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GOP Rep Turns On His Party, Vows To Help Dems Win Seat
Here's something you practically never see: A retiring member of Congress endorse and campaign for the nominee of the opposite party. But that is exactly what's happening in the open deep-red House district of GOP Rep. Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland -- and it could help put this big pick-up opportunity within the reach of the Dems.
Gilchrest, a moderate Republican who turned against the Iraq War, was defeated for renomination this past February by right-wing GOPer Andy Harris. So now he's turned around and cut this ad for Democratic nominee Frank Kratovil:
"I love this place we call home," Gilchrest says. "It's more important to me than partisanship."
One question: Is Gilchrest's hometown a place called Revenge?
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They're jumping ship as fast as they can.
IT'S OVER!
September 3, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
September 3, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have to co-sign that. Sometimes I wonder, too. You write a great post, then you put something like that on it and I think it pulls the whole comment off.
September 3, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed. Unnecessary. The story is great without the need for an obvious commentary.
Although, I do enjoy a bit of snark once in a while. :)
http://thepajamapundit.com/
September 3, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
O I love snark - don't get me wrong.
I just don't always get snark-placement.
September 3, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
The snark could've easily been in the comments section. Nothing wrong with any of the TPMers commenting on their own post... Hell, I like it when Greg pops up in the thread!
September 3, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
They guy seems sincere to me. But it IS more evidence of the R's imploding, isn't it?
September 3, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
i'd like to see some gop talking heads talk about revenge with rep. gilchrest, when all we have to do is roll out that wonderful video montage of sen. lieberman and what he used to stand for before exacting his revenge on his former party
September 3, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
That seems like a cheap shot, Eric.
Consider why Gilchrist might have been bucking his own party on Iraq all this time. A plausible answer to that should inform your conjecture about his motives for supporting another anti-war candidate, regardless of party.
September 3, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
A very cheap shot.
Rep. Gilcrest's anti-war, pro-Constitution credentials are far better than those of most of the Democratic Party itself, and put its leaders to shame.
This is the opposite of Lieberman's defection: More like the "Strange Bedfellows" Glenn Greenwald talks about.
Encourage it, don't knock it.
September 3, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, maybe Eric's head is still ringing from having watched so many hours of Joe LieberSchmuck yesterday. I know I couldn't handle that!!!
September 3, 2008 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
i can believe that.
September 3, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I liked the snark.
September 3, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it's a cheap shot. Literally laughed out loud when I read it.
September 3, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would call his home town bi-partisanship. This is the kind of "bi-partisanship" that we can live with. Not traitor joe's kind which is toe the republican line to get the vp spot. That's not bi-partisanship, that's called a sell out.
September 3, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, his hometown is my hometown and he was never much of a super hard-core righty anyway. Rather, he was a high school history teacher who was a social moderate. It warms my heart to see him backing the D in this race over the republican, who is very far to the right of Gilchrest.
September 3, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah -- you really have to understand the level of wingnuts that get nominated around here when Republicans turn on their own for daring to disagree. (I'm in the VA suburbs, but I've been familiar with Gilchrist for years.) Republican primary voters are much more conservative and ideological than most voters in a district. A moderate Republican doesn't have to want revenge, he just has to care enough about his district to want it to have sane and competent representation rather than being used as a platform for wingnut political ambitions.
September 3, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we are witnessing the crumbling of the Republican party before our eyes. It's gonna be fun to watch.
September 3, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Frank Kratovil must like to hear himself talk
Frank Kratovil sure has a lot to say
Call your Congressman and ask him why Frank Kratovil is running his mouth through this entire political ad
September 3, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gilchrest is doing what many southern democrats in the early 90's. he is turning on his party.
i bet if gilchrest was our age he would be a dem all along. his party of Teddy Roosevelt is totally different today.
i think this re-aligning is amazing and its a new majority for years to come.
it will be interesting to see if republicans lose this seat cause its rated R+10 and likely republican by cook.
September 3, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your point is well taken.
By the way, what's happened to the avatar?
September 3, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a bandwidth thing. Notice how much quicker your posts are going through?
September 3, 2008 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed, it's what's been happening with Republicans throughout the Northeast for the last 30 years. Jeffords and Chafee were the most prominent because they came closest to what Gilchrest is doing, but it's been going on since the religious right took over. Pretty much the only ones left were grandfathered in, and if Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins were defeated in a primary they would probably do exactly like Lieberman, and would win.
September 3, 2008 3:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gilchrest is doing what many southern democrats in the early 90's. he is turning on his party.
i bet if gilchrest was our age he would be a dem all along. his party of Teddy Roosevelt is totally different today.
i think this re-aligning is amazing and its a new majority for years to come.
it will be interesting to see if republicans lose this seat cause its rated R+10 and likely republican by cook.
September 3, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
♪ We need a list of true patriots, like the man referenced in this piece.
A true patriot. Mr. Gilchrest, I salute you! ♪
September 3, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink