Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney laments Golden campaign on Facebook
By JR Hoeft | Thursday, September 30th, 2010 | Politics
Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Bryant wondered out-loud on Facebook about the motives of former Virginia Beach Republican Party Chair, now Independent Green/New Whig-Party congressional candidate in Virginia’s 2nd District, Kenny Golden.
Writing on Facebook, the city’s top prosecutor said,
“He can’t win, so who is Kenny Golden rooting for? Who does he think he’s helping? Who does he think he may hurt? Does he think? A good man headed on the wrong train wreck track . Saddens me.”
Golden garners about 5% of the votes in a recently released Public Opinion Strategies poll.
Bearing Drift’s Brian Kirwin called for Golden to drop out of the campaign weeks ago, citing Golden’s inability to win or play spoiler except to Republicans in other Congressional districts.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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27 Responses to "Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney laments Golden campaign on Facebook"
Here’s a preemptive rebuttal that Turbo or any of the Golden fans can cut and paste from:
“I can’t believe the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s attorney is so disrespectful of our nation’s military. Clearly, this guy is a thin-skinnned RINO who doesn’t understand anything.”
Thought I help them out by provided the crib notes. Might save them the typing time.
w/o speaking to the Golden issue (because I am originally from Blackstone & know all of Kenny’s family & like Kenny alot & currently reside in 5th so this is not my business), I would like to speak to the broader issue of FB/social media.
FB is changing politics out here in the wilds of the 5th. It is fast becoming one of the best sources (outside of this blog) for news as we are directed to blogs, youtube videos, newspapers etc that we may not frequent.
so use FB at your peril & productively. The CA knew that, though.
You guys can do better than using a picture like that. Dont lower your standards to leftist style reporting. Although I do like the text,informative.
What’s wrong with the picture? He got the “whig” endorsement, didn’t he?
This is typical partisan politics! You get a candidate that has honesty and integrity and you tear him down. Many Americans are disillusioned by this demonstration of “whining”! We do not want another candidate that makes false promises and throws out smokescreens to sway votes. Kenny Golden is a man of his word and that appears to be a problem. How ironic is that? Let’s just put the facts out there for the 2nd district to decide, and quit insulting patriots’ intelligence.
Of course there would be no whining if Golden were not a threat to the establishment’s chosen candidate. The fact that he is says volumes about the annointment of candidates by the party big wigs. Scared that the rank and file would actually have a say, they decided early who the candidate would be, and it is no surprise he is just like them; rich, self funded, evangelical, and a ready and willing foot soldier in the Boehner/Cantor army. The result? A safe candidate who will do as he is told to provide tax cuts for the wealthy, tax breaks for corporations, repeal of financial regulation so the banks can pay more bonuses to their supporters. What else is new.
Mike, this isn’t a monarchy. No one was annointed or appointed. Scott Rigell was ELECTED as the Republican nominee as a result of a PRIMARY where every 2nd District voter had an opportunity to participate.
And there is no way that anyone in this district thinks that Kenny Golden is a “threat.” This is not meant to be mean, but Kenny is polling at 5%. Kenny himself says that he has no money and no organization (I still can’t believe he said that to the Daily Press). I actually feel sorry for Kenny Golden. I think he’s an honorable guy who made a terrible decision and is having a tough time extricating himself from the situation.
Mary Jane,
Kenny pledged on the record in June to drop out in September if he were polling less then 10%. The latest polls?
5%. 7%.
Kenny is a friend, but making a pledge is giving your word. Ignoring earlier pledges is making false promises and going back on your word.
You’re right, it’s very ironic that a ‘former’ establishment member is acting exactly like the establishment.
Mike,
It’s amazing how long people continue this fiction that the Republican nominee was ‘chosen’ before the OPEN PRIMARY. Loyola or Mizusawa could have won the primary. They didn’t. They didn’t get the votes. There was no collusion, tampering or any other conspiracy theories.
Don’t take out your animosity and frustration towards Glenn Nye by projected it onto Republicans.
D.J., thanks for the free psycho analysis which I value about as much as I paid for it. Further, thanks for your acknowledgment about the threat Golden presents to the Rigell campaign. He certainly does not need to pull too many votes from the annointed one; just enough. Rigell was the beneficiary of the party apparatus, mailing lists, consultants, endorsements, all of which presented a fait accompli. Further, his inability to win more than 39% of the vote, with the advantages given to him make it clear his is a damaged candidacy. Time to be thinking ahead to the new Congressional election; it appears that Golden is Golden.
Mike is trying to be Ringmaster in his own Flea Circus.
I think it’s foolish of the Commonwealth’s Attorney to even pay any attention to Golden. Nobody knows who he is, he has no chance, the best thing to do is ignore him. Rigell’s the clear candidate of choice for the majority of people in the district and for good reason. If Golden weren’t in this race Rigell would just beat Nye bye a wider margin.
Charlie- I think you are right on.
Yeah right; keep preaching to the choir. In an insurgency campaign, the establishment elites never see the threat coming. They really think the plethora of illegal street signs really counts for votes. Frankly, I think it just proves to the tea party that only money talks. Don’t bet on it; they are set to deliver a different message.
@Mike Barrett: Straight from the “public memo” that the Rigell campaigned linked to yesterday when they released their poll that showed him up by 7 points.
“While the conventional wisdom is that Republican-turned Independent candidate Kenny Golden hurts Scott Rigell, the survey indicates Golden affects Nye standing. Golden’s voters approve of President Obama’s job performance (59% – 23%) and support the Democratic candidate on the generic ballot, 41% Democratic Candidate, 18% Republican candidate.”
So, it seems Golden is hurting Nye and pulling more votes (of the few that he is getting) away from Nye rather than Rigell.
So, does that mean Nye is the “establishment” candidate?
Larry Sabato just released the following. It seems that he is now ranking the Second Congressional District as “Leans Republican” (formerly “toss up”). This is a simple reflection of how hard Scott Rigell has been working and the fact that his message is resonating with voters.
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/itw2010093002/
Mike,
Given your work for The Yes Campaign in 2002, know how humorous your previous comment was?
Yes Henry, it just proves that I try to be educable.
@Mike: it proves you can’t answer my previous charge that the so called “stimulus” bill you praise so much promised us unemployment below 8%.
We are stuck at 10%
We just spent $800,000,000,000 and unemployment has gone UP not down.
It has failed, its just unfortunate that you can’t accept that. Is it because you are so “educated” you can’t accept facts on anything that contradicts your liberal left-wing mindset?
Please remove the doctored photo! It is unfair to portray a patriotic, military hero in that way.
While I wish Kenny would make peace with and endorse Rigell, he has the right to run.
He does not deserve to be portrayed as a nut.
Jason,
I had respect for Golden, but he has eroded it by having run his campaign like a circus and sending his minions to talk about Bearing Drift’s lack of “evenhandedness.”
Political speech and parody is protected. And a picture is worth a 1000 words.
Did you complain in Brian Kirwin’s post that featured Glenn Nye as Ed Grimley?
I’ve been PhotoShopped on blogs before too. Did it bother me? A little. But I also saw the humor in it and what they were trying to communicate to me.
Hopefully this little photo is taken by Golden for what it is: a joke. But a joke with a grain of truth.
We don’t like seeing our friend act like a clown, but the longer he continues his campaign, the more it appears like it belongs under the big top.
Dj, lets get this straight, I made no such on the record comment, period. I certainly won’t get out of the race because of a push poll by the Rigell Campaign. I’m in this till the 2nd of November poll.
Mr. Hoeft, no one associated with my campaign has ever complained about your coverage. I personally do all the complaints and I have never complained about you or your coverage or any of your official Bearing Drift staff. I had always felt they and your were first class. Kenny Golden
@ Kenny Golden: YES, please do stay in the race, you’re taking more votes away from Nye than Rigell.
As far as clowns go I’ve been amazed at some of the comments coming from your staff (MS mainly) which are full curse words, lies & insults. Not the image I know you would want to project.
By staying in the race you’ve alienated yourself in the future, a poor tactics. This is a historic election, I believe you are putting your emotions ahead of our district & country.
JR
Lest we forget, we live by a code (UCMJ)
802. ART. 2. PERSONS SUBJECT TO THIS CHAPTER
(a) The following persons are subject to this chapter:
(1) Members of a regular component of the armed forces, including those awaiting discharge after expiration of their terms of enlistment; volunteers from the time of their muster or acceptance into the armed forces; inductees from the time of their actual induction into the armed forces; and other persons lawfully called or ordered into, or to duty in or for training in the armed forces, from the dates when they are required by the terms of the call or order to obey it.
(4) Retired members of a regular component of the armed forces who are entitled to pay.
889. ART. 89 DISRESPECT TOWARD SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER
Any person subject to this chapter who behaves with disrespect toward his superior commissioned officer shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
933. ART. 133. CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
Any commissioned officer, cadet, or midshipman who is convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
Ladies and Gents, suppporters et al., please don’t get upset about the picture. My friends at Bearing Drift frequently give me grief and most of it deservedly so. This photo is “tongue in cheek” and no way reflects any disregard for me as a person or candidate. Some have criticized my running but all recognize my right to run. JR, so you’ll know the staff voted to ask you to change the hair color to purple!! Personally, I think that’s over the top but brown would be nice. It might make me look closer to the old Kenny of UVA days. Francie commented my hair hasn’t looked that good in 25 years.
Dona, you’re in the tank for Rigell and I’m personally glad you believe all this push polling. I particularly love the part where my supporters are Obama supports. Yeah Baby, keep on believing all that. Try coming by some Friday night and visit with the 50 or so Obamites at my HQ. On cursing etc, I have not seen it and will deal with it when and if I do. We have run a classy first class campaign with no negatives and we won’t in the future. Wish I could say that about your candidate. I had to personally email him about the “I won’t debate Golden” insults, and that continued until the Pilot poll showed 82% thought it was bogus. Send me something with cursing and insult to kenny@kennygolden.com and I’ll take care of that. Please come by and meet all my Obama folks next week. I have a coke with your name on it. JR thanks, I still want to spend some time on what you saw. All the best. Kirwin, get a grip!!!!
Ladies and Gents, suppporters et al., please don’t get upset about the picture. My friends at Bearing Drift frequently give me grief and most of it deservedly so. This photo is “tongue in cheek” and no way reflects any disregard for me as a person or candidate. Some have criticized my running but all recognize my right to run. JR, so you’ll know the staff voted to ask you to change the hair color to purple!! Personally, I think that’s over the top but brown would be nice. It might make me look closer to the old Kenny of UVA days. Francie commented my hair hasn’t looked that good in 25 years.
Dona, you’re in the tank for Rigell and I’m personally glad you believe all this push polling. I particularly love the part where my supporters are Obama supporters. Yeah Baby, keep on believing all that. Try coming by some Friday night and visit with the 50 or so Obamites at my HQ. On cursing etc, I have not seen it and will deal with it when and if I do. We have run a classy first class campaign with no negatives and we won’t in the future. Wish I could say that about your candidate. I had to personally email him about the “I won’t debate Golden” insults, and that continued until the Pilot poll showed 82% thought it was bogus. Send me something with cursing and insult to kenny@kennygolden.com and I’ll take care of that. Please come by and meet all my Obama folks next week. I have a coke with your name on it. JR thanks, I still want to spend some time on what you saw. All the best. Kirwin, get a grip!!!!
Kenny- You da’ man!
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