McKelvey Launches New PAC in VA-05
By Jason Johnson | Friday, June 11th, 2010 | UncategorizedHours after state Senator Robert Hurt won the Republican nomination in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, both Feda Morton and Ron Ferrin emailed their supporters to congratulate the new nominee and to pledge their support for his candidacy (other former opponents might have sent similar emails, but I only received them from Morton and Ferrin). Jim McKelvey, who was Sen. Hurt’s closest competitor, also emailed his supporters, but instead of endorsing Hurt, McKelvey announced that he planned to form a political action committee (PAC):
Tonight, Robert Hurt was elected to be the Republican Candidate for Congress in the Fifth District. I congratulate him on his victory. I will not abandon all those who shared their hopes and ideals with me during the campaign. In the coming days, I will be forming a political action committee to bring together all those who share the same ideals as me of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and who will fight for a return to the essential foundations of our Republic as established by our Founding Fathers.
McKelvey’s PAC, since named “Take Our Country Back PAC,” is intended to support citizen-legislators throughout the 5th District who will champion the same issues McKelvey promoted during his campaign for the Republican nomination. Could Sen. Hurt expect to benefit from Take Our Country Back PAC? He could certainly use the assistance with fundraising as incumbent Tom Perriello already has $1.4 million on-hand (not including $606,000 raised during the first quarter of 2010) ready for what is certain to be an expensive general election campaign. However, since McKelvey frequently dismissed Sen. Hurt as a career politician and a “RINO” (especially after absorbing several former Morton staffers), Hurt might not be the obvious beneficiary of a PAC designed to support “candidates who have never run for public office” and who will “sponsor and support legislation that I proposed during my campaign.”
If Take Our Country Back PAC does not assist the Republican nominee, who might it assist? A possible answer is third-party challenger Jeff Clarke, a Tea Party activist from Danville who entered the race because he believes Sen. Hurt is a “situational conservative.” Even before the primary, the Danville Register & Bee was reporting that the McKelvey and Clark campaigns were sharing tent space at a Danville-area festival and that McKelvey’s Danville office was located in Clark’s place of business. As a staunch conservative and a political novice, Clark seems to be the exact type of candidate Take Our Country Back PAC seeks. If both McKelvey and Clark want to change the rules of politics frequently employed by the “establishment” by eschewing backroom deals, they have a strange way of demonstrating it. After narrowly losing the Republican presidential nomination in 1976, Ronald Reagan supported Gerald Ford. John McCain supported George W. Bush after a bitter primary in 2000. If Sen. Hurt is unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat Tom Perriello this November, Jim McKelvey might become the choice of many 5th District Republicans to run for the seat in 2012. However, if McKelvey uses his new PAC to support a third-party spoiler that ensures Tom Perriello a second term (and thanks to redistricting, possibly many more), McKelvey may find himself a persona non grata in conservative and Republican circles throughout Virginia for many years to come.
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A lifelong political junkie, Jason caught the political bug as a fifth grader after meeting George Allen in 1993. Since then he has studied political science at both the undergraduate and graduate level. When not perusing the blogs or volunteering for conservative Republicans, Jason enjoys cheering on his beloved Virginia Tech Hokies and spending time at his Bedford County home.
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37 Responses to "McKelvey Launches New PAC in VA-05"
I respect Jim McKelvey for standing up to the establishment they have been needing it for a long time.Some people seem to forget the fact that Bill Stanley our new 5th district chairman was supporting McKelvey right up until the time he jumped into the race for chairman.They are close friends.Tucker Watkins worked for Hurt even as chairman.Things are changing in the 5th district sometimes just not as fast as we would like.
All I can say is McKelvey should do as the party plan states and support the nomminee, to do anything else will end any hope of a political career in Virginia.
I’m sure Chairman Stanley understands and agrees that if we are a nation of laws then we should also be a party of rules.
Doesn’t end any hope of a political career in Virginia. Ends any hope of a Republican political career in Virginia. My take on the Tea Party folks is that they see the Republican Party as a vehicle, if it’s going their way fine. If not, they’re willing to hitchhike.
Can we give Jim McKelvey the Marshall Coleman Award for Party Unity?
Hell at least Coleman won one race at least, but yes I do think so.
My advise to all disgruntleds that want to stay in the party – just don’t do anything and watch the establishment get their butts kicked, maybe then they will LISTEN to us. The party can’t kick you out for not volunteering to work your butt off for someone, just for openly campaigning against them. When their boots on the ground disappear, maybe they will think twice next time they decide to support their country club buddy. As far as your vote goes, well that is private and up to you.
I’m sure Chairman Stanley will have Mr. McKelvey there to support our nominee at the Unity Day rally tomorrow morning up in Charlottesville.
Hey GovGirl,
A non-choice is still a choice. So thanks for saying you want Perriello to be your congressman.
So the candidate who is NOT in the Republicrat club of political insiders is deemed the ‘spoiler’? Instead of looking at what Ronnie Reagan did in the 1976, let us instead study the modern Republican Party. Our lesson for today – Doug Hoffman and recent special election in the New York 23rd Congressional District – an area very similar to the VA 5th. Study the lesson by reading on your own, and then answer this one-question quiz:
It is October, 2010. Polling shows Candidates Perriello, McKelvey’s candidate (Jeff Clarke?), and Hurt are splitting the vote into approximate thirds. Hurt is trailing the other two in both polling and fund raising. Hurt decides to drop out of the race. Who does he endorse?
Chairman Stanley promised on one of the blogs that he would have all the candidates on the same stage for the unity tour. He said he may have to bring one or two of them by the ear, but that he would have them there.
It is his job.
Lee, Govgirl said no such thing. She was giving hypothetical advice to others holding a hypothetical view.
I’m sure she already realizes that she is a slave to the plan and MUST work 100% and give money in order to avoid suspicion.
This even includes an incumbent that said something or did something offensive. You had better not brag about how you won’t support them. If you do, you had better back them up double come re-election time to avoid suspicion, right Lee?
Thankfully, I’m a Libertarian and can support anyone I choose, in party or not. I don’t even have to sign an oath of support.
hey, Britt, one of my best friends is a Libertarian who has followed this race closely. He told me yesterday he was going to vote for Hurt even though Hurt is not in favor of legalizing marijuana & prostitution.
Yeah ask Rand Paul about hypothetical views… that doesn’t work so well.
Oh and Britt here’s the rule in the party plan
“A member of an Official Committee is held to a higher standard of support for nominees of the Republican Party than an individual who merely participates in a mass meeting, party canvass, convention or primary. Therefore, a member of an Official Committee is deemed to have resigned his Committee position if he (a) makes a reportable contribution to and/or (b) allows his name to be publicly used by and/or (c) makes a written or other public statement in support of a candidate in opposition to a Republican nominee in a Virginia General or Special Election. Such member may be re-instated by a majority vote of the other members of the Committee.”
I am not a official member of any committee.
So when you call me out for my well know disavowal of any and all things Bob Marshall remember. You are calling out a father who rejects Marshall on VERY personal grounds. This is a line you do not EVER want to cross. My son and his fight with autism transcends politics. I’m glad you want to be known as a man who would call out a father for prioritizing his family over his politics.
That being said I’d give my support to ANY opponent of his in a primary but I wont support a Democrat over Mr. Marshall.
You see Britt I’m out in the open and above board on this issue.
“I’m glad you want to be known as a man who would call out a father for prioritizing his family over his politics.” – Lee Tally
Really?
” but I wont support a Democrat over Mr. Marshall. ” – Lee Tally
If you really feel that way, you should vote Democrat and party be damned! I sure would, if I felt that way. Having a daughter that is learning disabled taking some specialized classes, I was a bit taken aback myself. However, I see it differently than you. I still say after some chastising for his not taking care of how he worded things, that incident should have been taken into context with all the good things he has done for children with special needs, his clarification that every child is a blessing, and that he was pointing to medical evidence for some cases that likely had absolutley no bearing on the cause of disability in either of our children.
You however, are trying to tell Govgirl or other people that they must be mindless slaves to the plan or get out, but you have the only REAL reason to go against the plan. Eventhough you then say, you won’t go against the plan and you WON’T vote for a Democrat over Marshall.
You sir, are no better than Govgirl. If you hold rules to her with no exception, then they should apply to you as well, no exception. If you get an exception, then she gets one. Otherwise you have that rule of law thing.
So, since you would call out Govgirl should she choose to make a non-choice and stay home witholding support, I guess you’ll be writing Marshall a check and campaigning for him if he wins renomination. You seem to say that standard applies to Govgirl.
And Lee, I don’t call out fathers. I call out hypocrites.
As for Rand Paul, he’s still the nominee right?
No there is a difference.
Supporting a Democrat is WAY more damaging than supporting Marshall. While he is ignorant in his words and actions a Democrat openly supports policies that are also damaging to my family. I don’t see the difference.
oh and Rand Paul isn’t running in Va so whatever to your statement.
oh and I wouldn’t carry lit for him nor would I make a donation but I’d be glad to hand out any lit calling out his Democrat opponent for their wrong views on taxes, life, and anything else the Democrats sure screw up.
You brought up Rand Paul, not I.
There are Democrats that are Pro-life and support children with disabilities.
That doesn’t matter though, you point to not doing positive work as making a choice. That leaves open that same arguement when someone says you only bothered to bust some guy on taxes, if you’d even really do that. If Govgirl or anyone else can’t cut off support, how can you?
Personally, I think you, Govgirl, or anyone else, should feel free to withold support for whatever reason. However, you opened that can of worms and held Govgirl to it.
Yes there are but Voting any Dem into office doesn’t promote those values via legislation and its not a idea they support as a whole.
As far as Govgirl goes I was pointing out to her that a non choice is still a choice and letting Jello stay in office doesn’t do anything for the families of the 5th, of Virginia, or the country. He must go!
And allowing a Democrat to skip into Marshall’s seat by withholding your support has the same effect as withholding support for Hurt against Jello.
Um I just said Id gladly campaign against the Dem…
Britt – thanks for coming to my defense. Lee, maybe I was not clear. I was speaking from the perspective of someone who is a very, very, very active volunteer most years. If (and this is not the case for me this year so it is not an issue) I could not in good conscious volunteer for the party’s nominee (as is the case for some that read this regularly) I would advise just not volunteering at all, rather than campaigning against them, if you want to remain a part of the party system. I understand how the party system works, and I understand why it is that way, but simply choosing to keep ones mouth shut and not knock doors and make phone calls is not campaigning against the candidate. I don’t know about you, but I can find lots of other things to do with my time. I NEVER said not to vote, or that they should vote 3rd party. My point is more that establishment needs to learn who gets the work done, not just who has the money and is their pal, that was my point.
Govgirl,
Now that you made yourself clear actually I can agree. I think there are alot more people in the party that realize its the efforts of folks like all of us (disagree on here or not) who come out to work for the candidates. I think this us vs the establishment thing though is getting old. There is room in this party for everyone who wants to work and support candidates.
Lee until this year, I wasn’t an us vs the establishment person, but what I have come to realize through this year primary process in particular is that the establishment wants to use the rank and file when it is in their best interest, like to knock, on hundreds of doors and make thousands of phone calls. But, when it comes time to choose a nominee, we are just suppose to go away and shut up, so they can pick their pal – this is the problem, and it is a real diss to those who worked very hard to get some of these people elected in the first place. This is what bothers me, and they show it through endorsements and the like. There is no reason for party hierarchy to get involved in a primary.
hmm I see your frustration but also their vote only counts as 1 vote just like yours or mine does. Its hard to beat the big money but it can be done. Hey the people showed up and voted for Bob Hurt just like they voted for Scott Rigell and like they voted for everyone else.
Organize and fight harder next time… but that fight is over. Its time to come together and support our nominee’s because when your candidate does win you need them to be supported as well.
o/t: does anyone remember the post & the cite about Perriello’s $600,000 in union donations? I saw it somewhere Dec/Jan/Feb.
Govgirl I feel it is alot of people that feel the same way as you.I will not support Hurt if we sit back and do nothing and Hurt wins the establishment will not have any reason to change but if Hurt loses then next time they might pay attention.Hurt is the perfect example of what is wrong in DC now.Hurt is only a conservative when it benefits Hurt.
As someone who doesn’t always agree with the decisions made by our state and national Republican parties, I can absolutely sympathize with my fellow conservatives who feel used by the “establishment.” However, I would caution everyone in the 5th CD not to sit this election out or cast a protest vote just to teach the establishment a lesson for two reasons: First, we do not know what kind of bad laws and policies we might get as a result of Tom Perriello’s reelection. I remember many conservatives, out of their contempt for John McCain (and believe me, I had to hold my nose when casting that vote), sat out the last presidential election in order to teach the RNC not to take us for granted. Partially as a result of that lesson, we have Sonia Sotomayor, Obamacare, possibly Elena Kagan and who knows what else is to come before President Obama’s term ends. Second, we will not have a better opportunity (in the foreseeable future) to defeat Tom Perriello than we will this November. Saying, “we’ll sit this one out, but we’ll get him in 2012″ ignores the fact that incumbents are most vulnerable the first time they stand for reelection. After that–even during wave elections like 1994 and 2006–the reelection rate is at least 90 percent and usually higher than that. We will not have a better environment to defeat Perriello than this November. 2012 will be a presidential election year with higher turnout (to some degree, although certainly less so than in ’08). Then there is redistricting, which quite possibly could make the 5th more Democratic IF Perriello is reelected. If that happens, good luck voting him out until he is ready to return to private life…or to run for a statewide office.
Two additional sidenotes: 1.) I’m not the only one calling Jeff Clark a spoiler; Clark relishes that role for himself: http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/249996
2.) VA-05 is hardly NY-23 unless Sen. Hurt supports Obamacare, Card Check, Cap and Tax, the stimulus, gay marriage, abortion on demand, etc. as Dede Scozzafava did. As Jeff Frederick himself noted, Sen. Hurt is no Dede Scozzafava. Nor was Sen. Hurt’s nomination decided by a group of district party chairman, but instead by 48 percent of the district’s primary voters.
Does anyone know if Jim McKelvey showed up at the unity rally earlier today?
@Jason
“2.) VA-05 is hardly NY-23 unless Sen. Hurt supports Obamacare, Card Check, Cap and Tax, the stimulus, gay marriage, abortion on demand, etc. as Dede Scozzafava did. As Jeff Frederick himself noted, Sen. Hurt is no Dede Scozzafava. Nor was Sen. Hurt’s nomination decided by a group of district party chairman, but instead by 48 percent of the district’s primary voters.”
I just thought that deserved to be repeated a few times.
MJ: According to Shaun Kenney’s twitter and Feda Morton’s Facebook status, he did not.
MJ: Thanks! I think that fact is too often forgotten. Here’s a link about the event and every candidate was in attendance except Jim McKelvey: http://www.welbornfreedomwatch.com/
You Republicans do _not_ understand. A true conservative shan’t vote for a RINO. Period. When given a choice between voting for a RINO and a conservative candidate (CC), even in a general election (rather than a primary election), a true conservative (TC) shall vote for the CC, even if that means allowing the liberal, third candidate to win the general election. TC’s have had enough. TC’s want CC’s, nothing else.
Republicans, if you do not veer _sharply_ to the right soon, then TC’s shall bolt from the Republican party and join the TEA party, which will become an independent, third party. IOW, the TEA party will split off from the Republican party, and such a split would effectively doom the Republican party, which cannot survive without TC’s.
– Paul D. Bain
Hey Paul,
Is there a test you can take to see if I am a true conservative?
I guess that’s why Catherine Crabill came so close to defeating Rob Wittman? Oh wait…nevermind.
I think it will be very interesting when the Tea Party actually runs candidates on a Tea Party ticket. I am perplexed when reading how “true conservatives” are planning to vote for the Tea Party this fall when there is no such party on the ballot.
Perhaps it is time to have the 12% or so of GOP voters (taking Catherine Crabill as the bottom line base vote) have it their way–they can leave the party and have all the fun they want with own “true conservative” political party. The GOP would be well rid of the political hijackers.
@Paul Bain
Simply having held elective office before does not prevent a candidate from being a “Conservative Candidate;” to the contrary, it means that they cared about Conservative causes long enough to have believed in Conservatism even before President Obama got elected.
If Jim McKelvey was a “True Conservative,” he would have been working to further the Conservative cause for (at least) the last 10 years, instead of the last 10 months. Jim McKelvey has far more in common with Charlie Crist than he does with any “Conservative Candidate;” he is only willing to work for the Conservative cause when it involves him getting elected.
MJ: Not to mention, candidates who have held prior offices also have records by which we can judge the promises they make on the campaign trail against their actions in office so we don’t end up selecting a nominee based solely on speeches that say everything we want to hear…not unlike the Democrats did with President Obama in 2008.
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