One Unique Republican Doctor’s Mission to Heal America is Also Just What’s Needed to Heal the GOP

Canada Free Press ^ | 08/15/08 | Yomin Postelnik

[Yomin Postelnik]

They are not natural politicians, but people from all walks of life who have a grounded understanding of the issues and propose well thought out and common sense solutions. One of them is significantly worthy of mention. He’s Dr. Marion Thorpe Jr., former Chief Medical Officer of the State of Florida.

Dr. Thorpe is a community leader and finds himself in a rare seat that the GOP can realistically pick up (The district, while heavily Democratic and currently being served by Democratic Representative Alcee Hastings for 16 years , has a very low voter turn out. Recent migration of large numbers of Republican seniors to the district also bodes well). More importantly, Thorpe is one candidate who can greatly enhance the Republican image.

[Clintonfatigued]

I wish the good doctor well.

[fieldmarshaldj]

This is a Civil Rights Act district. There’s almost not a rats chance in hell a Republican (Black or otherwise) will win this seat this year with those Justice Dept-mandated lines, especially with Obama at the top of the Dem ticket. It’s unlikely Dr. Thorpe will get any $$ from the party (sadly typical of the treatment many Black GOP candidates get) as they are ignoring Col. West in the nearby Fort Lauderdale district which IS Republican-leaning, and as a result, he’ll be lucky to get above 25% of the vote.

[Yomin Postelnik]

Thanks for the pings. He’s quite a candidate.

[freekitty]

They need to start somewhere.

[freekitty]

Maybe we can start a trend here.

[fieldmarshaldj]

True. It’s too much a problem, sadly, of too little, too late. There are too many political corpses of ignored and forgotten Black Republicans around. :-(

[Yomin Postelnik]

I’m here on the ground and there’s some news on all fronts. While the NRCC has totally dropped the ball, which is as ridiculous a move as can be because both of those candidates can do wonders for the GOP nationally, the local chairmen have been doing a good job, especially Broward County’s Chip LaMarca, who’s the model for how a local party Chair should be. The support among locals is also growing. Allen West’s district 22, that you mentioned is still leaning Republican and he seems poised to win, with no thanks to the national or state party (just the counties). FL-23, where Dr. Marion Thorpe is running against Alcee Hastings is also a surprising pick-up possibility, in some ways even more than seemingly closer races. There’s a huge number of new Cuban seniors and the African-American community recognizes that there needs have not been served. They see that whenever Hastings does try to do something that would benefit them, he doesn’t have the influence to. They’re fed up and they recognize Thorpe’s sincerity. It’s a district that has always had a record low voter turnout. Add to that the students Thorpe’s recruited and the new Republican seniors and we have an upset. The Dems realize this and no longer list the seat as protected.

[Yomin Postelnik]

Yes - definitely.

[Impy]

I still can’t believe an impeached judge was elected to Congress.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I don’t want to diminish what’s being done down there, since as they say, you’ve got to start somewhere, but the money issue and demographics remain a problem (for Col. West in the former, for Dr. Thorpe in the latter, as well as former). Ron Klein will have an obscene amount of money to buy his reelection with and I wouldn’t be surprised if he outspends Col. West by a 10-to-1 margin, and there’s going to be almost no way to overcome that sort of advantage in a general election. West may make it to 40%+, but it’s going to be nearly impossible to close that gap. Add to the fact there is no critical mass of anger at the Democrat Congress and that’s one more reason we’re going to fare poorly in November unless the equation is changed (as it is, I only expect the former Mark Foley seat to flip back to us in FL, but even that is no guarantee).

In the case of Dr. Thorpe, he may have to turn out upwards of 125k voters to upend Hastings in that seat, and that sort of turnout will be practically impossible, especially with no money.

There’s another FL Black Republican running against freshman Kathy Castor in the 11th, Eddie Adams, Jr., which is a rematch election from ‘06 (but Adams was obliterated by a 70-30% margin).

We have to worry about holding what we have in FL, and the Dems are making a serious play for Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s seat with ex-Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez. The Dems will be flush with cash and looking to pick off seats like this.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Absolutely appalling. It’s sickening and hypocritical when the rodents speak of the “Republican Culture of Corruption” when for every 1 of ours of questionable nature, there’s 100 of theirs, and they’re usually worse and almost always continually reelected.

[BillyBoy]

When I was reading the headline, I clicked on this thread thinking it was another "Steve Sauerberg is the man, send him so money so he can beat Dick Durbin...we'll just avoid mentioning in this post that he's 38 points behind and less conservative than an eggplant"

Glad to see it's not another vanity trying to con freepers into throwing away their money and time for that RINO. ::wipes brow::

[fieldmarshaldj]

Careful, now. Sauerberg might take you off his Christmas card list. ;-)

[Yomin Postelnik]

I hear you, but there's a lot to be said for on the ground campaigns. They've often been successful. In 22, West has been having tons of fundraisers out of state and in 23, Hastings doesn't have much cash on hand and voters are fed up. Thorpe and West can also point to the inaction of Hastings and Klein on gas prices (other than that whole party previously wanting to tax gas even further). They're key players in blocking sensible energy legislation and that's about all they've done. That issue resonates with voters here and like '94, these two districts may well be carried on voter sentiment. But most importantly, both those candidates can do wonders to draw minority and middle class voters to the GOP, not just because they're minorities. Mainly because of their tremendous platform and their character. We can't play a game of defense. Doing so is disastrous. By playing offense we help the GOP image and automatically the shaky seats become safer.

[Impy]

Have you even seen a tv ad for Sauerberg ? Why does he need money if he isn’t going to spend it? The only advertising I’ve seen from him were banner ads at of all places Democrapic Underground!

[Yomin Postelnik]

I don’t know who Sauerberg is (although if Dan Rather were running against Ticks Turban I’d rather Dan as they say) but Dr. Thorpe is one great candidate. He’s got an excellent initiative going at http://www.HealAmericaWithThorpe.com and it’s worth taking a look at.

[Wilhelm Tell]

If the GOP leadership only directs resources to those who are highly likely to win, that is self-defeating. To grow, the GOP will have to pick off vulnerable Democrats and not just try hard to re-elect folks in "safe" seats. The Republicans need to play offensive and not just defensive all the time. Playing defensive means the GOP only wins if the Democrats make a serious mistake. If there is a strong grassroots movement for a Republican candidate, that means the Democrats have to spend more resources to keep a "safe" seat, and there is the possibility of an upset.

Hastings sees citizens as serfs. I understand he has repeatedly sponsored legislation that would ban all guns - if you are an ordinary citizen and don't turn in your guns, you get an automatic life sentence! It would be great to unelect someone with such a tyrannical mindset.

[Yomin Postelnik]

Playing offense also diverts funds from other Dem. races. I’ve never seen a national party with such a poor offensive strategy. We have so many good guys we should be rallying around and instead, nada from the NRCC. It’s a problem. Didn’t hear that about Hastings and guns btw, but if so he’s truly off his rocker and dangerous.