Scandal Shakes A Virginia House Republican, Adding To Electoral Tremors

[appalachiablue]

Source: New York Times

By Michael Tackett, 4 hrs. ago.

VIRGINIA BEACH — Representative Scott Taylor, Republican of Virginia, has enjoyed a rapid political rise anchored in his valorous background as a member of the Navy SEALs, a credential with great resonance in a district that includes the world’s largest naval station and one of the highest concentrations of voters connected to the military. Fit, square-jawed and telegenic, he was expected to have a relatively easy time winning re-election in November.

But now he is threatened with a sudden fall: His campaign is facing accusations that it was part of an improper effort to help an independent candidate get on the ballot and siphon voters from his Democratic challenger. The allegations, which included using the names of dead people or voters who did not live in the district on signature petitions, were serious enough to warrant the appointment of a special prosecutor, and the independent candidate, Shaun Brown, was stricken from the ballot by the Virginia Supreme Court.

Mr. Taylor’s race is emblematic of an emerging problem for Republicans as they seek to maintain an increasingly tenuous grip on the House: A seat once considered relatively safe is now imperiled because of scandal, expanding an already broad field of Democratic opportunity.

Democrats, facing comparatively few legal problems and seeking to portray a “culture of corruption” under Republican leadership, have tried to lump Mr. Taylor in with about a half-dozen other Republican candidates whose campaigns have veered off course over accusations of misconduct. They represent a small fraction of the 23 House seats that Democrats need to reclaim control, but in a year when Democrats were already expected to make gains, their fates could prove crucial...More...

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/scandal-shakes-a-virginia-house-republican-adding-to-electoral-tremors/ar-AAAxUNQ?li=BBnb7Kz

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- Staffers for Rep. Scott Taylor, R-Va., submitted at least 59 fraudulent signatures for Independent Shaun Brown, who Taylor defeated when she ran as a Democrat in 2016. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)


"Scott Taylor Staffers Submitted at Least 59 Fraudulent Signatures- For His Opponent. Four of the people listed on the ballot petition sheets were dead." Roll Call, Aug. 27, 2018. https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/scott-taylor-staffers-fraudulent-signatures

[LandOfHopeAndDreams]

1. How Can They Be Expected To Win When They Can't Cheat?

This is completely unfair to the repubs. What is this world coming to when you can't create some fraudulent signatures to cheat your way into winning an election? Next they're going to start saying that Russians shouldn't be allowed to interfere either.

[pazzyanne]

2. And who accuses the Democrats of winning with votes of dead people?

Oh, yeah. That would be tRump and the Republicans.

[CanonRay]

4. Whatever they accuse us of

they are actually already doing. Everywhere.

[lagomorph777]

17. That's the quickest way to figure out what to investigate first.

Watch for their "tells."

[Scurrilous]

3. K&R

[Judi Lynn]

5. Sometimes it looks as if these Republicans who become Navy Seals only serve long enough

to get their photos taken with all their gear so they can use them for their future campaign advertising!

The Gov. of Missouri who was removed after trying to blackmail his mistress also used a ton of his former Seal self in uniform.



Rep. Scott Taylor





Ryan Zinke, who is currently Hump's Sec. of the Interior

ETC.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

6. Power mad and blind to reality.

Now watch this Repug asshole throw shade on others and go on to win.....

Interesting twist to add to this story from the Daily Press in his area:

Want to check Scott Taylor's ballot petitions? Too late: They've been shredded.
Bill Bartel, The Virginian-Pilot

http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/dp-nws-vp-scott-taylor-ballots-20180912-story.html

(snip)

After the court-ordered removal of Shaun Brown's name from the Nov. 6 congressional ballot for fraudulent signatures and phony addresses, can the petitions of other 2018 federal candidates be rechecked for accuracy?

Depends on who you're asking about. For example, in the 2nd Congressional District election, it's too late to check Rep. Scott Taylor's original petitions. Republican officials have already shredded them.

It's the GOP way, ya know.....

[lagomorph777]

18. So he wasn't only cheating for another candidate; he cheated on his own petitions.

He's going down. His illegitimate candidacy needs to be featured in every ad for the next few weeks.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

20. Can't believe these states don't have laws that require....

maintaining all election-related documents for at least say, a year after the election. This is just asking for corruption.

.........

[lagomorph777]

21. I don't know whether this is a violation of law;

certainly it should be!

[calimary]

7. See? They know they have to cheat in order to win.

This is just another example in a continuing series.

[C Moon]

8. I was so sure that this was how the GOP was winning both houses.

Cheating, lying, stealing, accepting foreign money, and finally as low as becoming traitors to their own country: that's how the GOP wins seats.
AND FUCK YOU NRA!

[Duppers]

9. Sadly, military votes for military.

And Hampton Roads is full of military.

I'm still hopeful.

[atreides1]

10. They'd still be voting for military

Elaine Luria was a graduate of the US Naval Academy, served as Surface Warfare Officer and nuclear engineer...was deployed 6 times...was second in command of guided missile cruiser, commanded a navy assault ship and retired as a Commander after 20 years of service!


They would still be voting for military...and her husband is also a retired Naval officer!!!!

[titaniumsalute]

11. So Trump was right when he said dead people are voting?

Yeah for Republicans.

[oasis]

12. I grew tired of hearing Taylor's lame comments about almost every issue

under the sun. I guess now the MSM will refrain from treating him as if he had "star quality".

[DinahMoeHum]

13. ". . .using the names of dead people. . ."

Shades of a cheating method from the past. . .



Inscription:
"A curse upon you for making me appear disloyal to my country for which I have fought and died"

[maxrandb]

14. Including the names of DECEASED VETERANS

That shows exactly how much Scott Taylor gives one fuck about the military.

I am sick of these fucks thinking that since they were a "Navy Seal" that entitles them to run our fucking lives.

One of my neighbors was a former Navy Seal, and this guy was such a sick and twisted "evangelical" (small "c&quot christian that I refused to let my kids play with his children.

There are few things more scary than a true believer that is convinced he is righteous.

[ProfessorPlum]

15. womp womp

thoughts & prayers

[ProfessorPlum]

16. by the way, WTF is up with this framing?

" a half-dozen other Republican candidates whose campaigns have veered off course over accusations of misconduct."

Golly gee, how sad for them that their campaigns have veered off course. How very passive.

How about "a half-dozen other Republicans who are accused of misconduct"? Or "six other cheating Republicans"?

[lagomorph777]

19. I know, right!?

[Blue_Tires]

22. LOL BURN FOR IT, ASSHOLE!

(Why yes, this *IS* my congresscritter... However did you guess?)