Suprisingly, the one primary in Virginia that has me most fired up isn't the 11th, despite some reason posts. Its the 5th, where I see millionaire candidates trying to buy a congressional seat in the guise of tea party activism. The most egregious case is Laurence Verga, a real estate magnate who seems to be running less as a conservative and more a campaign centered on pretty viciously attacking State Sen. Robert Hurt.
First, if I had a vote in the 5th it would be for Ken Boyd, a good conservative with good experience tested in local government, both in on the school board and the board of supervisors. So there's that.
But Sen. Robert Hurt is no liberal, and I have a problem with a millionaire like Verga telling us who Hurt is when Hurt has been the one in the last ten years putting himself before the voters year after year, and they keep voting for him. The latest is this screed emailed out about Hurt being allowed to raise money during the General Assembly session.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA – Today the Attorney General of Virginia issued an opinion that State Senator Robert Hurt may legally raise funds for his congressional account during legislative session. Verga responded to the news, saying "Although it may be legal, it certainly isn't ethical. The American people are tired of career politicians like Senator Hurt who put their personal aspirations above their ethical obligations."
Verga continued: "The intent of Virginia's ethics law is to prevent lobbyists from buying votes. His current position will simply allow special interest groups to influence his voting through donations to his congressional campaign account. If Hurt wishes to be ethical, then he will respect the law's intent and reverse his unfortunate decision."
Come on. The point of the law is with regards to state business, and there is nothing wrong with Hurt raising money for a federal race. But I guess its easy to preach when you can just cut yourself checks and then claim grassroots support. And while a lot of people have said things about Hurt, this is close to calling him corrupt and I have a problem with this kind of hot language from a guy who's never been before the voters against someone who has over and over.
I personally prefer Michael McPadden, but that's just me :)
You are right, though...Verga has spent more time talking about how awful a person Hurt is, and not enough time talking about why we should vote for him.
Posted by: Phil Chroniger | January 29, 2010 at 05:26 PM
McPadden seems solid. Between him, Morton, and Boyd I think we have three good conservatives that can win without spending dollars and wasting primary time on attacking Robert Hurt.
Posted by: Chris | January 29, 2010 at 05:47 PM
"millionaire candidates trying to buy a congressional seat in the guise of tea party activism."
HAHAHA....this is Keith Fimian....
"The American people are tired of career politicians like Senator Hurt who put their personal aspirations above their ethical obligations"
This is almost verbatim the quotation Fimian used against Herrity....
So you attack Laurance Verga for something you praise Keith Fimian for...do I sense hypocrisy and double standard?
Posted by: local gop | January 29, 2010 at 06:07 PM
Just to make sure I'm not crazy...I went back and found the EXACT phrase Fimian used to attack Herrity, before Herrity even announced:
"They do not want a career politician more concerned with power than results"...
"His ambition outruns his responsibilities."...
Like I said....a little double standard....
Posted by: local gop | January 29, 2010 at 06:09 PM
The difference between these guy and Fimmian is K-Fim had the stones to run in 2008 when NOBODY - certainly not Pat Herrity or any of those established pols in his endorsement list that could have run - wanted to confront the voters. Fimian has already been before the voters and fought the good fight in about the worst atmosphere for Repubs since 1982. He's not a johnny-come-lately like Verga and these typse.
Don't be an ass Local GOP, try thinking before you post.
Let me make it more simple for a simpleton like you . . .
Fimian - ran when no Republicans would.
Verga - running because of the enviroment and his money.
Herrity and every other NOVA GOP - M.I.A. in 2008.
Clear enough? :-D
Posted by: Chris | January 29, 2010 at 09:23 PM
P.S.
I remember 2008. I remember nobody would run in the 11th after Tom took his ball and went home. I remember nobody showing any support for Gilmore, despite his problems he was still OUR nominee. Conservatives consolidated behind McCain, but moderates and independents fled Gilmore . . . and Fimian too because they wanted to look cool and be part of the popular crowd by coronating Obama and Warner. Look where that got us.
I remember and respect candidates like Fimian who ran when nobody else would. Everyone passed, but he went out there and carried our standard and deserves to finish what he started in a better environment. I stand with those willing to fight when nobody else would.
Posted by: Chris | January 29, 2010 at 09:27 PM
I prefer Mike McPadden's style of campaigning on issues we all care about: sound money, personal liberty, and constitutional constraint.
Mike might not ending up being "the guy", but it needs to be someone with similar platform ideologies. In addition, someone who understands what Michael Savage, radio talk show host says, "Borders, language, and culture". The real attack, and the real danger is in those three items.
Posted by: Donna Cosmato | January 30, 2010 at 02:33 PM
As i have said before Verga's whole campaign has been "noun, verb, and Robert Hurt sucks."
I need more from someone who is running for Congress.
Posted by: Aaron | January 30, 2010 at 04:59 PM
Oh so it's ok to run a campaign built on trashing your opponent as long as you lost another election on the past. Yep. That's smart politics. Herrity didn't have the possibility to self fund unlike Fimian. That doesn't give him a free license to run a trash campaign. So I'd verga had lost a campaign in the past you would be condoning his attacks?? I think not. It's a double standard that right wingers will always have. Just like you now haves problem with bedell endorsing herrity but when he endorsed cuccinelli it was ok. Double standards.
Posted by: Local GOP | January 30, 2010 at 06:19 PM
Fimian has been running for Congress for almost three years, bro. And Fimian in no way is talking about Herrity the way Verga constantly goes after Hurt. I get Fimian's press releases and other than the first one when Herrity entered, he's done or said nothing compared to what Verga is saying.
What I am saying is Fimian has been through the wars and put himself out there for Republicans when nobody else would. THAT is why I support him, he didn't wait for a good climate, he ran because he believed in what he had to say.
As for Bedell, a) I did not know he endorsed Ken, and b) is a bigger deal in the 11th because he has much more sway. And I don't believe that ANY local chairman should take sides in a local race. Kaplan and Beefelt didn't endorse, did they?
You Herrity guys are really just pansies. You expected this to be handed to you on a silver platter, like Keith should just shrug his shoulders and forget the years he's put into this? The sense of entitlement you guys have is hilarious, and when Fimian throws a sharp elbow to fight back you guys absolutely lose your minds, not realizing that the voters Keith has right now you will need for the general if you win the nomination. Instead, you bitch and moan and act like Keith ran over Herrity's dog or something. Grow up and man up, because if you can't take some intra-squad scrimmage hits, you will get positively demolished by Gerry Connolly and his machine.
Fimian has NOT run a trash campaign, like I've said over and over that Fimian has been out there over the last 9 months pounding the pavement, hitting the issues, holding town halls, appearing at events, holding Connolly accountable. His website is full of specific positions on issues.
Herritics out there . . . grow up. Your not entitled to anything, no matter how many names and local leaders you have on a piece of paper. The voters of the 11th matter more.
May the best man win.
Posted by: Chris | January 30, 2010 at 07:03 PM
All intra party Republican politics in Virginia reduces itself to one candidate trying to slap a "liberal" label on the others and a "conservative" label on himself. It's all meaningless and leads to the selection of a lot of sub-standard candidates. But the primary voters and convention-goers seem to buy into it. Go figure.
Posted by: NoVA Scout | January 30, 2010 at 11:19 PM
I actually think both candidates in the 11th are very good. This isn't about Herrity, the reason I'm supporting Fimian. I feel Keith has earned it through the work in the last few years of working hard for our cause.
My problem is more with a lot of Herrity supporters who seem to think that they ae owed this because of how many electeds support him, that someone he has earned it without working for it.
Posted by: Chris | January 31, 2010 at 07:24 AM
Chris, you're letting your MMA obsession take you over. Local GOP doesn't have to "man up" simply because he supports Herrity and points out obvious double standards. Fimian has every right to stay in the race but Herrity is going to win. Get used to it!
Posted by: Loudoun Insider | January 31, 2010 at 12:03 PM
why is it a double standard? Fimian does not come close to fitting the description of what Verga is doing. In fact, quite the opposite. Unlike every single other person in Fairfax, he actually ran for Congress in 2008 when nobody else would
Posted by: Chris | January 31, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Chris, I hate to pile on but that is somewhat of a double standard. I don't think Fimian is to the extent Verga is, but the principle is the same.
My issue with both of the folks in the 11th is that they should get the nomination b/c of what they did in the past, not what they want to do or what their vision is.
The 5th is obviously just a free-for-all b/c everyone smells blood. Everyone knows with Hurt having the NRCC backing, they have to smear him to win.
Posted by: GOPHokie | January 31, 2010 at 03:49 PM
*the folks in the 11th seem to think they should get the nomination b/c of what they did in the past...
Posted by: GOPHokie | January 31, 2010 at 03:50 PM
Finally someone has gotten this race exactly right. Great post Mason Conservative. As far as the people saying that Hurt shouldn't be able to raise money, they all have a double standard. In 2008, Del. Bob Marshall was able to raise money for his Senate race during the GA session. Now, because Hurt is seen as "not conservative enough" by some of these people, they are complaining about the Attorney General's ruling. This is a huge double standard and these people like things one way when it benefits them and another way when it doesn't.
Posted by: Will | January 31, 2010 at 03:50 PM
I think you are correct in that Verga is devoting too much effort to attacking Hurt, but he is such an emblem of what is wrong in Washington, I suspect it is too hard to resist. You say Hurt is not a liberal, okay, but he abandoned his party to vote for the largest tax increases in Virginia history at a time of budget surplus. He has not voted to reduce the size and scope of state government, but to increase it.
Boyd is not a bad candidate, but as a resident of his county, I have not been very impressed. We have a bloated county government, just as it is bloated at all levels. He has not been an effective voice at reversing that trend.
Michael McPadden is a candidate who has the style, substance and heart to win. He knows the issues, and he can fire up the electorate. He is going to be one of a new crop of very different representatives elected in 2010. See his new video WE THE PEOPLE at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyzicHJ86pw
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