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* The big Right Nation 2010 to-do featuring Glenn Beck is tomorrow at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. It’s been getting quite a bit of press lately, but let’s focus for a moment on one aspect. From the RN2010 website…
Right Nation 2010 is a joint venture of Republican, conservative, libertarian, free market, and Tea Party independent organizations and individuals, facilitated by the 75 year-old United Republican Fund.
…the event doesn’t endorse any specific candidates, because it’s meant to appeal to a broad audience. What unifies them, according to the Right Nation Web site, is that the left has “destroyed our states and nation.”
But notice how the word “libertarian” is not capitalized on the RN2010 website. That’s because the conference is only involving small “l” libertarians. The Libertarian Party candidates weren’t invited…
[Libertarian US Senate candidate Mike Labno] is not scheduled to appear at Right Nation 2010. He told me he was not invited to speak, not surprising since the sponsors include GOP organizations.
Yes, totally not surprising. Much of the statewide Republican Party ticket and several GOP congressional candidates are on the list of participants. The state GOP has been promoting the event on its website and via e-mails and its chairman and several other GOP bigwigs and campaign contributors are listed as hosts.
Constitution Party candidates weren’t invited, either. The party was kicked off the ballot by the Republicans (who also challenged the Libertarian Party’s petitions), but they’re appealing that ruling. The party’s US Senate candidate and chairman Randy Stufflebeam sent out a press release this week about the convention…
“I wholeheartedly support the Right Nation event and applaud Glenn Beck who has done much to unify and educate conservatives across our nation,” said Randy Stufflebeam, Constitution Party candidate for U.S. Senate.
“However,” added Stufflebeam, “a principled man like Glenn Beck should not be sharing the stage with Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady. Mr. Brady has proven by his actions this summer that he has very little in common with 9/12’ers, tea partiers, conservatives, and libertarians. Pat Brady’s co-sponsorship of Right Nation 2010 makes a mockery of the event’s very admirable goals.”
In other words, this convention looks a whole lot like the Illinois Republicans are feeding some timely pre-election red meat to their base while claiming they’re just engaging in good, old fashioned, non-partisan fun.
* The Republicans are also trying to do this without dirtying their hands by sidling up too closely to those unwashed tea partiers…
A prominent suburban Republican has made a promotional YouTube video encouraging attendance at a conservative conference in Hoffman Estates later this month.
But state Sen. Matt Murphy insists he isn’t aligning himself with everything the featured speakers stand for. That’s the same approach that event hosts and General Assembly Republican leaders Tom Cross and Christine Radogno have taken on the event.
And…
Many of Illinois’ top Republicans are not attending, including Rep. Mark Kirk, who is running for the U.S. Senate, and Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno. State Sen. Bill Brady, running for governor, is a maybe.
Translation: “We want you to get fired up and ready to vote for us, but we’d rather not hang out with you, so we’ll send a few of our conservatives, but not the big boys and girls.”
* Meanwhile, Alexi Giannoulias’ kind words on behalf of the Libertarian Labno has been getting some coverage…
* Giannoulias Endorses Libertarian Candidate: he Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate is getting a ringing endorsement. In the wake of the defeat of a moderate Republican at the hands of a conservative activist in the Senate primary in Delaware, an e-mail Wednesday touts Mike Labno, the Libertarian, as the alternative for conservatives to moderate U.S. Rep. Mark S. Kirk (R-Highland Park) for Senate. That e-mail comes from the campaign of Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.
* Kirk ally rips Giannoulias vote ploy: Alexi Giannoulias’ Democratic Illinois Senate campaign is talking up a marginal Senate candidate — Libertarian Mike Labno — to try to drain conservative votes from his Republican rival, Mark Kirk.
* Giannoulias talks up Libertarian in attempt to siphon votes from Kirk: Pat Brady, Illinois GOP Chairman, said Republicans do not plan to highlight Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones to take away votes from Giannoulias, in return. “No, because we’re not desperate,” he said.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 10:51 am
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Nice play by Giannoulias. Got to give him credit. I don’t think it will work and might have a backlash and solidify Kirk’s conservative supporters, but I think the risk is very small compared to the reward. Kudos on a nice little tactic there.
Comment by A.B. Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 10:57 am
Freedom means nothing left to lose… except for Republican sugar daddies.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 10:57 am
It is no longer primary season. It is time for Republicans, conservative. libertarian (small L), free market, and Tea Party independent organizations to mobilize and get the most conservative ELECTABLE (h/t WFB) candidate elected.
This is not a meeting of the League of Women’s voters. If a candidate was not invited, tough. If Kirk wasn’t invited, it is because these people are sending him the message: “How you like me now?” This is a meeting about conservatives taking the party back, taking Congress (at least one house) back, taking the governorship back, and making inroads wherever they can to arrest the liberal agenda of the elites, Republicans and Democrats alike.
Is this so hard to understand?
Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 11:06 am
So, helpful Alexi is offering voting advice to Republicans, Conservatives, Tea Partiers and Libertarians? That is beyond funny. Kinda like a morbidly obese person lecturing all her healthy and normal weight relatives how they should eat and what they should wear. Made my day!! Thanks for the chuckle, Alexi.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 11:11 am
Cincinnatus: It didn’t say Kirk wasn’t invited…it says he’s not attending. Two different things.
Personally, I’m thinking the “Rally to Restore Sanity” in DC on October 30 is really the event to go to. Of course it will be in competition with the “March to Keep Fear Alive”, but I still think it will do OK.
Comment by Really?? Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 11:20 am
It’s not a good sign for democrats when conservatives and Republicans feel this confident in Illinois. Whether this sort of stuff helps or hurts I think is a question left to democrats who worked on the congressional campaigns that picked off the weller, hastert and nearly hyde seats and what effect moveon.org had in those races in either energizing the base or scaring away independents and moderates.
Comment by shore Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 11:23 am
If anyone gets a chance to talk to Beck, make sure to ask him if our honor was restored the other weekend. I didn’t even know we had lost it until the circus rolled into D.C.
Maybe the honorable Tony LaRussa found it there. Maybe Mark McGwire had it.
These Beck rallies have the feel of lost scenes from “O Brother Where Art Thou.”
“We’re in a tight spot.”
“People are looking for answers.”
Everett McGill.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 11:42 am
Since Jeff Trigg left the state I don’t think the LP has reached out like he did to those groups organizing Right Nation. I think had those personal relationships existed like they did w/Jeff ,someone would’ve thought to invite them or Jeff would’ve requested and received some slots.
Constitution Party? C’mon.
Rich, had the Constitution Party been invited you would’ve labeled the event fringe and used to the CP’s attendance to confirm. Since they’re not invited you say it’s partisan. Please.
Comment by Greg B. Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 11:46 am
“It’s not a good sign for democrats when conservatives and Republicans feel this confident in Illinois.”
Huh? I would think if conservatives and Republicans were completely confident of their position in Illinois then people like Republican nominee Mark Kirk wouldn’t be afraid to appear at a gathering of his party’s base.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 11:50 am
The Sears Centre — that socialist, government run institution? This after appearing at the socialist Lincoln Memorial? Nice job picking your venues, Glenn. What next, is he going to take socialist, govenment run roads to get there too? What a traitor to the free market cause.
Comment by PFK Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 11:54 am
The IL GOP leadership is so 2-faced and phony.
Comment by just sayin' Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 12:41 pm
PFK and just sayin’: Agreed, these folks are certainly coloring within the lines of irony, hypocrisy, and short term memories.
Dems and libs ruining the country? I guess they would have to throw the 8 years of Bush and Cheney into those categories for this statement to reveal any truth.
Comment by Vole Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 12:51 pm
Wordslinger,
“O Brother Where Art Thou” is a fine comparison to that tea party movement. I wouldn’t even be surprised if the Soggy Bottom Boys warm up the crowd.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 12:51 pm
Gawker said media might not be allowed to attend the event.
Comment by kappakid Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 12:52 pm
===Dems and libs ruining the country? I guess they would have to throw the 8 years of Bush and Cheney into those categories for this statement to reveal any truth.===
Well said Vole. How stupid do they think voters are? I mean, stupid enough to buy a ticket to the Tea Party Circus, but beyond that…
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 12:56 pm
Phineas: And the Soggy Bottom Boys will play what has to be the Tea Party gang’s theme song; I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow.
Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 12:58 pm
47th: This is all about making some political hay with “other”, “them” and “this”. Start sorting through the weeds and you will find these guys are divided on many issues of importance. Common enemies are their main theme. Their aristocratic backers love it! And unfortunately they will have an out sized impact in this off year election.
Comment by Vole Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 1:16 pm
The state gop chairman is obviously just going to try and convince gullible tea partiers to stick with Mark Kirk. “Look, we’re with you! [Even though Mark doesn’t want to be seen with you.]”
Comment by too obvious Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 1:31 pm
Brothers! Oh, brothers! We have all gathered here, to preserve our hallowed culture and heritage! We aim to pull evil up by the root, before it chokes out the flower of our culture and heritage! Homer Stokes
Comment by Way Way Down Here Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 1:42 pm
Homer Stokes: This band of miscreants, this very evening, interfered with a lynch mob in the performance of its duty.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 1:56 pm
here, here, Phineas!
I am working in my garden this afternoon gathering
over ripe tomatoes…
Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 2:05 pm
I compare this Right Nation event similar to a Union GOTV event. Not everyone in the room always agrees on all the issues and they usually keep some of the participants away from the cameras. But the difference is that none of the Dems are not afraid to show up. And even the unions are not always in lock step it is called organized labor. Keeping everyone happy on on similar course is a difficult thing to accomplish.
Comment by Been There Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 2:15 pm
All sounds like Lollapalooza. Doing some times at the various side stages, enjoy some interesting different music, some things that are OK, move long to the next stage, but really killing for the headliners.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Sep 17, 10 @ 2:24 pm