I went to a dessert fundraiser for Jim Rutledge, the candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate that I think can beat Sen. Barbara Mikulski. Here’s a good omen: it was held in the home of a DEMOCRAT who will be changing her voter registration to vote for Jim Rutledge in the primary election on Sept. 14.
What sets Jim Rutledge apart is his grasp of the principles of the Constitution and capitalism that make America the place where people have the freedom to make their dreams come true. First Jim spoke with passion of the Marylanders he’s met as he’s campaigned across the state who are hurting due to the economy-stagnating policies that Obama proposed and Sen. Mikulski supported. THEN he spoke about what wealth is and how it is created by ideas and the motivation of people who are allowed to keep the lion’s share of the wealth they have created. THIS is why Jim Rutledge CAN beat Barbara Mikulski. He understands what wealth is, how it is created and the system it needs to prosper and grow. Jim Rutledge knows how to unleash the creativity of the individual to create the wealth and jobs that will restore Maryland and America to prosperity. If I have good video of Jim making these points, I’ll have it up in a day or two.
Good stuff. Rutledge is one of the keys, IMO. Maryland isn’t quite Massachusetts, but it’s not Alabama either (in terms of GOP candidacies). Picking up a seat there would be amazing, particular if Rutledge is as you say he is.
Another is David Schweikert, here in AZ. Look him up. He’s a businessman, he’s been a county treasurer (where he successfully kept us on budget until Napolitano’s trainwreck of a career here) and he’s strong on libertarian points, including the 2nd Amendment, business freedom, and he’s not a SoCon, which can be rare here, meaning that I think strong inroads can be made with him and his people vis-a-vis gay marriage/rights as compared to some of the candidates we see here in Phoenix.
Oh, I hope you are right.
Rutledge just doesn’t have the appeal. If he faces Mikulski, she wins again.
http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/08/republicans-in-center.html
Mac,
Actually, it’s huge that the poll listed Jim Rutledge instead of his opponent for the Republican nomination. Jim has been campaigning among Republicans, since it is registered Republicans who will decide in the September primary who faces Sen. Mikulski in November. So it’s no big shock that moderates don’t know who he is or have a positive opinion of him. However, winning the nomination will get Rutledge access to larger forums. He also is a skilled campaigner, having managed campaigns in Georgia. So he has a grasp of the mechanics of running a winning campaign. Most importantly, Rutledge has the message that will address the core problem of Maryland and our federal government — how to create wealth and jobs. People across the political spectrum are hurting and scared and they will be electrified by Rutledge’s message. All Sen. Mikulski has to offer is handouts from borrowed money. That’s why Rutledge can beat Sen. Mikulski.
Cynthia
How can a lesbian support Rutledge? Did you see how much of a homophobe he is? (Though he seems to have changed his site since I saw it a few days ago. When I saw it the first time he was ranting about homosexuals blocking his freedom of speech, but he doesn’t seem to have the same page up anymore.)
Bruce R. Gilson,
Did you not read my post? Equality for lesbians and gays is founded in the Constitution and Rutledge is a Constitutional conservative. Also, Rutledge’s brother is openly gay — something Rutledge brought up and discussed with me when I interviewed him on July 3 in Bel Air. Rutledge supports equality for gays. I endorse him and so does his fiscally conservative gay brother.
It is Jim’s opponent, Eric Wargotz, who is anti-gay. You have to be thinking of Wargotz because he’s the one who completely changed his website from emphasizing his support of social conservative issues in June to his current pose as a fiscal conservative, which he did sometime in July. Rutledge has not made made changes to his website at all, except to add the video I took of him making a speech on the Fifth Amendment as part of the Bill of Rights theme for Bel Air’s Independence Day Tea Party, and the video of his recent interview on Maryland Public Television.
Cynthia
Oh Rutledge HAS changed his site — sometime between Aug. 31 and yesterday. On the first day, I looked over his site so I could tell what he stood for, and his “freedom-of-speech” page specifically addressed his concerns that homosexuals were trying to prevent his speech against the homosexual agenda. When I went back to that page to get hold of the URL, so I could cite it in my post, that whole paragraph was gone.
BTW, I’m not particularly fond of Wargotz either. But then, I don’t pretend to be a “true conservative.” I’m right of center, but not far right, and my vote will be for Neil Cohen, not either Rutledge or Wargotz.
Bruce R. Gilson,
I read every page of Jim Rutledge’s website before endorsing him. It did NOT have the remarks you claim it did. Either your memory is playing tricks on you, or you are not telling the truth. You don’t have a screen capture to prove what you’re saying. And I just spoke with Rutledge’s volunteer coordinator, Lisa Fitzhugh. She confirmed there were never any such remarks on Rutledge’s site.
Neil Cohen entered the race for the Republican nomination in July 2010. For that reason alone, he cannot be regarded as a serious candidate.
Recently I was going through my photos from Tea Party demonstrations in 2009 and found one with a large Rutledge sign in it. Jim has been campaigning all over Maryland for almost two years — he’s connected with people all over the state, he knows what it takes to create jobs and prosperity. Jim Rutledge is the candidate who inspires the enthusiasm required to defeat Barbara Mikulski.
Cynthia
Dear Mr. Gilson,
1st
Cynthia Yocky is a most respected blogger. She has many “straight” conservative fans. She does her homework. Honestly, who better to read for interesting political views than a lesbian conservative?
2nd
I have read Jim’s website since it has been up and running.
I agree with Cynthia. I have NO recollection of his website ever containing homophobic babble.
3rd
Jim has been a dear friend of mine for years and I have never known him to be homophobic. In fact, he, his wife and the entire extended Rutledge family have embraced me. I am Uncle Dave to his children as I have been there to watch them grow up. He allowed his gay brother and I to care for his mother in our home for five years.
The homophobe shots against Jim Rutledge will not work.
You’ll have to find someone else.
Dave Laubach
life partner of Jim’s brother