by D. Patrick Mahoney, The Washington Times: . . . But these nightmare scenarios are nothing compared to what the Republican establishment did on March 11 in Pennsylvania's 12th District special election to replace the late Jack Murtha.
Led by state Republican Chairman Rob Gleason, insiders rejected Bill Russell, even though the retired 82nd Airborne officer and Iraq War veteran had given Murtha a real fight as the Republican candidate in 2008, raising $3.6 million and earning 42 percent of the vote.
Mr. Russell's campaign kept going at full speed after 2008, focused like a laser on 2010. An experienced district wide organization and high name recognition give Mr. Russell, a survivor of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon, a significant advantage in a special election just two months away.
So why, despite Mr. Russell's military pedigree, strong financial and electoral showing in 2008 and ongoing campaign, do Republican hacks want to change horses when they are nearly across the stream? Because they found a guy named Tim Burns who is worth nine figures and willing to part with substantial portions of it to get the nomination.
The party line is that Mr. Burns is a better candidate than Mr. Russell because he can self-fund his campaign. But Mr. Burns' money can't possibly purchase an organization or name recognition comparable to Mr. Russell's in the truncated special-election cycle.
The real reason establishment types like Mr. Gleason are falling all over themselves to support Mr. Burns is that under Pennsylvania's lax campaign finance laws, individuals can contribute unlimited amounts to state and local elective officials. Mr. Burns can even donate to town, county and state Republican committees.
In short, Mr. Burns can give unlimited amounts of money to the very individuals and organizations who just gave him the nomination.
Remarkably, Mr. Gleason admitted in a recent Washington Independent article that he doesn't care about winning the congressional seat when he chastised Mr. Russell for running too hard in 2008. Mr. Gleason whined, "I lost a state legislature race in 2008 because Russell was surging in the polls and Murtha turned out his forces to come out for the Democrats."
On Thursday night, the Pennsylvania chapter of a party that prides itself on national security told Mr. Russell: You can put your neck on the line for us on foreign shores and we'll tolerate you as our nominee in elections we don't think we can win. But don't dare get in our way when we are trying to conduct business as usual. For although you spent a career defending this republic instead of getting rich, this time around, qualified, working-class combat Veterans need not apply.
To Mr. Russell's credit, the savvy paratrooper read the establishment's hand, refused to be intimidated and already has earned enough signatures to run in the primary, which is scheduled for May 18, the same day as the special election.
A Zogby poll of likely Republican conducted Feb. 17 and 18 indicated that Mr. Russell leads Mr. Burns by an astounding 29 points. Because of the unique, dual-election dynamic, Republicans voters can elect Mr. Burns in the special election but also give Mr. Russell the nod to be the nominee for the November general election. Under this likely scenario, Mr. Burns would instantly become a lame duck and the Republican establishment would again be exposed as bumbling jackals.
Tags: William Russell, PA-12, Tim Burns, Republicans, PA-12, Pennsylvania,
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Veterans and Their Families Ignored In This Bill
RUSSELL RESPONDS TO PASSAGE OF HEALTHCARE BILL
Veterans and Their Families Ignored In This Bill
(JOHNSTOWN, PA) – Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Russell, Republican candidate for the nomination for Representative in the 12th PA Congressional district announced today that he is “outraged” at the passage of the Senate Healthcare Reform Bill by the U.S. House late Sunday. “This bill has been opposed by the American people for months and the Democrats in the House have ignored the will of the voters as shown by last night’s vote,” said Russell. “This bill is nothing less than a takeover of the health care system by a government power-grab the likes of which we have never seen before.”
Russell also pointed out that veterans and their families have been purposely ignored and rejected by this bill. “This legislation does not entirely recognize Veterans Administration and Department of Defense health care programs as acceptable forms of health care coverage,” said Russell. “That means our military and veterans could be penalized by having their current coverage through the VA. The legislation does not cover TRICARE beneficiaries, those surviving spouses, orphans, or Korean and Vietnam veterans' children. In fact, an amendment to include this coverage for veteran’s beneficiaries was not permitted to be included in the bill. This is tantamount to the Democrat-controlled Congress thumbing their noses at veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice and their surviving families. More info: Russell Brigade
Tags: William Russell, PA-12, Republicans, PA-12, Pennsylvania,
"Remember the Alamo" Then and "Remember 3/21: Now!
Yesterday in Washington the forces of individualism suffered a great defeat at the hands of the over-whelming forces in the House combined with the might of the Executive Branch. The two hundred or so beleaguered members of the House could not withstand the onslaught of the vast army arrayed against them. Their walls were breached by back room deals, presidential promises and favors, and blatant bribery on a scale never seen before in American politics. In the end they were overwhelmed and crushed and their flag of patriotism trampled beneath the tyrant's feet.
But from the ashes of that defeat, a new battle cry will be heard, a new call to arms. Just as the Texans of long ago screamed "remember the Alamo" as they charged the forces of tyranny; the ever growing forces of Individualism, of Patriotism will raise a new battle cry: "Remember 3/21" as they drive the forces of collectivism and Marxism from the field and achieve that Crowning Victory!
Tags: TOTUS, Remember the Alamo, battle cry
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Thursday, March 18, 2010
Kingmakers vs. Taxpayers
William Russell:
Tags: William Russell, PA-12, Republicans, PA-12, Pennsylvania, primary, election
I don’t like politics, and the process Republican leaders used last week to select their nominee for the coming Special Election confirmed so many of the reasons why.
The Republican State Committee meeting to choose Jack Murtha’s temporary successor had all the intrigue and drama of one of those old Frank Capra movies about old politics – minus the cigar smoke. In the end, even with the appointments of relatives, friends, and employees, the patron of the process, state GOP Chairman Rob Gleason, secured the nomination for his handpicked candidate by fewer than 40 votes!
Whether it’s in Washington, D.C., Harrisburg, or right here in southwestern Pennsylvania, political games are the biggest reason the public is rallying to candidates and causes that don’t have the blessing of the kingmakers. We want choices based on core values, competence and commonsense – not just the formal backing of a tiny minority of voters.
The thousands of voters I’m meeting on the campaign trail are rallying to the idea that instead of funny business and clever politics, we’d rather decide for ourselves.
Instead of candidates picked by party leaders – let’s have an election!
Instead of health care bills passed by obscure maneuvers – let’s have an up or down vote!
Instead of handing our responsibility as citizens to party chairmen or congressmen – let’s get engaged and take responsibility for the future of our country and community!
As you may know, there will be two, simultaneous elections in the 12th Congressional District on May 18th - one is the Special Election, the other is the Primary. While GOP leaders did not nominate me for the Special Election – I will be on the ballot for the Primary contest - same day, two elections.
Tags: William Russell, PA-12, Republicans, PA-12, Pennsylvania, primary, election
Friday, March 12, 2010
Russell Responds to Special Election Selection
The Party Doesn’t Want a Candidate That’s Connected to the People
(JOHNSTOWN, PA) – Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Russell, Republican candidate for the nomination for Representative in the 12th PA Congressional district announced today that he is “disappointed, but was prepared” for today’s selection of his primary opponent by GOP conferees for the upcoming special election to fill the unexpired term of the late Rep. John Murtha.“The party establishment has been saying all along that they prefer Tim Burns because he can write his own checks,” said Russell. “We’re not surprised. The party doesn't want a candidate that's connected to the people, they want one with money. While unfortunate, this was what we expected."
Russell says he will continue campaigning to be the Republican nominee in the May 18th primary election. “This is a fight we started more than two and a half years ago,” said Russell. “I have covered this district from one end to the other, and I am fully aware of how the voters feel disenfranchised by their elected officials and the party elite. This campaign is about the people, not the entrenched establishment.”
More information is available at Russell Brigade
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Critz Vs Burns In PA-12 Special Election
Today, we learned the decision of a closed caucus type voting political party leaders over who would be their designated candidate for a special election to fill the remaining 8 months tern of deceased Rep John Murtha after the special election is held. The candidates were picked by a small handful of party leaders and not by the general voting public in Pennsylvania 12 District. Therefore, we see an interesting event developing under which neither of the two selected candidates for the special election will necessarily be guaranteed to be the people's candidates or winners of either the primary election or the general elections in November.
Tim Sahd, National Journal reports on today's events: GOP delegates have tabbed businessman Tim Burns (R) to be their nominee in the special election to fill the remainder of late-Rep. John Murtha's (D) term. He'll face ex-Murtha staffer Mark Critz (D) in the 5/18 contest. According to PA2010.com, Burns was the overwhelming choice of 132 delegates at a [convention] tonight, and he easily topped '08 nominee William Russell (R). Several other candidates spoke to delegates, but failed to be nominated and thus, didn't record any votes.Note: Another source is reporting that "The poll that shows Russell up by 30 points was not an internal poll but was conducted by Zogby International and was commissioned and paid for by Freedom’s Defense Fund and released to the public during this year’s Conservative Political Action Committee."
Despite losing the special election nomination tonight, Russell has filed to run in the primary, which is also scheduled to be held on 5/18. Russell complained in the early stages of the race that party leaders favored Burns because of his ability to self-fund the short special election race. And believing the fix was in -- like ex-Treas. Barbara Hafer did on the Dem side -- Russell suspected that county party leaders would stack the convo deck with Burns' delegates.
But Burns' promise of personal cash must've been hard to ignore for GOPers. As of Dec. '09, he had already put $75K into the race. Still, in order to overcome the Dem registration advantage in the CD, and his lack of name ID, he'll need to make a much more significant investment.
Russell is no fundraising slouch, either. He has raised an astounding $2.9M, but because he pays top dollar for his fundraising, he has spent $2.6M, leaving him with just $211K in the bank. That's still a good enough base with which to start a healthy primary election campaign.
And he also has high name ID from his '08 race against Murtha, when he put a scare into the entrenched Dem. Murtha won with 58%, but not after having to rouse donors and the DCCC into sending him money at the last minute. Because of this, Russell starts with the early advantage in a primary against Burns. Polling, conducted for Russell's camp, shows him with a big 37-7% lead over the unknown Burns. He'll also try to turn the contest into an insider vs. independent contest, one that should resonate in this [environment].
Still, despite Russell's money and name ID, Burns also has a good profile for the CD. He uses every opportunity he gets to remind voters he's from the CD (Russell moved there in '08 after living in VA), and also touts his business background and history of creating jobs. With party backing and his own wallet, he should be able to catch up quickly.
Dems didn't waste any time attacking Burns, saying he sold his company, TechRx, in '02 knowing it'd lead to layoffs in Pittsburgh. "Tim Burns sold out the jobs of Western Pennsylvanians just so he could get rich quick," DCCC spokesperson Shripal Shah said. . . . . [Full Story]
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
POLL SHOWS BIG LEAD FOR RUSSELL
Zogby Poll Shows Russell Up by Nearly 30 Points Over Primary Opponent
(JOHNSTOWN, PA) – Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Russell, Republican candidate for the nomination for Representative in the 12th PA Congressional district today voiced his satisfaction at the results of a recent poll of Republican voters in the 12th Congressional district. The results of the Zogby International poll of likely GOP voters show Russell leading his primary opponent 36.5 to 7.
“Our campaign has been on the ground in every area of the district,” said Russell, who is also a GOP candidate in the special election to be held May 18th to fill the unexpired term of Rep. John Murtha. “It’s encouraging to see all the hard work paying off,” Russell continued.
The poll of Pennsylvania 12th Congressional district Republican Primary likely voters was conducted by Zogby International on February 17th and 18th. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 5.0 percentage points.
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