Teabaggers Rag on Rigell
Here’s the Facebook message from the Hampton Roads Tea Party:
Hi Everyone-
We’ve been getting a bunch letters asking what the Hampton Roads Tea Party is doing about the primary election June 8. We have been meeting with and observing the candidates since mid-January. As time has gone on, the candidates have indeed differentiated themselves.
One candidate in particular, the GOP pick Scott Rigell we felt that we had to bring to your attention. Read below our “Scott Rigell Facts”. There is NO hearsay in any of them. They have all been validated. Rigell is still defending them.
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Scott Rigell Facts:
Scott Rigell is in the GOP –backed candidate for the 2nd Congressional District Primary race. His endorsements include Governor Bob McDonnell, Minority Whip Eric Cantor, and Former Massachusetts Govenor Mitt Romney. He is a pro-life social conservative. He’s a business man, not a lawyer. Sounds good so far, right?
There’s just a couple of problems:
Rigell, who promotes himself as a fiscally conservative Republican gave $1,000 o Barack Obama’s primary presidential campaign. (Source: Federal Elections Commission). Why did a “conservative” give money to such an extreme left wing candidate? In Rigell’s own words: “The thought of another Clinton in the White House was worse than Barack Obama”. And later, “…I was moved by his
rhetoric….”
As of Sunday May 16, 2010 (on his Facebook “Likes” page) – Rigell still stands by his “reasons”.
Does that sound like a fiscal, or even a socially conservative Republican?
But wait! There’s more!
Before that, Rigell gave $1,000 to then-gubenatorial candidate Democrat Mark Warner, (source: VPAP.org) who went on to sign into law the largest tax increase in Virginia’s history!
Does that sound like a fiscally conservative Republican?
But it gets worse. In 2002, Rigell bankrolled ($10,000!) the YES Campaign- a failed referendum that would raise the sales tax of Hampton Roads residents (that’s the 2nd district!). If passed, sales taxes in Hampton Roads would have increased by 22%!!! Rigell’s explanation: “I thought it was the best way to fund transportation in our area”. It was defeated by 62-38%. Hampton Roads residents said, “NO”!
Does that sound like a low tax, fiscally conservative Republican who says he’s against higher taxes?
Rigell is a successful car dealer. His dealership sold 107 cars and netted $444, 500 [stet] taxpayer dollars in the 3 Billion dollar Obama stimulus program “Cash for Clunkers”. Rigell said he had to do it for his business, because his customers demanded it. How can he bash the stimulus and bailouts and then profit by them?
Does that sound like a limited government, principled conservative Republican?
Rigell (along with Bob McDonnell) supported the creation of unelected regional transportation authorities which were deemed unconstitutional by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Does that sound like a fiscally conservative constitutional Republican?
Call Scott Rigell. 757.802.9936 or 757-496-4113.
Demand an explanation. Ask why his actions don’t match his talk.
Then vote your conscience on June 8.
Change in Washington begins with you.
Vote Tea Party values on June 8.
In Liberty-
Karen
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May 20th, 2010 at 4:23 am
Is the Hampton Roads Tea Party officially endorsing anyone, or just “voting their conscience?’”
May 21st, 2010 at 10:20 am
I’m just wondering if Tea Party members will consider voting for Blue Dog Democrat Glenn Nye over Rigell should Rigell win the primary. With Nye that get someone with a proven track record versus the promises of someone without a Congressional record to examine. Yes, Glenn voted for the TARP, but the TARP was proposed by George Dubyah Bush and I think he should praised for voting for it.
I will note that the Tea Party is not exclusively Republican. On NPR (National Public Radio) I noted that up in extremely conservative Idaho the Tea Party endorsed a Democratic candidate for office much to the dismay of the Republican party leaders in that state.
So there is some hope that the movement will not become a facade for Republican Party ideology. With that hope in mind I ask why not Glenn Nye?
May 21st, 2010 at 11:06 am
I hope you are right, but it seems unlikely.
A survey of Tea Party supporters found that 54% identify as Republicans, 41% say they are independents, and only 5% call themselves Democrats.
Rep. Nye has shown some independence from Democratic party priorities, voting against climate change and health reform legislation. We’ll see if that is enough to draw some Tea Party support.
May 21st, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Well I am hoping Glenn Nye appeals to that 41%! In actuality Tea Party members are a minority. However refusing to deal with the concerns of this significant minority invites more members of the deciding middle crowd to go along with them.
May 21st, 2010 at 1:20 pm
I think Nye would have better luck trying to motivate the majority in his district that voted for Obama, Warner, and him the last time to turn out and vote for him again.
May 22nd, 2010 at 5:32 am
But remember that the majority included a broad spectrum of the electorate. Please do not think all of those voters that voted for him last time hold the same opinions you have. An easy example is you and I. Both of us voted for Glenn last time but we do not always agree on everything.
May 22nd, 2010 at 6:40 am
They don’t all have to agree with me. All they would have to do is vote for the same candidate they did the last time.
May 24th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
How did Nye vote for something that passed before he was elected?
May 25th, 2010 at 2:54 am
Johnny,
Oops, you got me there. After a brief search I refreshed my memory. What happened is that about the first vote Glenn cast after he got in office was for the stimulus, not the TARP. In fact, he shortly thereafter voted against release of the 2nd half of TARP funding.
Personally, I was in favor of both TARP and the stimulus. As freight is now starting to pick up I am glad we have gotten our nation pointed in the direction of economic recovery. Even during the direst of times I was able to qualify for financing on the new truck I was forced to buy last year. Had it not been for some of the efforts our government made to keep the credit market flowing my tiny business might right now be out of business. Since I was willing to put my house up as collateral on the purchase of my new truck I got a great deal. I bought when few were willing to do so. Now my truck has 75,000 miles on it but with the improving outlook it is probably still worth more then I paid for it brand new! The truck dealerships are no longer desperate and will no longer be willing to cut the deal I got.
You can’t argue with success and the money is once again starting to flow in.
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May 28th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Let’s save this quote for re-release during the general election in November:
June 4th, 2010 at 11:20 am
I can’t wait to see Maulbeck endorse Rigell at the unity rally after the primary!
August 26th, 2010 at 4:59 am
Q. How long did it take the Hampton Roads Tea Party to go from “We feel the Republican political machine in Hampton Roads needs to be defeated” to “We can work with him because he can work with us.”
A. Three months.
January 15th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
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