Duncan Hunter's Long-Shot Conservative Bid

RealClearPolitics ^ | George Will

[Antoninus]

WASHINGTON -- When Bob Hunter, a Riverside, Calif., businessman, would hear of a conservative's campaign that needed volunteers, he would pile his family into the station wagon and drive off to ring doorbells. Hunter's son Duncan grew up believing in retail politics.

When Hunter returned home after serving as an alternate Goldwater delegate at the 1964 Republican convention in San Francisco, he told Duncan about chatting with another alternate, an amiable fellow, some actor, named Reagan. Who two years later was elected governor. Duncan learned early on about rapid upward mobility in politics.

In 1969, he dropped out of college, joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. From there he mailed his pay to a friend who purchased for him an island in Idaho's Snake River, where Duncan farmed after his discharge. Then another friend said a San Diego law school would admit him without a college degree. In 1980 he was a lawyer with a storefront office in San Diego's Hispanic community when his father walked in and told him he could be a congressman. Never mind, his father said, that this district was only 29 percent Republican. Reagan was at the top of the ticket.

Duncan says his Baptist minister, respecting the separation of church and state, told parishioners they should vote for the Reagan of their choice. They distributed 400,000 Duncan brochures. Today Duncan is in his 14th term representing eastern San Diego County. Three weeks ago he formally launched his presidential candidacy.

Why does he think he can become the first House member elected president since James Garfield in 1880? Why does he think he can do better than the two strongest House candidates in recent elections?...

"For some candidates,'' Hunter says, "the conservative constituency is an inconvenience. For me, it is my hope.''

[bushfamfan]

That proves my point that Hunter comes across really well and especially in these times. He would be the best to put forward because I think he could do a great job in standing up for the principles and is very likeable. And people ARE impressed with personal story and military service.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Join the "Duncan Hunter for 08'" ping list!

It keeps on rolling...

[Guenevere]

bttt for Hunter!

[alicewonders]

Enough of this you CAN'T.

Yes, it seems there are even those here on FR that try to say Hunter CAN'T win - I think in an attempt to discourage those of us who are tired of holding our noses when we vote. CAN'T never could, unless it tried - and that's what we're doing now. We're trying our best, and no matter what happens - we won't be kicking ourselves - wondering if we could have, if we had just tried.

I admire Duncan Hunter for taking this huge step & I wish him the best of luck. He has everything going for him, if we will all put his name out there. He's a hard one for the other candidates to put down - so they will concentrate on putting each other down - while he quietly stays out of the fray & gathers momentum. I will work hard for him.

GO DUNCAN HUNTER !!!

[william clark]

Not everyone knows who Duncan is because they don't read FR.

True, but many of those people do read The Washington Post (George Will's column), and watch ABC (Stephanopolous), CNN (Wolf Blitzer), Fox News, etc.; and listen to Rush Limbaugh, who has begun speaking favorably of Hunter.

[alicewonders]

Not everyone knows who Duncan is because they don't read FR.

That's where we have to carry the torch for Hunter - we all have friends & family that only get their news from CNN, Fox, or the 3 networks. Those are the people we have to spread the word to - I know my friends & family are sick of the candidates we've had to choose from lately. I'm telling them about Hunter.

[william clark]

Exactly right.

[OB1kNOb]

Thanks guys for all you do to post new info each day about Duncan Hunter. He's the first Republican I've gotten encouraged about since Reagan. The more I read of him the more I like him. I've got to do more to get his name out there for others to consider.

[Antoninus]

I've got to do more to get his name out there for others to consider.

We've all got to do that if we want him to have a chance. I've been emailing my personal lists with Hunter info as it comes up. I recommend that you all do the same.

Also, call in to talk radio and keep mentioning Hunter! Tell the host what impresses you the most about him. Even if you don't get on the air, it makes an impression.

[Antoninus]

We smoke them early and often.

Oh, don't get me wrong. Hunter can't run a stealth campaign. He's got to go on offense and attack them. But he should concentrate his fire on the strongest one at any given time. It doesn't help us if two of the three drop out and the liberal GOP voters coalsce around one of them.

What's vital is that we unify behind one guy some time between now and next January. I'm happy to have that guy be Hunter if he proves himself to be successful at attracting the attention of the base.

[Antoninus]

Hunter's only real negative is his lack of exposure, and he's gaining ground on that every day.

Indeed. He's already a contender on FR. The trick is to move that out beyond the FR echo chamber and out into the general public. Considering Hunter doesn't seem to have the financing to do a major ad campaign (at least not yet), the only way to do it is via grassroots activism.

That's you and me, for those of you in Rio Linda....

[Antoninus]

"Will you support Rudy Giuliani if he is the party nominee?"

Gee, when asked if he would support George Pataki over Mario Cuomo in 1994, Rudy Giuliani said, "no thanks."

The GOP owed no loyalty to this fraud.

[Antoninus]

Yes that's possible but there have to be massive grassroots movement to get the name "Duncan Hunter" or other like-minded Conservative out there so sheeple will know who he is. Not everyone knows who Duncan is because they don't read FR.

A grassroots campaign is absolutely vital as it's becoming increasingly clear that the so-called "conservative" media is in the tank for Giuliani. We need to make them remember who their audience is.

[Antoninus]

This might sound kind of a like hostile question, just letting you know up-front, but what is Hunter's stance on free trade/international commerce?

Hunter describes himself as a "fair trader" in the style of Ronald Reagan. I'm comfortable with that, personally.

[Antoninus]

I have to think that even the Stupid Party can figure this one out. A lot of conservatives were suspicious of W. But, we swallowed our spit and went for him. He, at least mouthed the right words.

This is why I'm convinced that the Democrats and MSM are behind this surge of media article touting Rudy. They know he's a sacrificial lamb in a general election and want him so bad they can taste him.

Rudy chops, anyone?

[Antoninus]

I agree with the assessment. Apparently you must be his campaign manager,because you more than anyone else is promoting his cause.

Nope. I sent them a donation and have signed up to be a volunteer. That's it so far.

I like his politics, but there is just something about him that I don't like. I just haven't been able to put my finger on it.

Just woman's intuition, eh?

[Antoninus]

We are at a turning point in our country and with the GOP in what direction we are going in. If conservatives don't stand up for their principles now, we are going to be settling on these naysayers saying conservatism CAN'T win because the public wants liberalism.

That's exactly what has happened here in NJ. They liberals running the GOP here say that a conservative can't win. Yet, their liberal golden-boys only manage to garner in the low-40% range in election after election.

Anyone who wants to bring that model of defeat and demoralization to the federal level should definitely be on the bandwagon for Rudy McRomney.

[SeaBiscuit]

From the article speaking of campaign finances: "But he says, "I kind of know what I stand for'' so "I don't need consultants, and that saves a lot of money.'"

I really like that.. Hunter seems to have a true humble and honest Abe manner of speaking without all the self-promoting vapors..

A good man CAN WIN!

[Antoninus]

And people ARE impressed with personal story and military service.

That's what got me on the bandwagon in the first place. This guy is the real deal. Not a phony-baloney media candidate.

[Antoninus]

I know my friends & family are sick of the candidates we've had to choose from lately. I'm telling them about Hunter.

Me too. We need about a million more of us doing this....