With Jamie Radtke, It’s Not Debatable
By Ward Smythe | Sunday, October 16th, 2011 | Politics
So to speak.
A month ago, Radtke was all up in arms over the upcoming debate between George Allen and Tim Kaine. The requirements for the AP debate are that a candidate had to be showing 15% in their respective primary and had to have raised 1/5 as much as the leading fund raiser in said primary. Shaun Kenney drew Jamie a diagram here.
Oh the horror. Oh the Facebook frenzy over being excluded from the debate.
Truth be told, it’s a little presumptuous of the AP to write the rules to exclude the other candidates completely. Then again, it’s their debate.
Still, Jamie wanted her chance to debate. Or so we thought.
The Shenandoah Valley Tea Party is hosting a U.S. Senate Debate on October 20th. They invited eight candidates, Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Four have accepted. Jamie Radtke had also, but now a newsletter from the SVTPP says:
Jamie Radtke has withdrawn from the debate because she does not wish to participate without George Allen.
So is she basically saying that the other candidates in the primary aren’t worth her time? The “leader” of the Tea Party won’t come to a Tea Party event?
Of course according to Tim Kaine, with whom Radtke agrees on most things George Allen, Allen is the tea partier.
The mind. It boggles.
The Mad Hatter couldn’t throw a tea party like this. It’s only going to get more bizarre the closer we get to the primary date. But, anyone on the reality side of the looking glass knows that next year’s contest will be between George Allen and Tim Kaine.
Still, all the candidates have the right to try to get their message heard. So, when you’re trailing in polls and fundraising, not taking a free opportunity such as this just because George Allen isn’t there strikes us as a bizarre campaign strategy.
And, between you and me and the Cheshire Cat, I don’t think it’s working.
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About the author
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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Comments
7 Responses to "With Jamie Radtke, It’s Not Debatable"
The candidates have gotten as much as they can complaining about the primary system. This is an opportunity to build credibility as a chief rival to Allen, and lay the groundwork for changes within the Republican party and future campaigns.
Not going to the debate is a mistake.
Not going to the debate is the RIGHT thing to do. All you Allen apologist know this. Without Allen there it cheapens the debate and denies the others the ability to debate Allen.
Of course, you Allen people would much rather see the focus shifted away from Allen’s horrific record and turn into a race for 2nd.
You guys are so transparent.
I’m a bit disappointed that the Tea Party debate wasn’t deemed newsworthy until Radtke decided to withdraw.
As for Mr. Howard’s comment, I have to disagree with you on this point. Not going to the debate is the wrong thing for Mrs. Radtke to do. This withdrawal will weaken her ties with the tea party in the valley which is where she would likely pick up the base of her support.
I get ya, Joshua. She had to do it in my opinion, and you’re right to gripe about the. Newsworthy issue and that action by her almost helps. That said, feelings will be understandably hurt. No doubt she is painfully aware of that. Hopefully she can make it up later in another way.
Another point, how do you argue about not being included on one debate and see another debate without Allen as proper?
I suppose the exclusion issue is one of choice. George Allen (and Jamie Radtke) are choosing not to participate on the 20th. Conversely, Radtke, Donner, and the others cannot choose whether or not to participate in the December debate.
The Tea Party offered each candidate an opportunity to spread their message to the public, even if no one else would give them that chance. The Radtke campaign chose, in my mind unwisely, to decline Thursday’s forum.
BREAKING NEWS.. JAMIE RADTKE WILL ATTEND OCT 20TH TEA PARTY DEBATE PENDING CONFIRMATION OF THE PARTICIPATION OF GEORGE ALLEN. MORE TO FOLLOW. AWAITING CONFIRMATION FROM THE GEORGE ALLEN FOR U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN.
Why would Radtke, Donner, or Jackson want to debate for second place? It would seem to me that Allen would WANT to debate them and show that he should be the candidate.
Until the primary is over, HE IS NOT the candidate representing Republicans in the general election, the voters of VA have not yet bestowed that priviledge on him, even though the AP has.
He might want to reconsider not attending, since he is going to need the votes of the Tea Party to defeat Kaine IF he is the candidate in the general.
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