O’Donnell “you cannot distract me; you cannot intimidate me; you cannot make me “just go away.”
Mar 20th, 2010 by David Anderson
Some of you have read this News Journal article.I think this answer to some questions that I submitted to Ms. O’Donnell are appropriate to this article. I recently asked Ms. O’Donnell some questions about the website, questions about campaign debt, and other issues.
The questions were addressed to her as Christine so the reply comes back to me likewise, but I thought it would be valuable to see her unedited. The second paragraph is sort of personal regarding communications that we had regarding a death in her family and is the only one edited. These issues were an apology for being a couple days longer than she intended I did not get any negative feedback from her regarding the use of it verbatim. I will also have some specific answers posted to some specific questions Sunday or Monday.
Dear David: Thanks for writing to me rather than going public first with your questions and comments. I want you to know how much I value your past support — and would appreciate your support in this year’s election and beyond.
It’s been a very emotional and hectic week for my family and me a death in the family <redacted> , meetings at Sen. Santorum’s fundraiser last evening and a private brunch that was held for me with President Musharraf today. My new team, married with dedicated Delawareans like you, give me the confidence to know that we can not only soundly beat Mike Castle in the primary, but also win in November.
I thought of going through point-by-point on the issues you raised, but decided not to. The gossip about my supposed failings on this matter or that are not real charges about serious subjects. Instead, they represent “the Lords of the Backroom” trying to spread malicious stories about me, stories based not on reality but on political hostility.
David, polls, including the one by Rassmussen (note below snapshot), show that I have strong appeal to Republicans and Independents. My opponents, especially Castle, want to undermine me with gossip because I challenge their false sense of entitlement and threaten political careers they have regarded as “safe.”
In essence, David, what’s happening is that Castle and his minions are throwing a thousand “spitballs” at me . . . and desperately hoping that one sticks. The new charge that I am somehow not a resident of Delaware, where I have been a legal resident for most of the past decade, achieves a new level of absurdity.
I imagine the trivial charges will continue and get more and more bizarre. Of course, this is exactly the kind of politics that has disgusted Americans nationwide . . . and is meant to demoralize people to the point where the “Lords of the Back Room” run everything without opposition.
To those self-appointed “Lords,” I say this: you cannot distract me; you cannot intimidate me; you cannot make me “just go away.” I’m in this race to win it, and nothing can deter me from achieving that goal.
David, I assure you this campaign will have the high-powered talent — and the funds — necessary not only to compete but also to win. In the coming days, I’ll be meeting with some of the top political figures in the nation and in the world, as well as with people who will provide significant financial aid to my campaign.
I expect some major endorsements, ones that will bring national attention to our campaign, in the near future. We have the people and the total commitment needed to win, and that strikes fear in the hearts of people dedicated to the status quo.
Yes, I am riding a statewide and national wave consisting of political activists who will no longer accept business as usual; will no longer allow entrenched career politicians to ignore the voices of the people; will no longer accept corruption as the norm; and will no longer settle for second-best.
The people of Delaware and the nation deserve much better than what they have been getting. They deserve to have politicians like my opponent admit they have no real solutions to the nation’s problems . . . and retire to the sidelines.
Please stick with me, believe in my basic honesty and ability, and help me win this race! I will always value your input and friendship. What you want for our state and nation is also what I want.
Christine O’Donnell – www.Christine2010.com
Christine O’Donnell has more name recognition and has run a state-wide grassroots campaign whereas Democrat Coons has not. As a proven vote getter with a solid foundation of voter identification and name recognition, her potential candidacy tested extremely well in a Rasmussen Report poll last fall garnering 40%, with 71% support amongst Republicans and a 2-1 edge among Independents. Delaware voters also trend higher in dissatisfaction with the federal deficit, the state of the national economy, and the current health care proposals.
RASMUSSEN Reports – Delaware Survey of 500 Likely Voters: September 30, 2009
2010 Delaware Senate Race
Christine O’Donnell(R)40%
Beau Biden (D)49%
Some Other Candidate3%
Not Sure8%
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/delaware/2010_delaware_senate_castle_47_biden_42
David I don’t see how Christine’s arguments/explanations in your post answer or deal with any of the issues raised in the News Journal Piece.
I do. It is similar to her specific answers in the Journal. Nonsense issues and gossip will not distract her from the real issues. The fact that she sold her home because she could no longer afford it is not even an issue. It is the responsible thing to do. The fact that she paid off a college debt back in 2002 or 3 (according to the state of California) and the college is still trying to bilk her for money is a non-issue for her, but reflects poorly on them. IRS lien is in dispute that is why we have a process. This is an article that wasn’t even worth ink. All it proves is that she should have gone bankrupt like most people and not struggled to pay things off after she ran into hard times.
You are aware of the questions that I asked. You can decide if they are answered. I think they are a better response to the fountain of rumors .
“I imagine the trivial charges will continue and get more and more bizarre. Of course, this is exactly the kind of politics that has disgusted Americans nationwide . . . and is meant to demoralize people to the point where the “Lords of the Back Room” run everything without opposition. “
I am not sure I am aware of what your questions were.
I don’t think that Christine’s answer “not responding point by point” is adequate. As long as she maintains that she is above answering these types of questions that reflect poorly on her personal finances and campaign finances then the topics will keep coming back.
As for her college having to sue her for debts that she incurred in 1994, I don’t know how that makes her look good.
Independent voters who are not ideological look for a demonstration of a person’s character based on observed behavior. I do have neighbors that judge a person based on how they maintain their lawn as they like their neighborhood to look good. A person running for office should be aware that a political candidate’s every move is observed and judged. Ignoring this rule of thumb can make a person unelectable.
“I don’t think that Christine’s answer ‘not responding point by point’ is adequate.”
I don’t either, and think most voters feel the same way. In politics, one meets every attack. Accusations have been made by respectable sources (I don’t think much of the NJ’s editorials, but they’re not going to print libelous allegations), and they require a better answer than “Don’t worry about that, Castle supporters are just trying to distract you.” Today’s article in the NJ was a serious blow, and it needs to be dealt with seriously, or supporters are going to start jumping ship.
Who is Senator Santorum? And why is O’Donnell always meeting with a former Pakistani military leader? With those connections, you can’t tell me she is having trouble with rent money. What is up here?
“lords of the backroom” is a cute phrase, but it doesn’t answer questions about her finances, past or current campaign.
Dave, your (and she) are not dealing with “rumors”, This isn’t pink postcards, annonymouse letters or blog postings, this is information printed in the state’s leading newspaper.
“This isn’t pink postcards, annonymouse letters or blog postings, this is information printed in the state’s leading newspaper.”
That and there are court documents and official records attached to the article. I spent some time today going through them. The overall impression is not good.
I don’t think that she should be held to a higher standard than other candidates, nor should she be held to a lower one. She doesn’t have a voting record so the aspects we discover concerning her personal and campaign finances record matter quite a bit.
The only thing that will turn this around is if she gets the messes cleaned up and starts putting in a lot more face time in all three counties. If we are to trust in her “basic honesty and ability” than we are going to need to see it on display, a lot.
He who is without sin cast the first stone. Who among us hasn’t got things in their past or present that they wish that they could have handled differently. Or maybe something that if taken out of context or looked at in tunnel vision would reflect poorly, but if seen in a bigger picture would not seem as bad. I know that there have been some local candidates that have run for office after filing for bankruptcy. We were told by the same party to ignore this because it was in the past, the same party that is now attacking Ms. O’Donnell.
I would recommend to those Republicans who feel the need to attack Ms. O’Donnell on a personal level to be prepared to defend Mr. Castle on a voting record that will not play very well this election cycle with conservatives.
Obviously, we are not ignoring it here. We report and you decide–oh that one’s taken.
I am going to go back to the fact that the college from 1994 was satisfied according to the CA courts, but they still are holding it against her. Interesting enough that should have been cleared from her credit report right about last year. 7 years after the judgment.
I know officeholders who have been bankrupt. I supported one of them very strongly and he turned out to be one of the best fiscal watchdogs around. Don’t trust a person who hasn’t been through something. Some people are (to borrow the joke) born on third base and think they hit a triple while others scratch and craw their way through every base until they get home. It is the later that I prefer on my team.
Do I agree that she needs to put this behind her, yes. I will soon have my recommendations. It is now to the point where it can’t be absorbed. She has to deal with it.
Now to have a little fun. Did the News Journal have the same problem with KWS our beloved Democrat Insurance Commissioner who is actually overseeing a department that disqualifies people for not being handle their finances? I didn’t have a big problem, she had some tough time including health and job issues. I just wonder where is the fake outrage?
I think some would do well to remember that the goal is not to elect Christine O’Donnell to the Senate, specifically. The goal is to replace Mike Castle with a true, limited-government conservative; that person could be her, or it could be someone else. For a long time, O’Donnell was the best choice (or at least many thought so). It might be time to reconsider if she is still the best choice; not to aid Castle by smearing his competition, but to find a better conservative candidate to challenge him.
I’ll quote from a blog post I wrote yesterday:
“Surely, a conservative Republican with a clean record and untarnished reputation can be found to challenge Castle. Surely, there is a candidate out there whose recent past does not provide opponents with a stockpile of political ammunition.”
O’Donnell is nuts. The only reason she is running in this race is to get campaign donations to try and get out of debt. She has no chance of winning and is a poor candidate at best. With a quick glance and sho she really is and how she handles her personal life she is probably the worst candidate. #1 she wants campaign donantions to continue to pay her bills. #2 she is going for a 100K (+) paying job. #3 in her crazy world she thinks by running this faux campaign it may open an opportunity for a future job.
Ok, Chris. For sake of argument, who? I think it is easier to fix the issues than start over.
David, The NJ’s failure to properly report on KWS does not discredit their reporting on Christine. KWS was running for a minor office in a year full of bigger stories. Christine is running for the US Senate in an off-year election.
Chris S, don’t pretend this was a press release or mailer from the Castle Campaign.
If Christine had responded to the NJ reporter like the PR pro she is supposed to be, this would have been a triumph of earned media…
Dave A, my answer to your Q#15 is nobody.
Let Mike win the senate seat – one more in the R column.
focus on winning the house seat, we have several capable people who have announce their intention to run, meet each of them personaly, take a hard look at their campaign team and plan, pick you favorite and help them win.
“Surely, a conservative Republican with a clean record and untarnished reputation can be found to challenge Castle. Surely, there is a candidate out there whose recent past does not provide opponents with a stockpile of political ammunition.”
I agree with Chris. I will add to Chris’s observation in #13 that the goal is to not just get someone in who is more conservative than Castle, It is also to get a candidate who can win in November. The average voter may not understand all the intricacies of the health care bill and cap and trade but they sure understand someone who takes 9 years to pay a debt to their college and who is cited for not maintaining their property by local officials. These average voters will not vote for someone with the type of baggage C. O’Donnell.
Had there been a more thorough vetting of Christine in 2008, or 2006 for that matter, we would not be in this situation. Had the true nature of Christine’s personal finances been made aware in 2008, Tim Smith would have been the Republican endorsed candidate. The Conservative movement would have been better served by a successful businessman with a solid reputation whose economic house is in order.
David these issues can’t be “fixed”. They are part of the historic record. There are public records and court documents galore. These kinds of things do not go away. Check out the race in the 35th Representative District in 2008. I can bring up any number of other races.
Well said Tennessee. I have often wondered how any candidate or for that matter Party Chairman can get nominated elected without all the laundry being totally vetted. From my brief experience in politics I was amazed how the Party does not even do background checks. The way it is now, we could nominate at candidate for U.S. Senator at convention only to find they are a convicted felon.
The newpaper used to be a lot better at muckraking reporting but they can’t afford that anymore. Better be on our toes. It would be interesting to see a micro look at the personal finances of Coons and Castle.
I don’t know about the rest of the party but I have checked candidates that I have worked with. I must say My basic check would not have turned up an unpaid college bill from 12 years prior. I have been in meetings where potential candidates are asked about potential skeletons in their closet. Many downplay this but it gives one a starting point and at least one can mitigate potential problems. Christine was endorsed at the convention where Terry Strine left and Tom Ross came in. There is no need to start the who shot the sheriff routine on this one.
It is meaningless that is why. It was sort of thrown in to show a pattern. The real issues are the current IRS lien, the paid rent in for a home office (legit, but candidates tend to donate that esp. when the campain is racking up debt) and the unpaid staffers one of whom is feeding information to the press. You have to keep your people happy or you need to be prepared.
At least she is an anti-tax candidate so a tax lien won’t hurt her base. If she wins the case, it goes away. If not, she makes payments.
The good news is that she can fix most of it.
David, 8 missing FEC reports is a problem, too. It’s about accountability and transparency. When you donate to a candidate, you have a right to know where your money is going and how it’s being spent.
As citizens we’ve been fighting for open government for years, why would we vote for a candidate who won’t even show us campaign finance reports?
The “Lords of the backroom” file FEC reports, so can O’Donnell.
Until she gets her own house in order, she’s unelectable and nothing more than a gadfly taking votes away from a viable Republican candidate.
DROP OUT CHRISTINE!
I have to laugh when Christine talks about the “Lords of the Backroom.” It was one of those Lords who agreed to support her run against Biden in 2008. I guess that the Lords were okay when they supported her, gave her an office in State HQ where she did not have to pay rent, paid her filing fee of $10K, offered free legal advice, and did what they could to help. Her campaign manager was sleeping on the couch at State HQ because she was not paying him. Her former CM who is a friend of mine was not paid either. She asked me to be her CM at one time but luckily I was working for Kevin Wade for Lt. Govenor and could not accept her offer. She eventually moved out of the free office space, announced in the paper that the Lords were not helping her out even though they had paid her $10K filing fee three days before she was quoted in the paper. She paid rent for her house to Brent Vasher out of her campaign fund ($750 on two occasions to Brent Vasher for services rendered.)
Of course you are saying to yourself that I am just another Lord of the Backroom. In 2008 I was not. I supported Tim Smith to run against Biden because I knew he was the right choice. A lot of people at the convention agreed with me and Christine only won by 1% of the vote. It is unfortunate that Tim Smith was not our candidate because he would have been the best Senate candidate hands down.
Tim Smith is a good guy. I liked him a lot. I hope we hear more from him.
#22 I don’t believe the reports are missing. They were late which goes to my point about a top flight treasurer. You are right that if she does not get this right, she will not be a viable candidate and I add may do permanent damage to herself. That is my concern. I am also concerned that it could also be a set back to conservatism in Delaware. She choose this race when she could have had the Congressional nomination almost handed to her. She drug the movement into this race. Now she has to do what ever she needs to for the cause. Even if that means give up control in order to gain victory. She can win or she can control the money. She can’t do both.
“Chris S, don’t pretend this was a press release or mailer from the Castle Campaign.”
I didn’t say that. However, I have pointed out on several blogs that the Democratic candidates would have no reason to smear O’Donnell. If she were to defeat Castle in the primary, it would greatly improve the chances of Chris Coons. The effort to discredit Christine O’Donnell (which, given the facts, is not necessarily unjustified) must be a Republican one; whether it was the Castle Campaign itself, GOP insiders, or simply Castle supporters acting without his knowledge or approval.
Who could run against Castle instead of Christine? I don’t know. Someone with a clear record who can run a campaign, and (preferably) who has run one before, successfully. The filing deadline is in July.