Facing our first genuine Teabagger

[CanonRay]

I've been working in local/state Democratic politics ever since I retired in 2002. I've been involved as a county party officer and helped run several local campaigns. We've mostly lost, this being a 2-1 Republican county, but when we've lost it was to mainstream, Eisenhower type Republicans. I'm NOW helping a wonderful woman named Gloria Stultz run for the Colorado State Senate from District 2 (9 southern Colorado counties). THIS time, however, the opponent, one Kevin Grantham, is a dyed-in-the-wool nutbag Teabagger. A graduate of Liberty "University" no less. Check out his website on http://www.granthamforsenate.com/ His endorsements include two actual Tea Parties and a militia, no less.

So we're putting our heads together trying to figure out how to beat this guy, who would be a disaster in the Senate (even his primary opponent and the term-llimited incumbent Republican won't endorse him). We want to try to run Gloria as the "common sense" candidate hoping to appeal to independents and sane Republicans.

Thoughts? Help? Anybody else beat one of these guys?

BTW, Gloria's website is http://www.stultzforsenate.com/ if you're inclined to check it out.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Here's a thought....I don't know if you can use it, but....

What gripes me the most about the Tea baggers, I guess, is that their actions are supporting exactly the kind of corporatocracy that the original tea partiers were protesting. The original Tea Tax was really a corporate subsidy for the East India Tea Company, as it only applied to the smaller, local retailers who, of course got most of their product through less than legal means. :) Regardless, it was a corporate giveaway to the big guys that most of our current Congress (and ALL Republicans, and apparently Tea Baggers) would be proud of.

Perhaps a brief segment on the real Tea Tax, followed by how the modern Tea Party seems to have reversed that into support for big corporations that don't have America's interests at heart, while thoroughly screwing the local shop owners.

Do a profits over patriotism angle.

Best of luck.

edited for grammar.

[williesgirl]

2. I can't help you, but can kick and rec

[Angry Dragon]

3. After reading through part of his website

A couple of things pop out.

Have your candidate ask him how he plans to accomplish the things he stands for, always easy to state things and have no plans.

I notice he talks of every life has value from the point of conception and there after has the right to life. He also talks of the free enterprise system and property rights. Have him explain what happens when the free enterprise system and property rights infringes on the rights of a living person, which takes precedent??

[n2doc]

4. Don't let him hide

Have your candidate get him to debate him, and when that happens, ask if he believes in some of the tea bag platform stuff- getting rid of medicare, privatizing SS, tax cuts for the rich, etc, etc.

One should also make sure you have people asking about this stuff at each of his press conferences/rallys. The more he opens his piehole the faster he will sink. Don't let him get away with being reasonable.

Make sure your candidate talks about the irresponsibility of the RW- they don't pay for their tax cuts, they don't care about people once they are born, they don't support the aspects of government that help everybody. And reiterate that a smart, capable government is what we need, not whittled down, dumb, crooked government.

[Chan790]

5. Yes, actually.

Well, I didn't beat them...I got feedback on advice I offered a good friend, an RNC field organizer knocking them out in primaries so they couldn't get on ballots and lose otherwise-contestable districts. (Edit: I felt justified in knocking out the only person in this race to the right-of-center in a district that wouldn't go GOP even in an uncontested race.) Feel free to steal a page from how the RNC is dealing with the fringier of the tea-nuts.

1.) Identify those issues on which he is most out-of-line with the mainstream.
2.) State your candidate's position on those issues. Repeatedly. Every chance you get. Every venue.
3.) Whisper campaign that you won't comment on his position but if they want to know, they should call his office.
4.) Facilitate those people in telling their friends and neighbors what they learn he stands for. (Note this is far more effective than telling people yourself. You might lie to them, but they trust the neighbors.)
5.) Stand back and smile as he hoists himself on his own petard. (And he will...these loons are too stupid to realize that most Americans disagree with them on most issues vociferously.)

Knowledge is power.

There is one guy not on the ballot in CT because his campaign staffers were all too happy to tell unemployed defense workers how he was going to balance the budget by (among other things) cutting unemployment benefits and rolling back term-extensions. Closer to you, one of the more unpopular members of the US Senate (Maj. Leader Harry Reid) may actually keep his seat because his opponent is running on a platform opposing gambling, prostitution, "obscene stage shows" (by her criterion, mind you...and she's an extremist prude.) and alcohol-consumption...in Nevada. Because if you take away casinos, sex-work, dancers wearing little-other-than-sequins-and-feathers and drinking, what economy does Reno/Vegas/Tahoe have?

[unapatriciated]

7. not much a little skiing during winter break....

but that won't support the whole state, Damn they might have to create a state income tax just for the working class. The corporations would never allow an income tax to be levied on their profits, wouldn't be PRUDEnt.

[CanonRay]

6. Thanks too all-good ideas

I'll pass them all along to Gloria. My, how I despise these lunatics.

[yowzayowzayowza]

8. US Sen Nelson looks like a Boy Scout next to yer opponent.

Best of luck!!!

:hi: