Our little Robert seems to be growing up. He's finally hitting the angry and emotional teenage years where he can't take anyone criticizing him. The big bad Danville Register & Bee has just pushed him around so much he had to write them a heartfelt letter explaining just how he feels.
Your stated fondness for Rep. Tom Perriello’s taxpayer-funded town hall meetings — gatherings in which an incumbent asks hard-working and busy citizens to come and listen to him — is lazy business when compared to the on-the-ground campaign we’ve conducted for the past 10 months. We have not stood in one place and told voters to come to us. We have sought them out by the thousands all over the Fifth District — in their homes, on the streets, on their farms, in their businesses and in their workplaces.
Whaaaaa!
Here's more of Robert's on-the-ground campaign:
Hurt is pathetic. He won't attend any fair debates, a complete reversal of his stance in the primary. He holds secret forums and locks out the public from his events that pander to his narrow base of good ol' boy friends. The same "conservatives" that rallied behind him in the primary to claim he was a great guy, despite his vote for the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia.
The sad thing is that Hurt can't take the minor amount of pressure the press has applied to him. What would he do under real questioning? Why hasn't the press investigated his time in New York? His time at a wealthy Northern Virginia boarding school? His work as a lawyer? It's time for the press in the district to step it up.
Hurt could not be reached directly, but released a statement through his campaign manager dismissing the challenge.
“Ignoring all the other candidates as Mr. Verga has done in this request is nothing more than a political stunt and is frankly insulting to the fine contributions each of the other candidates have brought to this campaign,” Hurt said in a statement.
What changed? Why won't Hurt debate all of the candidates?
I guess Hurt has one set of rules for debates when multiple opponents helps him divide the opposition, and another rule for when multiple opponents means a conservative voice holding him accountable.
An epidemic is sweeping across Virginia! No one is safe! Not only our fellow Virginians, but victims are falling ill in Washington DC. If our nation's capitol isn't safe, where will we hide? This blog may be the only safe outpost for reason and sanity in these dangerous times. So keep reading!
I first identified this epidemic through close and careful study of the Hurtards attacking Tom Perriello for EVERYTHING. Perriello Derangement Syndrome, or PDS, creates an irrational hatred of Tommy Boy. If he votes in agreement with you, it means he's just desperate and trying to win reelection. If he votes against you, it shows how he's the lap dog of Pelosi. If he votes against Pelosi, the vote must be of no consequence. If he schedules town halls at a time inconvenience for you, he's hiding from the voters. If he's willing to debate anyone, anywhere, he's getting too much media coverage.
I warned the Hurtards that their PDS had to stop. They were setting themselves up for being mocked by Perriello and his supporters for being so irrational. Perriello is now up with ads making this point. The ad lists over and over again his record of independence while another person, the stereotypical Hurtard, continues to complain that he's not really independent and those issues don't matter. Try telling the farmers in our district that opposing increased regulations doesn't matter. Try telling our hunters that defending the 2nd Amendment doesn't matter.
Virginia Rep. Tom Perriello expects to get the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, which could help his uphill reelection battle.
The fact that the freshman Democrat's campaign touted the pending endorsement a week before it's expected to be officially announced shows how much he needs the boost. His campaign recently circulated an internal poll that showed Perriello tied with Republican challenger Robert Hurt.
Wow! Tom Perriello is DESPERATE. Look here every body, another Democrat clinging to reelection and doing everything possible to win. I'm a great reporter! I just reported something that reinforces conventional wisdom! High five!
The problem is that Perriello didn't tout the pending endorsement today, he issued a statement in response to Robert Hurt preemptively dismissing the endorsement! Hurt, desperate to hold off Perriello's surge in the polls, decided to generate a story late in the week about the endorsement and try to push it aside as meaningless. Perriello simply responded to this desperate act by rightfully touting the important endorsement.
I even made a comment on Sean Miller's article pointing this out to him and directing him to the news story. A few hours later, Miller "updated" the article to include Hurt's dismissal of the pending endorsement. But he didn't update the article to correct the actual chronology of events. Why? Because a desperate Republican challenger against a confident Democratic incumbent isn't conventional wisdom! Sean is just like Glenn, Janelle, and Catherine. They only publish what they know everyone else is saying! They are little more than lemmings doing what the mob of reporters around them are saying. Worthless!
He won't debate, he won't hold public forums, and he won't answer questions that come from anyone but his friends at Fox & Friends! Introducing Senator Robert Hurt:
Of course that didn't stop Hurt's carpetbagging team to include the lie, again, that Hurt has participated in "dozens" of public debates.
"Dozens?"
How does Amanda Henneberg live with herself knowing that she's selling her soul to whoever is paying her salary? Having worked for Charlie Crist, has she given up any sense of human decency and is willing to repeat any lie that he bosses tell her to say?
Robert Hurt has not participated in "dozens" of public debates. That's an outright lie. Does Amanda Henneberg even know that it's a lie? How much does she actually know about Robert Hurt, his background, and his campaign? She also claimed, "As we have made clear from the beginning of this campaign, Robert is happy to debate Congressman Perriello one-on-one.” Well we know that's not true, Robert wasn't clear from the beginning of this campaign at all!
Here's the question. Is Amanda Henneberg purposefully lying, or is she so ignorant she doesn't know she's lying?
Clark is a Danville Tea Party member, while Hurt has met with tea party members and wants their vote. Perriello, too, has met with the Lynchburg Tea Party -- in a meeting closed to the press. Jim McKelvey, a former tea party candidate who ran for the Republican nomination in the 5th District, has endorsed Hurt.
Ah, no Janelle, Perriello's meeting with the Lynchburg Tea Party was not closed to the press. That would be Hurt. Perriello was the one meeting at Captain D's across the street because he wanted the meeting open to the public.
Reporters covering the 5th District of Virginia: Bad Reporters or WORST Reporters?
The NRCC is finally up to defend their boy Senator Robert Hurt from the apparent bully in the 5th District of Virginia, Tom Perriello. First time in his life that Tommy Boy's ever been accused of the bully. And now, having spent the last two years telling us that Perriello was a New York, we're told that he's a Hollywood liberal!
Virgil was on the Appropriations Committee and his love of pork extended to his staff, with Duncan a notorious fan of hot sausage. No wonder they have links to Kevin Bacon! It's sad to see that Tom Perriello has also gone Hollywood, just like Virgil.
Speaking to hundreds of activists gathered at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington for the Faith and Freedom Conference, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) urged the audience to stand with House Republicans when they go toe-to-toe with President Barack Obama.
Westmoreland said his caucus — presuming it takes control of the House come November — aims to pass spending bills that Obama is likely to veto. He predicted Republicans would not be able to override such a veto, creating a standoff that could cause Congress to grind to a halt.
“If the government shuts down, we want you with us,” he said.
The congressman recalled a similar shutdown that took place in 1995, when Newt Gingrich — also a speaker at the conference — was serving as House speaker. A future standstill could temporarily close national parks or delay payments from the government, Westmoreland speculated.
Finally, Republicans have the nerve to stand up for fiscal responsibility and get our budget in order. Even if it means some people will have to make sacrifices.
I wonder what Robert Hurt would say about the prospects of a government shutdown? Here's how he explained his 2004 vote for the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia:
“The bottom line is we need to move our budget process ahead,” said Hurt. “Every day that passes without a budget, we’re closer to a government shutdown."
Several times during the primary, Robert Hurt defended his vote for higher taxes as a way to avoid a government shut down, saying that it wasn't consistent with his oath of office to shut the government down. Now we know who the White House will call up when they want to find a RINO to vote for higher taxes and avoid a government shut down . . . Thanks Robert! Let's see how fast it takes for you to reverse your pledge not to raise taxes.
Southside Virginia likes to think they know Senator Robert Hurt. Son of a wealthy and established family, he went off to college before coming back home to be a country lawyer. Plain and simple, right?
Well . . .
Maybe not.
I'm surprised that in a heated campaign in which opponents of Tom Perriello continue to attack him as a "New York lawyer" and indicate confusion over his past that more attention hasn't been given to Robert's past.
For example, despite the attack of "New York lawyer" Perriello was born and raised in the 5th District. 100% Not only was he born in the district, his entire early education was in the district. Perriello didn't leave until he started college at Yale. Young 18 year old Perriello was a Virginian, born and raised.
Robert Hurt? He'd like you to think he was just as Virginian, but there are some serious gaps in his story. First off, that he was born in New York City is obviously not common knowledge among his supporters. You've got to love the way Robert dismisses the situation of his birth.
In his law office across the street from the courthouse on Main Street in Chatham, Hurt says his birth in New York was simply a result of where his mother was at the time.
He lived in New York for about nine years but prefers to talk about growing up in Chatham, where he and his family live across the street from his parents. He was elected to Chatham's Town Council in 2000, then the House of Delegates in 2001 and the state Senate in 2007.
Newsflash Robert, all births are a result of where the mother is. Or did your parents never explain the birds and the bees to you?
Hurt lived in New York for nine years but claims to have grown up in Chatham. Does coming down to Virginia during the summer count for citizenship in the Old Dominion?
More importantly, a lot of Hurt supporters talk about how he graduated from Hargrave Military Academy. The fact is he "attended" the Academy before being shipped off to the wealthy Northern Virgina boarding school of Episcopal High School. Did Robert attend Episcopal High School all four years? If so, that cuts his continued time in the district growing up to less than five years.
Flash forward and we get a snap shot of Hurt's time at law school:
I went to law school. There I obtained invaluable legal training. But I also sought out that practical experience that can only be obtained in the field. During my law school years, I worked in the criminal litigation section of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and in the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. During my first summer of law school, I worked in the Dekalb County District Attorney’s Office in Atlanta. During my second summer of law school, I worked for the Virginia Attorney General’s office in Richmond. During my final semester in law school, I attended the Cardozo School of Law in New York and worked for New York State Supreme Court Judge Leslie Crocker Snyder.
Robert Hurt attended a law school in New York City? Cardozo School of Law, part of Yeshiva University? Sounds like a New York Lawyer to me!
Robert Hurt's own website claims that he grew up in Chatham. If he gets to claim that he grew up in Chatham, he needs to direct his supporters to stop raising questions of Tom Perriello's origins. He himself should stop indicating that Perriello isn't from around here. It's shameful that Hurt has resorted to these sorts of negative and false attacks. I know that's how Chris LaCivitia likes to play the game, as we saw with the hit job on Robert Hurt. But I have to ask, does Hurt want people looking through his past too?
The petition to ban NRCC's queen spokesperson is just shy of 300 so far. If you haven't already, sign it and encourage your friends, family, neighbors, and anyone with a sense of basic dignity to sign it. So far the NRCC has refused to back down and is defending Andy Sere's actions, prompting calls from the Perriello camp for Robert Hurt to distance himself from Beltway Republicans . . .
Legislators from southside close to Robert Hurt have told me that Hurt and his campaign were "furious" with Andy for his tweets and the NRCC for their initial reaction to this story. Hurt has a comfortable lead in this race and Andy's actions "recklessly endangered" that status according to one longtime friend of Hurt's. This friend also told me (and I confirmed with someone close to the campaign) that Robert had an angry reaction to this distraction this morning and directed his campaign to demand Andy apologize. The campaign source also told me that while the @VotePerriello account "started this" by calling a Hurt staffer a carpetbagger- that Andy's and the NRCC response was far disproportionate and noted that "It's the NRCC's job to help us win, not f*** us up and knock us off message".
The problem is that Hurt's been silent on this issue and refusing to respond to media inquiries on the subject. That's not leadership, that's cowardice. The same cowardice that encourages him to duck debates. The same cowardice that encourages him to remain silent and hop on a plan to attend a fundraiser with . . . NRCC Chair Pete Sessions!
Robert Hurt has the opportunity to stand up and show his independence from Beltway Republicans. If he really was angry at the NRCC's actions, he would publicly demand an apology and refuse their help until they fire Andy Sere. What will Robbie do tomorrow? We'll see.
Robert Hurt to Snub 5th District Voters in Favor of Raising Money with Corrupt Outsourcers
September 8, 2010--Ivy, VA--Tomorrow night, the second debate of the 5th district race will take place in Nelson County, and for the second time, Republican candidate Robert Hurt will skip it. Voters of the 5th district learned this morning that Senator Hurt will instead opt to raise money out-of-state with corrupt members of Congress who support job-killing trade deals. The fundraiser is hosted by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), who was named to CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress list for his dealings with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), who has been a major supporter of free-trade deals that have cost Virginia thousands of jobs.
"Robert Hurt is now 0 for 2 on showing up for debates, and he's added insult to injury by instead flying out-of-state to raise money with two of Washington's most corrupt politicians, famous for their kick-backs to lobbyists and their support of job-killing free-trade deals. Robert Hurt doesn't need to get elected to Washington because he's already gone Washington, preferring high-dollar lobbyist fundraisers instead of answering questions from the people he claims he wants to represent,"said Jessica Barba, spokeswoman for the Perriello campaign.
Thursday night's debate, to take place at 7:00 p.m. at Nelson County High School, is hosted by the Nelson County Chamber of Commerce. Tom Perriello and independent conservative candidate Jeff Clark are confirmed to attend.
But Hurt, coming out of a primary battle, is rebuilding his war chest. On Thursday, he is scheduled to raise money at a luncheon in Dallas with Texas Reps. Pete Sessions, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Jeb Hensarling. Perriello and Clark are to debate in Nelson County the same day.
Hurt has refused to debate Clark, who is very conservative politically. If Hurt skips Thursday's debate, it would be the second time that Perriello and Clark have debated without the Republican nominee.
Robert Hurt would rather raise money with his rich Republican friends than debate the issues here in Virginia. When is he going to actually show up for the job interview?
Second, beat the shit out of your opponent, Senator Robert Hurt, for being too cozy with lobbyists and big business.
Ouch!
The best the Hurt campaign can come up with is that Perriello is "desperate" because he's the first to run an attack ad. I can't think of a more disingenuous claim. First, it ignores that Perriello was the target of the very first NRCC attack ad back in February . . . of 2009. Perriello has had a constant stream of attacks from the National Republican Party and their allies. He's finally fighting back and the Hurt campaign acts like they are the victim?
I don't remember Hurt and his supporters claiming that his decision to duck debates during the Republican primary was "desperate." I don't remember them admitting that his failed attempt to fund raise during the General Assembly were "desperate." I'd call his continued failure to hold public forums and debate independent conservative, businessowner, and veteran Jeff Clark as "desperate." But I guess Andy Sere and his new BFF Amanda Henneberg disagree.***
This is politics. All is fair in love, war, and politics. Perriello is attacking Hurt, just like every single other candidate in the history of politics has done. No one's ever been elected on a platform of "I really like my opponent too!"
The big question is will Catherine Amos focus on reality, or just write an article based on the tweets she receives? Does she know that there is more to reporting than just Twitter? For example, she could call up Issac Wood of UVA's Center for Politics (He's on twitter too!) and he'll remind her that Hurt's first TV ad was an attack ad too:
“You definitely see that he’s running against Congress as a whole and Democrats as a whole,” Isaac Wood, a House race analyst at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said. “That was very clear. He spent just a few seconds introducing himself, then pivoted right away to attack the negative things happening in D.C. With voters, that can be effective.”
Now that Perriello is hitting back, the Republicans seem to be feeling the heat. Not only are they trying to whine and complain that Tommy Boy is beating up on Pretty Bob Robert Hurt, they seem to have a sensitive spot for any attacks about being "carpetbaggers." Hm, the campaign of the guy born in New York City, who grew up in New York City for nine years, and graduated from one of the most expensive boarding schools in Northern Virginia is sensitive to being a carpetbagger? Poor Robbie . . .
Tom Perriello has already had attacks on his family because of the posting of the address of his brother's home because some idiot Tea Partier thought it was Tom's address. Andy Sere, of course, was sure to clarify that Tom was not, in any way, the victim. Now, Sere is posting addresses of campaign staffers to Twitter. Maybe he'll encourage some of his strapping young friends to pay them and their families a visit?
This is utterly disgusting. Sere needs to go and Hurt should distance himself immediately from the national Republican Party.
Wow, talk about a rough start to the official campaign season:
The problem I've had with Democrat bloggers complaining about Perriello's reelection chances is that they focus too heavily on the handful of votes where Tommy Boy actually supported the majority of his distraction, such as opposing federal funding of abortion. Or, in the words of one Democrat blogger, sticking his nose in the vaginas of the women of the 5th district. I wonder if maybe Tommy Boy would be ahead in the polls if he were more willing to do that sort of thing, if you know what I mean . . .
The problem with Tom Perriello isn't where he's voted conservative, it's been where he votes liberal. And cap and tax is one of the biggest signs of where Obama, Pelosi, and Perriello want to take us. And where even Democrats like Jim Webb don't want to take us. I guess this is just a sign that the 2010 election season is almost over and Webb's starting to worrying about his own hide in 2012!
A lot of Virginia bloggers are trumpeting or bemoaning the "fact" that National Democrats are going to cut off Perriello and other "lost causes" or "walking dead." The problem is that they cite a incompetent media that fails to do its homework and lives off of false assumptions. We all remember that the people who majored in "communications" in college were the slackers who couldn't do anything else. Remember that when you're reading an article by professional journalists, like Danville's Catherine Amos.
The list of vulnerable Democrats is based not on an internal statement by the DCCC, but by the journalist's own guess work. We know this as a fact. How? Because it includes Frank Kratovil of Maryland. DCCC Head Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is NOT going to indicate that they are cutting off his fellow Maryland Democrat. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is NOT going to give up on saving Kratovil. End of story.
The same is true of Perriello. Tommy Boy is the White House's favorite Democrat. They are not going to give up on him. The more people talk about Perriello being cut off, the lazier Robert Hurt's already lackluster campaign will become. Believing this crap is dangerous and could cost Hurt the election.
Independence conservative Jeff Clark has some problems with debt in his past. A small business owner, a veteran who served this country, and the father of another service member fighting for our freedoms abroad, Jeff Clark isn't perfect. Unlike Robert Hurt, who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has never had to worry about money (until he tried to run for Congress), Clark has had some financial difficulties. Now what's ironic is that this is being brought up as a bad thing. I don't remember Congress passing a multi-billion dollar bailout for Jeff Clark. But I do remember a multi-billion dollar bailout for Wall Street that was supported by the leadership of both the Democrat and Republican Parties, including Hurt's BFF Eric Cantor . . .
I'd rather have a Congressman like Jeff Clark who understands the difficulties facing average Americans than a guy like Robert Hurt who just smiles and pretends to care.
Now I'm all for making sure that due diligence is done in looking into candidates for public office. As public servants, politicians are asking for us to look into their past. They will be yelled at, screamed at, insulted, threatened, and even terrorized. Or they can be like Hurt and avoid public appearances.
What I have a problem with is when dirt diggers and mud slingers hide from the attacks they hurl. We know that reporter Brian McNeill was provided the information on Clark; he didn't do the research himself. While some parts of Clark's record are available through public documents, the fact that private information like his Social Security should worry an average citizen. Do you want some high paid Washington consultant digging through your garbage just to further Robert Hurt's career?
What don't we know about Robert Hurt's Washington DC campaign?
And now we're starting to learn more about this Jackson Alvarez Group, the opposition research firm for Robert Hurt. What hand did they play behind the attacks against Feda Morton during the primary? Who is Gary Maloney?
Finally, there's Mark Lloyd, the so-called "Chairman" of the practically dead Lynchburg Tea Party. Lloyd is now going back on the group's earlier stance onn refusing to endorse any candidates in the Virginia 5th race. The Vice-Chair of the organization has resigned and Lloyd himself seems to be more than willing to play the role of lapdog to Robert Hurt. Just like the slew of other Republicans running in the primary, Lloyd talked a good game about being a consistent conservative but is crawling back to the establishment. It's pathetic and just another sign that the Tea Party and independent conservatives Jeff Clark will have a difficult road in toppling the establishment. I wish him the best of luck.
