I think I finally get the big tent theory as proposed by John Warner and other moderate Republicans: Endorse Democrats so you can be "bipartisan." Why have two separate political parties when we can all be one big happy family?
In today's Washington Post Vince Callahan, former Jim Gilmore ally, said he was going to announce his endorsement of U.S. Senate Democrat candidate Mark Warner because, " 'The figures Gilmore used [for the car tax reduction] were so utterly erroneous and far-fetched that they were mind-boggling,' said Callahan, who helped Gilmore push his car tax proposal through the House of Delegates in the late 1990s."
So let me be sure I've got this right. Callahan objects to Governor Gilmore's efforts to reduce the tax burden on Virginia's citizens ... so he's lining up against him with Mark Warner who imposed the largest tax increase ever in Virginia's history.
I get it. That must be the "big tent" theory.
The Post added:
With Republicans like that ... who needs Democrats?
In today's Washington Post Vince Callahan, former Jim Gilmore ally, said he was going to announce his endorsement of U.S. Senate Democrat candidate Mark Warner because, " 'The figures Gilmore used [for the car tax reduction] were so utterly erroneous and far-fetched that they were mind-boggling,' said Callahan, who helped Gilmore push his car tax proposal through the House of Delegates in the late 1990s."
So let me be sure I've got this right. Callahan objects to Governor Gilmore's efforts to reduce the tax burden on Virginia's citizens ... so he's lining up against him with Mark Warner who imposed the largest tax increase ever in Virginia's history.
I get it. That must be the "big tent" theory.
The Post added:
Warner, who succeeded Gilmore as governor, said Callahan's endorsement "reflects the kind of bipartisan approach we brought to Richmond and hopefully we can bring to Washington.""Bipartisan" must be another word for "sell-out." Keep in mind Callahan joins John Chichester, one of the Gang of Five -- that group of Republican state senators who voted against other Republicans and with the Democrats throughout the years -- that group of Republican state senators who were in charge of a Republican state senate but did not lead as if they were the majority -- in endorsing Warner.
With Republicans like that ... who needs Democrats?
Cross-posted at Bloggers 4 Jim Gilmore
6 comments:
The People aren't as stupid as Callahan would believe. The MSM is, or serves as a willing lackey.
Folks can see through Callahan like they see through the former press secretary to Pres. Bush. People recognize betrayal when they see it. Just as People see empty vessels of nothing in some men.
Jim, I heartily concur.
Republicans need to find their collective back bones and stop cowtowing to the Democrats.
Basically Callahan has turned on his former friend. Seems to be a lot of that going on lately.
When the going gets tough ... the weak-minded gravitate to where they perceive the power is and never mind principles. We have seen it from the local level through the state level and up to the national level.
Now is the time when we see who truly has a set of values and beliefs and is willing to stand up for them ... and who is drawn like a moth to the flame of power.
Having worked on a campaign to unseat John Taxchester, I know his record pretty well.
However, I do not go along with the "old guard" Republican mantra that one must always support all candidates who sport the R next to their name. Only stupid people would support a candidate based solely on Party label.
I lived in New Orleans and was in the Republican Party there, when they chose notorious Nazi and Klansman, David Duke as our gubernatorial nominee. It was understandable why some good Republicans made a principled decision and did not support the Party's nominee. We must respect the decisions of our fellow Party members and recognize that the exercise of sound judgment may sometimes lead people to support candidates from other parties.
In the case of Mr. Chichester and Mr. Callahan, they have worked closely with both Mr. Gilmore and Mr. Warner and they are entitled to make a principled decision to support Mr. Warner in this race, without having their decades of service to the Republican Party and to Virginia impugned.
Certainly a political party would prefer 100% loyalty, but loyalty must be earned, not mandated by political bosses or coerced.
If any political party is to be successful it must post good candidates, as well as form coalitions among party members who may only agree fifty to seventy-five percent of the time. Part of that coalition building process must include the realization that sometimes, well informed and talented members of one party will chose to support a good man from another party. This is not heresy, but merely a demonstration that party members are citizens first and party members second. That men like Mr. Chichester and Mr. Callahan prefer Mr. Warner, is not the end of the world, it is just them exercising their ability to think an act based on their own judgment; having served closely with both gentlemen.
It is indeed a sad commentary that Republican party members are being told that they must support Jim Gilmore, merely because he is a Republican. One would hope that there would be some sound policy and political reasons to support Mr. Gilmore, but thus far all I have seen are complaints about Party "defectors" and inferences that something scary might happen if we don't vote for Gilmore.
I hope that there is more to the Gilmore strategy than this Soviet style, management by threat.
Oh, puh-leeze. Give me a break, JTB. This is the time for the Republican Party to stand united against the Democrats. Are you seriously trying to tell me you think Warner would be better than Gilmore as a U.S. Senator? Warner who can smile pretty and be friendly but has served only as governor? Against Gilmore and his rock-solid resume of national security, military service, and leadership?
What you are saying is Warner and the Democrat platform he supports (and will vote with in tandem with his fellow Dems) is better than the Republican platform.
You have just discredited yourself with me. You sound conservative on one hand ... and then support a Republican's right to pubicly endorse a Democrat in the general election.
So much for Party unity.
I bet when Republicans like Chichester and Callahan were running for office, especially during the time of George Allen, they were speaking of limited government, and a lower tax burden on the people...
If they weren't what Republicans would seriously listen to them? Either they were lieing through their teeth, or just simply let the power of office go to their heads?
These are the same group of people who came to a majority status because of Jim Gilmore Car Tax Cut, and now all they can do is spit at him, because they are the ones who screwed it all up, by turning their backs on the very words they rode into office on.
Limited Govt. and lower taxation. They should be reminded of it everytime the come to a Republican Meeting.
It's amazing Jim Gilmore can't be pure enough on the Pro-life issue, and keeps his integrity by not changing his position to suit these people.
Then you have the people Jim brought to power who just flat out change their positions on lower taxes, and they are mad at you too.
I think the problem is that Jim Gilmore has integrity... Does what he says.... and that disturbs people.
STD: When politicians see a politician who keeps his word, is a man of integrity and stands on principles instead of pandering it bothers them. Lesser men need to bring down bigger men.
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