Posted on 08/10/2006 5:46:25 PM PDT by Coleus
Former Vice Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman’s loss in the Connecticut Democratic Senate primary may have grabbed the headlines, but Republican Congressman Joe Schwarz’s primary loss on Tuesday may create political waves just as big. Tim Walberg pulled off the rare feat of defeating an incumbent Congressman (by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin). The message from Michigan: the conservative base is tired of big-government Republicans.
Schwarz of course was backed or praised by much of the GOP establishment and business lobbying community. He also received help from liberal groups, labor unions, and the union-allied Republican Main Street Partnership. Schwarz’s loss is one more indication of the large gulf between the Washington GOP establishment and Republicans outside the Beltway. Just how out of touch that establishment can be is shown by the Republican Main Street Partnership laughably calling Schwarz a “Reagan Republican,” despite the fact that Schwarz had one of the worst fiscal records of any GOP Member in Congress.
Walberg received enormous backing from the Club for Growth and was endorsed by leading conservative and free market PACs (including NTU’s affiliated PAC). But the key to Walberg’s win lies in the conservative base, which recognized that as poor a record as Schwarz had compiled in his first term, it would only get worse if he beat back the expected primary challenge for his sophomore term. Schwarz’s support for more spending and bigger government would only have grown in succeeding years.
By nominating Tim Walberg, the voters in Michigan’s Seventh District sent a wake-up call to the GOP leadership in Washington about the importance of turning away from their profligate ways of recent years. Only time will tell if they hear it.
Mr. Berthoud is President of the 350,000-member National Taxpayers Union (www.ntu.org)
It's too bad the Club For Growth didn't try to help Ed Bryant in Tennessee.
Sounds like fairly boilerplate stuff. I think Bush will issue the same kind of endorsement for Walberg two years from now. >>>>
How about NOW. Walberg's election for congress is this November, 2006.
The Granola Gal who got the Democratic nomination had about 1/3 the votes Schwarz got. The die-hard voters turned out for the primaries and got the job done, namely voting out RINO Joe and replacing him with Walberg, who is far more representative of the district.
Walberg will win in November. He needs some support from the GOP, but I think money could be better spent in other races.
Good point! In a couple of weeks, after the dust has cleared, I certainly hope Bush gives Walberg a boost.
Where are you located? Munith, MI here!!
Norvell, down near Napoleon and Brooklyn. I lived on Dunn road till I was in the 3rd grade and grew up in Hanover after that.
I have a farm on Coon Hill Rd about 1/2 mile West from Dunn Rd. Small world, eh?
I'd also like to note that I got phone spammed repeatedly by Joe's campaign, even after I called up and insisted that I not be called.
Perhaps this is a wake-up to politicians who call us with pre-recorded phone messages ("phone spam"), letting them know that it doesn't work, and in fact is a real turn-off.
(PS - Sandstone Rd here).
Bush just don't get it when it comes to GOP primaries. RINOs need to get eliminated in the primaries - that's why we have them. The cardinal rule is for the establishment to stay out of primaries and back the conservative winners.
Once you get away from the war on terror, there's lots of stuff Bush doesn't get - like government spending, defending the borders, etc. The U.S. Attorney for West Texas (Johnny Sutton) that oversaw the prosecution of the border patrol agents who shot the Mexican drug dealer is a Bush appointee and even worked for Bush when he was governor of Texas.
You have me to thank here..I donate 25.00 a month. I'd say that was the clincher.
Belated thanks, bkepley. I don't live in the 7th district, but I was quite taken with the Club's commercials on the radio. I loved catchy fiesta tune that accompanied the message.
My only worry is, Dr. Schwarz will return to state politics.
This shows how arrogant Schwarz is. He has talked about writing his memoirs, as if anybody gives a crap about his life-story. Hopefully he goes that route, and stays out of politics.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.