This morning, several bloggers released a letter to the heads of the Club for Growth and Senate Conservatives Fund asking them to reconsider their early endorsement of former Congressman Mark Neumann in the Republican primary for the US Senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl:
To: Chris Chocola, Club for Growth
The Honorable Jim DeMint, junior Senator from the Great State of South CarolinaIt is with great disappointment that we have learned of the efforts of some conservatives on the national level to try to dictate to Wisconsin conservatives their choice for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Herb Kohl. This is a tremendous opportunity for Wisconsinites to elect a second conservative senator worthy of holding the office, and one that Wisconsin conservatives will take very seriously. This is not only a choice of ideology but of character, and it is our responsibility to bring Mark Neumann’s lack of character to your attention.
While we do not question Neumann’s past contributions to conservatism while he was a Congressman, his actions during last year’s campaign are completely unbecoming of a conservative candidate.
We respectfully request the national conservative groups and individuals to take a second look at their endorsement of Neumann. We ask that since many of them missed the opportunity to come to Wisconsin during the recent battles over collective bargaining for state employees and the recall elections, they come to Wisconsin now to talk to true Wisconsin conservatives to find out what they think of Neumann before attempting to foist their choice upon Wisconsin.
We do not write this under direction or duress from any candidate, potential candidate, or candidate’s campaign. We write this under the knowledge that as the primary for United State Senate commences in earnest, we will likely go our separate ways and support any number of candidates. That is our right as Americans.
If the past election in Wisconsin has shown national conservatives anything, it is to trust in the faith of Badger State conservative activists. We had the foresight to supply the movement with current leaders and rock stars like Janesville Congressman Paul Ryan, Ashland Congressman Sean Duffy, Green Bay Congressman Reid Ribble, Governor Scott Walker, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, and even Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.
That is just in the past two years, and we assure you, there are plenty more where they came from.Thank you,
Owen Robinson
Blogger, Boots and Sabers, since 2003
West Bend, WIKevin Binversie
Blogger, Lakeshore Laments, since 2003
St. Francis, WIJames Wigderson,
Blogger, Wigderson Library & Pub, since 2005
Waukesha, WISteve Eggleston
Blogger, No Runny Eggs, since 2005
Oak Creek, WIPatrick Dorwin
Blogger, Badger Blogger, since 2004
Milwaukee, WITim Gray
Blogger, UseYourGrayMatter.com, since 2010
La Crosse, WIBen Froland
Blogger, BenFroland.com, since 2009
Neenah, WI
In my case, my beef with Neumann is strictly about the conduct of his gubernatorial campaign, and specifcally with respect to CFG and SCF, his repudiation of the First Amendment while campaigning outside the Democrat Party of Wisconsin convention in 2010. Meanwhile, my beef with CFG and SCF is their early endorsement, especially with the likelyhood of several other candidates besides Neumann and Thompson that would be deserving of at least a look by those groups.
Yup. If I need some DC bunch to tell me how to vote, I’ll call them; they don’t have to call me.
I’m looking forward to having to do the follow-up regarding Tommy! (not really, but it is all-but-inevitable).
[…] Steve Eggleston […]
I endorse your actions. Neumann has burned a lot of bridges when we the grassroots were begging him to get out of the Walker election. The bullcrap he and his minions pulled was distasteful, and immoral. I thought highly of Neumann, et. al., until they went dirty in the (doomed form the start) gubernatorial campaign forcing the beloved Scott Walker to spend money against friendly fire.
I’ll be the first to admit, I was a Walker supporter early on. It didn’t have to be as ugly as it was, however.
The national interests do have a legitimate concern, and that is a divided conservative vote might lead to a less-than-conservative candidate. Thompson is the obvious beneficiary of a splintered conservative vote… and despite the bugaboo about his Gephart letter Thompson still would mop the floor with the communist Baldwin.
It will be an interesting primary.
May the best (and most conservative, electable) candidate win.