Dan Benishek, an Iron Mountain surgeon and Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Michigan's 1st District, is shown during a candidates' forum in Marquette, Mich. on Oct. 14, 2010.
Posted on 10/17/2010 4:48:11 PM PDT by Libloather
GOP tries to seize opportunity with Stupak gone
By JOHN FLESHER
The Associated Press
updated 10/17/2010 1:00:53 PM ET
CHEBOYGAN, Mich. — Tea party activists rejoiced when Rep. Bart Stupak decided against seeking re-election after helping rescue President Barack Obama's health care plan. Now one of their own hopes to exact the ultimate revenge by winning Stupak's seat.
Michigan vast 1st District, which reaches across 600 miles of woodsy northlands, is usually an afterthought on the national political scene. But with the seat open for the first time in 18 years and control of the House at stake, Democrats and Republicans — and outside interest groups — are pouring in money and flooding the airwaves.
About $1.5 million had been spent on television ads through Oct. 5, the nonpartisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network said.
"It's one of the 15 priority races for us and in the top five," said Tom Tripp of the American Conservative Union.
Tripp supports Dan Benishek, a surgeon and political novice, who is the Republican nominee. His Democratic opponent is Gary McDowell, a hay farmer and three-term member of the state House. Also running is independent candidate Glenn Wilson, a software entrepreneur.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Stupak sold out the American people for a GD airport in exchange for obamacare. I wished he ran so we could see his face when he loses to Benishek.
as I recall, the tea party were looking forward to kicking stupidpak’s butt in the upcoming election...instead, he took the coward’s way out...
Stupak and Grayson are too mean liars. I want them to be gone more than anyone else I can think of.
Nope I’m wrong I’m thinking of the Dem running in PA.
Benishek is admittedly one of my favorite challengers in this cycle. He crosses me as a genuine, average person who is running out of a desire to serve his country and try to right the many wrongs of our government. The best part is that he’s not a politician, either. We need more men and women like him, and thankfully, others are stepping up to the plate this time around.
Yeah, unfortunately, lots of people say they want regular, average people to run for office and kick out the professional politicians - but I am not so sure the majority of people actually vote that way.
Most of the regular folks are simply too unpolished to do very well in debates and on the campaign trail. They are prone to gaffes and making election killing mistakes that seasoned professional politicians rarely make.
Given the choice between 2 potential nominees, where both are at least reasonable choices, and I'm afraid I pretty much have to go with the professional politician. There just isn't enough room for error and we just don't have time for amateur hour.
So you are choosing the Democrat?
Of course not, how on earth did you pull such a conclusion from my comments.
The point is, during the primary process it is important to factor in how a candidate will hold up in debates, in interviews, etc, etc. Amateur candidates simply don't do so well. People often claim they just want a "regular person", but I see no actual evidence they will go easy on a novice and cut them very much slack. They've come to expect the kind of polish only a professional politician can deliver. I am wary of nominating untested candidates to run for offices that are above the local level - in many cases they just don't hold up all that well.
When it comes to the general election, I will always vote for the Republican. I'd vote for a head of lettuce before I'd cast a ballot for a Democrat.
I’m afraid too...for people like you....”professional”?.....well that says it all
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