Republicans are exemplifying the phrase: “Divided we fall.”
This year is no different. Especially in Virginia Beach. Confusion in the GOP is alive and well with three “Republicans” running for mayor.
With Hampton Roads being considered by many as the swing region for John McCain in Virginia, the GOP three-ring circus not only guarantees Democrat Mayor Meyera Oberndorf re-election, but it could also cost McCain Virginia’s electoral votes.
The Virginia Beach city race is “non-partisan”, and the Virginia Beach Republican City Committee has a standing tradition of not endorsing candidates…meaning that it’s a free-for-all.
But when you have three people running for the same office from the same party, that creates nothing but confusion. And, the impression this gives to the average voter is that Republicans have no idea what they believe in. Therefore, if that’s the case, why should they put their trust in that party or organization?
Additionally, with three campaigns running under the same banner, coordinating volunteer activity is next to impossible.
There are 94 precincts that need manning from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Short of the enormity of finding 94 volunteers for one campaign, magnify that by four or five shifts, and then by four or five separate campaigns, and you can see where the party will be spread thin.
Additionally, consider this question: will a Sessoms supporter keep Moss material in the bag when they’re supposed to be volunteering for all the GOP candidates? Or, how about this scenario: could both a Taylor and Moss supporter be volunteering at the same precinct at the same time, confusing voters as to who the GOP candidates are, regardless of the office they seek, as they go to cast their ballot? Would a percentage just say, “Geez, those Democrats have it together…I’ll vote for them…it’s just easier”?
It’s a nightmare.
A unified campaign like the Democrats will likely run, stands a far better chance of winning than the completely disjointed apparatus that Republicans have put together.
This fight on “principle” might be well-and-good for a city-only race, but when you air your dirty laundry during a federal race with so much at stake, you’re only asking for trouble.
So why is this happening in the first place? Why do Republicans feel compelled to run three candidates? Why is there no unity?
Well, it’s the whole circle-the-wagons and shoot inward philosophy.
When Sessoms declared early on in this process as a Republican, both Moss and Taylor were not members of the Republican Party. Moss was running as a Libertarian. Taylor as an independent. Only late this summer, well after Sessoms had received most of the endorsements of elected officials in the party and of the party chair, Ken Golden, did Moss and Taylor join the Republican Party.
In a recent issue of “Portfolio”, the candidates were asked which party they identified with: Oberndorf said “Democrat”, Sessoms said “Republican”, Taylor said “Independent”, and Moss said “Libertarian.”
That’s in their own words…so why should the party support anyone other than Sessoms?
Here is where the process broke down. The party apparatus needed to step in and say, “you can join, but only Sessoms is going to get our help.”
But they didn’t. They allowed Moss and Taylor to join the party. And now they have a mess.
Regardless of whether Moss or Taylor joined the party, the true issue here is that, at least for conservatives, this is a primary. Where the winner of the three-way conservative race automatically loses the general election. With all three running, they only guarantee that those who disagree with them nearly 100% of the time will be elected and govern, while those that disagree with them 25% of the time will be defeated.
Instead of Sessoms, Moss, and Taylor working together and pooling time, treasure, and talent, they are treating this as a primary. Where, unfortunately, there will be no winner.
With three weeks to go, the party must step in. They must call a special session and endorse one of these gentlemen, formally. And then run a coordinated campaign with McCain, Gilmore, and Drake.
With the election as close as it is, unity is a must.
But perhaps I ask too much. After all, where are Ron Paul and Bob Marshall supporters?
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. 
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Moss was not a libertarian. He has always been an independent. And us Ron Paul and Bob Marshall supporters aren’t going anywhere. “Where’s the unity?” Don’t give me that stupid crap, when you yourself aren’t willing to practice what you preach.
The real reason why there is no unity in the Republican party is because you supposed conservatives are really hacks who have no principle. I go with John Quincy Adams when he said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
You hacks seem to think of this as a game where we have to win at all costs. You just fail to understand that we have been winning at a cost of the loss of our principles. If you really wanted unity in the party, you’d stand behind the Republican Creed and shun those elected officials who violate it, and elect those who run on the real Republican platform. You’re acting as if the candidates who stand by the republican principles are prancing in on donkeys, when it’s the other way around! Wake up!
Firstly, there is one Republican, one Democrat, and 2 RINOs running. Sorry J.R. but, John Moss is the real Republican. Free spending, light rail loving, tax dollar abuse Sessoms and Taylor are hardly conservatives.
Secondly, regarding the Portfolio article, not only do you distort the context of the question, you absoultely miststate it! The question was asking for “Political Leanings:” NOT “Party Identification”. Meyera was as you said, “Democrat” and Sessoms replied “Republican”(accurate since the local party lost it’s conservative credentials). From there you are all wrong!
John Moss’s answer to Political LEANINGS – “Conservative/Libertarian”
Important distinction given all the RINOs.
Scott Taylor’s answer to Political LEANINGS – “Centrist/Conservative”
Centrist? His words.
Go get a Portfolio and look again. I have one in front of me and typed those quotes directly from it.
Why is the Va. GOP struggling? Why is there a split in unity? The GOP has too many Democrats wearing a letter (R) after their name. Continually, we conservatives are asked to choose between 2 evils. All that does is promise that evil wins. Conservatives are fed up. Where is the small government that Reagan spoke of? A liberal by any other name would still tax and spend as a liberal. If the GOP continues to force RINOs upon GOP members, a split is going to happen. RINOs are responsible for all the growth in the Libertarian Party. RINOs are responsible for Boortz being on air. RINOs are why some Republicans turned to Ron Paul despite his stance on the war. REAL conservatives are asking not for a greater evil to vote against but, a true conservative to vote FOR!
Sessoms has more special interest money. Team Moss has far more people. Moss IS conservative. Those FACTS are precisely why Moss has been invited to renew his party membership officially despite knowing that no matter what was said or offered, that John was going to run as the lone conservative in the mayoral race……like it….or not. The upper echelons of the GOP know that there’s a problem. They know the party is broken and in need of repair. They likely know that if the GOP continues to offer democrats running as Republicans that Democrats will continue to win and the Republican party will go the way of the Whigs.
Let’s face it. If you are Sessoms with 1/2 a million in funding for a mayoral election, Moss is doing as well as he is, anti-incumbency is huge, and you have failed to clinch election, there’s a huge problem!
Moss is runnning a cost efficient campaign in comparison. It is exactly the government he will provide when he wins. The developers would normally favor Oberndorf. Sessoms actually splits votes with Meyera. Sessoms loses votes with long time Beach voters that know his big government voting record. Those go to Moss. Don’t be so sure of the outcome.
You want better outcomes? Give us REAL candidates! Give us a conservative that we can vote FOR!
Gunter, always showing why people should flock to his ideas…. by being an ass…. He makes Dems look open minded and non-smug.
Anyway,
Moss’s adherence to Republican principles, specifically of limiting government and lowering taxes, attracted me to his campaign though I am not a resident of his district. If he does as well as he has done so far in attracting the disenfranchised, disillusioned GOP members, former GOP members, disillusioned democrats, libertarians and the average taxpayer to his campaign, he ought to win the seat. Sessoms’ pile of good ol’ boy contributions is a major clue. As a Republican, I could not back him as a candidate, and hope citizens of VAB realize that he is in deep with taxpayer subsidized development.
Brian, it’s only hard for you to understand my position because I stand by the Republican principles.
And if you want to see someone being an ass, reread this post. Are you seriously wondering why there is a split among us republicans? There are those of us who stand by our principles and are republicans because the republican principles match our own and there are those who are killing the party by supporting candidates who are democrats with an R.
We who support republican philosophy are trying to bring this party around because right now, it’s heading into the ground. I want to be proud to vote for the candidate our party puts forward, not ashamed. I will not defend a candidate who has violated nearly every principle our party says it stands for. If that’s being an ass, then, HEE AWWW!
I find this “mess” no surprise at all. I agree with Britt Howard. The only Republican running for Mayor in Virginia Beach is John Moss. The other two with “R”s are RINOs.
Will Sessoms might have his special interests business pals to buy him an “R” to place next to his name, but his track record reveals to everyone that he has failed to govern in accordance with the principles of the Republican Party. Will Sessoms is simply more of the same tax and spend, borrow and spend, bigger government agenda that has been carried out by Democrat Meyera Oberndorf and her puppet master, RINO Louis Jones.
Those that pay attention to our city government know this. Meanwhile, Scott Taylor is a political neophyte who is all over the map in his views and lacks the experience and budget acumen that John Moss offers our city.
I agree that the Republican Party of Virginia Beach should have rallied around only one candidate for Mayor – and that candidate should be John Moss.
John Moss has worked tirelessly to stand up for the Republican Creed. John Moss has the support of our city’s grassroots Conservatives and taxpayers. John Moss could bring new life to the Republican Party of Virginia Beach. But, alas, the RPVB failed to follow John McCain’s advice – they failed to “stand and fight” for what it is that the republican Party is supposed to stand and fight for – it’s Conservative principles, smaller government, less government spending, lower taxes, support and defend the Constitution.
The local Chamber of Commerce did every Virginia Beach taxpayer a favor. They endorsed TWO candidates for mayor of Virginia Beach. Apparently they couldn’t make up their minds to support Will Sessoms or Meyera Oberndorf. Perhaps that is because they couldn’t find enough differences between the two of them to tell them apart from each other?
Our city is facing serious budget short falls. Right now we need an experienced individual that understands our city government and who deals with billion dollar budgets on a regular basis. That individual is John Moss.
As demonstrated by the half million dollars he has raised from his business “friends”, Will Sessoms knows how to spend and borrow millions to curry favor with the business community. Given the state of our economy and harsh reality of the bursting of the housing bubble, the Mayor we need now is someone that knows how to cut spending and reduce borrowing. That isn’t Will Sessoms – and it isn’t Meyera Oberndorf.
John Moss is the right choice as our next Mayor. And the local GOP needs to rally behind John Moss. Hopefully the GOP will weed the RINOs off the ballot and make this a two candidate race.
Kenny Golden and Don Byler, are you reading this?
Ops – I meant to ask Gary Byler if he was reading this.
Stephen Gunter, I rest my case.
Smug and Smarmy… You sound like a NE Liberal elitist.
Folks, don’t you love when people lecture and say THEY are the only one who stands by principles.
Stephen, you sound like an agry man who hates everyone. People like that tend to be alone a lot. I suggest a dog or a fish for you
While there is little doubt that John Moss represents the best ideals of the Republican party and the inestimable virtues of limited government, he also represents the views of countless citizens in Virginia Beach, including many across party lines. John is not about anti-tax or irrational cuts in spending as he is for equitable distribution of the City’s monumental tax revenues. A policy that is virtually non-existent today in VB! Residents represent 87% of the real estate tax base including the little known fact of being the primary benefactor of the City’s debt ceiling. You also will not find a single City Page excerpt that discloses how homeowners support 85% of all retail sales including the City’s 12.9 million sf in retail space and yes, at least 80-85% of the annual budget. Despite serving as the primary economic engine & providing these massive tax revenues, very little if any is returned to revitalize 987 aging neighborhoods. John is about the equitable distribution of tax revenues without favoring special interest over the long overdue needs of both the residential and business community. John may vigorously support the conservative principals of the republican party but he is also about balance and fair representation by supporting the needs of all citizens. .
Brian, I can’t understand how you can promote division but say you want unity. For the most part, I get along with people I meet.
But as for being smug and smarmy. It’s true. I really am awesome
I guess I’ll act like Stephen and Brian and carry on a private conversation here too. Why have one discussion, right? I mean, that would be like a public blog or something and the ‘locals’ wouldn’t want that now would they?
Al, you are so correct in your observations. John Moss does represent the best ideals of the Republican party and the inestimable virtues of limited government. Your right to point out that he also represents the views of countless citizens in Virginia Beach, including many across party lines.
This begs the question, why would Jim Hoeft support the GOP in rallying behind a RINO like Will Sessoms?
Jim writes:
“When Sessoms declared early on in this process as a Republican, both Moss and Taylor were not members of the Republican Party. Moss was running as a Libertarian. Taylor as an independent. Only late this summer, well after Sessoms had received most of the endorsements of elected officials in the party and of the party chair, Ken Golden, did Moss and Taylor join the Republican Party.”
First off, John Moss never ran as a Libertarian. I know because I serve as the Vice Chairman of the Tidewater Libertarian Party. Secondly, is it Jim’s view that whoever “declared early on in this process as a Republican” should be the candidate the party supports and all others are no longer welcome?
Wow!
I hope Jim might respond here and share his thought on this.
Al, do you feel that the GOP should run with a first come, first support policy for their candidates?
Britt, what do you think?
Stephen and Brian feel free to carry on your own private conversation – or to join in with the rest of us posting here.
I think it’s Jeff Frederick who single-handedly blew it for McCain in Virginia.
I used to think moving local elections to November was a bad idea. After reading all this discussion here, I’m starting to change my mind! Warring Republicans will self-destruct and Dems will pull out wins. Cool!
Reid, I was talking about this post. Bryan wanted to make it personal.
I’m only going to make one comment, because there is nothing you all said in this thread that refutes anything I wrote in the post.
Moss may have not had a formal Libertarian endorsement, but when he calls himself conservative/Libertarian…and not Republican…then he is being pretty clear on his allegiance.
Second, and this is most important for those of you choosing to read into this…I called upon the Republican party to endorse one of these three candidates. I didn’t say which one.
I have no problem if Moss got the nod…I just want there to be unity under the banner. May the best man win. If that’s the guy who is more of a Libertarian Republican, than great.
And, Gunter, you weren’t calling me a hack a few months ago when I was supporting your candidate. Interesting to see that hostility on full display.
Thanks, all, as always, for your comments.
I have always felt that municipal elections should remain in May, not moved to November. I think it is unfortunate when these nonpartisan races become more partisan than they already were.
You have to love it when the Tidewater Libertarian Party Vice Chair thinks he can decide who is a Republican and who isn’t – even as he admits he isn’t one.
As to Jim’s point, while Will Sessoms may play well among the Chamber of Commerce types, you were NEVER going to get the Republican City Committee backbenchers to line up behind him. On John Moss, with his political best friends being Libertarians, you can’t sell him among active Republicans.
If there was going to be a consensus Republican Mayoral candidate, it would have been Scott Taylor.
Henry, I was a Republican a lot longer than you ever were – my Governor growing up was Ronald Reagan. I’m a Goldwater Republican. You’re a free loader that claims to be a Republican yet supports socialism.
Jim, when I read your lead in it seemed to me that you were in favor of the GOP rallying behind Will Sessoms. If that is not what you meant then I apologize for arriving at the wrong conclusion.
Stephen, yeah … you make a good point about Brian.
For the benefit of some contributors, Brian the Squeaky Wheel and I are two different people.
For we know I have no enemies and am loved by all
Reid,
No, not at all. I’ve already voted absentee – and voted Scott Taylor.
Of course, your definition of “socialism” would be laughed at by any mainstream economist.
Jim, Sorry! I really do not have a position on that issue since I generally vote for the candidate and not the party. But your point is well taken
I personally do not believe there has been enough of a debate between the candidates so it is difficult to distinguish any differences. I do have an advantage..I know John well & I believe John is the only Mayoral candidate that has the skill and discipline to deep six the relentless controls practiced by the administrator. Enjoyed your post and the format here is pretty appealing.
Regards / Al
Reid…I re-read the article and can see where you got that impression.
Personally, I live in Chesapeake and have no dog in this fight, other than the fact that I want to see McCain, et al. win VA and don’t want a confused electorate in Va. Beach to cost him and others a deserved victory.
My beef is with the party.
When city elections include federal elections, they need to endorse. That’s effectively my argument in the post.
Al…thanks for your comment. Glad to have you here and contributing.