Crybabies for Kratovil

In a totally expected development, a staff member of Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (?-1) has formed a group calling themselves “Republicans for Kratovil”.  It appears that reporter Joe Gidjunis and the management of the Daily Times have signed up to be the group’s ad hoc publicity committee.  Why else would they bother to give a rump group of nominal Republicans (or closeted Democrats) in Kent County such prominent coverage?

There was never a question of the Daily Times‘ support for Gilchrest.  In all fairness, they should have.  Hardly an enclave of conservatism, our local paper had the perfect candidate in Gilchrest - liberal on social and environmental issues, moderate on fiscal and defense issues.  Unfortunately for them, but not for the people of the First District, their shining knight was showing signs of tarnish and lost.

Now they appear to be linking arms with a group led by paid Gilchrest staff to push the candidacy of Queen Anne’s States Attorney Frank Kratovil.  Why?  The answer is a simple one.  If Andy Harris wins in November, their beliefs will have been repudiated.

I have stated several times that Andy Harris was the best candidate running the worst campaign.  That’s not entirely true, but Gilchrest certainly ran a better race than Harris’.  Andy Harris was and is, BY FAR, the best candidate in this race.  He best represents the beliefs of the vast majority of voters in the First District.  Is the environment important?  Of course it is.  Is it more important to the majority of voters than taxes?  Illegal immigration?  Government spending?  The war on terror?  National defense?  No.  Harris is in sync with the majority of First District voters on all of these.  Unfortunately for Harris, his media consultants appeared to have only two arrows in their quiver (fiscal policy and immigration) and allowed the message to degenerate.

Now we have a small group of Gilchrest supporters who have swallowed the Kool-Aid and have disavowed the GOP because they lost a primary.  Fair enough, this is America.  Now the rubber has hit the road for Gilchrest and his senior staff.  Will he repudiate the actions of one staffer, and dismiss her, or will he remain silent?  Rep. Gilchrest should consider if this is the legacy that he wants to leave.

Some may argue that Gilchrest has no control over the actions of his staff.  The very fact that Karen Willis (founder of Crybabies for Kratovil) is prominently identified as a “Gilchrest aide” may infer that Gilchrest supports these efforts.  Does Gilchrest want to leave Congress as a statesman, or as an embittered loser who is using tax dollars (through paid staff) to provide aide and comfort to the very candidate that he had hoped to oppose in November.

cross posted at Salisbury News

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