Roanoke Tea Party fulfills promise … finds candidate to run against Democrat
By Lynn R. Mitchell | Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 | Politics, VirginiaThe Roanoke Tea Party, perhaps one of the more activist groups of its kind in Virginia, believes in the familiar goals of limited government groups: low taxes, reduce spending, smaller government, and states rights. Under RTP President Chip Tarbutton, the group has grown to 300 members.
Briefly associated with the Virginia Tea Party Federation, they soon chafed under the demands and limitations of group-think and returned to their independent status while keeping an eye on elected officials in and around the Star City. Not shy about airing their differences with former tea party federation chair Jamie Radtke, the RTP accused Radtke of using the tea party to help launch her U.S. Senate race. In his newsletter and in a Roanoke Times article, Tarbutton was quoted as saying that Radtke had built “a Tea Party entity specifically as a platform to run for office, and we were flabbergasted by the ferocity she used in squashing internal dissent.” Members may have been miffed but not enough to sway them because she still received their support over other senate candidates.
Members started their own radio program. They rallied at local government offices. Their newsletter kept members and others informed of all the activities.
They traveled to Richmond to rally during General Assembly sessions, getting behind and supporting a bill advocating that any state budget bill be posted online for 72 hours before taking a vote. When the bill was killed by the Senate Rules Committee, the Roanoke Tea Party members turned their attention to Democratic State Senator John Edwards, 67, who had voted against it. As they stood with signs, protesting outside his Roanoke office and vowing to find someone to run against the four-term legislator, they were determined to replace him.
A graduate of the University of Virginia Law School, former Marine captain, and graduate of Princeton University’s Union Theological Seminary, Edwards was not cowered by the tea party. Hearing of their vow to find someone to run against him, he told the Roanoke Times, “Fine. Who are they going to get to run?”
Admitting it would be difficult to find someone satisfactory to the tea party, Tarbutton set out to search for a candidate for the 21st State Senate seat. He was successful. In an email sent Wednesday, he announced that a candidate had been found and would be introduced on Thursday, writing, “A first rate challenger has come forward, and will announce his candidacy at the June 2 meeting of The Roanoke Tea Party. We follow through on our commitments!”
Tarbutton invited media and others to attend the 6:30 meeting at the Ramada Inn River’s Edge. John Edwards himself will probably be among those waiting to see who has decided to step forward and run as the tea party candidate in what many consider a decidedly-Democratic district.
Update: Tripp Godsey, who owns an insurance company, was named as the candidate. Read more here.
Cross-posted at SWAC Girl
Tags:
Contribute for Conservatism!
Share this post
About the author
As SWAC Girl (an acronym for Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County), Lynn has been writing in the Virginia political blogosphere since 2006. Active in area politics, she has coordinated campaigns and served in leadership for the past decade. The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia is one of the most beautiful places to call home ... the Republican Party carries her beliefs.
We're 75% there! Thank you to everyone who has so far contributed! Just $2000 to go!
Comments
10 Responses to "Roanoke Tea Party fulfills promise … finds candidate to run against Democrat"
There must be some sort of back story to whj Roanoake is so mean spirited concerning Jaime Radtke…I have seen her in action and I have no complaints. She is a good leader. I smell sour grapes….
No sour grapes, although that is the story the VTPP would have you believe. But there is no sense in rehashing that story now.
The focus needs to be getting Constitutionally sound candidates into the GA now, in particular the Senate….
Q. How much good legislation died in the Senate at the hands of John Edwards and his cohorts in the Senate? A. A whole bunch. The House passed some great legislation. For example, there were 10 AZ style immigration that passed the House and were killed in Seante committee, lead by Roanoke’s least favorite son, John Edwards.
Edwards is just the tip of the iceberg though. The rest of the state senate is mostly populated with similar status quo politicians. Despite my issues with Jamie, we both agree that getting the make up the State Senate changed is one the key political issues in our commonwealth.
So lets focus on these state races now, as all of the legislators are up for re-election this November and we can radically alter the make up of the Senate if we focus on that versus some of the ancillary issues like the RTPs strained relationship with Jamie.
Amy, you may think you smell sour grapes or you may be working for Jamie as one of the poeple trolling the internet to post on blogs in an effort to help jamie. I have no idea which it is. If you honestly feel like the RTP’s criticizm is “sour grapes” based on your experience with jamie, you should consider that you were not experienceing what the RTP was experiencing. So, of course you would not understand. That doesn’t mean that the RTP doesn’t have a legitmate issue or issues. It means you are ignorant to what they are since you were not involved. Why didn’t you simply ask the RTP to clarify first before commenting on something you know nothing about?
So, will this candidate be running as a Tea Party independent candidate or as a Republican?
In the latter case they could get over 40% of the vote in that district. In neither case do they stand much chance of winning.
Also, is Edward’s age right in this story? 67? He’s holding up awful well for 67.
The candidate will be seeking the Republican nomination. But he has a Tea Party campaign manager. This will be a very interesting dynamic. As far as we know no one else has declared in the 21st. Edwards does look good and he has arguably the best politician hair in VA. It’s hard to beat Bob McDonnell for perfect hair…but Edwards can give him a run for his money.
[...] We are going to have to get people involved in all sorts of street level activities. According to some observers, the Roanoke Tea Party is “one of the more activist groups of its kind in Virginia.” We [...]
67 is not old
[...] group has a reputation for being activist. We have built that reputation across the state and have been getting kudos for our work in shining a…I am sure John Edwards wishes it weren’t so. Here is a quick history lesson on the RTPs stormy [...]
Wow..lot’s of comments here, some seem a bit rude..but thats OK…Probabaly strong emotions. I actually did do some asking around, as I am just getting involved in all of this political stuff…I guess everyone is entitled to an opinion, including myself….so here it is:
In checking the “other side” of the story I saw and article in the Roanoke times that said (the president of the tea party there) “Still, Tarbutton wrote, Radtke is a better candidate then former Gov. George Allen, who is also running for the Senate seat as a Republican.” That is a pretty strong statement.
Whatever the biases that a very few people have, I do think it is only fair to say that 34 Tea Party and Patriot groups think highly enough of Jaime and her leadership skills to endorse her candidacy. I know that all of these leaders have worked with her either in the Federation or at the convention (which was a resounding success). You should check the list. I saw it on her website. Many of us often have difficulty in some dealings with each other, but leadership ability is most important to get the things done that our country is so in need of. The bigger picture is NOT a personal game of vindictivness. I also saw on her site a list of 55 Republican Community leaders that have endorsed her as well….So, I can base my opinion on those facts and that I have met her and heard her speak. Not on what I still consider :sour garpes”.
oops..grapes
Leave your response