Will Virginia 2012 be a battle between the Tea Party and the Establishment?
By Ward Smythe | Friday, March 18th, 2011 | Politics
Former Tea Party Leader turned Senate candidate Jamie Radtke knows that one person stands in her way to get to the GOP nomination. That person is the man who once held the seat and wants it back. George Allen.
A profile piece in The Daily Caller notes that “Radtke, who aspires to be like Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul or South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, seeks to present herself as Tea Party favorite and paint Allen as part of the establishment.” [Jamie Radtke seeks to ride Tea Party wave into the Senate in 2012, The Daily Caller, 3/17/11]
It appears that Radtke’s associates in the Virginia Tea Party Patriot Federation want to help her in this fight. Earlier this week VTPPF Chairman Mark Lloyd issued a statement went after Allen for hiring long time Virginia campaign veteran and Virginia GOP First Vice Chairman Mike Thomas to run his campaign.
Allen associates and most political experts across the Commonwealth saw the move to hire Thomas, who ran Allen’s successful 1993 campaign for Governor, as a sign that Allen is in this to win it. Bearing Drift’s JR Hoeft said of Thomas “he’s an ass-kicker.”
Hoeft may be right because in his statement Lloyd said, “To add insult to injury, Mike Thomas has spent the last few years hard at work rigging the system for Allen to win the Party’s nomination; for example, insisting on a primary instead of a convention to nominate the GOP candidate for Senate in order to blunt the energy and passion of the Tea Party.”
Lloyd calls for Thomas to resign his leadership positions in the Republican Party. Including his membership in the Chesterfield County GOP Committee. The same committee Radtke joined after declaring her candidacy.
But is it hypocritical of Lloyd to call for Thomas to give up GOP leadership while his organization seeks to support Radtke? Radtke only recently gave up her position of Tea Party leadership and still holds considerable influence with the group.
Either way it appears that both candidates are ready to fight for the nomination.
Perhaps even more interesting, all of this is taking place while the Democrats remain without a declared candidate.
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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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33 Responses to "Will Virginia 2012 be a battle between the Tea Party and the Establishment?"
I’m still trying to figure out why Jaime is not running as an indy?
It would seem to be smarter to run as a GOP primary challenger.
Running as an Indy would seem to risk a Joe Miller endgame.
[...] is by no means either out of the picture or sitting in the catbird seat. Exciting times.More at Bearing Drift.Category: Election 2012, VirginiaCommentsblog comments powered by Disqus /**/ var [...]
If Virginia is going to be a battle between the GOP establishment and the Tea Party, the establishment is starting off way ahead. The Tea Party doesn’t seem as strong here as it is in some other states. That’s evident from recent polling that puts Allen over 50 percent with likely primary voters. Of course, that’s partly the result of higher name recognition. But it looks like most Republicans are comfortable with him as the party’s nominee.
I’m still frustrated that Radtke and company are trying to monopolize who is “Tea Party.” I think her main problem here is that the Virginia GOP is not a liberal party. There isn’t a single Mike Castle in the senate race. I’m a Tea party activist and I know dozens of Tea Party activists who I guess are “TPINO”s according to the Radtke crowd, because we 100% support George Allen.
Dan, is it the former gov or senator Allen you support?
This race will be a close one that is certain…and I’m not talking about the primary. I’m talking about the General Election. Republicans need to understand that the Tea Party is comprised of all types of Conservatives. Some of them are fed up with go along get along politics…What George Allen was famous for his last 6 years…and they might stay home and not give GA that needed bump if he wins the nomination. I think the Establishment might do the same thing if Jamie wins. It’s been their pattern in the past.
As far as why Jamie isn’t running as an independent candidate goes…Hard “R” establishment voters would vote for Lucifer if he had an “R” next to his name. They are uninformed and don’t see candidates but just the Party.
Rand Paul is an informed, principled individual who opposed wasteful spending, actually believes in limited government (not just when it suits his politics) and will work to end our massively UnConstitutional foreign policy.
Jamie Radtke is no Rand Paul.
Dan, if you want to re-hire George Allen after he was fired by Virginians, that is your choice. Pick the person you see as the best option for Virginia and the United States. I can understand that.
Where I have serious problems with your reply is the Mark Castle remark. I wouldn’t categorize George Allen as exactly Mike Castle either. However, let’s not get into the game of pretending there isn’t plenty of negative things to point out about George Allen. In conservative Virginia of all places, George Allen was rejected by the voters.
If he was the champion of conservatism you make him out to be, he wouldn’t have Jamie Radtke to worry about or the host of others looking to jump in where they see………weakness. If he was a sterling example, I would support him. Good Governor, lousy Senator.
For the record, I don’t criticize the pick of Thomas. Probably a sound move, all things considered.
Steve! You think George Allen is Rand Paul? You think George Allen will reflect your foreign policy views?
Good press (Daily Caller) for Radtke. This will be an interesting (and negative!) primary. Jaime has to prove she brings the goods to the table; Allen needs to convince he’s trustworthy.
Steve Vaughan, IMO the TP organization (in Virginia) doesn’t have to be strong to knock George off – lots of Virginia primary voters (2008′s angry Republicans turned Independent) don’t officially belong to the Tea Party, but strongly support TP fiscal policy goals. That group is (or will be when campaign season begins) wary of George Allen and will be Jaime’s (or another candidate’s) voting block to scoop up.
Radtke is brand new; once she works out the kinks and gets her political legs – who knows? She may surprise all of us. In the meantime, I still have fingers crossed for a white knight candidate (a.k.a. General Bert Mizusawa!) to enter and give Virginians (“The Mother of Presidents”) the caliber of candidate we deserve (and hope for!)
Can someone point out to me where in Virginia the “establishment” ever sat out a race and allowed a Republican candidate to lose because they didn’t like him or her?
This member of the “establishment” remembers working his butt off for McCain and others that I didn’t like. I remember working my butt off for Keith Fimian when he won the Republican primary by beating my endorsed choice. I remember supporting Ken Cuccinelli when he beat my endorsed candidate in the primary too.
Those of us who are considered establishment have been working for a long, long time to elect Republicans of all stripes because we recognize – as some of our Tea Party brethren either can’t or won’t – that having a Republican in office is going to be better for all of our issues, regardless of how moderate he or she may be.
I would love to see Radtke and the others blast Tim Kaine as hard as they’ve been trying to undermine George Allen’s legacy.
It’s a good thing that the Republican party is ramming George Allen through and stiff-arming the TEA Party for the nomination. It would be less interesting for the TEA Party to get soft and be lulled into the GOP, at least by promoting George Allen the GOP keeps the TEA Party independent and basically insures that they don’t get too friendly.
well, thanks Kurt for calling hard “R” establishment persons “uninformed”.
@Kelley –
Of course, that charge comes from a guy who was AWOL on HB 3202, AWOL on the 2004 tax hike, AWOL from much of Virginia politics… I certainly haven’t seen him in the trenches lately. Have you?
@ Kelley and Shaun: I’ve not, but apparently in addition to being uninformed I am also blind to anything except the party, so please consider that.
The TP in Virginia does NOT control the Republican nominating process. For you to say anyone is being hypocritical makes no sense at all. Does Lloyd have a hand in controlling the nominating process? If he does then he would be hypocrite for asking Thomas to step down.
I’m a TP member and new to Virginia, and it seems that the TP’s are very influential. I don’t think Steve Vaughn has any idea what he is talking about. The TP sure seems to keep the contributors to this blog upset. So, they must be influencing something.
The Tea Party in Va is a joke.
It is a simple proven fact that voters who participate in the nomination process are many times more likely to vote general election. A convention allows for the participation of 6000 – 8000 voters. A primary will yield the participation of hundreds of thousands of voters.
In a year (2012) where Virginia will be a crucial battleground state for the presidential election, it will be essential that we generate historic levels of voter participation in order to take back the white house. Thus, a primary over a convention is just common sense. The TP and the GOP should be able to agree on this.
Mitch: good point. Potentially a huge turnout for Republican primary, since it seems likely the GOP presidential nomination will still be up for grabs at that point. Meanwhile, the Dems will have their presidential candidate locked up of course and likely won’t have a fight for the Senate nomination either.
You’re right, Kelly. He shouldn’t be name calling like that. Just as name calling from the establishment shouldn’t be hurled down at Tea Partiers, the Religious Right, or Ron Paul Republicans. Neither is admirable.
For Shaun, he is part of the establishment, but much of the GOP went to sleep on Jim Gilmore. First the big government Republicans let the Left and the media continually assault his reputation after his term as Governor was up. Then after winning a hard fought battle for the Senate nomination against another fine Republican, many stayed home resulting in that loss. Heck, Republicans were endorsing Mark Warner! How about Will Sessoms, Mayor of Virginia Beach. I believe Paul Lanteigne did as well.
You may be one of many exceptions, but I say some of the establishment held back on fighting for Ken Cuccinelli.
Brit, George Allen was not rejected for his record, he was rejected because the leftist propagnda media shoved down everyone’s throat that he was a racist. While his record may not have been a 100% from the ACU, it is a record of leadership and getting things done.
People like Radtke will challenge him because its their right to do so, although personally, I think she is out for her own ego.
Dann, did Allen look unstatesmanlike as he tried to bully that guy? (Watch the video, I’m sure you’ll see it again). Yes, he did. The “macaca” thing make him look like a jerk, but not like a racist. Adding on the noose at his office, testimony on his use of other racial slurs, and his flags may have lead macaca beyond just looking like a pitiful attempt at intimidation. That was George’s fault if he looked like a racist.
And oh yes, his record did have a lot to do with it. Notice how people bring that up and harp on some of his votes where as in contrast, they pretty much acknowledge his record as Governor was a good one.
It bears repeating..
Oh my.. found this old one too..
(George Allen’s goons attack a reporter) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxQJP-FaKY0&feature=related
@Dan ~ Sorry. It wasn’t the utterance (or leftist propaganda media) that sunk George. It was his lame, far-fetched, and vacillating excuses that dragged out the scandal and sidetracked his campaign.
Excuse #1: meant to say “mohawk”.
Excuse #2: meant to say “caca”.
Excuse #3: made up word.
Excuse #4: never knew meaning of term.
Brian proves the point I have made so often. He reveals that he has worked to elect anyone simply because they have a “R” next to their name – claiming anyone with a “R” is better than anyone without a “R” next to their name.
I woke up from THAT fantasy long ago.
It doesn’t matter if the person has an “R: next to their name if they aren’t true Conservatives that adhere to the limitations of the Constitution and the core prinicpels of the Republican Party.
Working to elect RINOs is a fool’s game.
Calling Liberals, Socialists, and rubes working for special interests that bought them off instead of representing their constituents “Moderates” is such a Left Leaning tactic to try to deceive others that non-Conservatives are somehow “Moderate” and not Left Leaning.
Sorry, Reid, but I have to disagree with you there. As long as they’re a vote in favor of our side to control whatever chamber they’re in, they are better than the Democrat. That’s one vote even the most conservative Democrat won’t go with us on.
Moderates exist. They aren’t all a myth, and they aren’t all left-leaning. As for “special interests,” that’s just a term used to define anybody lobbying for something you don’t like.
There’s nothing fantastical about working to elect members of our party. Sometimes the best we can hope for is to elect a moderate – either a moderate or we lose the seat. Losing the seat is bad. And the damage a Republican who votes with Democrats 20% of the time can do is far less than the damage a Democrat can do who votes with the Democrats 100% of the time.
I don’t understand why that is such a difficult concept.
So, Brian as long as there is a “R” after the name and they vote for the right leadership, we don’t need standards? Do we accept wasteful spending and driving our economy to ruin because we fear the damage a Democrat would do?
At some point you have to draw a line. In Virginia of all places, you don’t have to settle for a Republican that votes for Obamacare. We don’t have to settle for Olympia Snowes here or even those fiscally unconservative on Bush’s level. There is a place for moderates as there should be for guys like me. However, fiscally the Republican party has “moderated” to being out of balance. Thankfully that is changing. The coalition making up the Tea Party is part of that.
I think Reid has a good point. Evidently the voters do too.
Britt, elections are about choices. General elections are about choices between Republicans and Democrats. We can have all kinds of fights about standards in primaries, but when the general election rolls around, you’ve got to make a choice between who is on the ballot, not who you want to be on the ballot.
That’s the difference. I will help whomever is my party nominee, even if I don’t like them that much.
Not everywhere in Virginia is it possible for someone who isn’t an Olympia Snowe. The kind of Republican who could be competitive against Jim Moran in the 8th District would look alot like her. If we ever want to take that seat back, that’s who we’d have to run.
Some voters may agree with what you and Reid are saying, but the voters in the 11th, where I live, didn’t.
Brian, we’re not even arguing about who we “want”. I agree with you there. I even agree on it if your district is so far left you get Snowe or nothing. Virginia as a whole doesn’t have to settle. We are not freakin’ purple!
Sometimes the guy with an R is bad enough to not support or fire. R or not! Supporting a Lefty with the right letter after his name is playing into Democrat hands. Leadership votes or not. The exception would be your “Snowe-y” districts. Virginia is still right of center. We can do better. We can afford standards.
Yes, elections are about choices. We do agree on that.
Yes, statewide, we don’t need a candidate like Olympia Snowe. But I didn’t see a lot of folks on our side of the aisle working to take down John Warner when he was signing on to gun-grabbing legislation with Barbara Boxer. He didn’t even have an opponent in 2002, and even Mark Warner could only get within 5 points of him.
Fortunately, and regardless of the distortions being put out by the Radtke camp and folks who didn’t live here when he was in the Senate, no one in the Republican primary comes even close to being a Snowe.
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