Gilmore targets Warner as 'elite limousine liberal'

http://www.washingtontimes.com ^ | June 2008 | Bob Lewis

[Maelstorm]

Mr. Gilmore called Mr. Warner an "elite limousine liberal," a "knave" on foreign policy, and a "piranha" hungry for tax money.

Mr. Gilmore repeatedly hit Mr. Warner, his successor as governor, for breaking a 2001 campaign promise by raising taxes $1.4 billion.

[Maelstorm]

This is an opportunity to replace a moderate/conservative GOP who is retiring, John Warner, with a clear conservative, Jim Gilmore. Warner winning the Senate race in Virginia would be horrible defeat. He is a social and fiscal liberal who raised taxes and funded efforts to stop the Virginia Marriage amendment. He pretends to be a moderate but the only thing moderate about Mark Warner is that he likes to moderately raise taxes. We talk and talk about not having conservative choices. Well Jim Gilmore is a conservative and I think he deserves our support.

[rocksblues]

How does Gilmore stand on Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less?

[moose2004]

I agree, Gilmore does deserve our vote, but I have this bad feeling Warner is going to run away with it, fueled primarily by the vote in NOVA, Richmond, Charlottesville and much of Tidewater.

[Steamburg]

Good question as to where Gilmore stands, but his description of Warner is far too kind.

[rocksblues]

I don’t have much money but any money that I donate will be to Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less candidates only.

[Alter Kaker]

Warner’s worst poll this year still had him up 16 points; virtually all the others have him leading by 25 or more. This is the Katherine Harris / Bill Nelson race of 2008.

[Alter Kaker]

I'll add that if it even remotely looks close, retiring RINO John Warner will buck the party and endorse Mark Warner.

When the bulk of the GOP establishment backs the Dem, it's awfully hard to win.

[muawiyah]

Warner was the Governor who appears to have made sure that New Jersey’s homosexual governor didn’t get arrested when he visited Interstate highway rest-stops for sex with strangers.

[muawiyah]

Ask Senator Warner what he thinks of Senator Larry Craig.

[Alter Kaker]

Want to explain? What does Warner have to do with McGreevey (aside from the fact that both were elected on the same day)? I’ve never heard that.

[Maelstorm]

You are wrong. This is a race where Warner has been allowed to foist up a farce as a record. He lost several times before being elected governor running against a weak Republican and Tim Kaine won against another weak Republican. Warner needs to be taken apart. Katherine Harris lost because of both her own foibles and a party that did not provide her adequate support. Jim Gilmore is not a political neophyte like Harris and he does have a strong record here in Virginia. The thing he has that is a challenge is the Republicans in the Virginia statehouse that have squandered the record of fiscal conservatism for political expediency. Jim Gilmore is going to fight for this open seat and Mark Warner needs to be hammered on his liberal taxing, spending, and social liberalism. People should not let his southern drawl fool them.

[Alter Kaker]

What Southern drawl? Mark Warner’s from Rockville, Connecticut.

[montag813]

Warner will win by 10.

[Maelstorm]

Warner may but let us not disregard the power of fighting the good fight. Gilmore won before when no one thought he could. He did it through a straight uncomplicated conservative message. I think Jim will do great in the coming debates. Also let us not forget that elections turn on a dime. The man with the most dimes tends to win. (9 times out of 10)

[moose2004]

Don’t get me wrong, I hope Gilmore does win, no question about it. He should take off the gloves and slam Warner’s integrity/personal life, I think that would register with a lot of conservative voters..

[relee]

... Jim Gilmore is not a political neophyte like Harris and he does have a strong record here in Virginia ...

I remember Governor Gridlock! He ended the hated car tax, right?

[oldbill]

Warner will win big because the Virginia Republican Party is in shambles.

It is run by RINO rich folks who use it for resume padding rather than accomplishing things. They forced out the conservatives who made Virginia a solid red state in the ‘80s. Many conservative Republicans will leave the President vote line blank this year because it has RINO liberal McCain on it. There sure won’t be many manning the phone banks or helping get out the vote for McCain.

More than a handful of these RINOs are now actively endorsing Warner after sucking up conservative money for their own campaigns in years past.

It will be a long time before the Virginia Republican Party reverts to a conservative party. It will take something like the upcoming failed Obama Administration and the far-left voting records of Webb and Warner to wake Virginia up.

[Once-Ler]

"Jim Gilmore's comments today show why Mark Warner is supported by Democrats, Republicans and independents across Virginia. Electing Mr. Gilmore will mean more of the negative, name-calling politics of the past," Mr. Hall said.

When a incumbent is a piece of crap, you don't have to tell anybody, and pointing it out only makes those who voted for the piece of crap last election want to defend him. Gilmore doesn't have a clue how to win this race. Gilmore should be saying something like "Warner is a good man, but I can represent Virginia better. Here is what I want to do for you..." Those who agree Warner is a piece of crap will think Gilmore is being gracious and even Warner voters may give Gilmore a second look.

Unless Virginia voters are overwhelmingly conservative (Warner's election as governor indicates it is not) Gilmore must attract moderate voters. I see no indication he knows how to do that.

[Maelstorm]

Warner lost several times. He is a tax and spend liberal. Your foolish ideas of graciousness never work. Gilmore won the Governorship on clear conservatism and I do believe that a majority of Virginians do appreciate at a minimum fiscal conservatism. Social conservatism is also strong in the state all one has to look at are the results of the marriage amendment in which 60% of voters supported it. What has led to Republican setbacks in Virginia and elsewhere is a retreat from fiscal conservatism.

That said Warner is a liberal louse and Gilmore is running to win and speaking of how wonderful Warner is when he nearly doubled state spending and raised taxes breaking his campaign pledge and went out of his way to try to torpedo the state marriage amendment is not going to accomplish anything. If Jim Gilmore wants to win he will attack and attack and attack and challenge Warner at every turn and turn coat Republicans who wish to make nice with liberals should be put on notice. We will win no matter how cute and gentlemanly the liberals are with their pleasing southern drawls and hands quick to slip into the pockets of the common man and then make him thank them when they give it back. Politicians like Warner disgust me. They are worms with big grins and worms are only good for fishing and eating dirt.

[ReagansRaiders]

I'll add that if it even remotely looks close, retiring RINO John Warner will buck the party and endorse Mark Warner. I thought that, too, but John Warner has already come out in support of Gilmore and donated to his campaign.