WaPo Thinks McDonnell’s Fighting With Frederick Could Backfire
By Jason Kenney | Thursday, March 12th, 2009 | PoliticsTim Craig and the Washington Post speculates that Bob McDonnell could be running quite the risk by taking a side in the Jeff Frederick saga:
McDonnell is running unopposed for his party’s nomination and has all spring to prepare for the general election as the Democrats attack one another. He also appeared to have the luxury of a unified conservative base that is relatively enthusiastic about his candidacy, leaving him the freedom to reach out to moderate swing voters who might decide the November election.
Despite all this, the McDonnell campaign apparently couldn’t resist wading into an ugly, internal party battle over Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick’s fitness to serve as chairman of the Virginia Republican Party.
McDonnell joined in efforts to oust the party leader. Frederick (Prince William) has vowed to fight for his job. The looming battle could set up the kind of split that McDonnell and GOP leaders worked so hard to avoid. It’s a curious strategy that poses huge risks for McDonnell.
The rest of the article contains enough “what if”s and “maybe”s to constitute a Choose Your Own Adventure.
But perhaps most interesting is Bob Marshall speaking up:
Marshall predicts the conservative base will quickly turn on McDonnell if it appears Frederick is “railroaded.” Marshall said an independent committee should be set up to evaluate the accusations against Frederick.
“If an independent group doesn’t do this, this is going to seriously damage Bob McDonnell,” Marshall said. “The folks who came to the convention who voted for me and voted for Frederick, they just won’t work for McDonnell.”
Jeff Frederick is Chairman in large part thanks to Bob Marshall’s coattails and Marshall knows that. Marshall’s call for a fair trial more or less is interesting in that it’s not so much a vote of confidence in Frederick but an acknowledgement of what the Marshall base was able to do and could quite possibly NOT do if Frederick does not get a fair shake. That’s certainly something McDonnell needs to keep in mind.
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About the author
Jason Kenney has blogged at J’s Notes since 2001, is the director of RedStormPAC providing online fundraising for Republican candidates in Virginia, and co-founder of K6 Consulting. He is a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University and resides in Richmond, Virginia.
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10 Responses to "WaPo Thinks McDonnell’s Fighting With Frederick Could Backfire"
J. Fred missed the first opportunity to act responsibly by refusing to even meet with the opposition and resolve this matter quietly. Now the ball is in the opposition’s court to bring this matter out into the open.
The rank and file of convention-goers are still largely in the dark on the accusations. Marshall is right that if some sunlight doesn’t come in on the process, there may be substantial numbers in the grass roots that don’t work very hard for McDonnell.
J. Kenney as you say, Marshall does not absolve J-Fred of any inappropriate actions, but clearly warns that his base of very active supporters expect a fair and open process.
Regarding the letter from the Senate Caucus, are they trying to say that the membership bought off on this letter? Or is there fixing to be a breakup there as well? The founding fathers put their names on a Declaration and made themselves targets, but these wimps wish to hide behind 6 signatures with no consequence? This is what passes for courage in today’s GOP?
First, I hope the SCC is paying attention to Bob Marshall. I’m not sure whether or not ditching Jeff Frederick is a good idea, but I do know that the secretive way it’s being done is stupid and harmful to the party.
Second, the independent run for governor thing is written very oddly. I wonder if that’s something Frederick is really considering, or if it’s more the reporter’s idea.
There are many who voted for Frederick last year that think he should step down. The guy cant get along with anyone. Alexandria voted 52 to 2 to get get of him
If I recall correctly, Alexandria voted overwhelmingly at the 2008 Convention for Hager. So I wouldn’t take that resolution as an indication that previous Frederick supporters are changing their minds.
Well, evidently the Washington Post agrees with what I’ve been screaming about for days now.
Really, is it so far fetched that McDonnell hurt himself getting involved with the attack on the RPV chair Jeff Frederick?
1- I’m tired of people whining about the secretive manner in which this is going forth. We’re talking about it on the blogs. Is it all that secret?
2-I’m tired of people claiming this is a ideological struggle. You’re telling me that Mike Thomas and Mike Wade are not Conservatives? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life.
Mark Obenshain signed that Senate letter. You all know what a squishy lib he is!
Frederick. Must. Go.
You say Jeff refused to meet………I am not sure who told you that or if you attempted to verify it, but I happen to know that not only did Jeff not refuse originally, but that actually it was Bob that would not meet with Jeff to discuss it before it blew up some time ago.
Do your research, and don’t only talk to one side if the issue.
And ask yourself why would Bob refuse to meet, choosing rather to tear apart the party he needs to get himself elected only 7 months from now.
Mr. Boyer,
There is no information about a potential meeting between J-Fred and Bob, for whom I presume you mean Bob McDonnell.
The details of the refusal, for which J-Fred does give an explanation can be found at:
http://tooconservative.com/?p=3342
Sure the emails could be forged . . .
LI is prone to hyperbole at times, but there is no reason to believe the emails are anything other than legitimate.
This is as close to verification as most of us can get .
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