Mitch McConnell hires Jesse Benton to run his 2014 re-election bid

[georgiaboy]

I see a lot of knee-jerk reactionary statements here.

The political reality is that we must pick our battles. Furthermore, we don't have a printing press to fund our campaigns.

A move like this helps to legitimize our movement in the minds of people who were on the sidelines or who think we're all a bunch of nuts. It's the type of move that makes it harder to label us 'domestic extremists' or whathaveyou.

Dr. Paul made us aware that people in D.C. can be very 'political' if they sense the winds shifting - this is a prime example.

But all that being said, we still need to make Mitch work for the win. Even insincere rhetoric from a prominent figure can help to wake up more people. Our goal should be to force Mitch to embrace our rhetoric.

Agreed, if there's a way to use Mitch to our advantage, then so be it.

I just don't see how Mitch hiring one of our movement's campaign managers gives any reason for us to believe that Mitch has any plan to support this movement. All of his other legislative activity points otherwise. If anything, this move points only toward trying to get email lists and insight into how to pander for votes.

Show me some votes, show me some co-sponsored legislation, Mitch. Otherwise, color me suspicious.

 

[orenbus]

I'm just explaining to you why some are voicing their support for McConnell and Benton here. They obey their party first.

I feel like we are going backwards here in a way, party over principles? This isn't what I signed up for.

 

[belian78]

You guys from out of state do not see what is going on in Kentucky. The liberty movement is getting stronger, not weaker. I see this as a good move.

Haven't really seen you around since the beginning of the campaign when you were shilling for Johnson. Now you're back, almost makes me want to be a coincidence theorist.

 

[VBRonPaulFan]

wow, Benton left the Liberty circles to get into electoral politics where the big money is. color me *shocked*.

/sarcasm.

that dude is a money hungry fool. three cheers to watching him run McConnell's campaign into the ground in 2014!

 

[crhoades]

Maybe this will swing a lot of backing for Rand in 2016.

 

[orenbus]

I don't care about rhetoric. Our goal should be to force Mitch to retire, and get somebody in there who will vote with us.

This ^

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

If that's true and McConnell has nothing to worry about then why even pretend to extend interest in the tea party or seem to want to win favorability points as some here suggest by hiring Benton?

Because by being the Senate Leader he is a national figure. It is very possible that the GOP can take the Senate this year, and McConnell could be using this to reach out to the Tea Party crowd as a demonstration of their size and viability as a win within the party.

But if you can find someone that is willing to run a state wide campaign against a sitting Senate leader, then go for it. You are of course free to spend your money and time however you wish. Just know that the odds of defeating him are extremely slim.

 

[cajuncocoa]

I'm just explaining to you why some are voicing their support for McConnell and Benton here. They obey their party first.

That's pretty obvious.

 

[Carlybee]

Well that's not what you claimed. No, I don't think MccConnell is directly challenging the liberty movement. I don't think Benton is doing that by working for McConnell. I think McConnell is a spineless political bitch who knows which way the winds are shifting, especially in his home state. If this brings him further to our side then so be it, even if it is only for political reasons. I don't care their motivations, I care they make the right votes.

Yeah...perception and principles be damned

 

[belian78]

That's pretty obvious.

Pretty sickening too if you ask me.

 

[kathy88]

They co-opted our tea party, and now they want to co-opt what's left of the grassroots. Anyone who thinks this is a good thing has NOT been paying attention.

 

[The Gold Standard]

Because by being the Senate Leader he is a national figure. It is very possible that the GOP can take the Senate this year, and McConnell could be using this to reach out to the Tea Party crowd as a demonstration of their size and viability as a win within the party.

But if you can find someone that is willing to run a state wide campaign against a sitting Senate leader, then go for it. You are of course free to spend your money and time however you wish. Just know that the odds of defeating him are extremely slim.

Are you fucking people out of your mind? Mitch McConnell is the scum of the earth. He is reaching out to voters. He isn't reaching out to any tea party or liberty positions. He would never vote for a Fed audit or bringing the troops home or even cutting any domestic spending. He is a true piece of shit. I don't care if Ron himself went to go work for him, it would be worth it to try to get him out of office.

 

[Brett85]

People should keep in mind that McConnell was just one of about eight Senators to vote in favor of Rand's budget that balanced in five years.

 

[Carlybee]

I see a lot of knee-jerk reactionary statements here.

The political reality is that we must pick our battles. Furthermore, we don't have a printing press to fund our campaigns.

A move like this helps to legitimize our movement in the minds of people who were on the sidelines or who think we're all a bunch of nuts. It's the type of move that makes it harder to label us 'domestic extremists' or whathaveyou.

Dr. Paul made us aware that people in D.C. can be very 'political' if they sense the winds shifting - this is a prime example.

But all that being said, we still need to make Mitch work for the win. Even insincere rhetoric from a prominent figure can help to wake up more people. Our goal should be to force Mitch to embrace our rhetoric.

Sez who? Stop speaking for those of us who dont wish to be co-opted by the neocons or the co-opted tea partiers. How much are we willing to dilute the message of true liberty? Until it morphs into the Beck and Limbaugh version? McConnell is aa warmonger and an enemy to liberty.

 

[Brett85]

Are you fucking people out of your mind? Mitch McConnell is the scum of the earth. He is reaching out to voters. He isn't reaching out to any tea party or liberty positions. He would never vote for a Fed audit or bringing the troops home or even cutting any domestic spending. He is a true piece of shit. I don't care if Ron himself went to go work for him, it would be worth it to try to get him out of office.

Not true. Rand's budget, which McConnell voted for, cuts about $500 billion in spending.

 

[newbitech]

If that's true and McConnell has nothing to worry about then why even pretend to extend interest in the tea party or seem to want to win favorability points as some here suggest by hiring Benton?

Maybe McConnell had a Doug Wead moment? Maybe Ron Paul's message is sinking in after 30-40 years? I have a hard time ruling that out as a possibility. At the same time, the mixed messages are just killing any kind of momentum or chance for regular on the ground folks to form up and rally around... anything.

 

[georgiaboy]

People should keep in mind that McConnell was just one of about eight Senators to vote in favor of Rand's budget that balanced in five years.

Thanks for this data point. Mitch will have to do more and bigger of this to get the tea party votes he needs to keep his seat in '14.

 

[Tim724]

I nvr liked Benton much and really never saw what he Brought to the table except a stick of chewing gum...hope Rand doesnt use hime in16 cause I wont donate money or time to anything run by him.

even if Jesse was good at organizing grass roots(hes not) McConnell has no grassroots to organize...mind boggling

^^ good post, pretty much my same thoughts.

After giving alot of money to the RP campaing, it really grinds my gears in how they just quit in the spring when we were heating up and how Benton took over a half-million for his sh!tty work.

McConnel is among the worst of the establishment republicans who stand for nothing liberty-oriented whatsoever and are really just into cronyism. It seems Jesse is generally of the same mindset so I guess it makes sense.

Hope to see Jesse fail and hope to see liberty movement/candidates prosper without him. I truly feel RP2012 was our big shot to make a big splash (even if not winning) and it is a crying shame we had to have Benton onboard to derail everything. We could have done so much more.

I won't give a dime to another campaign run by him, even a Rand 2016 campaign ...and I generally like Rand.

 

[Libertytree]

Lets see how many campaign errors, mis-communications, poorly timed announcements, damaging emails etc.. occur while he's running MM's campaign.

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

Are you fucking people out of your mind? Mitch McConnell is the scum of the earth. He is reaching out to voters. He isn't reaching out to any tea party or liberty positions. He would never vote for a Fed audit or bringing the troops home or even cutting any domestic spending. He is a true piece of shit. I don't care if Ron himself went to go work for him, it would be worth it to try to get him out of office.

Then my guess is you are going to be really pissed if and when Rand campaigns for him. Chances of that occurring are pretty strong.

Like I mentioned earlier, I don't think some folks are cut out for partisan politics, and what it takes to build a coalition and grow a movement within the party. Pretty much everything that has occurred outside of the Ron Paul campaign has pissed off most of the people on this site. Whether it is this Benton story, or Rand's endorsement, Bill's endorsement, Rand speaking at FreePac, Rand going on Hannity, Ted Cruz backing Romney, the platform inclusions, etc, etc, etc -- every one of these stories gets a similar response from the majority of folks on here.