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Jason Allen Honorably Concedes The 1st Congressional District Race

By: Jason Gillman (Diary)  |  August 14th, 2010 at 09:11 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Jason Allen has decided to NOT pursue a recount process in the race for the 1st congressional district, which he had a 15 vote deficit. I was fortunate to talk with Jason about this difficult decision.

In his decision, Allen notes the expense for both campaigns through a recount process lessens the opportunity that a conservative would gain the seat, and that further divisiveness within the party might only result in the same type of poor leadership from that seat through a McDowell win.

“A 15 vote separation through a recount and validation process might easily be overcome if there was a decision to do so. There are compelling reasons to follow through and honor the wishes of those 27,000 voters who thought I might represent them. I am humbled, and honored by their support, but at this time feel they might be best served without a recount process that would be damaging to both campaigns and would not serve the district well.”

Folks, I am going to lay out something for you to chew on. If Jason Allen were the nominee, the support structure, coupled with the ability to bridge partisan divides through appropriate compromise would make him a stronger candidate. The first district has a make up that is more centrist, thus Stupak has been able to hold it for so many years. Allen has been able to maintain conservative principles while working with those on the other side for what he saw as the best way to serve his constituency.

There have been issues with Jason which many of the faithful here have argued. And as you may have noted, my tone here and at Rightmichigan.com has been a casually supporting one at times. The big picture, and an understanding of many things that are behind some of the decisions our legislators make is very important. On absolutes and real rights infringements, Allen has been a stalwart conservative. Yes I said it.

I have also indicated before that he has seen where his mistakes were and worked to rectify them before they became a permanent issue. But all the while, I have to some degree maintained a semi neutral position of support, and wanted only the best result from a fair contest free of vicious hyperbole, and misleading commentary.

Allen has completely taken the high road with this decision that might well have ended like another campaign which gave us the likes of Dan Scripps for a state rep in the end.

My hat is off to Jason Allen for conceding to a better, and more unified conservative future in the 1st congressional district. He is a true patriot.

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  • David123
  • ywhyvon1
    • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

      :o ) or some text is missing.

      Saw the comment on the other one.

      Glad we are going to come together on this

      • JadedByPolitics

        ..

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

          A 5 just represented high quality, even if you disagree.

      • eburke

        days on RS when comments were given a rating system from 1 to 5 with “1″ being “you’re an idiot” to “5″ being ‘right on’.

        The system isn’t really used anymore but you’ll still see vestiges of it as a shorthand way of saying “I agree completely”

        • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

          Will remember in the future.

          5 5 5 5 5 5

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

          We frowned on people who used 5s purely for agreement. :)

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

            …though I was a mere Trusted User at that point. :)

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

            I kinda took it for myself when Moe and Streiff were gone one weekend…

          • http://www.redstate.com/tnjim TNJim
          • eburke
  • IJB

    If MI held its primary in June (as, say, CA does), there would have been more than enough time for Allen to request his recount without weakening the eventual nominee, and the process would probably have been the better for it.

    But hold your Primary in August, and the recount would stretch into Sept., weakening the eventual winner of the Primary, which ultimately forced Allen’s hand here.

    To me, this is another argument for on holding Primaries in late Spring or early Summer rather than later (and especially NOT *after* Labor Day!!)…

    • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

      Part of the issue is that this race is historically significant and has a closeness that has not been seen before.

      Even a couple of months difference might not be sufficient to mend the fabric of the conservative community. We still have some legacy issues as a result of another bad recount locally.

      This really was a selfless move, and must have been incredibly difficult.

      • tngal

        other than helping push Benishek over the finish line, where would Allen’s talents best be used in the future? Another race or a position within the MI GOP such as strategist.

        You and he both understand the yooper/troll mindset. We here are merely peepers.

        • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

          Himself.

          His future possibilities just broadened in my opinion however.

    • Scope

      doesn’t take away the fact of damage to, and, a weakening of both candidates. That Mr. Allen considered that fact, earns him much respect. No one can accuse him of not understanding politics.

      Benishek’s win was slim, but, one must consider that if in fact SEIU Democrats did play their dirty games of cross over voting in the primary for Allen, he would not have gotten those votes in the General. Those Democrats will still vote for the Democrat. In that light, many of those Republicans that voted for Allen, will now vote for Benishek, as well as many of those that voted for the 4 other candidates. Because the Republican turnout was so much higher in this primary, it means a major victory for Benishek in November. I look forward to Allen doing all he can to help Benishek win.

      • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

        That the Democrat cross over (And YES IT WAS HUGE) would be largely irrelevant in this race, and may in fact have had a beneficial effect for Benishek..

        One could argue as you do, that SEIU would have played a role, but do not forget that Allen had already repaired the bill in committee BEFORE it ever got out. It specifically stated that in no way did it create the mandate for union involvement.

        In fact.. the cross over likely had Democrats looking at Allen as the slightly stronger candidate able to beat McDowell, and would have caused some to vote for Benishek looking forward. This is not to say Benishek cannot beat McDowell, its just a consideration of political organization. What Allen has done has made it more of a certainty that we take that seat in November.

        • Scope

          hel! of a long time to repair the bill, and, it was only after much Republican decent against it, that he agreed to do so. He may, at that time, have had a future run for political office as a part of his consideration to abandon his support of something that was not going to help him in any Republican future elections.

          You said that the Democrat crossover was huge in voting for Allen. I am having a very hard time understanding your idea that the cross over Allen voters have helped Benishek in any way. If they had not crossed over, Benishek would not have been sitting with such a close vote. He would have won the primary hands down.

          Something that comes to mind, Benishek still won, even by just a few votes, and, Allen, even with cross overs that would never have voted for him in the general was actually the weaker candidate. If you can’t even win with D voters trying to help you, and someone who came from being a nobody to win, Allen was really really not a strong candidate. He would never win against the Democrat. Benishek voters pulled Dr. Dan across the finish line, and, they will put him across the finish line in November. Allen knew that, and, wisely backed out. In the end, he really was the weaker candidate, more so than many want to admit.

          • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

            Regarding crossovers.

            As to the bill.. It was a “too quick” action that developed the original in the first place. The repair was more deliberate so that it would be more clear that it neither sanctioned or created any union environment. The VERY FIRST line pretty much spells it out in the bill. You can believe or not that it was in process before his decision to run. All I can do is report what I know.

            The rest of what you claim however, is premised upon your misconception of what I said. I actually made the case Benishek may have been the recipient of cross over voting by Dems.

            But if you are a Benishek guy, run with it. Continuing to distrust intent or create an adversarial environment where there should be none right now is counter productive to your candidate.

            good day.