Is Scott Brown Campaigning for Rob Wittman a Good Thing?
By Ward Smythe | Monday, July 12th, 2010 | PoliticsThe Tea Party feel good story of last January was Republican Scott Brown’s amazing win to fill the seat vacated by the passing of liberal icon Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. So since it’s an election year, Brown has been in high demand on the speaking circuit. The Richmond Times Dispatch tells us that Brown will be appearing in Virginia’s First Congressional District on behalf of Representative Rob Wittman, later this month.
But with this week’s announcment that Scott Brown Will Vote for Dodd-Frank “Financial Reform” Bill (H/T Michelle Malkin) will Brown be a welcome visitor?
Wittman voted against the bill (Free-Lance Star).
It’s possible that Brown’s stardom will outshine any discussion of the issues in the 1st District. And, face it, it’s not like Krystal Ball is gaining any traction as a serious threat to Wittman.
In similar fashion last year, some “true” conservatives criticized Bob McDonnell for inviting John McCain, no darling of the conservative movement, to campaign for him. And since that time McDonnell has returned the favor recently hosting a fundraiser for McCain.
Reality is that no one paying close attention to Massachusetts expected Scott Brown to be a realiably consistent conservative vote.
There may yet be some conservative uproar over Brown coming to campaign for Wittman. Or not.
Thoughts?
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Ward Smythe is a pseudonymous aspiring freelance writer from Central Virginia. Until late 2007 Ward blogged at the now defunct "Ward View" and was active in Virginia and national politics. Ward's signature style of snarkery gained him a unique following that he hopes to regain here at Bearing Drift. Ward uses humor, satire and sometimes photoshop to make his point. Ward is proud to be an equal opportunity offender.
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20 Responses to "Is Scott Brown Campaigning for Rob Wittman a Good Thing?"
Scott Brown is the man. I’m as conservative as they come but this man is a true American patriot. Heck I’d travel from the 8th to go see Senator Brown and our wonderful 1st CD rep, Wittman.
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I suppose it depends on your definition of conservative and the litmus test you then impose.
I’m not sure judging a legislator by the company they keep, let alone one joint appearance, is a wise way to determine if they are an effective policy maker.
Rep. Rob Wittman has been a solid, consistent, conservative vote for the 1st District. And U.S. Sen. Scott Brown will help Rep. Wittman raise some money.
I don’t think it’s a sign Rep. Wittman will suddenly be voting for financial bailouts. If he did, not even a second-coming of Reagan would save him.
Besides, the Ball campaign is reporting raising more than $750,000 from more than 5,000 donors. Those are serious numbers from the challenger that Wittman can’t ignore.
Scott Brown is definitely a moderate, especially when it comes to social and fiscal issues. His recent decision to support the Dodd-Frank bill would definitely classify him under this umbrella. The Dodd-Frank financial reform bill is dangerous to the country’s already faltering economy.
Since I gave a financial contribution to help elect Senator Brown, I was extremely upset to find out last night that he would vote for the Dodd-Frank “Financial Reform” Bill.
I calmed down when I remembered that Senator Brown is a liberal Republican from the most liberal state in the union.
Then I became extremely upset when I remembered that both senators from Virginia will also be voting for the bill.
Virginia needs two Republican senators. It will be time to consider that issue on November 3 2010.
Senator J.R. Hoeft sounds pretty good to me. President J.R Hoeft sounds even better.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, James!
I’m very happy with my congressman – someone who is only one of 17 to NEVER vote in favor of any of the stimulus bills – Rep. J. Randy Forbes!
And, come 2012 and 2014, I’m really looking forward to who Virginians place on the ballot for U.S. Senate.
In 2012 – Rep. Rob Wittman? Rep. Randy Forbes? Former U.S. Sen. George Allen? How about Brig. Gen. Bert Mizusawa?
In 2014 – How about Gov. Bob McDonnell?
So, I won’t be running anytime soon…but thanks nonetheless!
Since you decline to run, then Brig. Gen. Bert Mizusawa for Senator and Governor Chris Christie for President.
If you believe Virginia needs elected officials like J.R. Hoeft then
VOTE REPUBLICAN ON NOVEMBER 2ND
Go with Brigader General Bert Mizusawa in 2012!
J.R. – you are right on the money with this one! Wittman’s seat is considered safe, by the party and most everyone else – so the money is not going to just pour in, he needs to bring in a name that people will pay to come and see, and Scott Brown is that type of name, even if people do disagree with some of his votes. You are also right that Wittman cannot ignore Ball completely, even though she is running a campaign in both style and substance more akin to a petty high school popularity contest than someone qualified to be a member of Congress. My personal opinion is that the former is the case because the latter is completely true – but nonetheless he will need money to run some ads around the district and remind his voters to turn out on election day.
Govgirl: Wittmanm’s seat IS safe. There just are not enough Democratic voters to win in the 1st, even in a good year for Democrats and this isn’t one of those. The 3rd is the same for Republicans. Just can’t be done.
As for Brown, he voted correctly on the financial reform bill, unlike Wittman. I don’t know why that should be held against him.
That bill was far, far, far from perfect. It’s better than doing nothing, which is the response the House GOP caucus, whose line Wittman is following, is advocating.
If Scott Brown can’t help Wittman we could use him in the 5th district to find Robert Hurt he must be lost.
All you need to know about the Dodd Frank Finance Bill is contained in the names of Dodd and Frank. Dodd was one of the most corrupt Dems and that’s saying something. Frank is one of the most pernicious Dems whose answer to every left wing failure is to “give me more authority!”
I’m not outraged by Brown. It’s Mass politics in his case. If the Congress was Republican he wouldn’t write this bill. In addition the Wall Street types can take care of themselves unlike the population subjected to Obamacare and cap and tax.
What makes me sad is the mindset of even some Repubs that doing something with no idea of the contents of the “something” is better than doing nothing. This is the left wing faith that words are the same as action or results. How can anyone have faith that a 2000 page monstrosity no one has read through and engineered by these two plus Obama is somehow better than the status quo? Does anyone remember all the regs already on the books that were never enforced by sleeping or net surfing (to be polite) Feds? And anyway Obama and the Dems ignore any laws they don’t like and do what they want. Only the NRA seems able to muster an effective offense against this kind of nonsense.
Will: I’m sure you haven’t exactly gone out of your way to try to find Sen. Hurt either, have you? Just because he doesn’t drive a gaudy RV emblazoned with his name does NOT mean Robert Hurt isn’t getting around the district.
While Senator Brown certainly isn’t abiding by the party platform, Congressman Wittman is a genuine, principled conservative.
If it helps bring in the dough, I don’t see anything wrong with it…
Burke where is he then ? What is he doing ?
Will – I laughed out loud at your comment because I just got back to Hampton Roads after spending a week with family in the Lynchburg area ( which is split between the 5th and 6th for those who don’t know) and your right – I didn’t hear or see ANYTHING about Hurt being anywhere or doing anything.
Perrielo seems to be stepping in cow manure and anyone dumb enough to step in a cow pie certainly isn’t fit to be walking around Washington.
Perriello Isn’t Fooling Anyone
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Star-Tribune
Who does Congressman Perriello think he’s fooling by twice voting against the banking reform bill backed by Nancy Pelosi?
It is insulting that he thinks we are so dumb that he can get away with a last-ditch attempt to distance himself from Pelosi and the ultra-liberal crowd he has voted with ever since he got to Washington.
Clearly, this is a trick to make us think he is representing the 5th District and that he is not a Pelosi puppet.
I looked it up, and here are the facts: Of his 1,340 votes cast, Perriello has voted against Pelosi and company in less than 10 percent of the cases.
More than 1,200 of his votes have been in lock-step with Pelosi-including the health-care bill and cap-and-trade, measures that will virtually wreck employment prospects in rural Virginia.
So now he gets scared at election time and has a last-minute conversion? Sorry, Mr. Perriello, but it is too little, too late. These votes are nothing but political pandering, pure and simple.
My family has been in the tobacco business for many decades in Southside Virginia. I know people in the 5th District, and we’re not nearly as dumb as Tom Perriello thinks we are.
Also, I saw his silly ad on television showing him stepping in cow manure and getting hit in the face with a cup of coffee.
This is not the time for slap-stick comedy. Perriello may think it’s funny, but we don’t.
The ad tells us that he has no idea what we are going through during these hard times.
One other point on that ad: I’ve spent a lot of time in farm settings, and anyone dumb enough to step in a cow pie certainly isn’t fit to be walking around Washington.
Just look what Perriello has managed to step into during his first term.
I can hardly wait to cast my vote for Senator Robert Hurt. To save our future, we must send a man like Senator Hurt to Washington-a man who knows who we are and what we stand for.
Nancie M. Motley
Chatham
http://www.roberthurtforcongress.com/news/Read.aspx?ID=77
Govgirl it is sad we really need a good rep. in the 5th district but I am scared if Hurt doesn’t get off his ass Perriello is going to stomp him in November.The establishment will be toast if Hurt gets beat the I told you so’s will be flying.The establishment claimed that Hurt was a seasoned campaigner well to these people I say BS.Hurt has never had a fire in the belly like Mike McPadden or Jim McKelvey had and im afraid it will be his downfall in November.
Will: While I don’t track the campaign’s every move (presumably to compile a dossier of alleged abuses by the ubiquitous “establishment,” I do know for a fact that Sen. Hurt has been very active and has a solid ground game in place throughout much of the district. In fact, Hurt marched in the Scottsville Independence Day parade and outnumbered TP and his supporters roughly 40:2. Additionally, you may not see many Hurt signs because there are sign ordinances in several counties dictating when campaign signs can go up. Is it fair? No, but unlike the Democrats, conservatives play by the rules.
Burke if you think conservative always play by the rules you need some mental help really bad.
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