Let Corey Stewart and his supporters enjoy their victory. They earned it. They won an election with a message that appeals to the average Virginian. They won with a message that gets at the heart of who Republicans are and what the Republican Party has become.
Those of us who would never support such a candidate or such a movement are also the very people that talk about reality and about the necessity of accepting it. Those who fight reality always lose. We can yell and scream and throw out insults, but it will avail us nothing. It will not change the results of today’s election.
Let us not call out the Stewart people for being racists either. Those of you who want to yell and scream that you’ll never vote for Corey Stewart, I think I can speak for the Stewart Campaign when I say, they don’t care. They won’t lose a seconds sleep whether you vote for them or not. So let’s focus on something meaningful and let’s learn some lessons.
I had an elderly African-American Democrat talk with me for a couple minutes at the polls today and the topic of racism came up. He said something that I’ll never forget. He said, that for years the Democratic Party has built a coalition of politically motivated minorities on the basis of identity politics. The black man, the Hispanic, the Homosexual, the Woman, the Poor, the Urban, the Blue-Collar, and so on. Every minority in America is represented and protected by the Democratic Party except for one, and that’s the White Man. He explained that Corey Stewart supporters aren’t racist. They are not motivated by hate. They are motivated by a powerful fear. They are the unwanted majority. He seemed to think it was a fear that made a great deal of sense. “Son, they are afraid that if things keep on, with everyone being coddled but them, that they’ll be pickin’ our cotton.”
Maybe that’s true. Maybe white people are really afraid of losing something they believe belongs to them. I’m not sure what it is, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
I just don’t know how to relate to any of this. I don’t understand why women are treated differently from men, or African Americans differently from whites, or Corporations treated differently than individuals, or Christians treated differently than Muslims.
Maybe I’m just one of those poor naive fools that ate up Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech hook, line and sinker. I believe in freedom for everyone. I believe in one rule of law that treats everyone the same. I believe in one tax code that treats everyone the same. I believe in one safety net that treats everyone the same. I believe in one set of God-Given rights that are due everyone…equally. Identity politics just doesn’t work on me, because my identity is defined by myself, by God, and by my relationships with those I love.
I think I’m the minority.
Not because I’m white, or male, or Christian, or educated. I’m the minority because I’m an individual that believes in the individual sovereignty of every other individual. I grew up in Maryland where there were folk who were color-blind, and folk who got beat up by gangs because they weren’t.
The Republican Party of Virginia embraced identity politics tonight. They are going to try to beat the Democrats at their own game. I don’t know what to say. I guess…good luck. The Democrats are way better at this than you are, so I hope you’ve really been honing your skills.
Here’s the reality, though. Corey Stewart is the Republican Nominee for Senate.
Those who cannot accept reality always suffer. So accept it.
The Republican Party of Virginia is the party of White-Identity Politics. Again. Just accept it.
Every single Republican that despises Corey Stewart and the people that supported him need to focus and focus fast. We need to get our Congressmen elected and reelected.
Right?
How are we going to do that by ignoring the reality that the Republican Party of Virginia fundamentally changed tonight?
Ask yourself this question. What do you want to do? Do you want to see all your Congressmen lose? Or do you want to roll up your sleeves and make sure that Brat, Riggleman, Cline, Wittman, Griffith, Comstock, and Taylor represent us?
The Republican Party changed tonight, but I didn’t. My friends running for Congress didn’t. You didn’t.
We have real work to do and it starts tonight. Let’s get to work.
Corey Stewart and his people are going to celebrate, just as any other candidate and their supporters would have celebrated a victory tonight. They are going to seek out their fiercest opponents and rub their victory in your faces. They are going to mock your candidate and make fun of the causes you believe in. That’s a reality.
Again, who are we? We are the people that accept reality and deal with it rationally. Right? So. It starts tonight. We’ve got real work to do in Virginia and we have some great people to see that work done. We have some amazing men and women that deserve to be reelected and we need to see that through. Just because our wings of the party suffered defeat tonight, doesn’t mean that we disengage or that we stop protecting those representatives that protect us.
I am committed to seeing Congressman Dave Brat, Congressman Rob Wittman, Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, Congressman Scott Taylor, Congressman Morgan Griffith, and Republican Nominees Denver Riggleman and Ben Cline elected in November.
Are you with me?
I know you are.
64 comments
[…] “Stewart answers the rhetoric of minority grievance and resentment with the rhetoric of white grievance and resentment,” writes James Bacon, noting that “I’m an educated suburbanite, and Stewart isn’t appealing to people like me.” On primary election night Steven Brodie Tuckerwrote, “The Republican Party of Virginia is the party of White-Identity Politics.” […]
[…] “Stewart answers the rhetoric of minority grievance and resentment with the rhetoric of white grievance and resentment,” writes James Bacon, noting that “I’m an educated suburbanite, and Stewart isn’t appealing to people like me.” On primary election night Steven Brodie Tucker wrote, “The Republican Party of Virginia is the party of White-Identity Politics.” […]
There is no shift to white identity politics in the Va. GOP. Stop making excuses for rinoism!
Today’s tweet from Republican Bill Bolling (ex-LtGov VA): “I am extremely disappointed that a candidate like Corey Stewart could win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. This is clearly not the Republican Party I once knew, loved and proudly served. Every time I think things can’t get worse they do, and there is no end in sight.”
I wasn’t yet living here but in my readings of how VA went so blue so fast I saw it alleged he sabotaged the GOP ticket back when Cuccinelli was running. If there is any truth to that his departure should be welcomed no?
Bravo, you win a cookie. Now, any suggestions as to where to send Bolling.
Mexico!
BINGO!!!! Bill Bolling is a RINO.
The office of Lt Governor Bill Bolling was notified that illegal aliens were operating in Virginia as unlicensed contractors by me personally. Bolling the “jobs Czar”. What a freaking joke!
This was and is in violation of numerous Virginia laws.
The Premadona AG Cuccinelli was concerned with removing the exposed bosum on the Virginia Flag. Another “bad Joke”!
Governor “Bob for Jobs” McDonnell was making a political issue out of illegal aliens commuting (back and forth to construction sites), a “piss poor bad joke”.
Rogue Subcontractors Undermine Va’s Legal Workforce by Kenric Ward
Virginia has grown to be ranked 10th worse in the Nation on illegal immigration.
This is because the amigos above and those like them.
It is time for the lazy white Republicans in Virginia to quit crying about Trump and now Stewart because they are the root cause of people like me to vote for them.
Oh no, Virginia is turning Blue cry me a river.
Q) What kind of ship don’t float?
ansr) Virginia Republican leadership.
That’s “Jobs Czar” Bill Bolling.
It used to be in America you could be anyone that you wanted if you worked hard enough until politicians decided that those jobs were for illegal foreigners.
He should have proclaimed himself “Job Gestapo”.
Today’s tweet from President Donald J. Trump:
“Congratulations to Corey Stewart for his great victory for Senator from Virginia. Now he runs against a total stiff, Tim Kaine, who is weak on crime and borders, and wants to raise your taxes through the roof. Don’t underestimate Corey, a major chance of winning!”
Bill who?
MAGA !!!!!
“They won with a message that gets at the heart of who Republicans are and what the Republican Party has become.”
Devastating, coming as it does in the lead paragraph. Enough said.
Good thing you’re not one.
I am neither, thinking I can figure out for myself how to vote. Just as lots of so-called Republican regulars are thinking today and yesterday. Democrats, too.
It is especially pronounced for freedom-loving conservatives who prize independence. Those who eschew big labor, for example, have little use for political bosses of any stripe or variety.
No need for a boss,
I lead.
Right, and you voted in the Republican Primary, selecting the Republican nominee, because you are an independent who just wants to celebrate freedom and liberty with your substance of choice.
Cong
The VA GOP was/is garbage and in dire need of change. Always playing prevent defense (football analogy) and too cowardly to stand up for conservative values when it really mattered.
That being said, is the shift to white identity politics (as the article claims) a good thing? Probably not. But maybe its a stepping stone to something better, time will tell.
And the winner of this primary never seriously stood a chance of beating Kaine. Freitas might have only lost by 5-10 points, while Stewart/Jackson easily lose by 10-15 points. But its still a loss, so all this is really just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Did you use the Cooper model for that?
The VA GOP is the sum of its parts including several of us on this blog.
I don’t think I did.
I did a quick google search on “cooper model” but the first 2 pages were nothing but rifles and UK sports cars so you’ll have to fill me in.
Dr. Cooper, in his articles, uses an interesting mix of computer models and mathmagic to come up with similar projections and conclusions.
I think those of us who supported Jackson or Freitas need to take a deep breath and relax and like Mr. Tucker said here let the Stewart supporters bask in the glow of their victory. We all need to get behind our nominees and not look backward. I hope Corey will reach out to Barbara Comstock, Scott Taylor, Dave Bratt, Rob Wittman and others whose seats could be imperiled this fall. I hope he will leave Charlottesville, flags, statues and Boy Scouts and bibles behind him and pivot and start running on his record of results in Prince William County and highlighting Tim Kaine’s votes, which went against the interests of Virginia. Kaine has never lost an election where he was at the top of the ticket and any GOP nominee would have found him insurmountable this fall. But we have to unite now.
Yes unite but if you leave the workers out you will be left on the curb come November.
The lobby check for the working Virginians is their vote.
I think the identity attacks on race and association guilt should be responded to with history and heritage.
The Holocaust Museum had a traveling exhibit that parked at the Leesburg Library for a time.
It reviewed the erasing of history in pre-war Germany, academicians leading book burnings, the public demonization and destruction of ‘the other side.’
I wonder what would have happened had they access to our social media and interactive journalism.
Seems like I had a mirror lying around here somewhere.
When did th The US Holocaust Museum bring a traveling exhibit to the Rust Library in Leesburg?
Think it was a couple of years ago, the one near Ida Lee — very compelling when you see the intelligentsia marching lockstep with the press and the government, I remember it was very Obamaesque.
Whenever the bull elephant guys feel defeated and try and lecture us from their high horses I know I voted for the right guy. What they WONT bring up is that they were SURE Freitas was the guy who could beat Corey when they helped draft him, they bat 1.000 on consistently picking losers.
The race was close and Freitas is a good candidate and a good guy. Don’t be a sore winner.
It’s not about Freitas, it’s about the new nevers.
You (not you-Amy) people are destroying the Fretas accomplishment and bend as you (not you-Amy channel the Hillary triggered.
As I have said to you GOP cheerleader types endlessly, Trump won on closing down endless immigration.
Do you understand that poor people crossing the border with their clothes on their backs are the future wave of Democrat super majority. Look at California you fools. Virginia is almost there. No is there. They have enough of W and Yeb Bush’s beloved Act of Love immigrants to tip the elections on you.
Your smarter opponents, the Democrats, understand this. That black man told you their strategy Tucker. The idiot GOPe has aided and abetted this change since 1986.
So White people are voting identity politics. I guess you could say that middle class white people understand that the Democrat majorities let use emphasis here:
WANT TO RAISE THEIR TAXES.
To pay for programs for their voters. Their voters aren’t voting for your party Tucker. They don’t care about the principles of individualism. They care about WIC, EBT, Section 8 housing, Single Payer healthcare… the 20 some entitlement programs that the US government funds.
So yes Corey isn’t going to win. The Democrats have the majorities. Your stupid party stood by and let that happen. Go read the @$$holes at Bearing Drift:
Drive the Xenophobes out!!! According to one of their morons… Ok you have done that for the GOP Inco and now you have driven ever more liberal Democrats in!
With you through most of that, but you and SBT focusing on the identity politics miss (or make for the dems) the point.
Those voting yesterday are the electoral elite — they have telegraphed their desire.
SBT — Its so sad you do not understand what happened last tonight. You just can’t understand the VA Trump supporters who voted yesterday. It has NOTHING to do with identity politics. NOTHING. That liberal you spoke to has some good points but the average Trump supporter is sick to death of identity politics.
What we want are policies that help our economy, that rid the country of illegals, that protect our borders from further invasions of false “migrants”, that stop us from getting ripped off in foreign trade, that eliminate socialistic “benefits” that are really a Cloward and Piven scheme to “redistribute” our hard-earned wealth and bring our county down, and that ensure we have a military that keeps us safe. That’s America First in a nutshell.
Only Stewart and Jackson ran on America First. Frietas has aligned himself with the Rand Paul-type of Libertarians even though their open borders, amnesty, and complete “free trade” policies are not classically Libertarian at all. Frietas was honest about his policies and I respect that. I just don’t want to send him to the Senate when Stewart is much more aligned with my policy preferences.
Do you get it now???? I fear you never will. The republicans in VA are shedding the Uni-Party establishment policies that have driven this country to the point of ruin. Uni-Party because establishment republicans and democrat policies are in reality very close — the establishment RINOs on the Hill are pushing Dem policies as we speak (amnesty) and look what they just did in VA — Obamacare’s medicaid expansion.
It will take an epiphany for you to see the real voters who are taking control of VA. Shed the scales from your eyes and join us!
Well stated!
I can put a baseball autographed by Tim Kaine right above the print Made in China to carry to rallies across the Commonwealth.
The question is can Riggleman, Freitas or DeSteph bring forth
E-VERIFY Legislation that covers the W2/W4 and the 1099?
Any fortitude on this issue by Republicans?
I hope the target for defeat is Kaine. However, republicans seem to get inside the big tent and conduct a circular firing squad.
Please fly NO confederate flags while campaigning Corey! Most people no longer understand all the nuances of the confederate fight during the civil war. The pictures that result from such a display will be used against you. Time for republicans to pull together…I believe Corey’s nomination will give Kaine a bigger edge, but I hope to be proven wrong. NO ONE can sit home in November and we all need to support our congressional nominees. The fundamental change of Virginia is almost complete…thanks to McAuliffe and Northern Virginia.
Riggleman better step it up.
As a Conservative Independent who does cross lines to vote and vote very passionately on the issue of payroll fraud I think Riggleman better get an education into what Va. Democrats are going to accomplish on this issue.
I pledge to support Republican Senatorial Candidate Corey Stewart to the end but if you think for one minute that I am going to cast for Riggleman on his coattails you are mistaken.
I believe Stewart will assist the President that I voted for on the issue that cause me to vote for him in the first place; ending illegal immigration and the Wall.
The Democrats have the payroll fraud in their sights ( the Santurary Employment ) that Republicans allow.
Will Riggleman turn a blind eye to this issue of fraud that is not racist or continue on the lame butt path of Deregulation and Liberty that allows it?
If Republicans allow the Dems to use the sunami of foreign labor to bolster Organized Labor you will regret the amount of cash that will be incoming by Unions.
Keep your Deregulation for foreign labor.
Liberty lives with America First.
I stand firm on American Labor and American Right to Work.
Why do we need the Goverment to provide a foreign labor program?
That is not the Goverments job!
Corey Stewart for Senate!
Denver Riggleman????
Did Nick concede and endorse Corey Stewart?
He conceded and acknowledged Corey’s win, but FREITAS did NOT endorse or congratulate Corey. Not a great concession speech.
That is what happens when you get personal and nasty about a primary opponent. You end up with someone whose support you want or even need who you have alienated. THIS is why I hate dirty primaries campaigns.
Pot, meet Kettle. Inter-party contests will always be the dirtiest. It’s how you handle the loss that teaches the most about you. Like Bill Bolling, et al.
Roc… you are wrong and your wrongness costs your candidate votes. I will say the same tactics have been aimed at Corey Stewart and cost Gillespie voters.
If you’re a Republican, and you want to play in Republican games, you support the nominee. (Pay attention to that little dot, it’s a period.)
If you’re an independent, or a libertarian, or some other specialty flavor, you support the nominee when you want, and badmouth the nominee you don’t.
You want the MOST savage attacks and hits to come during the primary/nomination/convention/canvass/snout-count BEFORE the nominee is selected. You don’t want the vulnerabilities aired by the dems in the general.
I have utterly no use for party officials/candidates/luminaries going against the nominee past, present, or future.
You go against my guy, my nominee, you go against me. I’m a nobody, just a blade of grass — but I am Legion, for we are many.
Sigh. Another #never destroying their brand. So many Republicans, so tired of winning.
Just got an email from the Freitas campaign. He admitted he lost but never mentioned Corey’s name or said we need to rally around our nominee.
#Nevers always ‘gonna #Never
So today I was all ready to start the groundswell for Nick against Warner and discover this crapola. No wonder he was so well received here. This is what you get when you feed Libertarians after midnight.
Sometime-Republicans are just plain useless.
Perhaps Nick and Bill B. Should meet at a bar buy a few beers and have a good cry.
Did all the Democrats in the 10th district concede to Jennifer Wexton and endorse her? You being a Democrat should know. Thanks.
Geez! What a pity party! I was not a big fan of Gillespie, but I supported the nominating process and him in his various campaign runs. I am not a big fan of Corey, either. But, he won the process and I will support him. Funny, President Trump won the vote here in Virginia and all those convention champions tried to steal the process from him. Yet, President Trump continues to prove them wrong by fulfilling campaign promises and winning hugely for America.
I would propose supporting Corey with the same amount of zeal as any other nominated republican, because the odds are he will follow through on conservative issues. Regardless, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt over Little Timmy any day of the week. You shouldn’t have to tell someone over the age of 21 to grow up, but here we are.
Well written with respect and real truth. Corey Stewart won on the truth and courage of President Trump while never losing sight of his purpose driven. To provide Virginians with representation in the United States Senate which will support the policies of President Trump. There were a lot of winners tonight, Corey Stewart (huge win to defeat Kaine) The citizens of the commonwealth (a new voice to elect to the Senate) Nick Freitas ( proved he can gain state wide appeal) And President Donald J. Trump (having a constitutional candidate win on supporting his Trumponian policies) Amen ~
I accept the reality that Stewart is the nominee, but I’m with you in making sure our Republicans running for Congress win.
Let the Johns manage Corey. We have real battles we have to win.
Unfortunately Stewart went down as
As Robert Frost said , “ two roads diverged
In a yellow wood, and I , I took the path less
Traveled by …..and that’s made all the difference “
That path Stewart has traveled in the last year will
Have a serious , perhaps permanent consequence
For Brat , Riggleman , Cline , Wittman and others in November.
Is there any doubt that in the weeks leading up to election
The mailings , media, social media , will be flooded
With the images of Stewart , with Kessler and the Comfederate flag.
This is choice Stewart made, and others will bear.
What ever this writer thinks his writing is about, isn’t what he thinks it is:
This was a huge win for Americanism and a larger win for President Donald J. Trump and a statement of standing with the founding fathers ! Congrats to Corey Alan Stewart who was never a ” never Trumper ” Amen !! If you supported Corey Stewart, you are on the right side of history with the Signers and Founders no matter how opposition establishment cronies spin it. Amen !
You crack me up! When I can understand what you’re trying to say.
Just vote Democrat lol. You’ll be better loved by your peers.
Now I recall seeing you once in chesterfield ? You are quite funny. Indeed. ; ))
Yes, I do recall your progressive tendencies.
I wasn’t really with you until I fully appreciated all the exclamation points, but now I understand. Thank you.
Big night for President Trump and the Signers idea of real truth and republicanism.
An even bigger day for the America and the rest of the World with Trump’s success in Singapore.
I expect that won’t be written about here.
I have met you. You are a great conservative. I do politics in 18 counties and 3 districts. I am an extreme constitutional conservative as defined by the Signers and the Founders. Amen ~