Chris LaCivita Joins Scott Rigell Campaign
By D.J. Spiker | Monday, March 1st, 2010 | PoliticsScott Rigell’s campaign has announced that Chris LaCivita, maestro of George Allen’s 2000 successful Senatorial campaign and most recently Ken Cuccinelli’s very successful 2009 Attorney General’s race. Rigell’s campaign issued a press release, pasted in full below, including the following:
“I am proud to be part of a campaign team that will bring back commonsense conservative leadership to Virginia’s Second District by electing Scott Rigell to Congress,” remarked LaCivita.
Chris LaCivita was informally/formally working with Scott Taylor’s campaign originally (although this has been contested) so I contacted the Taylor campaign who stated:
Chris Lacivita joined the Taylor for Congress campaign because he believed that Scott Taylor was the best candidate, despite being the underdog with less money. Unfortunately in politics, Money Talks.
Full press release:
CHRIS LACIVITA JOINS SCOTT RIGELL’S CAMPAIGN TEAM
Veteran Campaign Advisor Joins Scott Rigell after successful elections of
Jeff McWaters and Ken Cuccinelli
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA: Scott Rigell, Republican candidate in Virginia’s Second Congressional District, announced today that Chris LaCivita, veteran of numerous successful campaigns both nationally and in Virginia, has joined his campaign team.
LaCivita was most recently the chief strategist for Jeff McWaters’ successful run for the Virginia State Senate where McWaters defeated his Democratic opponent by over 56 points in a special election on January 12th. In 2009, LaCivita served as chief strategist to then-Senator Ken Cuccinelli’s successful campaign for Attorney General, which Cuccinelli won with 58% of the vote.
“I am proud to be part of a campaign team that will bring back commonsense conservative leadership to Virginia’s Second District by electing Scott Rigell to Congress,” remarked LaCivita.
In the 2000 election cycle, LaCivita was the campaign manager of former Governor George Allen’s successful bid for the United States Senate. In a $10 million race, the Allen campaign unseated a 12 year incumbent with a 4.6 point win, which was the only successful Republican U.S. challenger race in the country. In late 2000, the Allen campaign was honored by PR WEEK magazine as the best managed campaign in the country.
Prior to leading the Allen campaign, LaCivita was executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, where the GOP successfully captured control of both the State House and State Senate for the first time since Reconstruction. Under LaCivita’s leadership, the Republican Party of Virginia also completed the first sweep of all three of its state-wide offices during the 1997 election cycle.
Before entering politics, LaCivita served in the United States Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Sergeant. He saw extensive action in the first Gulf War and was wounded in combat.
For more information on Scott Rigell, visit him online at www.ScottRigell.com or join his Facebook site at www.facebook.com/scottrigell. You can also contact the Campaign Manager, Jason Miyares at (757) 679-5143 or Jason@ScottRigell.com.
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Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...entrenched on the right as a member of the Establishment, proudly tattooed member of the Republican Party, bartender by trade serving both sides the libations needed to continue the debate and discourse. College student, ten years late, majoring in Public Policy and Administration with an eye to serving the conservative and Republican movement in the public or private sector. ducit amor patriae You can find D.J.on facebook, Twitter, or contact via email at gosport.conservative@gmail.com. You can find D.J.on facebook, Twitter, or contact via email at gosport.conservative@gmail.com.
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56 Responses to "Chris LaCivita Joins Scott Rigell Campaign"
So he is now working on the Robert Hurt campaign and the Rigell campaign?
I knew I forgot something! Whoops
I encountered LaCivita on the McWaters campaign; guy knows his stuff and knows grassroots politics. Sharp guy, sharp operative, and Scott Rigell seems to be putting together a dynamite team to take on Glenn Nye
So, are we to take away from this that to Mr. LaCivita, it’s about the money not the principle or the ideals of the candidate? Sorry Mr. Rigell, my principles, my vote and my support aren’t for sale.
You forgot to mention Chris’ work with “Swift Boat Veterans For Truth.” He’s a hit man and a damned good one. The Taylor people should be very worried.
SteveV, so are you predicting that the Rigell campaign will be “Swift Boating” the rest of the candidates?
TimJ, I’m predicting that it gets mean. Chris plays rough. He was awarded a purple heart in the first Gulf War. Joke around the capitol used to be that he was shot right where the heart would be on a normal person.
Scott Rigell has put together a top notch team. He’s got everything he needs to beat Nye!
He’s bought everything he can to help beat the other Republican candidates, not defeat Nye.
Hmmm staff poaching already… Thats pretty skeezy if you ask me.
It says a lot that Chris wants to be a top flight campaign and right now Rigell has all the ingredients necessary to beat an incumbent. If Chris is able to put together the GOTV effort for Rigell that he did for McWaters, look out Glen Nye!
Chris LaCivita is one of the best conservative GOP operatives around the country and his record of success in Virginia just in the last year with Sen. McWaters and AG Cuccinelli is amazing. Good for Scott bringing in the best to beat Glenn Nye in the fall.
LaCivita’s is using the amount money Sen Hurt has raised as a talking point for why Hurt (the overdog with more money) is the best candidate for the 5th. Perhaps what he says in the 5th doesn’t matter in the 2nd?
LaCivita is an amazing tactician and from the way things have been looking lately I highly doubt he will have to consider playing nasty in the primary or general.
Daniel,
Obviously your view is not so plain. Dust off those blinders.
I find it sad that Rigell continues to allow his campaign to be defined by his money and army of paid political mercenaries. Go to his website, look at his press releases, most of them are about how much money he has raised, what national “leaders” he has been endorsed by, or what consultant he just hired. This post is no different.
What makes it worse is that, even by the admission of his own supporters on this blog, Rigell’s only qualification is his money. Ask the Rigell supporters on this blog why Rigell is more qualified than other candidate with more experience, and the answer you get will be invariably, “Well experience is great, but Rigell is the only guy with money and we need money to beat Nye, so that is all that matters.”
This is a sad state of affairs.
The second district does not want or need to be sold a candidate like Rigell sell cars. Is it not obvious to you all that the man is not qualified? He has sold cars. He has no background in military affairs, he knows nothing about Naval deployments or government contracts. Maybe for other districts this lack of knowledge could pass, but the 2nd district is undeniably a military district. If we don’t have someone who knows what they are doing, our economy will suffer severe consequences. Look at what inexperienced and weak leaders almost did to Oceana, look what Nye, Warner, and Webb have done with this carrier issue. Does Rigell think he can do any better?
Without any real experience he will have to depend on other people to give him on the job training and tell him what do. Who are these people going to be? He is the establishment candidate, what makes anyone think he won’t listen to the establishment? He can’t listen to his heart because he has no real experience to draw on, so his own values will be irrelevant.
Scott, please do us all a favor. Go back to the private sector and spend that half a million in your war chest on creating some real jobs in the 2nd district. It will be far better for everyone than lining the pockets of your consulting team. We can do without your direct mail and 4×8′s. You want to create jobs? You can do a lot more staying here in the district than in Washington.
When I became a RPVB backbencher in 1998, the orientation session I had after a City Committee meeting was taught by (ahem) Chris LaCivita. I liked him then, and he’s taken some scalps since.
However, I agree with some of the other commenters in that this adds to the impression that Rigell is trying to buy the nomination, if not the Congressional seat itself. Certainly there will be a voter backlash on nomination day, but how large?
Well I hope the Rigell campaign has a strong hold on him. He’s slippery as a fish and if offered more money… who knows? Maybe he’ll end up working for Loyola…
Meeropol; I find your comments bordering on insane. First, Scott Rigell is a second generation Marine; anyone that went through Parris Island doesn’t know the military? Scott Rigell has created hundreds of jobs right here in Hampton Roads; more jobs created than any of his Republican opponents combined. Money isn’t the factor, but it matters enormously on who can beat an incumbent who has close to million dollars in the bank. Scott Taylor raised a grand total of $26,000. That is the price of a single direct mail piece in a district as large as the 2nd; “grassroots” only gets you so far if you don’t have the financial resources to deliver your message.
I find it even more interesting the fact that Scott Rigell has over 400 donors to his campaign, the overwhelming majority live in Hampton Roads. Actual donors; actual men and women who live, work and raise their families in Hampton Roads have chosen to part with their hard earned dollars to donate to a man they believe in. Could it be that Scott Rigell has invested in the community as a businessman for close to twenty years and they respect him? Could it be that they respect Scott Rigel for his leadership adn accountability at Freedom Ford? He posted his home phone number on his TV commercials for years and I see on his campaign website it is posted as well. The man breathes accountability; he cut his salary to zero during the Recession last year rather than lay any of his employees off.
I find it incredible that some of the so-called “conservatives” on this website choose to bash Scott Rigell for the fact that he is a successful businessman of an American Company (Ford), created American jobs; during this recession isn’t that more of what we need? A job creator?
I heard Loyola’s campaign ad on Rush Limbaugh today as well as the local Hispanic station. He’s a little soon out of the chutes, isn’t he?
Or maybe not, because I hear Rigell on the radio pushing Freedom Ford cars every day, several times a day, which is a slick way to get name recognition without the campaign paying for it.
the 5th & the 2d are different in all but one respect: we must defeat Perriello & Nye.
and I just read at HotAir.com that Pelosi thinks she can get Nye to vote FOR obamacare & can get it passed. all you in the 2d, call, call, call.
Exactly; this is about defeating Glenn Nye, please stop the bickering among Republicans. Let the best man win, fair and square. I don’t doubt that everyone in the race has the best intentions and best motives; my support for Scott Rigell simply stems from how much I respect him as a man of Faith, how he’s run his business and I know he can defeat Glenn Nye.
More average Joe’s have given to Taylor than have given to Rigell. Just because someone gives $24 rather than $2400, does that make them less important?
Rigell is a businessman. He knows that to succeed in business you must surround yourself with good people. When you have that attitude good people want to work for you. Lacivita is very good and he’s drawn to the best candidate. Lacivita wins for a reason.
Anyone here read Freakanomics? I highly suggest it. It’s got a few years on it, but some great information and many unique ways of viewing our world economically. For instance, in 2003 Americans spent as much money on political campaigns as they did on chewing gum-don’t tell McCain that, but it’s the truth. Now if you were runniing a chewing gum factory who would you hire? And who would apply? In this exaple Lacivita can run a gum factory and I would imagine he applied for the job. Scott was smart enough to surround himself with a proven leader and winner. It’s that simple.
Chewing gum analogy too abstract?
FYI – “Interesting”; I just checked the fec.gov website; even just counting the total # of individual donors (not the amount) Rigell has more individual donors than Taylor and every other individual in the race.
I am tired of hearing how much money is spent trying to beat other Republicans. It’s sickening w/the state of our economy. The Democrats were so sucessful in the last election because of their momentum. This is something Scott Taylor has and you can tell that he believes everything that he is saying down to his core. That is the kind of leader I want. Listening to someone like that actually makes me want to get involved. Listening to Taylor I have come to realize that I need to be involved and know what is going on. I don’t want to feel like I can be bought, I want to actually hear what our leaders are telling us. Taylor is the only one that speaks and it doesn’t seemed forced, it’s real. That’s what Republicans need. I don’t think that any of the other candidates stand a chance against Nye. Nye had momentum, that’s why he won. We need someone that can take on the task to match up to that mometum, and that’s Scott Taylor. I heard Taylor say, “do more with less.” I agree 100%, in these tough times, we need out of the box thinkers with new fresh ideas.
Bryan R. I don’t think that is necessarily true, we can’t see how many donors fall into the “other,” category from unitemized contributions.
Robyn,remove all emotion from your analysis of Taylor.
What we have to decide here is our best candidate in the 2nd. When Thelma lost in Nov 2008 the GOP leadership ie. Cantor, Steele, NRCC, and RNC etc began to search for a candiate in the 2nd because of its importance to the military and what they perceived as a coat-tail victory experienced by Nye. Their wish list was simple. They wanted an experienced local leader(to combat Nye’s youth and limited local ties), they wanted someone with a military background (to neutralize Nye’s lawyer/JAG miitary background), they hoped for someone who had won a local contest before (in Nov 2008 the climate was far different than today-thank you Pelosi, Reid, and Obama), and they needed someone who could raise money, if not self-finance (because they had no money to offer and campaigns against incumbants are particularly expensive). That is politics. Straight up-strip out the BS.
This is my honest analysis of Scott Taylor. He meets many of the requirements-he’s strong on the military, but weak on the age factor. He can’t self-finance or raise a million dollars by Dec 2009 (their metric not mine). Taylor had already lost a mayorial contest garnering under 15% of the vote in a city-wide election. He had experience in a campaign, but the showing, especially against another Republican, was weak. Taylor has strong local ties with a decent grass roots civic reputation, but once again-political scientists look at the results of the mayorial contest.
Taylor is an okay candidate, but not our best in this race. He hasn’t been able to raise benchmark numbers, as far as total dollars go, and his race against Mayor Sessoms will hurt him more than anyone wants to admit because they all think Sessoms is a RINO (I’m sure the same people all loved Meyera’s stranglehold on VB, but I digress-I really don’t want to pick a fight defending Will against Robert Dean and John Moss-Plus Scott Taylor ran against John Moss too. So please don’t go there tonight.). But Scott has many of the intangibles and I wish him well.
Logically, as an activist, I have a hard time seeing Scott Taylor as viable in the general election, but I’m more than happy to let the GOP voters decide. It appears Lacivita already voted with his feet, which is an indicator to pay attention to coming from such an experienced political consultant.
I really hope that doesn’t sound too harsh. I admire Scott Taylor for everything he’s done. His work with the SEALs recently should be commended. But he’s not ready to be our nominee.
Emotion is what brings out the voters and gets people involved. In the mayor race, Taylor entered it after the other candidates, faced a 20 year incumbent, and Sessoms who had been raising money for 2 years. This race is different. Just because Rigell has money doesn’t make him a good match for Glenn Nye. Your right, that is politics, money is politics. I sure hope with the state of our country, people will get more involved to change this in politics and make it about the actual leader, not his money.
Richard you seem logical. Do you truly think Lacivita went to Rigell for anything other than money? He is paid for what he does. If you feel different, I would suggest asking him yourself. You talk of the Mayoral race, hardly a comparison even though just one year ago. You had a 20 year incumbent, a 14 year vice Mayor with 600k, and an ex-councilman with many far right supporters. Then you had Taylor. He had none of the above. He received almost 20k votes. I think you and all of the paid Rigell guys on here underestimate this man. I also think all of you underestimate the how weak Rigell is. You say Sessom’s is a rino, I would say that Rigell may be as well, but as you said let the voters decide. As an activist you know funds will be available to any winner of the primary.
Just bucause your daddy hands you a bussiness dosent mean you personally created those jobs. Having a silver spoon in your mouth is NOT experience
Bert Mizusawa has far more military experience than Scott
Robyn, that’s why we need good businessmen in DC. Scott is by far the strongest candidate when it comes to jobs and the economy. I know the other guys are talking national defense up and down every one of these meet and greets, but this election will not be about national defense. November 2010 will be about the economy and nothing else. Look down the road people-what do you see? The economy is not getting better. There are many in America today concerned about inflation due to Obama’s Keynesian government spending model. Couple that with high unemployment and you have stagflation-or Carter Era monetary problems. Of course Carter didn’t begin where Obama did. We have entire countries defaulting on debt-let alone California. I’m not talking a third world nation here. I’m talking about Greece and other EU member nations of the industrialized Western world. We need people who understand this now in DC more than we have ever needed them before. And I keep hearing national defense and grass roots is what we need in our nominee. What in the world is everybody paying attention to?! I’m not directing this directly at you Robyn.I’m talking to all of you out there. Think big picture here.
We need to get every Democrat we can out of office and get the best businessman you can find in your district into office in America.
That’s what this campaign is about. Scott Rigell is the only man qualified to represent us during this time. Call him. Talk to him and get involved. If you’re apprehensive because he’s not GOP enough call the man-he’ll convince you of his true conservative principles and then work your butt off to get him elected. but no one has presented me a rational argument of why Rigell should not win. It is all based in emotion and wealth envy. Reassess what your priorities are. Do it fast. Don’t give me emotion when individual countrie’s debt are crashing world markets, when real unemployment is hovering around 18%. Don’t talk about carriers leaving town and think that is what we need in DC. I expect more from my GOP friends. Give me facts and give well reasoned logic to support any of these other guys and I’ll listen, but people you better present a plan to get your man elected that involves more than grass roots and shoe string financing-not today maybe six years ago, but not today.
I think that Mr. LaCivita can take his pick of numerous lucrative offers. I doubt that working a race in the VA 2nd is the only thing between Mr. LaCivita and his financial obligations. In fact, if he took on a less wealthy candidate, he would probably benefit from the upset of handing a self financer walking papers. Could there be a reason other than money? I think yes.
Richard, the mayoral elections were a farce. I worked a polling station that year and saw first hand. Sessoms’ paid workers, two of whom I met actually lived in Norfolk and had no idea who he was or what he stood for, passed out flyers in majority minority areas to black voters that showed Sessoms beside Obama with the change slogan. While Obama’s people eventually caught on, the flyers weren’t pulled until after 2pm, and the majority of voting was done in before noon. Anyone who actually new Sessoms was aware that he supported McCain.
As for money, no, Taylor doesn’t have thousands of dollars waiting for his immediate use. But then again, I’m not sure exactly how many centuries you’d have to go back for money to be a watermark for intelligence, integrity, leadership or, at the very least, common sense. The only thing Rigell’s money allows is for more commercials, and staffers who follow the money. In this economy I would normally find it hard to fault LaCivita, except that I’m sure the last campaigns he worked for would have allowed him to pad his bank account, which should have allowed him to be more faithful to his professed beliefs…
One doesn’t need to be emotional to see Taylor’s leadership qualities, and one only needs to stand back after a forum to measure the effect he has on those who hear what he has to say. Heck, watch the responses garnered by each candidate. He is young, but as with money, age is no watermark of intellect or ability, rather the experiences of those years and how much a person has been willing to achieve. However, it makes an easy point to attack on when he has very little else that can truly be used against him. Such is politics, when you can’t get ahead, get the others behind…. Everyone in this country has the right to choose the person they feel is best suited to lead, but it would be nice if, for once at least, integrity won out over money, false promises and mud-slinging.
Richard,
What you and team Rigell fail to understand, or admit, is that the number one provider of jobs in the 2nd district is the military. 50% of the Hampton Roads economy originates with the military.
You said it yourself , jobs is the number one issue. The number one jobs issue is the carrier leaving. Is Rigell best qualified to handle that? If he says he is, I would call him a liar and say that is blatantly insulting the military experience of men like Golden and Loyola who have actually served on carriers. There is no way Rigell can possibly say he understands the situation because he doesn’t.
The number one issue is jobs? You bet. That makes the number one issue national defense; the number one provider of jobs in the district. With this kind of idiocracy from Rigell and his staff, he may not even get a seat on the armed services committee. He said at a debate that if someone showed him a convincing argument for moving the carriers, he would vote for it. So Rigell would vote to kill 10,000 jobs in Hampton Roads? What a leader that is…
Know your facts before you speak Richard, or at least be aware that the facts you omitted are omitted for a reason. That reason is that Rigell is very vunerable on the points I have just mentioned. Scott’s few years in the Marines do not equate to any usable experience when it comes to addressing military issues in the district. He sells cars. Where does that make him qualified to vote on weapons systems and fleet deployment that affect the lives of our boys fighting overseas?
This is why I truly hope only 5 or 6 people read these blogs. If I were a Dem I’d be sitting back and cherry picking sound bites and laughing at how we eat our young in the Republican 2nd District. I guess the cherry picking would be too much of a stretch as they would actually have to confirm facts before attesting to their veracity. If anyone labels any of these front runners as “buying the election” they truly do not know the facts. I guess the true entrepreneurs are wrong when they hire the best GM’s, Advertisers and Sales Managers to ensure their product is put forth in the best and truest light available.
Jared-how many funds do you realistically think are available from the numbers we’ve seen these guys put up? Misuzawa is the only one, other than Rigell, who impresses me in fundraising. Honestly, these other guys stand no chance in a general. NONE. for the reocrd I do not work as a paid staffer for Scott Rigell. These are all my opinions from 18 years in and around elections in every cycle-including when Meyera was a republican (I know someone else remembers that-I’m not that old). These guys can’t raise the money or self-finance. It’s the prerequisite to running. Bootom line.
Why would Lacivita leave if he was already being paid. Following the premise that Lacivita is a mercenary hack-he wouldn’t leave if he was already being paid. He might leave if he was offerrred more money-someone will have to prove that before they can make that claim and undermine Lacivita’s credibility any further. If that is what you’re saying, I want proof. You must show us that he jumped ship for cash if you’re going to make that claim. Show us financial reports. Not a “connect the dots” conspiracy theory spin.
For the carrier people out there. If yoou buy the carrier line of thinking then you also buy the same line of thinking that Obama is creating jobs by expanding the Federal payrolls. Hiring more bureaucrats is the extent of his economic stimulus plan.
I would never equate a soldier, marine, sailor, or aviator to a bureaucrat, but those aren’t lost “jobs” in the broader sense of the economy. Take a macroeconomic view here. We need jobs created. We need private sector jobs created. We don’t need more Federal jobs-even if they are sailors and aviators on a carrier based in Norfolk. That is what I’m talking about.
Regarding LaCivita, it sounds like he’s the best at what he does. Why wouldn’t Rigell hire him? I’ve had a chance to observe Rigell and his campaign team at a couple events. You have to admit that they are first-class, all the way. I assume that, from Rigell’s perspective, adding someone like LaCivita will only make a strong team even stronger. Obviously Taylor wanted him since his camp is doing something that strongly resembles whining. I want all the candidates to stay on their own message and stop the sniping. The candidate who defines his own message is the one who will ultimately succeed – with or without LaCivita.
R.J., all people want to get behind who they perceive will win so that when the candidates do win, people themselves will feel like a winner. Unfortunately in politics just like in business, money talks, the rest walks. I wish it were not this way but it is.
As far as I am concerned, only four people are running for this position, two have already disqualified themselves in my own mind. Two have money, two need money, and they all would wipe the floor with Nye. We have recently elected a man with a strong business background who is now doing a wonderful job in Richmond. With our ship heading south, we absolutely now need a fearless fighter for our military strength and a fighter for us to keep our military jobs here in Hampton Roads. Think about it. This one is not just about winning, it’s about what’s best for Hampton Roads, best for all of us.
You having been around politics for all these years tell me one thing, These donors would not max out to the other candidates if they prevail? Don’t tell me they can’t win a general, of course the donors are going to donate to the winner even if he needs to start all over after June 8th. Enough money will be there.
Jared-$3million dollars in this economy is a tall order for all of our guys. And yes these donors don’t max out for whoever runs in the 2nd. Look at Jim Chapman’s list in the early 90′s, then go to Ed Shrock’s, then Thelma Drake’s lists of donors. You’ll see very few of the same names on there (except fo rScott, but nevermind about that). Why so few repeaters? Because these people donate their hard earned money to people they believe in-and believe can win. They must win the trust and support and provide a workable winning team and strategy. They cdon’t come away with money just because they’re a republican in the 2nd. It doesn’t work that way.
Kathy, I hear you. We all want the best individual in the right role-regardless money and other intangibles. It’s an ideal to expect that you’ll get that. For me-Scott Rigell comes as close to that ideal as I’ve seen in a long time. So I’m passionate, just like Robyn is for Taylor, but I also approach things scientifically. Part of the quality that makes Scott Rigell so electable is that he is so logically the best fit for a candidate that the party could hope for. Then you mee the man and get to know him for what he thinks and it all comes together. Why doess Thelma Drake’s support him-she knows it too. Why does Bob McDonnell’s family support him-they know it as well. Why are so many individual donors going to bat for him-they know his character too.So before I write a Hallmark card, I’ll conclude ths soliloqouy-someone fix that spelling for me.
In reading these posts, I see another theme, which is bashing business experience. To what I must say – are you kidding me?? We need people with business experience more than anything else! I want someone with a very strong financial background. Our national debt and out of control spending are threatening our very way of life. The country is in trouble, but I think we can still recover if we get the right leadership. By all means, elect an experienced businessman. Businessmen have to get results or else they go out of business. Too bad Washington isn’t the same. I hope we elect lots of businessmen so that we can start holding Washington accountable.
This whole discussion has jumped the shark and reached the point of the absurd. Some people here are clearly Taylor fans (which is great for them). Some people here are Rigell fans (and in full disclosure, so am I). Richard Jenkins gets some credit for being the most clear thinking and analytical of the bunch (IMO).
1) If all we care about is who is the most qualified from the perspective of the military, then why don’t we find a retired 3 star to run? If military credentials alone determined who should be in elective office, Colin Powell or Wesley Clark should be president
2) Rigell has been a successful businessman for a simple reason; he’s very good at leading a company in a dog-eat-dog world and marketplace. He’s run an effective, sharp campaign and every time I encounter him at any GOP event he looks me in eye, engages and is right on every issue I care about.
3) Taylor finished 4th out of 4 candidates in all 94 precincts in Virginia Beach when he ran for Mayor. He raised $27,000 from donors; and yes it matters in politics. Nice young man, bright future, but to say he’s a top flight candidate takes a level a willful suspension of disbelief. I’m not trying to be mean or critical, even if by some miracle he wins the nomination, he would emerge with debt from the primary while facing a Democratic incumbent with over a million in the bank. We HAVE to take this seat back to take out Pelosi, and to think the “powers that be” in DC will then dump $2 Million in the 2nd is insane; they don’t have the money this cycle with the Dems controlling all three branches of government.
Finally, Chris-Scott has repeatedly said that he would do everything within his power to keep that carrier here in Norfolk. It is a gross misguided extrapolation of my comments to take that Scott Rigell supports the removal of the carrier.
I’m trying to get you and a few others to look more critically at this race than what I’ve seen people post. I approach things from a business perspective. I always have and always will. That’s what first drew me to Scott.
The role of a Congressman is to represent the district, but it’s also his role to look at the broader needs of the United States and her economy. I wholeheartedly believe that Scott Rigell is the best man to attack the fiscal shambles of the Federal Government. I cite his succesful tenure as owner and President of Freedom Auto Group. I won’t recite the history again, but to me it’s clear cut. And yes, we should keep that carrier here in Norfolk-it’s a travesty that our democratic representative in a overwhelmingly democratic congress lost a carrier-but he lost it for being a blue dog. Bitter Irony. He voted how we, as republicans, wanted him to vote. If Nye had voted with Pelosi down the line-we might still have that carrier. I don’t know this to be true, but if you want to extrapolate something-it says a lot about Pelosi-she cares more about sticking it to a democrat whose fallen out of line than she does about national defense. Now we must make sure to send the right man to beat Nye in the general. Bitter Irony.
Great hire. The man knows his stuff.
And a quick comment about whether a campaign can purchase talent. No, they can’t. Don’t believe me – look at all the rich candidates who couldn’t land the best people(from either party).
Many campaigns in this race could afford Chris, and many would do anything for his services. But he got to choose and he choose Rigell.
Strong pick up for the candidate who knows a lot about creating jobs.
Sounds like a great benefit to Rigell’s campaign.
Also, one doesn’t need to have been involved in the military in order to make sound decisions regarding the military. It’s like the forum we had a couple of weeks ago, where each candidate insisted HE was the best man for the job because HE had been in the military. Most of us understand the need for a strong national defense without having been in the military. If this is a military decision, why not let the QDR dictate and go with the needs of the nation, as the Navy sees them? Perhaps because it might be a political decision…
Lacivita is a sleaze ball, possibly a successful one, but sleazy just the same. And at least in some sector this will cost him. LC, as for the Taylor camp “whining” they have every right to be ticked off, quite frankly I find the comment to be remarkedly reserved.
Oh, and for pity sake would people quit talking about all of Rigell’s military experience! His own website says that he was Marine RESERVES – and while I respect members of the reserves and their service, it does not hold a candle to the actual ACTIVE DUTY experience of the the majority of the field.
If LaCivita was sleazy, the Taylor camp would have no reason to be ticked off because they wouldn’t want him. And, frankly, if LaCivita was sleazy, I doubt that Rigell would hire him. From what I see, it looks like Rigell only hires the best, which isn’t surprising since that is what successful businesspeople do. I’ve seen no reference to any sort of contract with LaCivita; was there one?
Regarding the military experience of all of the candidates, frankly that is not a huge factor to me in deciding who will earn my vote. I’m glad that all of them have military experience/exposure of varying degrees since, as you say, this is a military district. But I guess I have to ask myself whether we need someone who simply knows how to be in the military or if there are other important qualifications. As I watch what is going on with the country today, I really think that we need people in Washington who have a good financial head on their shoulders and are from the real world, not that weird bubble that is the government. Our spending is out of control and unsustainable. It should be obvious that we can’t afford the health care bill right now – particularly when Medicare and Medicaid are already unsustainable. Balancing a budget should not be such a novel idea. If we want to create jobs, let’s look at the people who have successfully created jobs and get the best ideas from them. China is buying our debt like crazy and becoming capable of having a huge effect on our country. I want someone who can understand the ins and outs of our financial markets and the effects of our policies on both “main street and wall street.” I’d like to think that my future representative is even smarter than me! Whoever we elect is going to have some very serious problems to address and there will be tough decisions to be made. Some of the candidates have business experience (again, varying levels) and that is one of the things I will be looking at hard. It is far more important to me that my future representative know how to get us out of the financial messes that we are in rather than simply knowing how to be in the military. I am not knocking military service since I have nothing but the utmost gratitude, respect and support for all current and former military members. At the end of the day, though, I will be looking for a candidate who has far more than just military experience….I want one who can balance a budget and start moving us away from the crazy national debt that is sky rocketing from all the new spending!
Chris has never lost a GOP nomination fight. For all of you whining about Rigell attracting donors and money, what is the option – public financing, spending limits? You people are whiners because your candidate isn’t viable. Also, why would Taylor think he locked up LaCivita? According to FEC.gov Taylor never paid him a dime. How do you lock up a campaign professional if you don’t pay him? If Taylor can’t manage his relationship with LaCivita how is he going to manage a winning campaign or a congressional office?
Ron, you seem quite the expert. Maybe someone should’ve hired you to defeat Glenn Nye.
Nah. LaCivita is a lifer. Not me. I’m out of the biz. I leave this noble work to a new generation to put up yard signs in the middle of the night, manage crazy candidates, deal with the city committee leaders (an oxymoron if there ever was one,
) and nurse the bruised egos of wannabe campaign hacks whose advice is often ignored because it is so often dead wrong. Your demeanor, skills and smarts are exactly what VB needs now more than ever.
Maybe those drugs that Ron was given in Mexico for his various medical issues are shifting his political views, or maybe depression is setting in. Next thing you know he will be supporting Democrats… wait, he may be already!
No way, Jose. I support Brian Kirwin. Not Democrats.
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