I hear you!!! Got sick of it and ran for office. Spent four years begging for money and heard “you can’t win against an incumbent.” The state party was kind enough to suggest a campaign manager to use -— a quick google search found that he was a convicted felon for embezzling the funds of former candidates he “managed.” Incumbent could speak at venues during the campaign where I was prohibited, by virtue of his incumbency -— while I was only a candidate and therefore a “political” speaker which would violate the 501C3. The big groups that you would think would help, especially for a candidate that would advance their stated issues and values, are only offering a place to spend campaign cash at the end of the day. My first campaign must have worried them a bit, because they “bought” someone to run against me the second time around to parrot everything I was saying and offering -— to confuse and split the vote. Spent four years giving it my best shot to run against the incumbent, plus the state party, plus the NRCC. Learned lots and lots of things in that four years. Politics is a blood sport no matter what level.
Colonel, And I heard you, sir! Thank you for giving it a go.
Your comments are spot on and THAT’S WHY good people need to get into the machinery of the parties and throw out the scoundrels and Neidermeyers!
Over the years – when, to steal a line from Billy Joel, I wore a younger man’s clothes – I was involved with several pretty solid conservative candidates for Congress. One – Lawrence Patton McDonald — was a Democrat – because that was the only way he could win in that district (and that was when most Democrats – while their ideas were drifting left – still loved America). Those old-timers who know Larry’s record will tell you that he was a solid an anti-communist America Firster and more Republican than the Pubbies in nearby districts at the time. (His mother’s cousin was General George Patton from whom he got the middle name – and his incredible resolve and love of this country.) How ironic that he, like General Patton, was also assassinated by the communists they both despised. It was my honor to introduce Larry at his last public speech in the district before that ill-fated KAL007 flight!
Those other candidates ran as Republicans and each had to pass my rigid litmus test or I went looking for someone who did. For that reason, I hooked up with what the TRADITIONAL country club Pubbie establishment types believed were too radical for their refined tastes. I served as treasurer for several and in other capacities for more.
As those campaigns began to unfold and it became clear to the country clubbers that these guys 1) had a shot and 2) were pretty independent thinkers who would be hard to keep on the reservation once they got sworn in, the local Pubbies communicated that information to the Republican National HQ types who rather quickly sent in campaign “professionals” ostensibly to lock up the impending victory.
Instead, in nearly every case to which I was privy, these “professionals” proceeded to TORPEDO our guy’s campaign in subtle but effective ways.
From that experience I can tell you that the Pubbies at the HQ in D.C. would rather have a Democrat win a given district than have a pubbie up there who would embarrass them by refusing to follow the increasingly socialist big government party line.
If YOU become involved in campaigns for solidly conservative, America and Constitution loving, hard-nosed, independent thinking candidates in 2014 and beyond – and I pray many of you do — please DO NOT trust any of those folks from GOP HQ in Washington. If they want to send you no-strings cash for your campaign, take it. If, however, they “suggest” sending in one of their “professionals,” tell them to fuggetaboutit.
They ARE WHO GOT US INTO THIS MESS AND THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS!!!!
“The common and continual mischief of the spirit of Party is
sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to
discourage and restrain it.” G. Washington
(BTW, My genealogical research informs me that my 5th great-grandfather, one John Carpenter, was one of George Washington’s Virginia neighbors and fought with GW in the French and Indian War and the Revolution. Prior to that, John traveled with GW during his survey of the Northwest Territories.)
>> they “bought” someone to run against me the second time around to parrot everything I was saying and offering -— to confuse and split the vote.
Wow, that’s devious.