn’t everyone screaming that the only way it would have been fair there would be to have a primary.
I don’t know what state you are from, but, in VA the GOP usually has Conventions to choose their candidates. That is how McDonnald, Bolling and Cuccinelli were chosen by the delegates. By the way, speaking of Cuccinelli, Verga campaigned with him when he was campaigning in the district, and, held 2 fundraisers for him at his home.
The problem I have is when people think it most important to have “name recognition.” In that case Al Capone would be a good choice. I also hate when the powers that be pick their candidate based on the fact that they won something before. Again, Hurt ran unopposed. Not hard to be a big winner, and to be electable, when you are the only candidate on the ballot from both parties.
I can also tell you, most of the other candidates don’t even have websites, staff or money to run even a modest campaign. If you can get past the endorsement word, please look at Verga’s website, and see where he stands on the issues-
http://www.vergaforcongress.com/
BTW= Verga isn’t the only one considering the NRCC and Hurt relationship to be an “endorsement.” The entire district sees it that way.
That's the point isn't it...it's a word...
AceInTX (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 4:58PM EST (link)true there is not an official endorsement…and after the Crist fiasco in FL they won’t be up front about it any more…they’ll play at being above it all as they send out their lackey’s to arrange meetings between their chosen candidates and “the money” They’ll do like they are doing with Crist now, They’re mumbling the words that they aren’t endorsing…but they are working behind the scenes, propping him up with news on the NRSC web site, and they’re steering funds from their donors directly to Crist so it doesn’t show on the books.
of course we’re expected to be too unsophisticated to understand the nuanced statements and word games they’re playing…
Again, it’s a thin line to skate…but some just choose to live on this line!
good point...it's a thin line to walk...but it is a line I suppose so...you have a point nt
AceInTX (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 4:45PM EST (link)The RNC is still not listening &
redpens (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 9:00AM EST (link)still so NOT getting a penny of my money until they get their craniums out of their rectums.
One MAJOR difference
redtillimdead (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 5:19PM EST (link)Here, there IS a primary. That was the whole point behind our support for Hoffman. There was NO primary. There is a conservative in this race. However, he was a ***** and decided he would run as a third party rather than lose the primary. Sorry. I support Conservatives in primaries and Republicans in generals. If a Conservative does not want to be a man and lose the primary, screw him.
Nancy Pelosi can kiss my asstroturf.
redtillimdead- I'm assuming (dangerous) that you mean Bradley Rees
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 8:07PM EST (link)in the 5th district VA race?
redtillimdead- I'm assuming (dangerous) that you mean Bradley Rees
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 8:07PM EST (link)in the 5th district VA race?
OK, let's be clear about this...
mschmitt (Diary) Thursday, December 3rd at 10:58AM EST (link)… I think there are probably several good people/conservatives in that race. Without doing a ton of research on the field, it looks like there is only one serious candidate. If there really are two or more candidates then I’ll be the first one in line to clobber the NRCC for suppressing a name like that.
As a rhetorical example; if one of us (hard-core conservative types) filed the paperwork for a race like that, and loaned ourselves $200 to put up a website — but had no funds, no tv presence, etc. — we wouldn’t complain about the NRCC not giving us equal time, would we? Probably not; because it’s more than having your name on the ballot — it’s the whole deal — fund raising, organization, interviewing skills, experience, etc.; and yes, name recognition.
In fact, this is totally different than NY-23. There is a primary — and it’s up to the candidates to go and win it. Doug Hoffman didn’t have that opportunity; the local party and NRCC conspired to keep him off of a ballot (probably because they thought he couldn’t win). Well, the NRCC may not think that any of these six that are running can win; they may not be spending time or effort promoting them, but they aren’t working to keep them off the ballot, so far as we know.
Now, what I’ve said is that the field — going into the primary — is in an equilibrium (see my link above); one in which they all lose if they continue what they are doing (it’s not a race where you have a 40-30-30 split or something; this one looks like 95 to “not a chance”). They can easily change those odds by acknowledging reality and working together (or, alternatively, hoping to catch magic by posting on RS and trashing the NRCC).
These guys being nowhere to be found is, at this point, their own fault.
usque ad finem
Failed the IQ test! (reply to Ace/Scope) nt
mschmitt (Diary) Thursday, December 3rd at 10:59AM EST (link)usque ad finem
mschmitt- With respect
Scope (Diary) Thursday, December 3rd at 12:41PM EST (link)you apparently don’t live in the area, or probably the state to have the knowledge that those of us that live here do. When you say that there is only one “candidate” that is a pretty far stretch, especially when, as you say, you don’t know anything about the others in the race other than Hurt. It’s curious that you seem to be coming down on the side of the NRCC, and, giving them the benefit of the doubt about the candidate of their choice.
You say that this is different than NY 23, and you are correct about that. You can’t say that this “is” a primary, because it has not yet been decided if there will be a primary, convention or canvass. That will be decided by the VA GOP at a metting on Dec. 12. Historically, the VA GOP has gone for conventions, particularly when to hold district primaries costs all taxpayers money to pay for the primaries, and are frowned upon because all taxpayers are paying for one parties primaries. The fact that many rather conventions is because, the delegates at conventions, who are voting on that districts candidates, have “skin in the game” so to speak. The only downfall to conventions is that deployed military don’t get to participate in conventions. The other downfall for primaries is that VA primaries are open. In particular, whenever the Republican is choosen, by whatever method is used, they will be running against Perriello who is heavily backed by Soros money, ACORN and the SEIU. That leaves open the possibility that Perriello will recruit his minions to vote in the R primaries, for the weakest R candidate, which is Hurt. Perriello has already bused in loads of minions when he was having townhalls on healthcare. How can Hurt run against Perriello’s support of massive spending in Congress, which includes many tax increases, when he voted for the largest tax increase in VA history. And, the VA budget had more than enough of a surplus at that time to not warrant any tax increase, and, would still have balanced the budget without the increase. Perriello probably has already prepared those TV ads, and, SEIU is already running local TV ads for him.
As to “candidates”, and they are that, it is a fact, having fundraising capabilities, organization, interview skills, experience, and name recognition as you have said, you really have no information on them admittedly. As I have said, there are some that don’t even have websites. There is one that was just elected to a Board of Supervisors, and, number one doesn’t have time to hit the campaign trail, and, said he didn’t care if he got any votes in the southern part of the district, interestingly where he is from. There is another one (a teacher) that got a letter of endorsement by two of the Southern VA GOP officers, and, it wasn’t Hurt. There is a pilot, no business experience, and, sounds like Ron Paul. I don’t have much info on the rest, but, will be attending the local GOP meeting on Saturday, where they will all be speaking.
Mr. Verga, who it seems you don’t like because he used the term “endorsement, is not poor, has been covering the district since August, and has had fundraisers for Cuccinelli. I would think if he can fundraise for Cuccinelli, he can fundraise for himself. He has had his campaign team in place, and, recently hired a PR firm. I’ve heard him speak on radio interviews, and, he is articulate, intelligent and unquestioningly a principled conservative. He is a very successful real estate developer, and, has years of successful business experience.
Mr. Verga may not be everyone’s choice, but, if you were from the district you would know that Hurt is no one’s choice in the district. We shall see what happens either at the convention in May, or in the primary in June. If Mr. Verga does not win the nimination it won’t have anything to do with him being nowhere to be found, but, I’m sure he won’t fault anyone other than himself for his loss. He has much more class than that. Ask anyone in the community where he has spent years volunteering for worthy causes, and, fundraising for the hospital.
BTW, as of this morning another candidate entered the race. There are now 8 R’s. Not good.
Scope, just one point...
mschmitt (Diary) Thursday, December 3rd at 1:36PM EST (link)I am highly annoyed at LV for wasting my time investigating his sensationalist claim about an NRCC endorsement. His thesis was built on top of a falsehood; leaving the rest of his message tainted.
Given that, I have no choice but to give the NRCC the benefit of the doubt (as much as I dislike them).
usque ad finem
mschmitt- Sorry you wasted your time
Scope (Diary) Thursday, December 3rd at 2:20PM EST (link)apparently you are hoping to find reason to fault the NRCC. Give it time, I’m sure you won’t be dissapointed for long. As much as I think you are a great person, I’m glad you aren’t a voter in the district.
verga is a loser
notlawrenceverga Thursday, December 3rd at 5:25PM EST (link)Verga clearly cannot be trusted to tell the simple truth. Yes the NRCC may have sent out something with Hurt’s name in it but they have never endorsed Hurt. Despite the opinions of some other posters here, Hurt is very popular is the area he has represented both in the house of delegates and state senate, winning three contested elections by large margins and being unopposed in others. Hurt came out very early supporting Cuccinelli in the primary and Cooch likes him. Verga has never been a help to anyone in Virginia politics before deciding to run for office himself. Hurt helped Allen,Goode,Cooch,Bolling, Mcdonnell, and while in the legislature regularly helped elect others all over Virginia get elected. This is a real team player.
Verga is running a slash and burn campaign and showing he does not understand Virginia but rather where he was until just a few years ago. Hurt has long roots in the district and knows it well. I guess that bothers Verga so he calls Hurt names and does not understand those names mean you are someone whose family has given back to your area for generations. Maybe where Verga came from these methods are respected but not in the 5th. How will Verga be able to get help from the NRCC later if he attacks them regularly now ?