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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

Conservatives Need to Support Danny Tarkanian in Nevada

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  May 11th, 2010 at 01:09 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

“We have too many of those in Washington — people who give Harry Reid campaign contributions, then run against him.”

Pretty much the entirety of the Republican Establishment is lining up behind Sue Lowden to beat Harry Reid in Nevada.

Not me.

I just don’t trust her. From her record in the Nevada legislature to her time as head of the Nevada GOP, I think conservatives can do better. I think Danny Tarkanian makes a lot of sense.

While Sue Lowden has been running on the “beat Harry Reid” theme, she has ignored both her campaign contributions to Harry Reid and issues. Meanwhile, Danny Tarkanian is taking clear, conservative policy positions we can all support.

The race in Nevada has tightened to ten points in a Research 2000 poll and internal Nevada polls have the gap between Lowden and Danny Tarkanian much closer.

Let’s delve into this below the fold.Lowden is, right now, totally on defense over her campaign contributions to Harry Reid — largely because Danny Tarkanian talked about them when everyone else was ignoring them.

Danny Tarkanian has received the endorsement of the Minuteman Project for clear positioning on immigration. Meanwhile, Sue Lowden is wavering on the issue of benefits to illegal immigrants. Check out Danny Tarkanian’s latest ad on immigration and you’ll get the picture. Danny has a clear policy prescription and Sue is muddying the water over whether or not she supports benefits to illegal aliens.

Lowden has likewise flip-flopped on abortion. It took her campaign almost two weeks to make up its mind on what her position is. She’s also running a campaign devoid of messages — something about “checks and chickens” with a few plugs for gender and male bashing.

Making it even worse for Lowden, she chickened out in a debate with Danny Tarkanian. Lowden canceled her appearance at a debate in Reno at the last minute after getting slammed by Danny Tarkanian at the debate in Las Vegas the night before. She has allegedly passed on media appearances instead dispatching her campaign manager to do radio (the Heidi Harris Show) and Jon Ralston’s Face-to-Face. On Face to Face, her campaign manager revived bartergate with quixotic statements about access to healthcare.

You want to know what “bartergate” is? If you haven’t seen Jay Leno mocking her for it, just read this. Lowden is going to be a general election nightmare. She may be backed by pretty much every establishment Republican, but that’s because she is an establishment Republican.

We have too many of those in Washington — people who give Harry Reid campaign contributions, then run against him.

I’m with Danny Tarkanian and I hope you will be too.

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COMMENTS

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  • dhorowitz3

    Erick,

    God bless you on the doing the lord’s work by spotlighting the right candidates to support. I would just implore you to try to get involved as soon as possible. I’ve noticed a pattern that the state’s that have later primaries or those in which we coalesce around early enough are able to pull out a victory. Those who we choose to spotlight only a few weeks before their election (i.e. Hughes in Illinois and Stutzman in Indiana) wind up surging late but coming up short. There is only a few weeks left here and we really need to hustle.

  • dhorowitz3

    I was just wondering why has DeMint not endorsed in this race? The Lowden Tarkanian race took shape long before some of the others. It really frustrates me that we keep getting involved a few weeks too late. If we don’t get involved with the clear conservative from day one, the establishment candidate will always win because the conservative vote will split among all of the smaller candidates. We need to help elevate one candidate from the beginning. If someone emerges in Washington or Wisconsin as a solid conservative we need to elevate their name id immediately.

  • zollistar

    …like before I made a donation to Sue Lowden’s campaign a few months ago.

    I second dhorowitz’s comment: Shine the light on good candidates as soon as possible, as early as possible,

  • trt1

    No mention of Sharron Angle?

  • dhorowitz3

    There is also another narrative here that in which somebody has commented on below. Most of these races are not clear cut conservative vs establishment two person races like Rubio and Crist. They usually have one RINO and several people clambering to be the conservative candidates. Often, they are all conservative, other times not; but there is usually only one conservative who can win. If we don’t spotlight them early enough then nobody will rise above the fray and the establishment will win with just a plurality. This is what happened in Indiana. Not to be ungrateful for everything Erick has done, I just wish we could have gotten involved earlier before some good conservatives attached themselves to Hostetler and two other lesser know guys.

    I see the same thing happening in Nevada. There are several other candidates running, the most prominent being Sharon Angle. While she is conservative, she has no chance of winning and will only assure a victory for Lowden. Unfortunately, Phyllis Schalfley, someone I admire enormously already endorsed Angle. This is killing us. This is how we got McCain as nominee when the conservative vote in South Carolina was split in two ways. This is how we got Bob Corker in Tenn. when two good conservatives Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary tore each other apart and gave a victory to an unreliable Republican. I would venture to say that there is a lot of this occurring in many house races that we are not following carefully. I can see this happening in Colorado if Tom Weins splits the vote with Ken Buck and hands the election to Norton.

    The bottom line is that we need to be vigilant and jump in to support the conservative with the biggest chance of winning so that the worst candidate doesn’t win by default. Although I disagree with Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Fiorina, I believe her rationale was to consolidate the conservative vote in one candidate so that the repugnant Campbell doesn’t win.

  • http://www.erickerickson.org Erick Erickson

    I backed Sharon for her congressional run. I think she is a fine person. But the polling suggests with four weeks to go that she is stalled out, Tark has momentum to be Lowden, and Lowden needs to be beaten.

    I don’t want this to be about Sharon because I like her a lot, but I think Tark has a better shot.

  • tngal

    other races and other candidates are mentioned on the member diaries before someone does a big write up on this front section. You have to look often at the dairies to catch them before they’re gone. People keeping an eye on their own district or a race in their state will usually put up a dairy early.

  • dhorowitz3

    Now that we are on this topic, what is the deal with the circus of a primary in Arkansas. Is John Boozman really the best guy? Will Jim DeMint jump into that race?

  • Doc Holliday

    I trust your instincts, and I was for Tarkanian from the beginning anyway. However, I hope we don’t do slash and burn here because Lowden will likely win and we need to kick out Reid.

    I am told both Rush and Sean endorsed Lowden. I checked her website and at least she is saying the right things. You can tell she is not really a passionate conservative but she at least checks the right boxes.

    I don’t know a lot about the barter thing, but from what I do know it is something the libs hit her with. I have actually mentioned bartering for medical care here before, it was something that used to be common. Sure people are not going to trade a pig for a pig valve today, but the argument is made in a specific context.
    The point is that there was a time when health care did not cost trillions and 2 aspirin in the hospital did not cost $50. The argument is against how medical insurance is run, and how insurance itself increases prices; at least was my point about barter.

    To repeat, I am for Tarkanian. But unless I get some real detailed arguments against her, I will gladly support the R in the general. BTW, the chick was almost Miss America, this is going to be tough for Tark. If we get him over the top it will be a hell of an accomplishment!

  • zollistar

    It’s tough staying on top of things.

    This is why I like and appreciate what Erick & Co. do for us. I like and need shortcuts.

  • kuksool

    Sarah Palin’s father, Chuck Heath, attended fundraisers for Tarkanian. Saul Aznuis, former MI GOP Chairman and Romney supporter, urges everyone to line up behind Lowden.

    I think GOP celebrities will stay out of the NV Senate primary. They don’t want a bloody primary that will hinder our chances to oust Reid. Ousting Reid is the number one priority.

  • kuksool

    Sarah Palin’s father, Chuck Heath, attended fundraisers for Tarkanian. Saul Aznuis, former MI GOP Chairman and Romney supporter, urges everyone to line up behind Lowden.

    I think GOP celebrities will stay out of the NV Senate primary. They don’t want a bloody primary that will hinder our chances to oust Reid. Ousting Reid is the number one priority.

  • Richard Mullins

    Any other way is hoping for failure. Getting rid of Reid right now doesn’t seem so hard but it might get harder if there are too many self-inflicted wounds.

  • yoyo

    This too, is why I think DeMint is steering clear of an out-n-out endorsement of Tark. Reid it Pri 1a. Any nastiness in the Primary only provides fodder for Reid in the General.

    The GOP will always back the establishment folk – that much is a given. That is why we need to uproot, via the Grassroots, the entrenched RINOs at the Municipalities, then County, then Regional, then State, and then – FINALLY – the Federal Levels. And we have 2 years.

    What is refreshing, however, is a hearing Danny – in a no-nonsense kind of way – bucking the Entitlement-Mentality-Moderates-and-Liberals.

    I love pols who say something to the fact of “If you want something, work for it. Stay within the law and wait your turn. Choose not to participate in the Recession. Be the American Dream!”

  • Kyle-MI

    It smacks of the Alinsky tactics of mockery. We should not be participating in this type of leftists mud slinging. It only encourages the worst elements of the Democrats. I do not have a horse in this race, but this garbage ticks me off.

  • IJB
  • trt1

    I have not looked at recent polling. I’m down with Danny. Cheers!

  • crassus

    I believe he has a 93 rating from the ACU, and is leading w/ like 40-50%, no one else has any more than like 15%. He’s gonna win.

  • Locked and Loaded

    what about a search option or sidebar section on RedState that let’s us track these posts about races and candidates by state, district, or some other means? If I don’t already have a candidate name, it is hard to limit the results in a useful way.

  • Locked and Loaded

    what about a search option or sidebar section on RedState that let’s us track these posts about races and candidates by state, district, or some other means? If I don’t already have a candidate name, it is hard to limit the results in a useful way.

  • acat

    Yeah, Stutzman is now a “name” in Indiana, but Coats is the candidate. Why? Well, like the man said, because it was unclear early on which Conservative was better to beat the Establishment Coats.

    Illinois, with our insanely early primary this year, ended up even worse off – we’ve now got Mark Kirk running, and he’s not a Conservative at all. The only upside is he’s not a crook like his opponent, or a racist benchwarmer like the current seat holder.

    Yes, the People of the States have the final say, but I do have to hope for more investigation *early* in the process. While the Crist/Rubio candidacies were easy to call very early, Rubio would have been swamped – badly – had there been no groundswell of support for him very early…

    Mew

  • Richard Mullins

    So the Conservative had too much expectation ridden on them by the time of the primary that beating the establishment candidate wasn’t going to happen. Too much self inflicted wounds. The moral of the story on this is start very early and keep it going. Those are 2 things that didn’t happen in IN and IL.

  • Kayla

    She brought that on herself. That was a stupid thing to say and she won’t shut up. She keeps talking about it!

  • Kayla

    She brought that on herself. That was a stupid thing to say and she won’t shut up. She keeps talking about it!

  • jaxinbotox1

    and this is why…

    Need is something like water and is also used as if it is an order. A little thing called humility works wonders in wooing people to your position. If a person came to this sight with Sue Lowden as their pick, you just turned them off tremendously and likely wooed about 1/10th the number you had the opportunity to bring to your side of the argument. You start those people off on a defensive stance, people in defense are less susceptible to persuasion.

  • giantsprincess

    I too have been for Tarkanian from the beginning. He not only knows the issues that affect our state but he has clear and concise ideas on how to solve them.

    Lowden is NOT being endorsed by either Hannity or Limbaugh. Lowden and Limbaugh were judges at a beauty pagent and she had her picture taken with him. She is using this picture as if it were and endorsement. Same type thing with Hannity. She had a picture taken with Hannity and is using it as if it were and endorsement.

    I also have it on excellent authority – and I do mean excellent – that she tried to have her picture taken with Sarah Palin at the Searchlight Tea Party. However, Palin managed to avoid Lowden – twice! No doubt had the picture been taken, she would be using it as well. However, you are correct, Chuck Heath (Sarah’s dad) is backing Tarkanian.

    If – God forbid – Lowden wins the primary, I will not vote for her but I will vote against Harry Reid. I may have to be drunk to pull that lever – but I will do it.

  • hayeksheroes

    I’m a little surprised there isn’t more said about the 2008 NV state convention. Sue Lowden shut down the convention when it became apparent that not all of the national delegates were going to be McCain delegates. She was reprimanded by the RNC committee that heard the complaint. Is that someone you want representing you?

    http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20091101/NEWS/910319942/-1/RSS01

    Some on this board could probably care less about the disenfranchised group in this case. But what if Bob Bennett succeeded in shutting down the UT state convention to get himself placed back on the ballot, or if the ME activists were denied their opportunity to change the ME GOP platform by shutting down the convention?

  • newnoni

    You are so wrong about that. What you only look at is who is getting their name in the press. What we who support Sharron Angle look at are the straw polls. Neither Sue Lowden nor Danny Tarkanian have won one straw poll among people who vote in the primary. Sharron has won every county straw poll including Clark County where both Danny and Sue live and are known. Recently there was a debate in Las Vegas moderated by Heidi Harris. At the end of the debate a straw poll was taken. Sharron won that and Sue came in fourth. A candidates forum was held by the Douglas County Central Committee and a straw poll again was taken. Sharron won that with Danny Tarkanian 10 points behind her. You need to rethink this primary race. Maybe at the beginning Sue was the candidate because that’s what the party elitists wanted everyone to think but Sharron has run a clean campaign. She has not attacked Sue nor Danny. She has the conservative record that people are looking for. Danny wants us to believe his word. He has not won an office in two previous elections. Sue has a lot of baggage hat Harry Reid can use against her. The only thing they can say about Sharron is that she is too conservative. From my view she is just what Nevada needs.

  • turningred

    Danny Tarkanian got an “F” from the NRA for calling for banning certain guns and for supporting statewide handgun registration. He was endorsed in his last losing campaign by the anti-gun Brady Campaign for his steadfast opposition to gun rights. He, like John Smith, thinks the 2nd Amendment has to do with hunting and clay shooting. True advocates and supporters of our personal freedoms see right through that kind of political posturing.

  • turningred

    Danny Tarkanian received an “F” from the NRA for calling for banning certain guns and for supporting statewide handgun registration. He was endorsed in his last loser campaign by the anti-gun Brady Campaign for his steadfast opposition to gun rights. Danny thinks the 2nd Amendment has to do with hunting and clay shooting. True advocates and supporters of our personal freedoms see right through that kind of political posturing.

  • LDahl752

    Even though Lowden was the state GOP chair, I had never heard of her until sometime last year. To me, that is indicative of a party chair who was either disinterested of the infrastructure is pretty awful. In Nevada we can register by party; so, the data base should have been helpful to the Nevada GOP.

    Danny Tarkanian has never been elected to any position, at least that I know of. He consistently has polled well purely because of name recognition, IMHO. People in southern Nevada adored his father as the head coach for UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. He’s probably a good guy, but do we really want a Senator with absolutely NO political experience other than losing elections? Stating the correct positions on issues is no assurance of his commitment to voting that way.

    Sharron most definitely is not at a stalemate in the polls, she has been steadily rising. Any of the top 3 GOPers could beat Reid; so, I’m sticking with Sharron, for sure. She has the voting record to backup her stated positions.

  • LDahl752

    Even though Lowden was the state GOP chair, I had never heard of her until sometime last year. To me, that is indicative of a party chair who was either disinterested of the infrastructure is pretty awful. In Nevada we can register by party; so, the data base should have been helpful to the Nevada GOP.

    Danny Tarkanian has never been elected to any position, at least that I know of. He consistently has polled well purely because of name recognition, IMHO. People in southern Nevada adored his father as the head coach for UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. He’s probably a good guy, but do we really want a Senator with absolutely NO political experience other than losing elections? Stating the correct positions on issues is no assurance of his commitment to voting that way.

    Sharron most definitely is not at a stalemate in the polls, she has been steadily rising. Any of the top 3 GOPers could beat Reid; so, I’m sticking with Sharron, for sure. She has the voting record to backup her stated positions.

  • LDahl752

    as well as The Tea Party Express.

  • LDahl752

    as well as The Tea Party Express.

  • snopercod

    Here’s what Danny Tarkanian really believes [link]:

    1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the “supreme law of the land” and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges our birthrights?

    DT: I am a lifetime member of the NRA. I believe that not only is the Constitution the supreme law of the land, but it has been frequently misinterpreted for the benefit of those who have big government agendas, who would try to limit our freedoms and reduce our liberties. I call myself a ?constitutional conservative? for that reason.

    2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state?

    DT: Absolutely. There are too many politicians who do not understand the limitations of government. They see government positions and their power as a license to ?social engineer? and infringe on people?s rights.

    3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.

    DT: The Second Amendment means what it says and those who would try to undermine it have the burden of proof to show that any ?gun laws? are not prima facie infringements on the clear language of the Second Amendment.

    4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.

    DT: The Supreme Court was correct in DC v. Heller to strike down the overreaching DC handgun ban ? which of course was completely ineffective in reducing crime rates.

    5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?

    DT: Yes.

    6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern, and will you use the prestige of elected office to publicly promote that right?

    DT: Yes.

    7. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Why?

    DT: I oppose registration of guns because it is a step towards confiscation.

    8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms? Why?

    DT: Same as above.

    9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?

    DT: Unfortunately, there are many, many gun laws that infringe on the Second Amendment. During my campaign I will be releasing a specific list of which ones I will be working hardest to repeal as your Senator. Please stay attuned to our campaign for the release of that list.

    10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?

    DT: Yes – as an example, right away, if it has not yet been passed, I will work to pass the Right to Carry Reciprocity Bill, which has already received bipartisan support.

  • morstar150

    Sue Lowden is the right choice for so many reasons.

    Eric,
    I am begining to wonder about your decision making. It seems that you are creating your own king maker site. I have been a loyal supporter and follower of Red State for aa while now, but I don’t get you sometimes. Why are you trying to create controversy in a contest that has two solid conservative candidates, especially when the polls show that Lowden can beat that bum Harry Reid.

    You need to check your ego a little. Have you ever supported any conservative women? Do you even know who the conservative women are out there?

    Very disappointing, Eric. Please rethink this one. (Not saying that Tark is bad, not at all, but you have just trashed someone you don’t even know)

  • greatbasinconservative

    … and a candidate can say anything to get elected. But what will he do once in office? We don’t know because he has no record. A quote from Sharron Angle: “Don’t read my lips, read my record!”
    Gun Owners of America, who I trust far more than the always-ready-to-compromise NRA, has endorsed Sharron Angle. Erick is counting her out way too soon. Lowden and Tark are busy beating each other up in the ads while Sharron racks up win after win in the straw polls. I urge readers here to take a closer look at this race. While I have great respect for Erick and his views, he’s got this one wrong!

  • chuckl

    The candidate who has the best history and platform is the one most overlooked, BILL PARSON. Bill has been willing to place his positions on line at

    http://www.parsonforsenate2010.com/category/position-papers/

    Bill is a veteran and an active supporter of the Constitution.

    He is my choice until one of the other candidates is willing to gain my attention by taking a position against the so-called “Fair Tax” which is, in my opinion, the most regressive tax ever proposed. Those who support the so-called “Fair Tax” claim that it will repeal the 16th Amendment and thus prohibit Income taxes, but Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution starts with, “The Congress shall have the Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, …” etc. No where in this part of the Constitution is the power to lay taxes limited to prohibit taxes on income. I believe that the 16th Amendment is irrelevant because of this.

    In any case, a law establishing a new tax can NOT REPEAL an amendment. Only another Amendment can do that.

    But, the “Flat Tax” can be implemented as a replacement for the existing tax code and completely replace it with a tax that grants a fixed large personal exemption ( I suggest 150% of the annualized minimum wage.) This is an exemption of $23,400.00 at the current $7.50 minimum hourly wage. Income from any source whatsoever is then taxed at the flat rate. I suggest 15% which is the total rate of F.I.C.A. taxes on the employer and the employee combined.

    This same FLAT tax can be applied to businesses by providing an exemption based upon a consensus fair profit.

    The Flat Tax can be one tax applicable to all persons and businesses. The application of only one exemption at the bottom of the income makes the tax progressive as the effective rate increases as income rises. This tax eliminates special exemptions by being applicable to all income regardless of source.

    In addition, by keeping a tax on businesses, it gives us the possibility of granting a subsidy to promote a business by means of a temporary, maximum 5 years, increase in the exemption level or even an exemption from the income tax itself. This would provide a subsidy with NO “Out of pocket” payments from the taxpayers, and we would still have the income tax from the employees.

    So Far, my vote is to Bill Parson. If any of his competitors for my vote will publish and promote the Flat Tax and oppose the Fair Tax, they could take my vote from him. This change must be public and promoted in all of their advertisements.

    So there you have it candidates, two requirements.
    support and show your support for.

    THE FLAT TAX,

    CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS OF ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8.

    STATES RIGHTS as stated in AMENDMENTS 9 AND 10.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    But Parsons is not polling well at all. All other candidates combined are polling below Angle, who runs well behind Lowden and Tarkanian.

    I just don’t see him winning. It’s time to unite and beat Lowden.

  • turningred

    Hey Eric!
    Look at this! Newest Mason Dixon poll.
    http://www.lvrj.com/news/tea-party-power-fuels-angle-93662969.html

  • turningred

    Lowden falls big. Angle closes in. Tark slips to number 3.
    The thrill is gone for Danny.
    http://www.lvrj.com/news/tea-party-power-fuels-angle-93662969.html