[Updated w/Audio] Rigell responds to claims regarding Obama
By JR Hoeft | Thursday, June 3rd, 2010 | PoliticsScott Rigell, candidate for the GOP nomination in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, has responded to direct mail and radio ads by his competitors regarding his $1000 donation to Barack Obama with a direct mail piece of his own.
In his mailer, Rigell prominently lists and displays the endorsements he’s received, states that of his and his wife Teri’s more than $400k in political donations, only 0.3% were to individuals who are not Republicans,, and “proudly” relates that he maxed out his donations to presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney, as well as that he voted for McCain for president.
[7:20 p.m.] Rigell also just released an audio response as well:
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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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38 Responses to "[Updated w/Audio] Rigell responds to claims regarding Obama"
OK, now I’m totally confused! According to Brian Kirwin and D.J., this stuff can’t be churned out in 5 days (May 28th-June 2). How did Mr. “ahead in the polls” (cough, cough) get this out overnight?
Jay D – If you’ve been following this race at all, you would know that Rigell has been running a top flight campaign from the very beginning. Of course his campaign would anticipate the attacks and have their response ready to go! At this point, all of the other campaigns are completely desperate for a game changer. Ed Maulbeck is even quoted in the Pilotonline today as saying that “We need to basically destroy [Rigell].”
It’s a pretty expensive lit piece that Scott paid for, Gov. Bob McDonnell ($134,000) and Bill Bolling ($5,000) in addition to the costs for a writer, production, glossy printing and postage costs.
Also, I haven’t had time to check out all of the endorsements he paid for on the opposite page which makes the lit piece even more expensive.
Scott Rigell is a better man and has more guts than I. There is no way I could stand by and allow the lies and outright attacks on me and my family with the calm and graciousness he has shown. Truly, courage under fire. My deepest admiration for his family enduring the constant barrage of hate they have been forced to endure by members of our own party. Most of the people casting aspersions do so under nom de plume which lends to a credibility issue I have with them.
Fortunately for Hampton Roads he endures this pain because he wants to do good for our district and our nation
What Lies??… Lies about the truth? Scott must be a little sensitive to his weakness about the Obama donation to have a lit piece on the shelf and mailed a day after some competitor radio, mail and TV ads.
I wonder if there is any video or audio of another “Rigell Meltdown” when he started hearing the truth being spread through the media.
Rigell’s campaign lit piece shelf must also be pretty full as his “Establishment” image takes some body blows in conjunction with his dallying with, and supporting Democratic party causes and candidates.
Keep spending your money Scott to make us believe, and eventually the “truth will set you free”.
@ LC – have been following this race very closely. The comment to Brian and JD was in jest, and referred to earlier back/forth on another page.
No one doubts Rigell is buying the best campaign (and endorsements) money can buy. Too bad the actual candidate can’t bring the goods, grit, integrity, and something other than a very limited resume with excessive liabilities, to the table as well. “Do not be fooled into believing that because a man is rich he is necessarily smart. There is ample proof to the contrary.” – Julius Rosenwald
@ Chris Wahler – Please name ONE attack on Rigell’s family. The only family attacks I’m aware of were against General Mizusawa’s, which are recorded on BD, AltDaily, the Pilot, and come from you Rigell guys. I would be the first to condemn anyone attacking Scott’s family, but everything I’ve read targets Scott vis-à-vis Obama money, YES money, AWOL on forums, etc. If you have examples, please post. Otherwise, your indignation is false and manufactured – just like his campaign. If Scotty boy actually does bruise THIS easily – Nye will have an absolute field day w/ thin-skinned Scott, if given the chance.
Again, another reason to send a battle hardened combat veteran to fight in November. Otherwise, poor Scott better find something to help with what clearly appears to be a bad case of the Vapours. GO BERT!
Again I refer to my earlier comparison of the candidates in this campaign to the Great Sioux Nation . They measured their own strength by the strength of their enemies. The more powerful their enemy, the louder they would shout in defiance. The “General” and the “Captain” and the Lieutenant Commander must be truly in awe of the power of a successful businessman and non-com Marine Mr. Rigell (USMCR), given their increasing levels of rhetoric.
Tim J and Jay D –
No one can buy a campaign. And you can’t buy endorsements either. To suggest otherwise is ridiculous. This is America. We all get to vote. And guess what? The primary is on Tuesday, so the voters of the 2nd District get to have their say then.
As for the attacks on Scott’s family, one rumor that has been repeatedly put forth by other campaigns comes to mind. However, no one with any class would repeat it here, particularly since it isn’t true. If you say you’ve been following this race for a while, I’m sure you’re very well aware of the rumor to which I refer.
Your condescending remarks about Scott’s resume are not warranted. Look at the economy, which is – frankly – what worries the voting public the most. Now, take a successful businessman (he’s apparently been winning a lot of business awards, so unbiased outsiders think he’s a good businessman as well) to look at a financial situation. Rigell has been a successful businessman for 20 years (it boggles my mind that you would say he has a limited resume). He’s had to create and meet budgets for years, hire and fire people, and has an MBA for the “book” side of things. People want someone who can help us get out of this financial mess. Military experience, while a very good thing, is not the most ideal when facing a financial disaster of this magnitude.
We have some candidates with some great military experience. However, there is only one with the business experience we need right now, and that is Scott Rigell.
Wow, Rigell keeps it classy and above the fray when this was a wide open invite to slam both Mizusawa and Loyola. Truly refreshing.
Chris.. the Rigell campaign has gone from the “Establishment” campaign to being allied with the “Great Sioux Nation”?
Is the Rigell campaign donning loin cloths, applying war paint and holding war dances in the Freedom Ford parking lot while planning a“Custer’s Last Stand” attack at Town Center on Saturday when Ben Loyola takes his Loyalty Oath?
I wonder what Scott would look like with a Mohawk and war paint…
@Chris Wahler – while I enjoy very much your non-answer responses, again … please provide details as to your earlier charge that Rigell’s ‘family’ has been attacked. Or, was that a bit of hysteria and exaggeration on your part?
Regarding your Sioux quote – it’s apropos to exactly why I believe the Rigell camp went after Mizusawa and his family. General Bert is the only candidate that raised anywhere near the funds needed to take him on. And, if LE is accurate (and if not, please correct) that Scott “worked in a Marine Corps reserve motor pool for a handful of years, never deployed anywhere outside the US and never received a single significant award or decoration…” I seriously doubt ‘awe and power’ enter into any discussion, by any candidate, regarding Scott Rigell. Read how Mizusawa earned his silver star (excerpt from the book is available on his website), and you’ll understand why that comment is just plain silly.
For the record, Bert has said many times he’s just fine with “Bert”. However, use of descriptive and distinctive appellations to address a person of the highest rank, distinction, office, or position is considered appropriate and a mark of good manners and civility.
Jay D – I’m sure that Chris didn’t feel the need to respond because I have already answered your question about attacks related to Rigell’s family.
As for Rigell’s military record, again, have you been following this race for long? Rigell has always said that he was in the reserves and that no one ever shot at him. So what.
No one would dispute that there are other candidates with more military experience that Rigell. However, by the same token, no other candidate can come close to Rigell’s business experience, which is what completely differentiates him from the rest of the crowd of “former/current military.”
If the people of the 2nd District are only looking for a military man, they might have a hard time deciding who to pick amongst all the candidates.
If, on the other hand, they are looking for an experienced (and in fact awardwinning) businessman who understands and is willing to tackle the serious financial problems our country is facing, Rigell is easily the best choice.
Congress is full of “businessmen” who are cutting deals and selling us down the river to the highest bidder, which is why the country is in the worst financial situation ever.
Rigell hasn’t shown much initiative on real issues other than to keep trumpeting his “business” skills as a CEO to paper over his deficiencies of what it would mean to be a Representative. He’s supposed to be interviewing the voters and talking about their issues as a Representative of the people, not as a CEO of a business.
How can a CEO of a business all of a sudden become an employee of the people? Rigell hasn’t shown anything outside of his business credentials that he is capable of Representing anything that relates to the issues or concerns of the people in the 2nd District.
Tim J:
So you assume that Bob McDonnell’s endorsement was “bought” and not because they’ve been friends for 20 years.
It’s ALL a conspiracy!
I know you support Ben “I-took-stimulus-money-before-I-was-against it” Loyola, but your comments are exactly like the man you support; over the top.
Just got another mailer from Bert Mizusawa; Government Bailout for Dummies by Scott Rigell. Cash for Clunkers. Let’s see a Rigell responds to this. Looks like Mizusawa saved his funds for eleventh hour blitz. This is going to be tight one. Looks like Loyola may be sitting in the “catbird seat”. Remember Ken Stolle and Gil Davis for AG and Jerry Kilgore running away with the prize?
LC – thanks for answering for Chris Whaler. I know exactly what you refer to now. There is no way, no how, and at no time I would ever participate or condone rumor mongering. However, the location of Whaler’s post – plus his lack of specifics -purposefully lead one to infer the Mizusawa campaign was involved with or condoned those types of attacks.
Whaler also failed to note… it was Mizusawa that demonstrated pure ‘class’ by notifying BD in the early a.m. an over-zealous supporter had crossed the line. And, it was the Mizusawa campaign that asked for the redaction. It was done quickly, directly, and within a VERY short time of posting. One would think that ‘classy act’ would have been noted and appreciated by Rigell supporters? Nope.
In direct contrast … Rigell condones (and perhaps even instructs?) staff attacks on Bert’s family and Bert’s commitment to his family. That crap has been up for weeks; I have YET to see Rigell request redaction. Honestly, I would have much more empathy if Scott demonstrated REAL leadership, by quick and decisive action, as has Mizusawa.
Question: rumor has it Rigell will be on Tony Macrini’s show tomorrow (Friday). Can anyone confirm? If true, it’s the first time in a very long time Scott Rigell is out there without a script.
What is coming out now by the supposely more conservative candidates sounds like Demorats attack adds! What happened to the issues and why are supposely conservative candidates not addressing the issues and instead trying to make a non-issue into a issue? Seems some people are offended by the free market enterprise system and freedom of speech! Rigell has donated his hard earned money $199,000.00 to Republicans and $1,000. to a demorat and that is a issue. It is quite oblivious were his loyalties lay and look at all those well recognized conservatives who have endorsed Rigell. I made a small contribution back in 2008 to Obama so there would be a candidate to cause Clinton problems and thus exhaust her resources which would help McCain. But who knew at that time that Obama would win and turn into what he turned into? No one we were just trying to help McCain who unfortunately was a dud. Loyala radio commerical complains that Rigell took advantage of cash for clunkers! Well was Rigell suppose to go out of business and tell customers to go else where that they could not take advantage of the Federal program at his dealership! Thank goodness for the sake of all those who work at Freedom Ford he allowed his customers to take advantage of the program. This is all disenginious and sour grapes. Individual could not compete on the issues now the make up stupid stuff and they call themeselves Repubicans!!!!!!!!!
Jay, the rumor is that Rigell will be on Macrini only if they can get one of Obama’s telemprompters down here on time.
Mark, your plagarizing yourself between threads, and its boring.
Bryan, yup, McDonnell and Bolling were bought and paid for by Rigell’s “Cash for Politicians” program, patterned after the “Cash for Clunker” program because it was so successful for Rigell.
Scott Rigell says “froggy”, and the politicians hop.
Rigell is ahead by a landslide. Nothing will change before Tuesday.
@DroolingElmo – site your source please.
Wow, Tim J, casting aspersions on the character of Governor Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling? Are you sure that Loyola wants you as a supporter? I’m not sure that you should be attacking our rather popular state officials…might reflect badly on your candidate of choice. Not to mention the fact that if you really think either one of them can be bought, you are naive.
So Rigell put out an audio clip acknowledging Bert’s attack. Bert calls up to apologize, then attacks him again with another mail piece – “Government Bailout for Dummies by Scott Rigell. Cash for Clunkers”.
Bert is a master tactician by doing a “head fake” apology and then an uppercut with another mail piece. And even better, Rigell is on audio as falling for it! Bert needs to put out another mail piece: “Campaign Tactics for Dummies – a Case Study of the Rigell Campaign”.
Rigell needs to quickly put out some more poll numbers showing that he is still ahead by 30% to keep the morale up with the Press and the Rigell faithful.
Great move Bert, they didn’t see it coming!
Jay D –
Mizusawa’s campaign asked for the early morning retraction because they fed information to their “over zealous supporter” and realized quickly that Rigell would connect the dots and know who was behind it. It was purely for self protection.
As for Rigell, if you follow his Facebook site at all, you would have seen that Rigell has repeatedly deleted any nasty or negative comments mentioning the other candidate’s by name. He has said numerous times when faced with similar “over zealous supporters” that any comments bashing another candidate are not appropriate and will be deleted. If someone attacked Mizusawa, you’re barking up the wrong tree. (and if you’re talking about the residency issue, that isn’t even an attack…that simply a question of where the guy actually lives and whether he has roots here. Hardly an attack.)
Rigell also does not support attacking any of the other candidates (unlike Mizusawa, Taylor, Loyola, Sandlin, and Maulbeck – all of whom have attacked Rigell). Now THAT is class.
Bottom line – literally everyone in this race other than Rigell has violated Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment: Thou shalt not attack thy fellow Republicans.
LC has a hard time defining “attack.”
Is the Obama picture mailer an “attack” or a cleverly conveyed message?
It’s not character assassination- it’s telling the truth, right?
Isn’t this politics? Not business, not family, not the usual etiquette!
Do some reading- for all of recorded history American politicians have been at it, and we the people have lapped it up and responded. In fact, they used to go to blows! The mailers and radio ads we’re enjoying right now are absolutely sweet and loving when compared to what we’ll all see by October… and by the way, we receive these catchy pieces because research shows- they work.
LC, Rigell uses the tactics he learned from the Obama campaign to let his surrogates indirectly do his dirty work so he can float over the ugliness and not soil his delicate hands. If one of Scott’s disciples gets out of control, he feigns righteous indignation and scolds the offender to maintain his “I’m your Daddy” image and control.
The rest of the candidates man-up and take responsibility for their campaigns and don’t send out their lackeys to fall on their swords for them.
LC – “Mizusawa’s campaign asked for the early morning retraction because they fed information …”
Do you know this as fact, or just assuming and leveling unsubstantiated charges?
Dittos Tim J!
Pandora – Such behavior is to be expected from the Democrats. However, I do expect more from my fellow Republicans. And I think the American people want something different than politics as usual.
As for Bert Mizusawa’s attack piece (you know, the guy who was supposedly running a 100% positive campaign…and then got talked into these attacks by his “advisers”), I would define it as an attack when the cover implies that Obama has said “Thank you Scott Rigell” with a picture of Obama shaking some unseen person’s hand. And the other side has a picture of Scott Rigell’s head superimposed over a lemon. (the whole thing is actually quite ridiculous…as if Rigell’s $1,000 donation to stop Hillary Clinton was somehow noticed and appreciated by Obama…).
Yes, I call that an attack. It’s not at all difficult to define.
Jay D – Fact. And I won’t divulge how I know because that would involve repeating the parts of a completely inappropriate comment that were already deleted.
Tim J – Rigell couldn’t have learned anything from Obama’s campaign since he wasn’t a part of it. And I haven’t seen any dirty work from Rigell’s campaign, from “surrogates” or Scott himself. They haven’t attacked anyone.
Tim J and Jay D – I just realized that you two may be the same person. I note with interest that you both posted at 11:30pm, and yet Jay D is posting and saying “Ditto Tim J”. I guess maybe you typed out your responses first and then posted one comment from a computer and then another from a cell phone or another device. Hmm. Good to know. For the record, I’m only one person. And I don’t even have multiple personalities or multiple profiles.
Jay D, are you me as LC alleges?
LC if you and the Rigell campaign are in doubt, have JR check the IP addresses, please.
Besides, Jay is a Bert supporter, and I am a Not Rigell supporter.
Or maybe you are starting to go stir crazy and are seeing double like some other famous commenters on here?
LC – then one of us is misinformed. I spoke directly with the poster, who got his ‘ass chewed’ by the both the candidate AND the campaign manager for that one. It was out of line; he is an old, close friend of Bert’s and ‘lost it’ in defense of his friend. Not an excuse, just understandable… but not at all appropriate.
And sorry, have NO clue as to who Tim J is. No mini-me’s or multiples here – scout’s honor. And, I’m not a paid staffer or volunteer, just someone who is tired of the spin and staying up late to defend some pretty wild accusations. Plus I love good debates.
@LC (Part I)– I wrote earlier that Rigell is “buying the best campaign (and endorsements) money can buy.” A comment I believe is substantiated by Morton Blackwell’s own I-endorse-Rigell-because … statement:
“I can think of few leaders more committed to the conservative cause in the Republican Party than Scott Rigell. Over the past fifteen years Scott and his wife Teri and their businesses have given more than $400,000 in contributions directly to Republican candidates, including such leading conservatives as Bob McDonnell, George Allen, Michael Farris, Ollie North, Jim Gilmore, Jerry Kilgore, Mark Earley and Randy Forbes.” Going all the way back to 1991, Scott Rigell served as Bob McDonnell’s first finance chairman in his initial run for the Virginia House of Delegates and walked door-to-door for our future governor. Then, two years later, Scott Rigell stood by George Allen as a delegate to the state Republican convention and supported him in his historic win to the governor’s mansion. For all of these reasons, I am proud to endorse a dedicated conservative candidate like Scott Rigell for Congress.” http://www.scottrigell.com/2010/03/
According to Mr. Blackwell, Scott ‘earned’ Blackwell’s endorsement by:
- $400K contributions to political candidates.
- helping the Governor in his first run for House of Delegates.
- Delegate to the state Republican convention.
Add the following (and feel free to add accomplishments I may have missed), I would defend that ‘limited resume’ is an accurate description.
- community leader.
- church leader.
- owner of Freedom Ford/ accomplished businessman.
EDUCATION:
-MBA from Regent University
AWARDS and ACCOMPLISHMENTS
-2010 inductee HR Business Hall of Fame- “lifetime achievement award for individuals who have made a major, positive impact on the Greater Hampton Roads Region through the private sector economy.” Awarded by Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads. http://www.scottrigell.com/author/joy/
LC (Part II) Compare Rigell’s above qualification to the resume of another candidate:
EDUCATION
-Graduated 1st in class at West Point/ Other distinctions earned at West Point: General Robert E. Wood Distinguished Cadet Award (Highest academic standing) / Peruvian Army Award (Highest academic standing) / National Commandery, Military Order of Foreign Wards of the US (Highest degree of excellence in Political Science) / MG Francis Vinton Greene Memorial Award (Highest in academic standing) / There are more ‘WP firsts’; inclusion would like be considered overkill. Source: http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1979/old/USMA_1979_Class_Firsts.pdf
J.D. (LAW DEGREE) – Harvard
MASTERS Public Policy – Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government
MASTERS Strategic Studies – Army War College
Selected as MacArthur Fellow in National Security – served as intern on US Attorney’s Counterdrug Task Force.
AWARDS and ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Silver Star – third highest military decoration; awarded for Conspicuous Gallantry in Action, exclusively for combat valor in the face of the enemy.
- Legion of Merit – awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States.
- The Bronze Star – awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement of service, not involving aerial flight in connection with operations against an opposing armed force.
- Other Service Awards: Defense Meritorious Service Medal (w/OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (w/Silver OLC), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (w/ OLC), and the Army Achievement Medal (w/OLC) http://www.usar.army.mil/arweb/organization/commandstructure/USARC/OPS/335Sig/Leadership/Pages/BrigGen.aspx
PROFESSIONAL
1983 – selected to command the JSF, an elite infantry unit in the Korean DMZ.
1995 – appointed to the Professional Staff of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, where he assisted the Republican Chairman with oversight of national defense.
1996 – authored the national security platform adopted at the Republican National Convention.
1998 – appointed as one of the youngest and most senior (three-star level) Senior Executives in the Pentagon, where he oversaw the Army’s interagency and international affairs.
Early 2000’s served as senior commander of the Army Reserve’s cyber operations while also president of a small business.
2005 – recalled to active duty to lead special missions in Afghanistan and then Iraq.
“Brigadier General Mizusawa is the Deputy Commanding General of the 335th Signal Command (Theater). Prior, he served as the Deputy G3 of the US Army Materiel Command, a major Army command comprised of over 90,000 personnel. Brigadier General Mizusawa also served as Deputy to the Commanding General, Multinational Corps-Iraq. As a Colonel, Brigadier General Mizusawa commanded the first team deployed to Afghanistan from the Joint Center for Operational Analysis, US Joint Forces Command, and the Army Reserve Information Operations Command.Brigadier General Mizusawa also commanded the 359th Transportation Battalion and the UN Command Joint Security Force in the Korean DMZ. “ http://www.usar.army.mil/arweb/organization/commandstructure/USARC/OPS/335Sig/Leadership/Pages/BrigGen.aspx
Bert is currently a Brigadier General in the Army Reserve, and one of the Army’s most highly decorated officers. If elected, he would be the only general serving in Congress, the most highly decorated post-Vietnam veteran in Congress and the only one with senior experience on the Senate Armed Services Committee and in the Pentagon. In addition, Mizusawa helped bring 5,000 jobs to this area by helping to transform the Joint Forces Command and is a lawyer with experience in the global capital markets. http://www.altdaily.com/features/news/politics/qa-with-bert-mizusawa-republican-hopeful-for-congress.html
Rigell’s resume for Representative is an easy First Grade math problem:
Money + Credentials for Representative = Money
Or
Money + 0 = Money
Bert can use this in his next mailing.
I’m just gonna post a new article that only says ’2nd District’ one day this week and just watch everyone dive in.
Entertaining.
Thank God I live in the 3rd…and Lord knows I’ll never say that again!
It’s funny to see Rigell and his supporters defending an Obama donation. I’m sure if one of the other candidates would have made this kind of ridiculous donation, they would have been “fine” with it too. What a joke. Real conservative Republicans would NEVER make a donation to someone like Obama, Mark Warner, or Louise Lucas. And they certainly wouldn’t have made a $10,000 donation to the Yes campaign. Sure the majority of Rigell’s donations have been made to Republicans, but why would a conservative even go there?? The way someone spends there money says a lot about them. And Rigell’s money clearly show’s he’s a RINO. I think we’ve had more than enough of them in Washington. They behaved so well in the past that the party is now in the minority in DC. Good job RINOs! Be apart of the solution and vote for A.B.R.- Anyone But Rigell.
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