More On Delaware

Some conservatives like Mark Levin (who I love) are incerdilous in their support of Delaware conservative Christine O'Donnell in her quest to take down Rep. Mike Castle in the US Senate race.  Anyone who knows me or knows this blog knows that i generally root and endorse all-things conservative.  But you will also know that I'm not afraid to call out corruption and idiocy when I see it - I've supported Mark Kirk, questioned David Vitter's fitness for office, and blogged consistantly against JD Hayworth's fitness for office, among other things. 

It was always a long shot for O'Donnell to beat Castle, but the Joe Miller win has opened eyes.  But comparing Joe Miller - accomplished judge, lawyer, and soldier - to O'Donnell is like comparing Tom Brady to JaMarcus Russell.  But I was trying to find the words for this, then I saw Erick Erickson's post on RedState and it simply said everything I wanted too about this race.

But I’m moving on.

If Christine O’Donnell wins it’ll be inspite of the help she has gotten. What has ultimately set me off is the “Mike Castle is gay” stuff, which is nothing more than the Will Folks hour come to Delaware. The failure of the O’Donnell campaign to deal swiftly with this tells me all I need to know.

As I noted in my original post on Eric Odom, parts of his American Liberty Alliance website became a site for Christine O’Donnell advocacy.

Subsequently, a number of the affiliated individuals went and worked directly for Christine O’Donnell’s campaign. A few weeks ago they left. Around that time I began hearing rumors the O’Donnell campaign was imploding.

The gang that left resurfaced at Liberty.com. The launch day spectacular at Liberty.com was to announce that Mike Castle is having a gay affair on his wife with no proof whatsoever.

When it was pointed out that all the people behind the accusation were O’Donnell campaign staffers, the response was “not any more.”

After a year of direct and indirect advocacy for Christine O’Donnell, it is pretty doggone hard to now stand apart and say “Nope, not campaign related.”

Baloney.

Christine O’Donnell’s campaign did distance her from the video, but the damage is done. These were the people she hired for her campaign. That’s a judgment issue. Likewise, to my knowledge, neither Christine nor her campaign distanced herself until the next day when asked about it on a radio show. In doing so, the Hotline notes, “O’Donnell . . . call[ed] it an “insult” to both Castle and his wife. In the process, though, she repeats the rumor several times.” [Emphasis added]

In the meantime, we have another problem.

The tea party movement has largely been about fiscal issues and the state of the country going forward. While the press has done its best to drag the tea party movement into the culture wars, the movement has wisely stayed above the fray, focusing on a handful of issues.

Racism, homophobia, bigotry, etc. have all been leveled at the tea party movement. There’s been no evidence. It’s all been lies.

And now we have this. A website billing itself as a hub for the tea party movement using something called “Tea Party HD” to boldly make accusations that Mike Castle is gay and having an affair.

This is Will Folks all over again. I don’t care if Mike Castle is meeting up with Larry Craig at Stallknockers.com for some Union Station visitation — without proof it is meaningless and even with proof it is a distraction from the issues and not helpful to tea party activists or Christine O’Donnell.

It’s amateur hour.

And I DO want to win elections, and I understand that not every state can give us Marco Rubios or Joe Millers.  But for Christine O'Donnell's supporters to be calling a 72 year old man gay is completely out of bounds and, like Erickson pointed out, forces the Tea Party to defend itself from the accsattions of racism and homophobia. 

I can and will gladly go to battle for a conservative even in an uphill struggle.  But we need candidates with ideas, with brains, and with honor.  O'Donnell seems to have none of those, instead running a phantom smear campaign against Mike Castle - who though clealry a lib-to-moderate is an honorable man who has been serving Delaware in public office since the 1960s.  He deserves to be treated with more respect, and so does the Tea Party that O'Donnell claims to represent. 

The Democrats have nominated a good candidate in Chris Coons, a young county executive with smarts and energy.  If Delaware Republicans could find a legit conservative - Bill Lee or Patrick Ballentine   - then yes, all hands on deck lets knock Castle out.  For me this isn't an argument about who can win and who can't, though clearly Castle can win this seat and O'Donnell more than likely cannot.

Comments

[Not Dick Cheney]

I would refer you to the Jim DeMint quote you have posted at the top of your blog. That tells you all you need to know.

As Sen. DeMint said, "We don’t have to settle for milquetoast Republicans".

The character of the state doesn't matter. Nominate true conservatives and they will win.

Everyone should get behind O'Donnell. All this background noise should not deter us from first turning the party to the right and then turning the country to the right.

Nominating a RINO like Castle is a lose-lose. It accomplishes nothing.

The Tea Party needs to get behind O'Donnell full force.

Go O'Donnell!

[Chris]

The quote pertains to people who are ethical as well. Ms. O'Donnell's financial issues, her campaign calling Castle gay . . . its not worthy of support. I'm all for conservatives, but I'm not willing to sell my soul for someone whom I'm convinced is simply not qualified for office.

[Dan]

Chris, you had better stop saying mean things about O'Donnell or you are going to be labeled an apostate and a RINO. The queen of the tea party herself has endorsed O'Donnell.

Apparently Bible Spice called in to Sean Hannity's show and gave him the "exclusive". She has endorsed O'Donnell.

Now if you attack O'Donnell you will be seen as attacking sister Sarah. Be careful. The mob may turn on you.

I love the tea people. They are so very much fun to watch. And they may well serve the public good by mitigating Republican gains in November.

The Republicans may come to regret creating the tea party. Dr. Frankenstein had some second thoughts about his monster too.