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Castle Refuses to Back O'Donnell

By Jeffrey Lord on 9.15.10 @ 1:11PM

"Our Ruling Class' agenda is power for itself."
-- Angelo Codevilla, The Ruling Class: How They Corrupted America and What We Can Do About It

"A Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) campaign source confirmed to The Hill late Tuesday that the longtime congressman will not be endorsing Christine O'Donnell."
-- The Hill

So.

Had he won, you can bet Mike Castle would have been telling everyone it was time to close ranks and support the winner of the Delaware GOP primary.

But Mike Castle didn't win. He lost. Big time. And so?

With the predictability of the sun rising in the East, Castle has picked up his marbles and gone home. Hell will freeze over before he supports Christine O'Donnell, and the first word on this was out by 11:24 pm Tuesday night, before midnight had tolled on the night O'Donnell had convincingly -- more than convincingly -- thrashed him.

All this does is infuriate Americans even more.

Castle's instant refusal to back O'Donnell, is not only what the Ruling Class might call poor sportsmanship, it symbolizes the utter arrogance these people have as they pursue precisely the only agenda they have ever had: wielding power for itself. That's it, that's all. The Alpha and the Omega of the Ruling Class. They rule because they are supposed to. They will say what they have to say, and do what they have to do -- to win. And if they lose? Well, hasta la vista, baby. Can you say Arlen Specter?

They believe they have a certain status in life. That they are the adult equivalent of the junior high school "in crowd." They believe they are owed. And if you don't happen to see this -- and give them what they want -- you are a rube. A hick. A fool. An idiot.

They think Christine O'Donnell is an idiot. Bless her, O'Donnell understands these very same people think the same thing of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Sarah Palin, Sharron Angle, Rand Paul and on and on into an infinity of Ruling Class arrogance. It was no less than Ronald Reagan who was once described by a condescending Washington insider (Clark Clifford) as "an amiable dunce." Clifford, by the way, a powerful Democratic lobbyist, almost went to jail in his dotage he was so smart.

After a long morning with nothing -- nothing -- on the NRSC website about the victory of Christine O'Donnell, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Senator John Cornyn has gotten the message.

In a front page statement, Cornyn has backed away from news stories last night that the NRSC would refuse to assist O'Donnell, now officially the Senate nominee of the Delaware Republican Party.

But as anyone familiar with this kind of thing knows, there's a lot more the NRSC can do for her with independent expenditures and the like. Will they?

We will see.

But there are two ways the Establishment can try and protect its power. One is, as with Castle, simply refuse to support O'Donnell outright. Or, two, as with the NRSC, appear to help but not really. Not do for Christine O'Donnell what they will do for others who have the favor of the Insiders.

This is a battle royal between average Americans and The Establishment. That Establishment can be in the Democratic White House and Congress -- or a Republican NRSC. What we're talking is a difference of degree, as opposed to a difference of kind.

The American people have long since caught on to this.

And suffice to say, as witness the O'Donnell phenomenon, they are not happy.

View all comments (30) | Leave a comment

Booger| 9.15.10 @ 1:29PM

This shows us exactly what would have happened had Castle won the senate seat: He would have demanded having everything his way and refused to support conservatives. Fair bet he would eventually have gone the Specter/Crist route and abandoned the Rs altogether. Now, will the various R commentators who have been telling us to support the candidate most likely to win turn their support to O'Donnell? After all, her odds of victory are now much better than those for Castle.

Booger| 9.15.10 @ 1:30PM

One other thing: She may be trailing in the polls right now, but O'Donnell's numbers are better than Scott Brown's were this far out from his election. For what it's worth.

Scott | 9.15.10 @ 1:30PM

Okay, pardon my language, but that was a dickish thing for Castle to do.

As for the NRSC, I understand their logic (if you think she's bound to lose, why waste resources that could be spent to better effect?), but you don't say it out loud, for Pete's sake!

Booger| 9.15.10 @ 1:34PM

I'll say this out loud: Time for a Tea Party candidate to take Cornyn's seat in a primary. And no, his endorsement will not be requested afterwards.

Tim*| 9.15.10 @ 1:33PM

If The Republican Party Wants War With The Tea Party Let It Be Here And Now .

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates .

Rise Up !

albert constantine, jr.| 9.15.10 @ 1:55PM

In today's press briefing, Robert Gibbs quoted Del. State Republican Party chair Tom Ross with respect to his perception of Christine O'Donnell's electability. When the chief flack of the opposing party's highest office holder can negatively quote you in context against your party's candidate, you should resign, or be expelled from office. Though his tenure in the chair suggests that competence is in short supply, unless the honor reserves are even lower, Tom Ross should resign.

Tim*| 9.15.10 @ 2:00PM

Chairman Tom Ross is a Castle Lacky .

Purge The Fat Bastard .

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates .

Remember In November .

Curly Smith| 9.15.10 @ 2:04PM

I think Mr. Codevilla needs to update his title. Mr. Castle illustrates that it's more of "Ruling Ass" than a "Ruling Class".

Rich Fisher| 9.15.10 @ 2:11PM

6 months ago the thinking was that the election was 8 months away and the electorate would forget what the Dems, Liberals and RINOS had done. The question always was, can the Tea Party keep its enthusiasm up, will they still remember in November. Well, the answer is a resounding YES and YES. We will overcome, we will send the Dems, Liberals and RINOS packing and make Obama the impotent little boy that he is. Wonder how many of these bloggers that parrot the line that Christine ODonnel has never had a job or had any experience voted for Obama. He still has no job, other than planning his next vacation at taxpayer expense, and has learned nothing in the past two years. WE WILL REMEMBER

Dennis D| 9.15.10 @ 2:15PM

Recent events have proven these RINO's are nothing but selfish power grabbers with no values. Arlen Specter, Charlie Crist perhaps Murkowski. Its all about THEM and not their party. Not their nation.

S. Dodge| 9.15.10 @ 2:28PM

Mr. Lord:

Thanks for your clear-headed perspective through all of this. I became even more appreciative after listening to Karl Rove and even Wm Kristol light into O'Donnell. Here's a perspective: even if she loses, a whole region of the country that even as late as a year ago was written off, is once again "in play," not just for Republicans, but possibly for conservatives. Instead of trashing O'Donnell, I wish everyone would get on-board and support her, give her the air time, the exposure to make her case to the good folks of Delaware.

Scott

Teflon93| 9.15.10 @ 2:50PM

As I've noted before, RINOs are just Democrats-in-Waiting who always insist conservatives must close ranks and support them when they win, but use their primary defeat as an excuse to switch parties and trash the people who beat them in the media.

They have no principles. They just want power.

Which is as good a reason as any to deny them what they crave.

Tim| 9.15.10 @ 3:00PM

Dede Scozzafava redux.

kingsmill| 9.15.10 @ 3:02PM

Jeffrey,

Thanks for swatting the Repubican establishment rump swabs.

They would prefer having RINOs, like Castle neutering the Republican party brand, than standing up for conservative principle.

Bo Darville| 9.15.10 @ 3:04PM

Like the Tea Party Zombies would've circled the wagons around Castle...

Nick| 9.15.10 @ 3:32PM

Way to rationalize the stinking liberal Castle's classlessness.

Stop using the Bandit's real name, you don't deserve it.

Nolann Ryann| 9.15.10 @ 3:58PM

How many times have conservatives been taken to the mat and then told support RINOx in the name of party unity? Let's see; Voinovich, Specter, Chaffee, Jeffords, Lugar, McCain, Dole, etc. The list is too great to even continue. Now we have the shoe on the other foot in this cycle three freaking times and wallah; Crist, Murkowski, and now Castle all are petulant boobs that only seek to further THEIR vanity and personal power. Where is that consolidate and get on the team? Yeah party loyalty is a one way street with the moderate/RINO wing of the party. So before you give us CONJECTURE you better look at the reality of the current situation.

TennesseeVolunteer| 9.15.10 @ 3:58PM

The big boys at the Repub party better realize that they are driving a horse and buggy and the Tea Party, Young Guns etc are climbing into sports cars. We may lose every darn election but we know what is right, that giving into the Dems and Libs has brought this country to it's knees. Our Independence Day comes on Nov. 2, 2010.

JASmius| 9.15.10 @ 4:17PM

Two pieces of advice.

First, for Mike Castle:

Suck it up, put on the brave happy face, and endorse Christine O'Donnell. Yeah, she dragged you into the gutter and you didn't come back out. Yeah, in your shoes today she would be doing the same thing to you that you're doing to her - probably worse. No, she doesn't deserve it. But remember something, Mike: Your candidacy didn't have a purpose. You had no reason for running for Senate other than as a glorified gold watch for your near-half-century in Delaware politics. In this cycle, "just because" isn't good enough. You just assumed your nomination, and never saw the O'Donnell mugging coming. You should have been prepared; it might even have made you more responsive to the GOP voters who proved more persuadable than you ever imagined they'd be.

But the primary is over, and in her shoes, you'd be doing the same thing she's demanding. So endorse her. Prove that you really are better than you think she is.

If you are, that is.

And for CO'D:

Be a gracious winner. Reach out to Castle supporters. Mend the bridges you've napalmed. Enough with the "Nyah, nyah, nyah, get over it, RINOs" taunting. Yeah, you've just spent the past few weeks flipping them off with both digital barrels. You won dirty. Now turn the page and show you know who the REAL enemy is, and that it isn't Mike Castle or the GOP establishment.

Because you need them, Chris. You need them BAD. You've so alienated Castle voters that sixty percent of them are leaning toward voting for Coons. You only have seven weeks to get them on your side. And even then it's probably not going to be enough.

So reach out. Beg. Apologize. Grovel. It's your only ghost of a chance.

If, of course, getting elected to the U.S. Senate was your goal all along.

Nick| 9.15.10 @ 4:28PM

Ummm.....it was the stinking liberal RINO Castle who unleashed the dogs of war, in Carville/Forehead Begala-like fashion, three weeks ago, when RINO Murkowski lost her primary.

And, then, he got a lesson on how this game is now played.

CalMark| 9.15.10 @ 5:07PM

Nice!

Blame the other side for the dirty tricks that your own side started.

Then wave your finger in their faces and trash them for fighting back.

RINO defined.

Nolann Ryann| 9.15.10 @ 5:34PM

The irony here is so great it is off the scale. Castle campaigned on what, "He was electable". Then he couldn't even win a CLOSED primary. When things started going south did we hear anything about policy? No all we heard about were the other team's personal issues. Once it was pointed out what an unreliable R Castle was and probably would be they whined and then got in the gutter to personally destroy their opponent. I might add with the help of the state apparatchiks. Spare us the Castle was dumped in the gutter. That is exactly where HE took the campaign and got his just deserts. One less "bipartisan" vote for cap and tax.

Quartermaster| 9.15.10 @ 8:02PM

JASmius is too funny. Accusing O'Donnell of doing what Castle and his Country Club buddies tried to do to Her. It sure is fun to watch the left drag someone into the gutter and then the left gets left there. Just rich.

Good riddance Castle. We knew you all too well.

Ryan| 9.15.10 @ 4:55PM

Mike Castle comes from a rich tradition of logical-moderate policy making. His refusal to endorse a candidate of a racist, bigoted, and backwards movement shows true principle.

Nolann Ryann| 9.15.10 @ 5:23PM

You'll go to the Hitler card soon. Logical moderate policy making that wins and "F" from the NRA. His only principle is on of personal privilege and vanity. What a freaking joke you RINO losers have become.

ejp| 9.15.10 @ 5:08PM

We once again see the standard by which "moderate" Republicans operate. They expect conservatives to support them 100% of the time for party unity but when the shoe ends up on the other front they turn into babies. Good riddance to the bad rubbish, and its nice to see Castle validate the point that as a swing vote in the Senate he would have done things more in favor of the Democrats and burnished his credentials as the Media Elite's favorite Republican.

Jocon307| 9.16.10 @ 12:02AM

"We once again see the standard by which "moderate" Republicans operate. They expect conservatives to support them 100% of the time for party unity but when the shoe ends up on the other front they turn into babies. "

Yes, that is it exactly.

Sorry "mods" a new day has dawned. Wake up and smell the coffee. Or should I say tea?

Rich Rostrom| 9.15.10 @ 6:40PM

The O'Donnell campaign lied about Castle, repeatedly. They said he voted to impeach Bush (he didn't). They said he opposed repealing Obamacare (he said it can't be repealed while Obama can veto the repeal). They said (through a "deniable" outside group) that he is homosexual (he's not).

But I guess he's required to ignore all that.

Castle's campaign did not lie about O'Donnell. All the so-called smears against O'Donnell were based on her own words and actions. They didn't make up her bizarre claims of persecution by stalkers and burglars, her bogus lawsuit against ISI, her report of $5,900 in income for 2009, or her failure to pay her campaign staff from 2008.

Now we learn that O'Donnell is a "young-Earth" creationist.

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2.....nomin.html

Not only will she lose in November, she'll contaminate Republicans, the Tea Party, conservatives, and Sarah Palin.

Quartermaster| 9.15.10 @ 8:06PM

Rostrom, all your whining will not change anything. All your propaganda, will not change anything.

With the young earth thing you show just how desperate you are to continue to smear the woman. Just another sore loser RINO. You are the type we are well fed up with and are in the process of breaking our ties to.

Gonzo| 9.16.10 @ 1:14AM

The criticism of "RINO" types is that they elevate personal considerations of their own power above the conservative agenda. This is perhaps most evident when they go off and form, with some "moderates" on the other side a "gang of-" or "team of-" cabal that then proceeds to tell the majority the limits of what these marginal folks will be willing to accept.

Conservatives say these guys aren't really Republicans, just democrats wearing Republican jackets who ought to just admit they're on the other team and be done with it.

The response by several "RINO" types to being drubbed has been to endorse democrats, become democrats, or play spoiler in other ways. Already we hear now that Obama's white house has "reached out" to Mike Castle. For what? Why? What made him receptive to that call? Is he going to endorse the Democrat? Run an a write-in?

It sure seems that with Crist, Murkowski, Castle, Specter, etc., that the "base" is right in labeling these folks as craven power mongers who give two squirts about anything other than their own ascendancy to more power.

Good riddance to all of them. I'd rather lose the Senate than depend on the likes of them to actually come through when their votes are most needed. DeMint's got this thing figured out.