Republicans: Vote McAuliffe
By JR Hoeft | Monday, June 8th, 2009 | UncategorizedUpdate: I presume Bwana does not approve of this post.
The greatest thing about Virginia is our open primary system. No party identification exists, just a fervent belief in the electoral process as given to us by our founders.
Therefore, tomorrow’s Democratic primary offers a perfect opportunity for ALL citizens to participate.
As I have related on this blog, Sen. Creigh Deeds is the candidate who probably matches-up best against Bob McDonnell.
But I don’t want a good match-up: I want McDonnell elected as governor.
While I feel that McDonnell can and will defeat any of the Democratic candidates, I don’t want to wait until December to find out.
That being said, Terry McAuliffe, despite all his fundraising prowess, is by far the weakest candidate in the Democratic field.
Not only has he no record of accomplishment in Virginia – or in government at all, his main claim to fame is being a Clinton henchman. Additionally, his shady business dealings make for easy fodder in a long general election campaign. Besides, I have it on good record that a lot of Virginia Democrats feel slighted or betrayed by his entry into this race, feeling that his “purchasing” of this race is unseemly at best.
So, while the momentum is all in Deeds’ favor right now (causing this conservative some concern), with every ad McAuliffe runs, his negatives go up; with every additional sign he puts out, he turns off another voter.
Conservatives don’t want a surging Deeds coming out of this primary, we want a plummeting McAuliffe.
Therefore, dear Republican, it is up to you to save the McAuliffe candidacy…and give material for this blog for the next five months.
Do your civic duty tomorrow…Vote McAuliffe! You’ll be glad you did!
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About the author
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. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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30 Responses to "Republicans: Vote McAuliffe"
Nuh-uh. Can’t do it. Any one of the Ds could become a stronger candidate than he looks to be now, due to who knows what circumstances (most likely: he is promoted to an obscene degree by the old media). Then how would you feel if you voted for him in a primary? Personally I don’t want the guilt.
If Terry is the nominee expect a lot of bi-partisan support for Bob McDonnell in and out of Virginia. Even Dems don’t like Terry a whole lot. You think Obama’s going to share lists with him?
of course, crossing over to vote in the Democratic primary may mean you’ll be looked at askance next time you want to participate in a GOP intra-party nominating process. According to the GOP party plan, you can be asked to sign a pledge stating that you actually are a Republican and will vote for the Republican nominee in the ensuing election.
Also, as you recall, some raised concerns in the recent GOP AG nominating contest about John Brownlee having voted in Democratic primaries.
I understand why others might do it but I personally steer clear of crossover voting. It’s fine for the Independents to help them out, but no one would mistake me for being unaffiliated. For my part, I’ll let the Dems pick their own nominee…
Since I will vote for Bob McDonald, I cannot ethically participate in the Democratic party selection process. if I did, I would in fact honoring a commitment to support the candidate that emerges as the winner of that primary. That’s what participation in a primary, Caucus, or convention infers; honoring the process.
I don’t want Dems voting in Republican primaries — that’s how we got stuck with McCain. It is just as wrong to vote in their primary. Plus I’d start getting their mail — now that’s REALLY what I’d call JUNK mail!
[...] Vote McAuliffe Bearing Drift Conservatives don’t want a surging Deeds coming out of this primary, we want a plummeting [...]
I’m not going to vote in tomorrow’s primary either. if I was forced to I would just write in “bob mcdonnell”
Good to hear you guys are leaving us alone
I vote in any darn election I can, and if someone doesn’t like it, I’m pretty well sure I don’t care.
I agree! Vote tmac! I don’t want a hard campaign I want Mcdonnell to be gov!
I disagree. I will be voting for Deeds, and have list my reasons on NoVaTownHall.
We have this system for a reason — that we get moderates, not ideologues. The difference with McCain is that many Democrats allegedly changes their party registration to vote for McCain in the primaries.
Once upon a time, for 100 years after the Civil War, this was a one-party state — the Democratic Party. The system we have now gave everyone a say in their representation. I encourage EVERYONE to vote, in EVERY election for which you are eligible. Do not do so in an attempt to screw the other party, but to select the candidate who most closely reflects your positions. If you vote today just to screw up the Democrats, then you are merely demonstrating that you do not deserve that right.
No one knows what will happen in the next few months. McConnell could be found in bed with a live boy or a dead girl, or be found like David Carradine. Then what? Governor McAuliffe.
Why get dirty in the other party races? If you can’t win fair, then you deserve to lose.
though i won’t be voting in today’s primary because i really can’t pull the lever for moran & mcauliffe, & because i feel like if i vote for deeds, we might end up with him:
the right to vote is precious, so i understand those taking advantage of it. obama will probably take that away from us next.
Somehow, the subject and comments contained in this thread have revealed the dark side of honor or lack thereof. It appears those who scream the loudest for party registration and oaths are most likely
William, how can exercising the right to vote be “dirty”?
If you are a republican and vote in the other party’s primary, you are lowing yourself in my opinion and “dirty up” the process. IMO: Anything other than supporting your party candidate in your election is compromising your principles and integrity. As an example: the Sessoms/Obama flyers demonstrate a perfect example of lack of integrity AND a dirty vote…
You might not see it like I do but you asked… Take care.
Brian – you’ll get the opportunity to vote in November. At that point, we all get a chance to say who we want to be governor.
Today, though, is about the Democrat party electing their nominee. This is their party business, to be decided by their party. Just as I wouldn’t want them to be involved in our choice of nominee, I won’t be involved in theirs.
I get the impression that there are people who forget that political parties are something like a social club and business. Unless someone is a member/shareholder, they really shouldn’t have a say in how that organization is run. And before anyone goes crying about that… the simple answer is to GET INVOLVED. Then you’ve got a say in the party that represents your beliefs.
As for me, I’m staying out of their sandbox, and would encourage them to stay out of ours.
William, I think no one has any right to tell someone they shouldn’t vote.
Too many people fought and died so folks could cast a ballot. If you think you shouldn’t vote, that’s up to you. If you tell me you think I shouldn’t vote, you’ve crossed the line.
Rachel, same thing. The law allows people to play in any sandbox they want to. If people individually choose to stay home, that’s fine with me. But telling other people not to vote is farther than I think we should go.
Pollsters are assuming that only 62% of voters today actually call themselves Democrats.
in roanoke we are lucky and get to vote for republicans today for the house of del race!
Jim,
I never thought that I would say this about you, but I am profoundly disappointed in you. On the other hand, I am heartened by so many others here, who are Republican, who refuse to follow your suggestion and have made that known through these comments.
This is a Democratic primary to pick who we believe is our best candidate to run against your best candidate. Gaming the system is dishonorable. I expect better of you. Not of everybody. But of you! That is a reflection of the respect I usually hold you in.
Sarcasm, Karen. Sarcasm. Not going over as well as I expected.
Anonymous, so you would bar anyone who didn’t proclaim Democratic Party allegiance from voting?
Oops, you have proven that we are all humor challenged. And I apologize for doubting you. You have restored my faith in you, and quite a few other Republicans here, who might not get sarcasm, but at least showed they are indeed honorable.
Brian, of course I wouldn’t bar people for voting. But I would hold them accountable for being honorable rather than gaming the system. That’s personal morality, not public policy.
You know better! You are one of the people I think is more honorable too.
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Anonymous, I differ greatly. I don’t think one is more moral by deciding not to vote. If Virginia wanted closed primaries, there would be closed primaries.
Virginia has open primaries. I don’t think non-Republicans who vote in Republican primaries are immoral.
In fact, I’ve been sent mail and been called by phone by Democratic campaigns urging me to vote today. Are you saying that Democratic candidates want me to do something immoral?
Well at least you didn’t send out an email changing the Primary date…
I only do that now for union membership votes.
If they don’t want me to vote in their primary then they should change the system, I have a Right to Vote and I exercise it every chance I get.
(I voted Moran)
The Gobbers are just jealous that their leadership anoints their candidates from the top down instead of participating in primaries. And should a candidate have the audacity to force a primary, well they have games for that too. So they have to come up with these schemes in order to feel they are contributing to the cause.
I don’t vote for Democrats in primaries. I reserve that privilege for November.
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