Posted on 05/08/2010 6:44:29 AM PDT by DB9
As everybody knows by now, yesterday Governor Palin endorsed Carly Fiorina in the California Senate GOP primary. This caused some controversy as some Tea Partiers prefer California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore. DeVore's campaign has been quite childish in their reaction to Governor Palin's decision to endorse Fiorina, something we have documented rather extensively here, here, and here.
This evening Mr. DeVore appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews. Not knowing much about Mr. DeVore and given all the commotion his campaign has created in the past 24 hours, I decided to tune in to Old Tingle Leg's show to see what DeVore was all about. I was, at best, underwhelmed. Naturally, the first topic Matthews discussed with DeVore was abortion. I have provided an excerpt from the show's transcript below (emphasis mine):
MATTHEWS: Is Carly Fiorina pro-life, like you are?
DEVORE: Well, she says she is. She`s a fairly recent convert to the cause.
MATTHEWS: No,no, no, no. No, I don`t know -- I don`t care what you -- what you say she says. I`m asking you. Is she like you?
DEVORE: The difference is the track record. I have a track record and she doesn`t.
MATTHEWS: OK. Again, I`ll try the question by you. This is sort of an interesting show, where we ask a question...
DEVORE: Yes. No. Of course.
MATTHEWS: ... and somebody has to answer it. Is Carly Fiorina pro- life or not?
DEVORE: Again, she says she is.
MATTHEWS: No, you`re not answering -- no, why...
DEVORE: I have the book (ph) to prove it. There`s a difference.
MATTHEWS: Well, why don`t you give me the difference between the BS we get on this show sometimes...
DEVORE: No, no!
MATTHEWS: ... and a truth-teller? Is your opponent -- because this is a big fight out there. I want you to explain your position.
DEVORE: Chris -- Chris, we don`t know.
MATTHEWS: You`re pro-life. Is your opponent? You don`t know?
DEVORE: We don`t know. She`s never had to vote on any of the issues. I`m a proven leader. She`s an unknown quantity. It`s as simple as that.
This is surreal. In reading the transcript, the basis for DeVore's claim seems to be that since Fiorina has never been a politician, she has never had to vote on abortion related issues and, therefore, we can't say for sure what her position on the issue is: "Chris, we don't know". In other words, since he is a politician with a "track record", he's more trustworthy or something. This is a novel argument for a Tea Party candidate to make. By that criterion, we should only vote for career politicians since only they have political track records. Private citizens who've never been politicians can't be trusted since they're an "unknown quantity" and, therefore, need not apply. This is, at best, a feeble argument on DeVore's part. An argument which would hold no water at the Tea Parties I've been to where private citizens are trusted far more than politicians.
In addition, someone (Josh Trevino perhaps?) may want to break the news to Devore that Carly Fiorina has been endorsed by the following pro-life organizations who don't endorse candidates who aren't, well, pro-life:
National Right To Life Committee The California Pro Life Council Susan B. Anthony’s List
Update: A commenter posted the following in this evening's "Quote of the Day" Hotair thread:
DeVore does not and did not stand a hope in hell of beating Campbell… so all Tea Partiers line up to the left to leap off the cliff holding a copy of the Tea Party Death Wish Proclamation.
Latest polls…
Campbell 32 Carly 28 De Vore 14
Idiots… De Vore, with all that Tea Party support has gone no where in the last few months… are really that stupid? You want Campbell to win? Idiots.
The only smart one in this is Sarah Palin… as usual. She does not kiss anyone’s ass… not even the Tea Party. Either you support her or you don’t… she will not be swayed or blackmailed into doing something that does not make any sense to her. Get used to it. She is a true leader with the guts to make the hard decisions… not kiss 10 asses at the same time like most politicians.
You are basing an entire blog entry on the inability of DeVore to be able to read Fiorina's mind?
DeVore is stupid. Mathews used him to divide conservatives against Palin.
This is an asinine statement.
DeVore going on Chrissy’s show is a mark against him.
Nice post. I’m glad someone put this in perspective.
There’s a side where all candidates must be four square on all issues.
I think there should be key issues. This Devore sounds like an idiot.
Now, explain why Palin is endorsing McCain....
Just like Nevada...why's the TP supporting Angle? Lowden (RINO?) and Tarkanian (Conservative?) are ahead, right?
(just wondering)
Gee, that's news to me, all my life I have thought I was pro-life, but since I haven't voted on it, I can't be. What do you know!
I am severely disappointed to see this kind of tripe put up on Citizens for Palin. Sarah should immediately jettison the two-bit hatemonger who came up with it. In the past, Sarah has made sure to abide by Reagan’s 11th Commandment.
This person is like that Wallace vixen in the McCain campaign who back stabbed Sarah. And sooner or later, he is going to do Sarah real damage. Deep-six this guy before it’s too late. Sarah. Sarah made her point by endorsing Fiorino. No need to savage his opponent.
Tarkanian (Crook) There fixed it.
Chuck who?
I agree. Only an idiot would go on Matthews show. Forget De Vore.
That's not what he said.
I agree.
That said what the heck is DeVore doing, going on Matthew's show, and playing right into Matthew's agenda like a chump?
The fact that is known is that Campbell is only slightly preferable to Boxer. Sarah waited until the handwriting was on the wall that DeVore has no further chance. She has now entered the battle with the sole objective of defeating the liberal Campbell (and then Boxer). Bill Buckley agrees:
"Even William F. Buckley insisted he was merely for the most conservative candidate electable. In politics, when you make the perfect the enemy of the good, you open the door to something even worse".
Because like anything, the TP has become compromised...and who are these TP people who supposedly speak for all of us?
I often wonder the same thing. I guess it comes down to two things: The want whatever publicity it brings or they think they will actually be treated fairly.
Of course, there is the third thing: They are just plains stupid. I don't think DeVore fits that category.
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