Posted on 08/09/2006 9:07:42 AM PDT by Kieri
Schwarz loses in heated primary Wednesday, August 09, 2006 By Susan J. Demas sdemas@citpat.com -- 768-4927
Standing in the birthplace of the Republican Party, Tim Walberg vowed Tuesday his resounding victory would deliver the GOP back to its "traditional roots."
The former state lawmaker vanquished U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, 53 percent to 47 percent, in the 7th District congressional primary. They faced off in the 2004 primary, which Schwarz won and Walberg finished third.
"For two years, the electorate was frustrated at the results of the last election," Walberg, 55, told a crowd of 300 supporters at Daryl's Downtown restaurant in Jackson.
"This was about a clear contrast between a conservative and a liberal."
With an ad blitz topping $3 million between the candidates, this was the most hotly contested congressional race in Michigan.
Schwarz, 68, outspent the Tipton preacher by more than 2-to-1.
But even President Bush's stamp of approval couldn't boost the incumbent, a surgeon, Vietnam veteran and former CIA spy.
It was a night of high-profile primary defeats, with Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut also going down in flames.
Analysts hailed Walberg's underdog triumph a national bellwether.
"Moderates are a dying breed," said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics. "They're not going to be elected."
Walberg's victory in November is considered a near-lock in the solidly Republican district.
The 'L' word
The "liberal" label dogged the freshman congressman throughout the race, fueled by a more than $500,000 ad campaign by the pro-business lobby Club for Growth.
The Washington-based group proclaimed Schwarz its top target, launching the Web site JoeSchwarzIsALiberal.com.
Schwarz committed social-conservative heresy by backing abortion rights and voting against a federal amendment banning gay marriage.
That cost him the votes of many, including Susie Soloc, 60.
"Tim Walberg is a conservative Christian," the Rives Township homemaker said. "His pro-life stance is important to us."
Schwarz said "distortions and fabrications" of his voting record -- especially on abortion, taxes and immigration -- helped cost him the election.
"You have a one-issue group with unlimited funding," the Battle Creek Republican said. "I did what I thought was right. I will not compromise on principle. I will not pander."
The breakdown
The Democrats didn't deliver.
Schwarz had hoped crossover votes would be his salvation, as they were in the six-way race two years ago. Former state Sen. Jim Berryman, D-Adrian, was charged with getting out the vote.
Walberg handily carried Jackson County -- the largest voting bloc in the district -- with 54 percent to 46 percent. He also took Branch, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties by strong margins, leaving Schwarz to make up the difference in Calhoun, Eaton and Washtenaw counties.
He couldn't.
By 10:30 p.m., Schwarz could see the writing on the wall, one hour before conceding the race.
"We didn't get enough 'oomph' in places we really needed it," he told 200 boosters at Schuler's restaurant in Marshall.
Ballenger said the congressman's "anger and arrogance" caught up with him.
"This is a real personal rebuke to Joe Schwarz," he said.
Still, the pundit doubted that Walberg's boilerplate of slashed spending would deliver much for the 7th District.
"I see him as a weak congressman -- a back burner," Ballenger said. "I'd be surprised if he's much of a force in Washington."
The morning after
Amid the jubilant celebration -- where Walberg joked to supporters, "Don't get me preachin'" -- the pastor struck a tone of reconciliation for the severed GOP.
"Traditional values aren't meant to divide people. They're to unite people," he said. "We need to open our arms to make room for people who support the Republican platform."
But Walberg's victory could be bad news in the long run for the GOP.
James Agee, co-director of the Michigan Policy Leadership Program at Michigan State University, doesn't buy that Walberg can bridge the party divide as Schwarz did -- which could make some moderates flee to the Democrats.
"Every time you require people to be in lock-step, it's bad for the party," said Agee, a former Democratic state legislator from Muskegon.
Lifelong Republican Sherry Swan, 59, isn't revoking her party membership.
But the Schwarz backer doesn't plan to punch her ballot for Walberg.
"He's an extremist, and he is not a truthful person," the Battle Creek nursing assistant said.
As for Schwarz, he's planning to explore his party's infancy after losing what will likely be his last political fight right here in Jackson -- the cradle of the GOP.
The congressman is headed to his pastoral Montana cabin on Flathead Lake, built near the childhood home of his late wife, Anne.
There he'll crack open a copy of the Doris Kearns Goodwin's bestseller "Team of Rivals," dissecting the Lincoln presidency.
Schwarz sighed, "This has been the most difficult race I've been in."
Walberg said he's in the mood for post-election adventure -- as if planning a move to Washington isn't bold enough.
He's embarking on a motorcycle ride to Prince Edward Island, Canada, with his wife, Sue -- "a huge 'Anne of Green Gables' fan," he said.
Since leaping into the race in November, Walberg has logged about 35,000 miles on his Buick Park Avenue. Jumping on his 2002 Harley-Davidson Road King will be a welcome change.
Said the GOP nominee, grinning: "It's just a total sense of freedom."
And this guy voted against the protection of marraige. What a bum.
Hey, look.
It's our old friend....
Pinz
there was no guarantee of victory for walberg, there is no guarantee for swann or blackwell.
but currently, both are well behind their opponents in money as is Diane Irey who facing Murtha.
Blowing 3 million here did not move the ball down the field by much whereas a victory by swann, blackwell or irey moves the ball down the field by much more.
so why is the deficit declining ?
The FY 05-06 deficit looks like it will come in lower than originally projected, finally the money freed up in the tax cuts are coming around in larger tax revenues like we all knew it would, my heartburn is for FY 01-02, FY 02-03, FY 03-04, and FY 04-05 spending grew much faster than revenue and the deficit grew at an obscene rate.
The DC careerists support incumbents. They have never supported a challenger. Perhaps you can name one for me if I am mistaken.
Well, that's the Jacksonian vs. Jeffersonian democracy debate. One is that the representative is to represent what he thinks is what the people in his/her district believe. The other is to state clearly what you believe and vote that way, and then let the chips fall as they may during elections. There are going to be times in Washington when you have to deal with an issue that it's not clear what your constituiency thinks.
Personally, I prefer that my rep tells me what he or she thinks honestly, and then I'll vote for who I think represents me best. Then when an unanticipated issue comes up, I figure I've got the best hope that they'll vote based on an honest assessment and according to their principles.
"You have a one-issue group with unlimited funding," the Battle Creek Republican said. "I did what I thought was right. I will not compromise on principle. I will not pander."
If a Congressman can't count to three, perhaps it's time for him to leave.
They will both win anyway.
The article said it is a 'near lock' in this 'solidly Republican district.'
He's probably nothing more than a gloom and doom dem from the liberal bastion of MooU. Nothing more than wishful thinking.
Wahlberg's win will not be bad news for the GOP, locally or nationally. The right guy won the primary, and he'll win again in November. The 7th is blood red.
"When we strip away defense, homeland security and entitlements and adjust for inflation, leaving only discretionary domestic spending, George W. Bush has grown the federal government at a faster pace than Lyndon Baines Johnson," Viguerie writes.
regarding 52, blackwell and swann are both narrowly behind in current polls.
I am hopefull though.
"We didn't get enough 'oomph' in places we really needed it," he told 200 boosters at Schuler's restaurant in Marshall.
So long, Joe.
I feel a song coming on...
Tune: Brother can you spare a dime?
Once I won every race I’d run
Man, that district, it was mine
Once I went to Congress, now I’m done
Brother can you spare a dime?
I voted for every pork project under the sun
All the pork all the time
Now I’m out of power, now I’m done
Brother can you spare a dime?
Once in striped suits
Gee, I looked swell
Full of that yankee doodle de dum
Now, campaign bucks just shot to hell
I’m on the skids, like a bum
Say, don’t you remember, they called me Joe
It was Joe all the time
Say, don’t you remember, don’t ya know?
Buddy, can you spare a dime?
I've never been to Schuler's (hubby has and says it's very good), but Walberg partied at Daryl's Downtown in Jackson. EXCELLENT food, their garlic rolls are awesome.
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