Grow Up, Chuck
While I have registered some of my concerns about California Republican Senate candidate Chuck DeVore in comments to this blog, e-mails to friends (and readers) and in private conversations, I have, by and large, held back on criticizing him on this blog. While I don’t support his candidacy, I do believe a staunch conservative like he can serve a useful function in a contested Republican primary. He can help remind the more moderate candidate of the resilience of conservative ideas andd prevent her from moving too far to the left to cater to the supposed big government whims of the electorate of this “blue” state.
Perhaps DeVore ‘s candidacy, announced last year, ensured that when Carly Fiorina launched her bid last week she stake out conservative positions on fiscal issues. But, to be sure, her public statements before then indicate that she has long been a champion of freedom and opponent of excessive government regulation.
Despite these public statements, DeVore still seems to believe Carly is a Golden State version of Dede Scozzafava, supporting more government spending and greater regulation. Yesterday, on Ed Morrissey’s radio show, he contended this businesswomen favors massive new regulation of the financial sector, suggesting she refused to blame the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for helping contribute to the financial meltdown.
Chuck forgot to do a google search. Last September, Fiorina faulted Congress for letting “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac get totally out of control.” Like many Republicans, she faulted the federal government for failing to oversee the GSEs: ”The oversight of Fannie and Freddie has been woefully inadequate over the years. We’ve seen a series of frauds and abuses coming out of Fannie and Freddie.” Not just that, the faulted the Democratic Congress for failing to do anything about the GSEs.
She does not favor new regulations, but streamlining existing ones, repealing those that have proven excessively burdensome on private enterprise.
It’s a good thing for the GOP to have the various candidates vying for its Senate nomination to engage in a robust debate on the issues. But, such a debate does not mean one candidate gets to claim his opponent is the liberal straw woman against whom he would rather square off. Especially when her record tells a different story. Like many sensible conservatives, Carly Fiorina is not only aware of the role of the GSEs in last fall’s financial meltdown, but she has said as much in public statements.
It’s time that DeVore respect her positions and address them honestly as they both vie for the GOP nomination.
12 Comments
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I wouldn’t rule him out. He’s been campaigning as a real person for a long time now, and building trust. CF migth strike voters as just another rich, out of touch person who feels she is entitled to the job. I’m just saying, I wouldn’t bet on anything at this point.
Comment by Chuck — November 12, 2009 @ 5:51 pm - November 12, 2009
if he’s such a good candidate, why does he feel the need to misrepresent Fiorina’s record.
And she sure ain’t campaigning like she’s entitled to the job.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — November 12, 2009 @ 5:55 pm - November 12, 2009
I think you have a crush on her or something! Time will tell….
Comment by Chuck — November 12, 2009 @ 6:00 pm - November 12, 2009
Then again, maybe I have a little crush on Chuck Devore… but at least he’s a guy!
Comment by Chuck — November 12, 2009 @ 6:05 pm - November 12, 2009
To be clear: Government “enterprises” should be regulated. Heavily. Because they have no business existing. Knowing themselves to be backed by government force, they can’t help but become wasteful to the point of corruption, as Fannie and Freddie were.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — November 12, 2009 @ 6:15 pm - November 12, 2009
Well said, ILC
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — November 12, 2009 @ 6:39 pm - November 12, 2009
Well, said anyway.
Comment by Chuck — November 12, 2009 @ 6:42 pm - November 12, 2009
May the best man win – and the people be heard – and money have nothing to do with it (I can dream, can’t I?)….
Comment by Charles — November 12, 2009 @ 7:50 pm - November 12, 2009
You guys could do worse thatn Fiorina. According to Devore’s camp she was supportive of the stimulus – which has pulled us out of the worst recesion since the 50s.
She seems to be open to a cap and trade system
And it sounds like she is open to a health care system.
With those moderate feathers in her cap there is a small chance she could actually threaten Boxer.
Comment by gillie — November 12, 2009 @ 11:48 pm - November 12, 2009
#9: “With those moderate feathers in her cap there is a small chance she could actually threaten Boxer.”
Now if she can just round up a scarecrow, a tin man, a lion, and a bucket of water, it’s in the bag.
Comment by Sean A — November 12, 2009 @ 11:52 pm - November 12, 2009
[Citation Needed]
And besides, I thought it was the Great Depression II. Or is it only the 50s since Chairman Obama put his name on it?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — November 13, 2009 @ 2:50 am - November 13, 2009
Pulled us out of the greatest recession…
10.2% unemployment
Us Dollar devalued to almost equal the canadian dollar, .75 Euros, 1.66 Pounds
Gold at an all time high.
Trillions in debt.
If this is pulling us out of a recession, then I’d hate to see what a gillie-recession looks like.
Comment by The_Livewire — November 13, 2009 @ 6:12 am - November 13, 2009