I suupose the best place to start here is, of course, at the beginning. The beginning, for me, was November 17th of 2008, when I first posted my campaign platform for Virginia’s 5th on this very blog. The roller coaster ride since then is largely unknown to most in the district, apart from my early supporters, and bears little relevance to the current topic. Suffice to say that, from where I stand, there is ample reason and room for me to turn this post into a mammoth “I told you so.” I shall attempt to refrain from doing so.
Okay, I lied. What the HELL were you thinking, primary candidates? Did I not clearly describe way back in March, in the 1st “Fisticuffs” post, exactly what would happen if all of you insisted on staying in the race? But even those polling at less than 5% continued on, fully conscious of the outcome they alone can be held culpable for. To those candidates I say: You are just as deluded now as you were then, if you think you will gain any future political foothold here in the Fighting Fifth. Arrogance is the biggest problem in DC, and your flagrant display of egotism in mucking up this primary will come back to haunt you later. Mark my words. (My track record of predictions is pretty good so far.)
Now, with that off my chest, on to the main point of this post: refuting the rampant rumor, incessant innuendo, and ferocious fear-mongering in this general election cycle.
First, the rumors. Right off the bat, let’s put to bed this ridiculocity (high velocity ridiculous) of Jeff Clark being a “Perriello plant.” Anyone who has held (or heard) more than a 2-minute conversation with Jeff knows this is an asinine assertion, even as it dribbles from their lips like so much vomit. Jeff is a solid conservative, with an excellent working knowledge of the Constitution and a firm grasp on our nation’s first principles. Furthermore, if he had been hand-selected by Perriello to split the Republican (or, more accurately, the anti-incumbent) vote, you would expect JStreet Tommy to have laundered at least SOME cash into Jeff’s campaign for signs, stickers, and ads. Yet, we have seen none of those.
The fact of the matter is ths: Yes, Jeff was “planted” in the 5th District general election race- by the voters in the June primary who knew full well that Jeff would only run if Hurt was the nominee. Rather than blaming Jeff for this and trying to bully him out of the race, you should take this as a lesson learned. And, should we face the same kind of crowded field next time around, maybe you’ll start the bullying in the primary, when it could have a positive impact, rather than making you look like the arrogant exclusionary party shills you are.
Other rumors: Jeff is portraying himself as “the Tea Party candidate.” An outright lie. Jeff cannot control what the media puts out, and it is hypocritical of the Tea Party loyalists (who, lest we forget, constantly denigrate the “lame stream media” as leftist shills) to expect ANY conservative to be able to get a fair shake in that same media, much less control their content.
Jeff has said numerous times, in various interviews and personal conversations, that he is nothing but the independent candidate, and has further reiterated that the “Tea Party” as such has no candidate. Case closed.
On to the innuendo: Jeff’s presence in the race helps Perriello. Where to begin with this one? Well, first off- this implies that Jeff’s candidacy hurts Hurt. How can that be, if he is such a ridiculous and “unviable” candidate? How could little old Jeff Clark, with no money and no name recognition, possibly pull enough votes from long-time-local-politician-with-deep-family-roots-in-the-area-and-financial-plus-moral-support-from-household-name-national-Republican-leaders Robert Hurt?
The question answers itself: because there are perhaps just enough people (out of the nearly 53% who did NOT vote for Hurt in the primary) who are leery enough of Robert to take a chance on Jeff. Again, NOT Jeff’s doing, mush less his fault. If the GOP had been content to merely be onlookers from their ivory tower, rather than using it as a vantage point to treat the 5th District like their own little chess board, moving pawns about at their whim, perhaps we wouldn’t have ended up with an empty suit as our GOP nominee.
Cry me a freaking river and, again, I told you so.
Finally, some local pundits have peered down their noses with disdain at Jeff Clark’s 2,300 petition signatures to qualify for ballot access. To them I say, “Go do it yourselves, then we’ll chat.” The fact of the matter is, you can’t simply “stand in front of WalMart” for “a few hours” and gather 2,300 signatures for ANYthing, much less a Congressional race that’s over 8 months away. Especially when the petition requires a name and address, both of which are jealously guarded in this age of identity theft.
I also find it absolutely hilarious that certain conservatives in the Fifth (who presumably stand for individual liberty, above all else) have taken it upon themselves to demonize, bully, name-call, and borderline slander those of us who, in exercising our individual liberty, have chosen to support Jeff. Talk about a classic “pot meets kettle” scenario.
For God’s sake, folks! Who, pray tell, is watching the WatchDog?
Stay tuned for more…
Bradley S. Rees
