Radtke to run for Senate
By JR Hoeft | Tuesday, December 28th, 2010 | Politics
Former Chairwoman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Jamie Radtke, as speculated, has filed paperwork to run for U.S. Senate, reports WTVR in Richmond.
Radtke is currently leading our completely non-scientific candidates’ poll for the GOP nomination with 211 votes. Trailing closely behind her is former U.S. Senator George Allen, who has yet to file, but is expected to, with 208. No other candidate contends in the poll.
According to WTVR:
…she mailed in the papers on December 23, after gaining the support of family members and friends and raising some money from political backers.
When asked about the primary reason for her decision to run, the Moseley mom cited her three children, who she fears will suffer the fallout from a national debt that continues to balloon.
Also see Washington Wire from the Wall Street Journal
Image originally found at Sam Adams Alliance
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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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66 Responses to "Radtke to run for Senate"
I need Jamie and Bert to work together.. One of them can with this and working together one of them can pull this off. If the field is crowded then Allen wins then Webb wins.. not acceptable.
Bert and Jamie, team up, one runs 2012, then 2014. We need both of you to succeed.
I know GOP political activists are fond of this lady, but she’s got a lot of work to do because the average voter has no idea who she is. Unknown to U.S. Senator is a big leap. Of course, I don’t guess Jim Webb’s name recognition was much higher in 2005.
Who is Jim Webb?
And who is George Allen?
George, your Jeffersonian conservative rhetoric leaves you appearing to be an authentic RINO in light of your faux “national heritage area” aka anti property rights legislation. We have plenty of nanny state dems but you appear to exhibit some nanny tendencies yourself.
DC power is perverted. DC insiders know there is no more effective way for house & senate members to ingratiate themselves with voters and to expect accolades for media snippets than by smearing barbeque $auce on target communities. “Free Pork! Come n get it”.
I have a real issue with your YES vote in support of gifts from lobbyists to members of the house and senate. What kind of Bull Macaca is this? The amount of money trivial as it may be is secondary to the influence it buys.. it is legalized bribery. Enough special rules for the ruling class.
[...] Bearing Drift also notes Radtke’s entry into the [...]
I can’t wait to see her im not a witch ad!
Good for her.
I must confess to not knowing much about Ms. Radtke. What’s her background before leading the Tea Party Patriots?
Jason,
She worked for Senator Jesse Helms and also worked for then Governor Allen. More recently, she has been involved in conservative organizations and just a few weeks ago stepped down as the Chair of an effective Tea Party organization.
Steve, I have yet to have anyone explain to me exactly what she did for Governor Allen and Senator Helms. Do you know?
I want to know the time she ever ran for anything? Anything internal party elections… dog catcher… anything?
who can beat Jim Webb? (or Tim Kaine or whatever Obama-financed Dem runs). that is the only question we must answer before we nominate.
I haven’t seen Ms. Radtke offering her experience working for Governor Allen, only Mr. Osborne. Since she was in college and grad school during his term, I questioned the claim. She worked for a few months as a receptionist. If that’s the criteria since I worked in the Governor’s cabinet, I should be Surgeon General.
I’m not criticizing Ms. Radtke, just Mr. Osborne’s continued assertion that her work for Governor Allen is a qualification.
The bottom line: Radtke can’t win in November, 2012.
We just saw this year TEA Party candidates go down in flames in Alaska, Delaware, and Nevada. You need swing voters to win, and the TEA Party scares swing voters. With the O-bots turning out in force in November, 2012, Radtke doesn’t have a snowball’s chance.
Brian,
As far as I know, her work for Senator Helms involved the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
As far as her work for Allen. I was aware that she worked for him briefly and yes it was only as a receptionist, or one report I read said office manager. I was not attempting to overstate that point, although it is pertinent and somewhat ironic if they run against one another in the primary, which is why I mentioned it. It also bolsters the point that she has been in the public service arena for a long time. She is not stressing that, but it is an interesting footnote nonetheless.
hmmm
I’m not a Office Manager…. I’m you.
Jason,
She was a receptionist for Governor Allen and later worked at VCAP.
Before Mrs. Radtke ran VCAP (VA Conservative Action PAC) into the ground as their paid political director, she faced a subpoena for leaking a criminal indictment related to a Virginia State Senate race.
After that, she bolted the GOP in her home of Chesterfield County in order to be the paid consultant on Marlene Durfee’s race for board of supervisors. Durfee turned out to be the biggest liberal on the board, squashing property rights and increasing spending.
She laid low for a while until she realized she could ride the “TEA Party” thing for all it was worth, teaming up with Pat (I HATE GEORGE ALLEN) McSweeney where they started up “Campaign for Liberty.” That was another failure that yeilded nothing. To this day, no one is really sure what happened to the money they raised.
When she wrested control of the Richmond TEA Party from the crazy woman who had started it, she was in her element. TEA Party was the buzz word of the day (and still is) and she hitched her horse to what was already a proven press draw…Interestingly, She was never elected head of the VA TEA Party Federation (a group that comprises less than a Quarter of all VA TEA party groups.) Rather, she assumed it.
The TEA Party Convention she organized was the most awsome waste of money ever seen since, well, it hasnt been that long, since JEFF FREDERICK. Come to think of it, that’s her; a female Jeff Frederick.
She will be supported by all the same folks as Frederick was. They will hurl insults at Bob Marshall, George Allen and anyone else who doesnt pass their batshit crazy litmus test.
Her husband is loaded which is why she can afford to not have a job, and raise her three kids. Good for her. Unfortunately for the rest of us, we do have to work for a living. I would vote for Jim Webb before I would vote for her.
Wow… sounds like she stinks on ice if you ask me!
Jamie will be on FOX News tonight at 10:30pm with Greta..
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-Radtke-for-Senate/182128145138922?bcode=LPWIO
Like Jamie on Facebook
I heard from a few good friends out in her neck of the woods that Jamie Radke is not even a member of her local unit committee yet. Is this true? I’d like to know her answer to that one. You want the R but can’t be bothered to join the party.
There is no doubt in my mind that Jamie will do for the Republican Party what Sharon Angle, Christina O’Donnell, and numerous lower office candidates did.
Go ahead, Republicans. Nominate her and ensure Mark Warner’s reelection.
Hey, is Jim Gilmore available? He would probably out-poll Ms. Jamie.
At least he’s a actual Republican at that too!
Fascintating stuff, JKM! Was she involved in the Tate mess?
That Tate race is the only one I ever saw that had subpoenas involved in it.
Thanks for the background Steven and JKM. I look forward to learning more about Ms. Radtke in the year ahead.
Yeah, she was subpoened in the Tate case. I have a post going up soon with a copy.
[...] Christine O’Donnell running for the GOP US Senate nomination. While reading the comments on this post about her at Bearing Drift I came across a comment by JKM that mentioned her involvement in a scandalous State Senate mess. I [...]
Loudon Insider, I wasnt going to mention him by name, but yes. The unfortunate part about this is that Jamie is going to reopen wounds that were not fully investigated back when they happened. I’d say there are many people associated with Tate’s opponent who wish Jamie wouldve just stayed off the radar.
Bear in mind, I’m not sticking up for Tate…but what Radtke did was worse than evil; It was filth and it was unforgiveable.
She is being used by Pat McSweeney as a pawn in his never-ending grudge match against George Allen. It’s pathetic really.
I just re-read some of my old posts and comments on the Tate affair. While Tate made some mistakes in his filings, the way the whole prosecution was handled was sickening. And for all of the felony counts that were filed, they settled with Tate on a misdemeanor or two.
Pat McSweeney is nasty. During that same time he funnelled money from Loudoun developers through his Virginia Conservative Alliance PAC to “Independent” candidates running against duly nominated Republican candidates. So much for Mr. Party Purity. I guess she’ll have a good in to developer money in her race.
Her website is up now. She mentions working for Helms, but makes no reference to working for Allen.
http://radtkeforsenate.com/jamie-radtke-bio/
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bearing Drift, HR Tea Party. HR Tea Party said: http://bearingdrift.com/2010/12/28/radtke-to-run-for-senate/ http://fb.me/Mz2U2a25 [...]
Greetings,
I do not know Ms. Radtke personally, but I found her performance on Greta this evening unimpressive. Her 3 grandchildren are not the politically correct blanket acceptable reason for running for office. Those of us unable to have children can think of many reasons.
I am unsure of the McSweeney information above–but will check it out amongst Party failthful that I know & trust.
It takes alot of juice to be nominated on the Republican ticket in VA for the US Senate. I’ve been involved in the Party in Va for 10 years and have never heard of Ms. Radtke until now.
Absolutely no discouragement on my part for anyone running for office –those who know me know my sentiments on it… but she has alot of work ahead of her.
Pam Brown
Chairman, Republican Party of Norfolk
VFRW Board of Directors 2006-present
Past President,Norfolk Republican Women 2004-2005
87th District Chair-RPV
Just watched the fox news bit.
Ill-prepared.
No way she was ready to be on television. Heck, the host spoonfed her, and she still seemed off.
Stop saying “uhm” and “ya know”!!
I can’t find a picture of her with glasses on anywhere, but she wears them on TV and blinks constantly.
Her talking points were ok once the host got her on track, but you shouldn’t have to rely on the reporter to drive your interview.
Pam’s right – this was no great shakes.
Radkte runs for the senate and the EPA will play with new carbon emissions limits in 4 days. For some reason, I feel like someone just gave a bunch of children matches and gasoline and told them to go outside and play.
“On every level voters supported candidates who favored cutting deficit spending and less government,” Radtke said. “This is the message that resonates in Virginia.”
Sounds like Tea Party 101 to me.
I would certainly hope other candidates would also want to cut deficit spending like countries all over the world are trying to do.
And decrease the size and power of the federal government.
There was bipartisan support for a bill proposed this year that would have stripped the EPA of the power to set carbon emissions limits. GOP lawmakers could bring the measure back.
There are issues that Republican senate candidates will need to discuss.
However the 2011 Virginia elections will be first. Watch what the senate candidates do to help candidates in these races that I assume will draw national interest.
I had planned not to vote in republican primaries but guess will reverse myself just like a self-serving politician. Radtke and I are both Tea Party but at this point in time, I will not vote for her. But I find no fault with her message.
Hey! I’m not really crazy, I just appear to be sometimes.
Signed,
The Original RTP Organizer
Sara James, Founder of the Richmond Tea Party, is not crazy one bit. In fact, Sara has more insight to what concerns the people have with our politicians, than Jamie Radtke can ever wish for.
In my opinion, Jamie Radtke, is out for herself, money and political power and will achieve her goal at any cost including verbally assassinating and eliminating anyone who will get in her way.
Sarah Palin, what say you?
Mrs. Radtke, mother of 3, is not a professional politician. She is not a rehearsed politico with years of experience.. and she is more like “us” than “them” as far as her political compass goes. It takes motivation and belief in your own convictions to make a run for the senate.
What you are witnessing is a beginning. To slam Mrs. Radtke at this early stage is to self label as an establishment type and plays right into the hands of RPV-Allen.. this is in thge playbook.. they also know Mrs. Radtke, mother of 3, wife of Mr. John Radtke.
If we as concerned Virginians are going to foster new leadership in the senate then lets see what the other possible candidates have to say. Every one of them has a right to be heard but at the end of the day either Allen wins and hands Webb another term or we open our minds to the next generation of leaders. Webb will not be easy to smack down in 2 years.. the gop will turn congress and if the economy is on the mend even somewhat then it will be tough because of the O-potus activity.
I can only hope that Republican primary voters choose her.
“…who can beat Jim Webb? (or Tim Kaine or whatever Obama-financed Dem runs). that is the only question we must answer before we nominate.”
Yeah, you certainly would not want to consider who would make a better Senator…
So what’s a woman who is second in command of Pat McSweeney’s “Restore the Founders Vision” whose motto is “an alternative to partisan politics” doing running for the GOP nomination???
http://rtfv.net/about/board
Mrs. Radtke is from virginia, she is the daughter of somone in the military and lived overseas, she is.. a Woman..
Allen’s good ole boy network only goes so far and he has a backlash coming from those in the military..
In 2012 Obama will run again with Webb for senate and Nye could run on the Obama coat tail. He was beat by 11% during a midterm.. 2012 is a long way off and a lot could change even if the retread gop in congress doesn’t screw it up.
I’m pretty sure, James, that she’s a professional politician. She’s worked for Governor Allen and Senator Helms. She was political director for a Political Action Committee. She started her own political consulting firm and claims to have won multiple races. She ran one of the Tea Party groups.
How is she NOT a political professional? She doesn’t appear to have had a single non-political/government job since she left college.
Leave it to Turbo to align with the 5-percenters. What’s next, Turbo? Will she drop out of the primary and run “independent?”
Pam, McSweeney did indeed get involved on behalf of the developers in Loudoun and his Virginia Conservative Alliance PAC got most of its money from entities associated with big landowner/developer Greenvest. He then put it back out to the Greenvest approved candidates, presumably so they wouldn’t have the direct stench of Greenvest donations.
Two “Independents” ran against Republicans who won nomination at the Loudoun 2007 GOP Convention, Ken Mikeman against Bruce Tulloch, and Jack Ryan against Lori Waters. Each got $3,000 from McSweeney’s PAC:
http://www.vpap.org/committees/profile/money_out_recipients/881
The worst was Jack Ryan, who was beaten by Lori Waters (a great conservative candidate, former director of The Eagle Forum, but not in the pocket of developers, so she was targeted for removal) at the convention. After losing Ryan said on stage he would help Waters get re-elected, then days later filed to run as an Independent, with funding from McSweeney and other developer interests. Ryan came in last place in a three way race. Not surprisingly, he just showed up at TC to praise Radtke.
Turbo:
Why would Allen get a backlash from the Military?
Rather than talk about what’s wrong with Radtke, lets talk about what’s right about her. Will her supporters please list her accomplishments that qualify her to be a United State Senator?
Now ask the same question about George Allen. Rather than what’s wrong about him, what’s right?
I think we know how that list will look.
I might’ve taken her candidacy more seriously if she had run for board of Supervisors or town council, but this is just silly.
On a side note, boy! I bet Bob Marshall feels screwed by McSweeney! Welcome to reality Bob.
Bob Marshall has been consistently anti-big developer, and therefore has earned the wrath of the developer crowd, of which McSweeney is a big player. Dale Polen Myers, former Loudoun County BOS Chair, was involved heavily with Greenvest and McSweeney’s PAC, and I’ve seen her screaming at Bob Marshall at a public forum when he set up roadblocks to Greenvest’s big Dulles South development plans.
Radtke’s Fox News appearance is up on You Tube. I don’t think she was all that bad. Not great, but not bad either.
Brian(s) I support ANY qualified individual who wishes to run for public office. I would like very much to see Bert throw his hat in the ring and to delay any longer indicates he will not likely run.. yet. Nobody is everyones candidate.. we have a senate full of players who know the game and owe favors to their sugar daddys and a few upstart candidates that are beholden to nobody but the people who support them.
@Freddie, former navsec Webb, who is an independent spelled with a D, won a lot of support from gop crossover.. mil active and retired. Allen lost just enough military support to former navsec Webb in VB, Chesapeake and norfolk and some key public figures would not come out to support Allen in spite of rino-apologetics for the Macaca moment. Macaca will be rendered radioactive again for some public servants if they choose to endorse. Did I mention that former republican Webb was NAVSEC? Well? Hello! Brass cajones anyone?
If I were Allen right now I would focus my second chance on Webb to cast the appearance that he has already won over conservatives and the primary in an effort tp appear ready to fight Webb.. Webb wants this as well and can exploit it to his and the dems advantage. The news media will play this because Allen is THE establishment guy and that sells news and former navsec Webb is not going to back down from a fight. Jamie has to drill Webb as much or more than Allen in order to get the press interviews heated up so she can contrast with Allen and the people can compare her to the rpv retread..
Radtke is qualified to be a U.S. Senator – she lives in Virginia, has been a citizen for over 9 years, and is over 30.
Whether or not she’s the best candidate is the issue, and I have yet to be persuaded…and that’s with her being the only announced candidate right now.
Jamie Radtke is a usurper trying to steal credit for Bob Marshall’s Virginia Freedom Healthcare Act, that AG Ken Cuccinelli is using to defeat Obamacare.
Very low to claim credit for this. I smell a rat-dke. Running against the man who created this tool against Obamacare, and claiming credit for its success, when Donna Holt of Virginia’s Campaign for Liberty is behind its success and the force behind Bob Marshall creating it, not Rat-ke
Jamie will be on Neil Cavuto’s Fox News show today at 6PM and is supposed to be on at the beginning of the show.
eric the 1/2: you ask who would be the best US Senator? well, hey, I might be, but if I can’t get elected, what is the point?
electability is the #1 consideration.
I just wonder which Senate candidate Mayor Will Sessoms will endorse this time. Anyone care to speculate?
It’s an inaccurate accusation that Jamie Radtke is taking claim of the Health Care Freedom Act. It would be inaccurate for any one person or group to make that claim. That was an effort of support from several groups and many individuals in Virginia. I remember Bob Marshall sponsoring the bill and he was a fantastic champion (as well as speaker on the topic). But I also remember other champions such as Campaign for Liberty, Tertium Quids and the Virginia Tea Party Patriots federation who all worked hard in support of that bill.
Jamie Radtke has been Chair of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots and she led the federation in many successful efforts this past year. She has done amazing work forming coalitions between the federation and other organizations in Virginia. And she led efforts to educate grassroots how to effectively engage in local and state politics.
Kirby really? Without the coordinated efforts that were made possible by the Federation (that Jamie Radtke founded) and other independent Tea Party groups “Bob Marshall’s bill” would have died a quick death. Bills like his were being passed all across the nation. It was TP groups and other Liberty groups that generated the support for them.
You are either a disenfranchised Marshall supporter or another establishment goon that supports George Allen. But judging from your acidic vitriol I’m leaning towards establishment goon.
Bob Marshall is free to run. It would suit George Allen just fine if he did. The establishment would love to see a plethora of delusional candidates in this race. That way they could have a repeat of VA5.
The only problem is that I don’t think you’d see the rest of us get behind Allen like we did with Robert Hurt and the end result would be more of Jim Webb.
FUNNY!
“There is no doubt in my mind that Jamie will do for the Republican Party what Sharon Angle, Christina O’Donnell, and numerous lower office candidates did.”
I guess the establishment has given out this as the talking points memo.
Problem is that O’Donnell, Angle and others lost because the establishment thugs in the Republican party that are constantly telling us to “support the republican candidate” stabbed us all in the back as soon as the people choose someone other than their “anointed one”.
VA5th, if that’s what you think caused those losses, you weren’t paying attention. Angle lost because she ran a horrible campaign, even after the NRSC and RNC dumped money and staff on her race. O’Donnell never had a chance to win as Delaware is a Democratic state and the only chance we had to keep that seat was in nominating Mike Castle.
Miller lost because he spent so much time measuring the drapes that people started to realize he was a flawed candidate.
As I’ve noted elsewhere, it’s funny how folks who belong to the party of personal responsibility are so quick to blame anyone and everyone but the candidates themselves for those losses.
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4477841/tea-partiers-ready-for-2012-elections
Everyone watch the video Turbo posted the link to!Seriously!? She looked down at her F’ing notes!? Holy shit. talk about making Christine O’Donnell look smart.
JKM, Might be time to up the meds.
@Brian
What a Surprise! A Tea Party candidate runs and there’s a self-proclaimed, moderate Republican on the front lines attacking. Why would I not be surprised it would be you?
You could’ve picked any topic: impact of labeling meat, letter (or phone) marks Republicans are trying to pass instead of earmarks, End-of-Life counseling (or death panels), FCC takeover of the internet or the five of seven liberal agendas that got passed through the current Congress to include the START Treaty.
But who passed it? Self-proclaimed, moderate Democrat-lites who couldn’t hold their own.
If you didn’t notice, Obama hung his House cronies out to dry but he surely was concerned about the Governorships and the Senate. All throughout October, Obama was concerned about the Senate. Yeah, he made a visit to his Communist Comrade in Northern Virginia, but that was about the only House visit he made.
Honestly, Brian… What is your personal beef with non-establishment politicians?
Sorry, this was posted on the wrong article.
http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/12/28/tea-party-candidate-announces-senate-run-virginia#
Interesting comments after..
Really, why all the fuss about Radtke’s candidacy? Lt.Governor Bill Bolling expressly stated at the RPV Advance, and in the Washington Post, that a primary for the 2012 Senate race would encourage more tea party involvement. Congratulations to the RPV- it worked!
We’re here!
http://radtkeforsenate.com
Gotta admit, Karen, that’s a good line.
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