Radtke’s 11th hour attempt to get back into the tea party debate
By Norman Leahy | Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 | Politics, VirginiaI’ve been told by more than one source that GOP Senate candidate Jamie Radtke, who backed out of last week’s tea party-sponsored debate, after first agreeing to attend, made a last minute attempt to get back into the event…just so long as it was called a “forum” rather than a “debate.”
The organizers refused to do so. In response, a prominent Ratdke supporter threatened the organizers that he would get all the candidates to withdraw and leave the tea party folks with an empty stage.
Obviously, that bluster didn’t succeed and the event went on as scheduled.
It’s not unheard of for campaigns to get snippy with debate organizers over any number of issues. It’s quite another to threaten to scuttle an event. It’s worse when a campaign that’s still running over $80,000 in the red believes it can dictate terms to anyone about much at all.
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About the author
Norm Leahy has written about Virginia and national politics online since 2002, beginning with One Man's Trash (OMT), and continuing through Bacon's Rebellion (both the blog and the e-zine), Sic Semper Tyrannis, NBC12's Decision Virginia, Richmond.com and Tertium Quids. He is the chief blogger at "The Score" and a producer of "The Score" radio show as well as being a Washington Post contributor.
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28 Responses to "Radtke’s 11th hour attempt to get back into the tea party debate"
Opening Statements
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i66fg-HRSm8
Debt Ceiling, Jobs Bill, Manufacturing Jobs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4aMitUGp-Y
Immigration, UN membership, Occupy Wall Street Protestors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPdAetXqIDg
Federal Tax Code, Nullification, Executive Overreach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep8rnHDS1Sk
Education Standards, Individual Specific Questions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S—C10lVQHo
Agenda 21, 10th Amendment, Federal Departments to Eliminate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC75GQETD1M
Mandated Healthcare, Eminent Domain, Patriot Act
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IRrahEprFg
Misc. Individual Questions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m54gy8W8Xfk
Closing Statements
Norm, You have been caught in a lie. Your phony claim that this was an 11th hour attempt is a garbage. I don’t know of anyone who threatened to pull all the candidates off the stage. That is absurd. Got any more elephant shit to smear on the tea party movement?
There was discussion with Shen Valley Tea long before any 11th hour. Radtke staff had been talking with them about doing a forum, weeks before the event.
Man up and explain why so many tea party people decided not to attend the debate? Go ahead, I did and I got the same answer over and over. It’s George Allen stupid.
My sources tell an very, very different story James, and using more colorful terms than I’ve included in the post.
Phony claim? Maybe your just not privy to the high level machinations behind the scenes. If you talk to the folks in the valley who know you’ll find out the truth.
Are you trying to misdirect the story away from the real news that Jamie is up to her eyeball in debt? Any serious challenger simply has to have the money. She just can’t cut it.
After reading this story, I called the director of the Shenandoah Valley Tea Party to either confirm or deny the story. I was told that although it is true that the Radtke campaign asked to switch the format from a debate to a forum, there wasn’t an attempt to sabotage the debate.
May I ask who were your sources for this article?
You know I won’t divulge sources, Josh.
No, and I can certainly appreciate that fact. I’m just wondering who is spreading these rumors.
Norm, Check with your sources and verify your claims. Then when your sources tell you what the opinion they want you to have, then go check with the tea party leadership in Shen Valley. Right now this story is being spread around and to be honest this is useful for showing your true colors as a useful something or other for Allen. If you need some real sources, join the tea party movement and be part of the solution.
Ira, Jamie was up to 80K in debt and now is under 60K. Fund raising is undergoing continuous improvement. Two of her opponents are up to 200K in debt, I think McCormick and Donner but I’m not sure, but that should not be any reason for them not to debate Allen who is spending money faster than he is taking it in as a defector of his campaign has indicated.. I would like to verify this so check with your sources and share your findings.
Joshua, thank you for doing your due diligence. Sunlight is a natural disinfectant. Hopefully Norm will do the same and report the facts.
It is interesting to note that there was no true debate witnessed on the youtube videos but more of a meet the candidates forum anyway. This happened in the VA-02 senate race many times. The organizers called it a debate but one or more of the attendees had little to fear in the way of a gloves on face off true debate. Allen would have come out unscathed in that format. Why is George Allen afraid of these candidates?
Here is what Jamie was doing when she should have been debating Allen..
Bearing Drift is seriously risking all credibility by posting this drivel. First they use another blogger with an axe to grind against Jamie as their “debate coverage”, and now this.
How about actually contacting the folks with FIRST-HAND knowledge of these events?
This is really, really basic sourcing, people!
How many times do we have to read a “Bearing Drift is risking all credibility” post from those who have none? Lemme guess — you’re threatening people in order to prove that Radtke supporters and staffers did not threaten Shenandoah Tea Party members, is that it?
FAIL.
Not only did I hear the precise same thing, it’s a M.O. that has been repeated time and time again by staffers working for Radtke. The pressure, followed by the evocative threat.
So once again… the comments here (purportedly in Jamie’s defense — and guys, I’ll bet your opponents couldn’t pay people enough to sandbag Jamie the way you guys are doing and have done to her) just back up what everyone is already whispering about.
Damn shame you guys are playing checkers when the rest of the world is playing chess. Damn shame…
@Turbo –
You’re exempt from this criticism… and you and I both know you’re in this for the right reasons. Still, these other clowns? Really??
Someone needs to let Jamie know it’s time to suspend the campaign.
The notion that someone is “only” $60,000 in debt, while ignoring the trend lines and realities of a desperate, failing campaign would be laughable, were it not so tragic. This is not a news site, it is a blog site. The author of the article wrote what he heard. Did he hear correctly? Most likely he did. He wrote what he heard. You don’t like it? No problem! Provide the facts to refute it. Your condescending scolding is juvenile and silly. The remarks against BD and the author of the blog are indicative of the entire Radtke campaign: silly tactics that have fluff and bluster, but no meaning.
Her campaign is in debt, even as she rails on about irresponsible governance from Allen and the current Administration. Where’s her plan to pay it back? Hmmm?
She commits to attend an event–regardless of the “name” of it, then back out, in what she must have known would be seen as a play for self-importance. (“If it isn’t a debate, I’ll grace you with my presence and speak to Joe SixPack; however, if you call it a debate,let them eat cake. I’ll hold out, so I don’t have to prove my mettle with the others running for office and respond to the everyday voter. After all, I am too important–don’t you know I’m Chairman Emeritus of the tea party that I put together to create a base for my run at the Senate? Don’t you know who I am????”)
Most likely, the plan is resident with the plans for real solutions that are needed to solve the myriad problems we have in this country… nowhere.
Her campaign funding after NINE MONTHS and a TON of arm-wrestling and exposure tours is waning. Her endorsements are limited to tea party leaders who, regardless of whether you agree, have little choice but to back her or make the federation appear to be disjointed and dissention-filled. She presents herself as entitled to the nomination as Obama did, in my opinion.
The latest decision to pull out of a commitment, because of the tremendous ego and sense of self-importance was just the latest in a string of moves designed to keep the wizard behind the curtain, in my opinion.
How long before those who are looking for someone who can really beat Tim Kaine wake up and realize that they don’t have to settle for the wizard…because the wizard will not fix your brain. You have one.
OH, and just to be clear about campaign debt, turbo. Since you purport to be in the know, you really should do your homework. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”
So, here goes.
It is not uncommon for people who run for office to fund some part of their campaigns out of their own pockets. Meg Whitman comes to mind, as does Linda McMahon. Those are people who are able and willing (generally in that order) to invest in themselves to seed the campaign and get their activities launched. Tim Donner, who you mention, as well as McCormack have done that…one nearly exclusively, one not exclusively. That is different from a campaign that is IN DEBT. A campaign in debt is one where expenditures exceed what is taken in. Credit is being extended and/or bills are not being paid, on the hope that receipts (Donations) will come in over time to cover those debts. Donner and McCormack, to the best of what the reporting shows, are not in debt. They invested out-of-pocket some funding. They may or may not ever get it back. In other words, they are stockholders in a company, not potential TARP recipients.
So, Cynthia.. You and Sara got this personal Jealousy Jihad on Jamie thing down to a science. Its interesting how a few of you Donner supporters have such a bone to fight over with Radtke.
It is sad that a few of you people she worked with at the federation with false beliefs about her intentions went postal after she stepped forward with her organizational and speaking skills.. Jealousy is a combination of fear and anger. Fear of losing something you want to be yours and anger that someone is moving in on something that you feel belongs only to you in an all volunteer effort can make some people angry.
I guess Tim Donner is sending more of you over to spice things up so bring it on honey
Oh, thats ok, you don’t need to mention him by name.. I know who you are.
Radtke has a spending addiction worse than those she criticises. She simply can’t get her campaign under control. Maybe she should take a Greyhound like Kevin Chisholm instead of her own pricey bu$.
Cynthia is right that anyone who can pose a real threat to Kaine must have significant cash and MANAGE IT WELL – Radtke does not.
Ralph, running a statewide grassroots campaign means lots of travel all around the state and staying all sorts of places. A refurbished bus is not pricey compared to hotels and inns and all the extra time wasted checking in and out. It also provides a meeting space wherever you go. Its a bargain and no wonder so many candidates use them.. Remember Bob McDonnells Jobs mobile?
Wow! You guys are just sad! I mean really Sad!
Ok, there is legitimate criticism about pulling out of the debate after agreeing to it. I still say it was the right move. Changing the format at the last moment to a forum would only remove parts of what was wrong with the “without Allen” dynamic of the event. It probably still would have been branded a forum of 2nd placers possibly even damaging eachother not to win the nomination, but to win 2nd place.
The rest of it is garbage! Somebody says James attempts to change the subject of this article away from her campaign debt? What?? I thought the subject was the debate forum and Norm’s fondness to try to find something negative that Jamie did. Then some of the “haters” focus on that campaign debt. Well, too bad your analysis is full of it. The Radtke campaign leveraged debt against future donations. Must be working! Debt down 20k in short order. She just had her best quarter yet. Out in the real world, responsible debt is incurred everyday. In business and when people reasonably finance cars, homes, etc. The DECREASING DEBT and increasing donations and increasing amount of supporters prove it.
Another line of crap is that all endorsers are Tea Party and Jamie has some weird control over them and forces them to obey her every command. Well, some of the “haters” are or were Tea Party. Evidently, you guys are not forced to do anything. Further although the last release was a focused release of Tea Party endorsements, not all endorsements are Tea Party. Some of you just try to take any possible path to confuse the issue and smear Jamie Radtke.
Maybe mistakes were made with the debate. We can only speculate. However, that debate posed difficult issues. To me the smart move was to not do it, explain why and apologize to the hosts and try to make up for it later. Still, just my thoughts on it. Maybe I am wrong there. A lack of perfection in this situation given the difficult circumstances and not wanting to hurt the feelings of good people is more than understandable.
As to BD or contributors taking risks with this type of ridiculous article writing, when it comes to THIS Senate race, BD is clearly biased and playing attack dog. I don’t like it. It looks bad. Still, after this race is over, I will still be reading BD. Just because they’re so wrong on Radtke/Allen doesn’t mean they don’t have many other good points and serve as a good forum for conservatives. There is no “risking”. We already know that the drift is nowhere near journalistically objective when it comes to Radtke or Allen. The best thing is to accept that and get on with business.
Well Norm, If you wanted some Tea Party eyeballs looking at BD, it worked.. Now do you think you can contact Shenandoah Valley Tea Party and get the facts or do you choose to let those with forked tongue speak for the voice behind the Score?
Here is something for you to brush up on for todays show.. The Tea Party is nonpartisan movement supported by people from either or neither political party (but admittedly well more than half conservative republican) and represent the growing unrest among blue and white collar voters in America. Tea Party activists are frustrated with the lousy leadership representing us that have a lock on local, state and Washington government. Its simple Norm. Get the facts. And if I may, I encourage you get the facts from Sheandoah Valley Tea Party and Jamie Radtke herself so you can clear the air, if that is your intention.
Go ahead and call Shenandoah Valley Tea Party Patriots at (540) 324-7659 or by email: shenvalleyteaparty@comcast.net
Call Jamie Radtke at 804.451.5985 or by email: media@radtkeforsenate.com
Have a nice day Norm
James, the reason there were so few TEA party activists at the debate is because we support GEORGE ALLEN.
So tempted to reply to MBM’s comment, but in the back of my head I envision Admiral Akbar screaming, “It’s a trap!”
Wait? MBM, explain then why all the Tea Party endorsements were made and the angles taken on this thread by other posters like they had to because Jamie controls them. Or the only people supporting her are Tea Party.
Now you say the Tea Party supports George Allen. Hahahahahaha!
At least get your stories straight! You guys are just blindly throwing darts and it shows.
MBM, The reason the Tea Party Movement was created out of thin air by patriotic Americans was George Allen and 15 of his crony cohorts who chose dirty money over conservative principle. Thank George Allen for the Tea Party.. Kinda like you can thank Gore for the internets.
Its interesting to note that George Allen has tried to portray himself as the original Tea Party candidate but now will not attend a single Tea Party debate. Tea Party activist for the most part recognize that Allens rhetoric and his voting record do not uphold the values of conservative voters who want a return to a constitutionally limited government, not more big government that Allen voted for as a senator. Allen says its laughable what some Tea Party activists are saying yet he claims to have bonafide Tea Party support.. George Allen is NOTHING the Tea Party stands for because the Tea Party stands for fiscal conservatism with No excuses, No ethanol subsidies, No votes for more debt hikes, no Dodd-Frank deals speaking of which.. did anyone know George Allen is the manufactured housing person of the year? http://www.mhmarketingsalesmanagement.com/blogs/industryvoices/open-letter-to-cfed-regarding-dodd-frank-and-its-impact-on-affordable-manufactured-housing/
Sweet
Having the Federal Government in the mortgage business is NOT a Tea Party ideal. Having the Federal Government in the mortgage business gone wild with your tax dollars and economy at stake isn’t what the Tea Party wants.
A fired former Senator that was warned long ago by Republican Sen. Hagel that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were in trouble and needed to be reigned in, but with purpose ignored said warning and wouldn’t help is NOT the kind of candidate a Tea Partier looks for.
Who would agree with George Allen’s performance on Freddie & Fannie? Well ironically considering James’s post, Barney Frank would. You maybe can rest easy knowing that Allen agreed with Frank on that. I can’t. Look how it crippled our economy. And don’t think that wouldn’t come out in the general election and make Allen look like a flaming hypocrite on fiscal conservatism.
Mr. Cohen, It’s a well-known fact that George Allen attended more TEA Party events before he decided to run for office than Jamie Radtke did. It’s just a fact. Google the news articles from 2009 and 2010. I think Mr. Kenney would back me up on the fact that the majority of TEA Party activists are backing George Allen.
Forgive my ignorance, but I dont recall you protesting Gov. Kaine’s tax hike in 2009 with other conservative leaders. And for that matter, Mrs. Radtke didnt oppose Gov. Kaine’s tax increase either. Many of the contributors on this blog did…but not you, sir.
Britt, just a suggestion, but I’d avoid the fiscal hypocrite remarks if you’re supporting Jamie…just until she gets her campaign back on track financially. Maybe those overpaid consultants can take a much needed pay cut on top of staying on the bus.
And update her fundraising lists, since I’m somehow receiving her fundraising solicitations. Should have saved the postage.
Mr or Mrs or Ms MBM, I do not doubt that George Allen attended lots of Tea Party events before he decided to run for office but I have no idea if he attended more than Jamie Radtke. During 2009 and 2010 Allen had not officially thrown his hat in the ring either.
Go ahead and ask Shaun Kenney about that majority of Tea Party activists backing George Allen.. make my day.
As for protesting Gov. Kaine’s tax hike in 2009 with other conservative leaders, I was atchooly but not on BD since before about a year and a half ago I did not spend much time wreaking political havoc here on BD.
By the way, James “turbo” Cohen is the name, whats yours?
MBM or whatever your name is, that is NOT a well known fact. It could be the truth, but I doubt it. Since I don’t know for sure, I can’t comment further. I certainly don’t recall George Allen organizing a Tea Party convention like Jamie did. I certainly don’t recall him being part of organizing major groups of Tea Partiers like Jamie. He doesn’t get 3rd party credit for having the best organized Tea Party in the country like Jamie.
As I recall some Tea Partiers were pretty upset that George Allen had the nerve to show up at the convention Jamie set up. Weren’t there leaflets being passed out to that effect? Hmmmm…….
DJ, George Allen is a huge hypocrite and I won’t back down from that. What Jaimie’s team is doing (leveraging against future donations to expand the potential to get even more) is very sound. I can’t speak about the consultants. Maybe some mistakes were made there and reassessed. I believe I heard some were cut. Hey people try to sell even candidates unworthy services. However, I am not “in the know” on the consultant details.
The bus was a SUPER idea. I support it. Radtke got lucky on that deal. Hate it all you want.
Her campaign cut debt recently. She came off her best quarter of fundraising yet. Your calling her campaign out as some bad example of fiscal management is ridiculous.
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