GOP “Outsider” Raises More Questions Than Answers

Reading the lead of this morning’s Baltimore Sun piece by Paul West might make you think, as I did, that we’re about to be treated to another puff piece designed to help freshman 1st District Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD):

For more than a year, Republicans have been carefully plotting the ouster of Rep. Frank Kratovil of Maryland, one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the country.

Party strategists never expected to contend with Rob Fisher, however. An upstart candidate with an outsider message, the conservative businessman has emerged from obscurity, thanks to the most extensive TV ad drive of any Marylander running for Congress.

"We need to change what’s happening Washington," Fisher said in an interview. "The only way we can do that is by changing the kinds of people we send to Washington."

If so, you would be just as mistaken as I was.

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Harris / Kratovil Race Profiled on CNN

The battle for who will represent Maryland’s First Congressional District continues to grab national attention.  CNN recently profiled the race:

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Should Grassroots Conservatives Support the MDGOP?

Today, MDGOP chairwoman Audrey Scott begins her 5 day “Take Back Annapolis and Washington Town Hall Tour” with stops in Annapolis (noon, Conte-Lubrano) and Salisbury (6:30 PM, Wicomico Youth and Civic Center).  The tour criss-crosses Maryland and finishes up Friday in Bowie.

Scott is to be commended for her efforts.  If the MDGOP were a functioning party, I have no doubt that Scott would be an excellent chair.  Sadly, the MDGOP is not a functioning party and has little sign of becoming one in the near future.  Check out successful, conservative, state Republican parties.  They’re NOTHING like the MDGOP.

Why?  Grassroots conservatives have no say in how the party is governed and aren’t particularly welcome.  The party deliberately separates itself from the grassroots by promoting a layered, “big fish in a little pond” approach to governance.  At a recent county central committee meeting one member went so far as to claim that, “They (Tea Party activists) need us more than we need them.”  This fool obviously has never had any real experience in WINNING campaigns.  My money is on the folks that seem to be willing to knock on doors, make phone calls, and write letters.  That ain’t the folks who think that the Republican Party elects candidates in this state.

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Will Pipkin Run?

Some First District Republicans are wondering (and many First District liberals are hoping) that Maryland Sen. E. J. Pipkin (R-36) will enter the race to challenge Maryland Sen. Andy Harris (R-7) for the GOP nomination to oust wounded Democrat incumbent Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD).  Fueling the fires of speculation is the Baltimore Sun’s Maryland Politics blog.

Personally, I think Pipkin is too smart to get into this fray.  Pipkin is a good guy.  He’s built a moderately conservative voting record.  He’s shown himself to be a proven vote getter in a moderate – moderate / conservative legislative district.  However, short of running the table, there is only a downside of entering this race.

• Pipkin must give up his Senate seat to run.  Two years ago, Pipkin was able to run and not have to give up his seat in the legislature.  That’s not the case now.
• Pipkin’s a pretty smart politician.  Nomination politics are a world apart from general election politics.  Given Harris’s conservative base, Pipkin knows that driving turnout in a primary is going to be tough.
• If Pipkin enters the primary, loses AND Harris loses the general, Pipkin has to bear some (or even a lion’s share) of the blame.  I’m not arguing that this would be warranted OR fair.  I’m simply stating what would happen.  Pipkin has shown that he’s ambitious.  IF he jumps in, there are many conservative activists (the people who knock doors and make phone calls in the GOP) that would never support him in a future run.

EJ Pipkin has a unique opportunity before him this year.  By staying out of the First District house race, and campaigning for Andy Harris, Pipkin can win the gratitude and support of conservatives throughout the district for a future run.  Jumping in is “make or break”.  Pipkin has proven himself to be relatively prudent as a legislator (although I don’t always agree with him).  I expect that he will be prudent in making his plans for 2010.  Making those plans public sooner, rather than later, will be best for Pipkin, and the GOP.

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Media Monday – 20100104

While Maryland Sen. Andy Harris prepares to formally announce his candidacy to unseat freshman Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD), the Daily Times has decided to get an early start in promoting Kratovil’s re-election.

Starting off with a front page puff piece by Greg Latshaw in Sunday’s edition, the Daily Times makes their strategy for 2010 clear.  Kratovil and his Gannett allies are having a tough time defending his voting record, so the decision has been made to promote Kratovil as “independent” and lowering expectations for Kratovil.  This was a dominant theme of his 2008 campaign and Kratovil and the media are hoping that it might work again.

At least Latshaw’s piece was factual, if a tad fawning.  Sunday’s inside piece by Nicole Guadiano simply re-wrote Kratovil’s voting record.  The three biggest votes that Kratovil has cast to date are on the Obama PORKULUS bill, Cap & Tax, and ObamaCare.  Guadiano claims that Kratovil voted against PORUKLUS.  This simply isn’t true.  Kratovil did vote against the original House version but VOTED FOR the bill that was actually adopted.  (I wonder if DT Managing Editor Erick Sahler will print a correction on that one?)  Kratovil’s vote on Cap & Tax was neatly buried in the middle of the article.  As for voting against ObamaCare, we’ll give Kratovil SOME credit for that vote.  However, voters know that it was their dedication (exhibited by attending town hall meetings and calling Kratovil’s office) which yielded that vote.  Besides, Kratovil still has an opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama when the reconciliation bill is voted on.

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Andy Harris to Announce TOMORROW!

2009 has shown a lot to the voters of Maryland’s First District.  After narrowly electing Frank Kratovil to the US House, we have seen the man who CLAIMS to represent Eastern Shore values vote for the Obama PORKULUS bill, support the Barack Obama / Nancy Pelosi / Harry Reid appropriation bills, vote FOR ACORN before he voted AGAINST them, waiver on ObamaCare despite thousands of citizens turning out at town hall meetings and telling Kratovil NO, and kow-tow to radical environmental groups who have vowed destroy the poultry industry (collectively, Delmarva’s largest private employer).

Tomorrow, we have a chance to begin rectifying the mistake of sending Frank Kratovil to Congress.  Maryland Sen. Andy Harris (R-7) will announce his candidacy to replace Kratovil and give Maryland’s First District a Congressman that actually reflects our values.

On Tuesday, Harris will be travelling throughout the district.  You can meet him at:

10:00 AM
Silver Spring Mining Company
705 Bel Air Road
Bel Air, MD  21014

1:00 PM
Maryland Republican Party HQ
15 West Street
Annapolis, MD  21401

3:00 PM
Holiday Inn Express
8561 Ocean Gateway (US 50)
Easton, MD  21601

5:00 PM
East Coast Iron, Inc.
300 Moss Hill Lane
Salisbury, MD  21804

Come out.  Say hello, Show your support!  This is just the first step, but unless we want to continue to be represented by someone who listens to Nancy Pelosi and Martin O’Malley more than he does the voters of the First District we need to rally around Andy and work to get him elected.

The 2008 elections showed what happens when good men and women fail to act!  Our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be PAYING THE COST!

[photo courtesy of SbyNEWS]

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Harris to Announce Candidacy on Tuesday

Maryland Senator Andy Harris (R-7) will travel throughout Maryland’s First Congressional District to formally announce his candidacy for the US House on Tuesday, January 5,2010.  Harris will be meeting with fellow citizens at:

 

 

 

 

10:00 AM
Silver Spring Mining Company
705 Bel Air Road
Bel Air, MD  21014

1:00 PM
Maryland Republican Party HQ
15 West Street
Annapolis, MD  21401

3:00 PM
Holiday Inn Express
8561 Ocean Gateway (US 50)
Easton, MD  21601

5:00 PM
East Coast Iron, Inc.
300 Moss Hill Lane
Salisbury, MD  21804

After defeating incumbent Wayne Gilchrest in the GOP primary, Harris narrowly lost to Frank Kratovil in 2008.  In a poll taken before Thanksgiving, Harris led the incumbent, Rep. Frank Kratovil by a margin of 52% – 39%.

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Kratovil Raising Majority of Cash from Special Interests

Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) has built a sizable fundraising lead over his most likely opponent, Maryland Sen. Andy Harris.  Over 50% of donations received by Kratovil in the last quarter come from PAC’s.  According to the Baltimore Sun:

More than half of the Democratic incumbent’s donations – $119,600 – came from political action committees linked to some of the most heavily lobbied issues now before Congress. PACs representing health care companies, financial institutions, energy, defense and agriculture interests all contributed.

As a member of the Maryland legislature, Harris is prohibited from raising funds during the legislative session.  This, coupled with Kratovil’s incumbency, explain a portion of the fundraising gap.

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Andy Harris on WICO

Maryland Sen. Andy Harris stopped by to see Bill Reddish this morning on his way to work at PRMC.  As Reddish noted, Harris is in a unique position to comment on ObamaCare.  Andy is a physician; he’s a legislator; and he’s a citizen like the rest of us.

Andy’s take on ObamaCare?

“IT’S A FIASCO!”

“Unlike banks and car companies, a government takeover of our health care system will affect EVERYONE.”

Harris also noted that while proponents of ObamaCare repeatedly point to WHO studies that claim the American health care system IS NOT the best in the world, the rest of the world would seem to disagree.

“As a physician at Johns Hopkins I see patients who travel from all over the world to receive care HERE.”

Harris noted that when Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) was diagnosed with brain cancer, he didn’t travel to Canada or England for care.

When asked about rationing, Harris said it was simple – Everywhere else rations care.  When governments run out of money for health care (and they always do), the first thing they do is restrict hospital admissions.

“Can we improve our current system?  Yes.  That doesn’t mean we should go this route (ObamaCare).”

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Wrecking the Economy, Down … Socialized Medicine to Go

For those of us who live in Maryland’s First Congressional District, we should give a big thanks to “Blue Dog Frank” Kratovil for voting to grind our economy to a halt.  What’s next on the Obama – Pelosi – Kratovil agenda?  Socialized medicine.

Think about it; it’s a great combo.  Rather than sitting at home freezing because you can’t afford to pay for your heating bill, you can get in line at the doctor’s office to wait six months for anything but the most mundane care.

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