TV killed the Senate nominee
Over at Commentary, John Podhoretz has some interesting thoughts on Delaware Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell.
He talks how anyone who'd written an op-ed in the 1990s was asked to show up on one of the many cable news shows that proliferated then. Christine O'Donnell did her share of television at the time -- and she's having to defend herself against some of her youthful utterances. Podhoretz says that Bill Maher used her on his show Politically Incorrect so often because "She could hold down the conservative chair and, to be blunt, say embarrassing, stupid, and excessive things that would discredit the very cause she was supposed to be there to represent."
Unfortunately, as O'Donnell's behavior 15 years ago and now attest, there is little evidence of seriousness of purpose (like her workplace lawsuit in particular against the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, in which she demanded damages because she had trouble sleeping) and a great deal of evidence of her fundamental silliness. Booking and canceling television interviews and bouncing around confusedly in the wake of her victory have not inspired confidence in the voters of Delaware. After the election, assuming the tsunami doesn't manage miraculously to carry her over, she will have a second career on the conservative circuit blaming the mainstream media for harming her candidacy.
But there would be no Christine O'Donnell without the mainstream media, and it will be to their precincts she will in all likelihood decamp in the wake of her sudden fame, turning the ideas she claims to embody into a dismissible caricature, just as she did in her youth. The same, by the way, will be true if she wins; she will be the first new senator liberal reporters turn to for a quote on something controversial, in hopes that she will step in it. The problem is not the ideas, or the Tea Party. The problem is O'Donnell and her path to the spotlight.
He then notes how Sean Duffy's path had similar beginnings -- first coming to public attention because he was a cast member of MTV's The Real World, of all things. But from there he went on to get married, have six children, become the district attorney of Ashland County and spent years building up enough trust to run a serious campaign in a tough district.
O'Donnell is down 14 points right now and has high unfavorables among Delaware voters. The one thing I find interesting about O'Donnell's candidacy is that she has raised so much money when there are Tea Party types in other races that are much tighter.
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Sep '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
It's distressing to think how much more good those dollars could be doing in tight House races.
Jul '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
The one thing I find interesting about O'Donnell's candidacy is that she has raised so much money when there are Tea Party types in other races that are much tighter.
"She's a fraudulent idiot. But she's our fraudulent idiot."
May '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Because of the importance of gaining the majority in the Senate, I would have voted for Castle and risked the inevitable Jeffords/Chaffee/Specter backstab (I did vote for Mark Kirk here in Illinois, and a backstab sometime in his first two years is exactly what I expect).
That said she is now the nominee, and it is almost certain she won't win if Republican pundits keep trashing her. How about going after Coons, aka Harry Reid's "Bearded Marxist" pet?
It's so typical in Republican primaries that when the conservative loses, the establishment says "suck it up and support the Republican." When the conservative wins, the establishment sulks, pouts, then supports the Democrat.
O'Donnell won, get over it.
Aug '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Do not panic. O'Donnell needs to stay on message. These tough races were inevitable in this cycle because the Tea Party system is so very new. Ahead, ahead, ahead! Mollie, I really do not think your woe-is-me tone is constructive, but perhaps I am wrong. As I asked Mike Murphy, show me that this criticism is helpful here and now. I just want a real conservative to win. I certainly did not come up with O'Donnell, but I am going to throw in with this cause--as I did Bush, McCain, Dole, the other Bush. (My career paid dearly for my support of "W.") Is O'Donnell saying goofy things now? Yes or no? I am sorry that this is not how the ol' GOP boys like doing it--this hard work is the result of their negligence and the contemptuous distain that the GOP leadership has had for their base for years. Rent came due. And for goodness sakes, we do not need negative polling data every two seconds. Play tennis--don't be watching the scoreboard--let your opponent do that. Focus on the message, please. What is it? Get it out there.
Jun '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Americans love the poor underdog, fighting some rich self-important establishment. It's the oldest American story. If you're unfamiliar with it, watch the movie "Animal House."
Jul '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Here's what we know about O'Donnell:
Fini
Edited on Sep 22, 2010 at 9:15pmMay '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Mollie, you say "interesting thoughts" but "depressing thoughts" might be more accurate! I hadn't considered the number of bizarre things a Senator O'Donnell might say - or the fact that her weirdest attributes would become synonymous with the Tea Party for those poor souls who rely on the broadcast networks for their news.
Fine, squishes: Delaware should have stuck with the establishment guy! Heh.
Jun '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Kenneth: Here's what we know about O'Donnell:
[devastating points 1-8]
Fini · Sep 22 at 9:14pm
Edited on Sep 22 at 09:15 pm
Yeah, but she's really cute.
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Oh I really have no stomach for the "get behind her talk." I'm not a Republican, certainly not a Republican operative, and have never been accused of being Republican establishment.
If people want to support her, that's fine with me. If people think that even if she won she would ultimately hurt the cause, I understand that, too.
However, the idea that you're not supporting the GOP by pointing out that money might be better spent on races that are much more winnable -- but still tough and needing help -- is doubly bizarre.
Jul '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
so, move on to O'Donnell's opponent. Isn't he some kind of marxist or something? Given the interest in this guy, whatever his name is, by every Republican from Rove to Podhoretz, I don't know anything else. Way to go for the team, guys!
Jul '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Mollie Hemingway: Oh I really have no stomach for the "get behind her talk." I'm not a Republican, certainly not a Republican operative, and have never been accused of being Republican establishment.
If people want to support her, that's fine with me. If people think that even if she won she would ultimately hurt the cause, I understand that, too.
However, the idea that you're not supporting the GOP by pointing out that money might be better spent on races that are much more winnable -- but still tough and needing help -- is doubly bizarre. · Sep 22 at 9:23pm
Never underestimate the power of Levin, Limbaugh, Hannity and Ingraham, desperate to avoid admitting an embarrassing mistake, to fire up the masses with a money-bomb.
May '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Wondering if Kenneth might like to help me re-work my resume.
Jul '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Here's a freebie, Scott
That 5-year prison stint? Call yourself an "Independent Contractor" for the State Department of Corrections.
Aug '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
"... say embarrassing, stupid, and excessive things that would discredit the very cause she was supposed to be there to represent.". This was a quote from Bill Maher or about him? O'Donnell is a good lesson for the Tea Partiers--the candidate counts too. The character of the person matters along with the ideas. After she crashes and burns I think, or at least hope, that the Tea Partiers will mature. On the other hand, if she does win, I can live with her being the right's Al Franken. Her vote will be reliable and it still counts regardless of what stupid things she says.
May '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
One similarity between Sarah Palin and Christine O'Donnell: they gain support from some by being attacked by others. This isn't a good thing for the right. "The media is unfair to this person" is not itself a reason to send them money.
Jul '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Much as it pains me to say it, the media is, occasionally, right.
May '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
You go to the general election with the candidates you have.
Anyone happy or satisfied with the direction of the country can support the party taking it in that direction, the Democrats. In Delaware that would include voting for Coons. In Punditistan, that includes boosting Democrats and diminishing Republicans.
Anyone unhappy or dissatisfied with the direction of the country can support the party that wants to take it in a different direction, the Republicans. In Delaware that would include voting for O'Donnell. In Punditistan, that includes boosting Republicans and diminishing Democrats.
Anyone who's indifferent can stay home.
It is really that stark.
Jul '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Here's a better take. But the editors at Ricochet won't link this one. Page views baby!
Jul '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
Kenneth: Here's what we know about O'Donnell:
Fini · Sep 22 at 9:14pm
Edited on Sep 22 at 09:15 pm
She ran before against Biden twice with GOP backing.
It must be nice to live in your cloistered aerie where you have minimal interaction with the hoi polloi.
She was fired from a job? My heavens! She associates with Evangelicals! That's devastating according to the North Star.
Mollie Hemingway: Oh I really have no stomach for the "get behind her talk."
However, the idea that you're not supporting the GOP by pointing out that money might be better spent on races that are much more winnable -- but still tough and needing help -- is doubly bizarre. · Sep 22 at 9:23pm
The reason for supporting Castle was the 50th vote despite his RINO-ness. Now the candidate is a conservative, you won't back her? That's TRIPLY bizarre. Money spent better elsewhere.? She raised $2M in a week. That's not a money bomb, that's a money nuke to quote Jim Geraghty.
It's tough being a conservative woman running for office in the GOP.
Denial is a river in Egypt.
May '10
Re: TV killed the Senate nominee
The money coming in is gut money, not strategic money. It's not, "I have $100 to offer the Republican party: where shall I send it?" It's, "I've got to do something to show my support for the candidate being trashed by our own side."
And: Can anyone offer an example of a stupid, embarrassing thing Christine O'Donnell has said as a candidate?
Kenneth, she's a Catholic, not an evangelical. What grounds do you have for your assuption that her views are not sincere? Where I come from, imputation of base motives without evidence is an ignoble form of argument.
Edited on Sep 23, 2010 at 4:42am