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AmSpecBlog
On Endorsements
Tom Wilson, the New Jersey GOP chair, sent out an email on behalf of Saul Anuzis. Included in it was this line:
The American Spectator wrote that "Saul is everybody's second choice" for RNC Chair. Well, I've been giving Saul a tough time about that one as a joke because Saul is my first choice; but if there's a multi-ballot vote, being everybody's second choice is right where you want to be.
That was news to me, because we don't take positions, at least not as a magazine, and certainly not on the blog. But it was even taken out of context. The "everybody's second choice" line was taken from a quote that Stacy McCain got from an audience member at the Press Club. It wasn't something put forward by Stacy himself. This was a pretty misleading thing that Wilson did.
Of course, Anuzis being the most easily-reached candidate ever, once I told him this, he immediately made the adjustment on his blog to reflect that. But I wanted to say clearly and for the record we're not endorsing Anuzis or anyone else.
Unfortunately for him, though, it appears there are other people who actually DID support him, but aren't now. One is Richard A. Bennett, who, sources say, has switched from all-out supporting Anuzis to supporting Mike Duncan. The rest of the Maine delegation followed suit.
Nebraska GOP chairman Mike Quandahl, an Anuzis supporter, also lost his race to keep his seat as of yesterday. We're not yet certain whether his successor, Mark Fahleson, will continue that support. The committeewoman of that state, DeMaro Carlson, may also have retracted her support.
I'll also have a few updates tomorrow about Blackwell and Steele. But now, it's time for bed.
Comments
Leave a Comment
bill| 1.11.09 @ 10:29AM
"We're not endorsing anyone.." But..."more on Steele and Blackwell tomorrow.". Right.
Interloper| 1.11.09 @ 11:40AM
Exactly, Bill. Anyone who has been reading the American Spectator knows its crew is backing Ken Blackwell because he is the darling of the religious Right. Next in line would be Southern good ole boy Katon Dawson because he is perceived as representing the GOP base, ie. Southern whites and evangelicals. The American Spectator crew does not like Anuzis because he is way too modern, a Northerner and has a 'funny' name.
ConservativeWanderer| 1.11.09 @ 12:26PM
Bill, if "a few updates tomorrow about Blackwell and Steele" (the exact quote, you'll note) is an endorsement, then the NY Times was endorsing McCain every time they ran an update on his campaign.
Let's not stretch too far in your zeal to denigrate those with whom you disagree, hmm?
bill| 1.11.09 @ 1:08PM
Wanderer - all one has to do is look back in the AmSpec blog to see all the cutesy messages between "Ken Blackwell" (his staff..) and Frier. Then a little farther back to read all about internal Michigan political spats between Anuzi and the guy running Blackwell's operation. Interloper is right, but it's not issue related, I'm afraid.
ConservativeWanderer| 1.11.09 @ 1:31PM
Again, Bill, there were plenty of information passed from the McCain staff and the NY Times. Does that, therefore, constitute an endorsement of McCain by the times, or just that McCain's staff was attempting to get their view out into the media?
So Blackwell has a more efficient staff, or perhaps just a staff with AmSpec's email in their address books. That doesn't make for an endorsement.
But please, keep digging that nice deep hole you're in. Maybe someday you'll strike gold, or oil.
Alan Brooks| 1.11.09 @ 2:18PM
interloper,
you say Anuzi is way too modern for amspec crew, what does modern mean to YOU?--
Libertraian?
Alan Brooks| 1.11.09 @ 2:18PM
libertarian?
Alan Brooks| 1.11.09 @ 2:26PM
Anuzis, thats the spelling!
alrighty but geez, Blackwell "darling" of the religious right? oh, puleaze.
remember Orwell, guy.
even Daffne wouldnt write darling of the religious right.
Martin| 1.11.09 @ 9:07PM
AmSpec should run a blog poll, like blogs do for the Baseball Hall of Fame. My ballot:
Blackwell
Duncan
Dawson
Anuzis
Steele
The Tennessee Huckabee-supporter with the Christmas card.
Interloper| 1.11.09 @ 9:25PM
Your last choice would likely win an AS poll, Martin. Intelligence is 'the enemy' around here and Mark Saltsman appears to be the least blessed.
Kat| 1.12.09 @ 3:01AM
So glad to have our own in-house liberal critic. Just can't get enough of his clever digs. Just can't get enough.
Robert Stacy McCain| 1.12.09 @ 4:38AM
Actually, I thought we were endorsing J.P. Freire for RNC chairman -- didn't Saul get the memo?
VZ| 1.12.09 @ 12:27PM
Just to clarify: NEGOP Chairman Mark Quandahl did not lose his seat. He chose not to seek re-election. His successor Mark Fahleson ran unopposed and won on Saturday.