This morning I spoke with Eric Roach, the top-vote getting conservative in last month’s special election in the 50th Congressional District. So let me be the first to share some unfortunate news (unless you are a big-spending Republican).
It is with great sadness that I share with you the news that after much consideration, Eric Roach has decided not to actively campaign for Congress in the regular GOP primary in the 50th Congressional District. Eric would have been an outstanding candidate who I personally think could have cleaned liberal/moderate GOPer Brian Bilbray’s clock in that GOP only primary and gone on to win election to the full two-year term in November. (Bilbray was the top GOP vote-getting in the special election to fulfill the rest of Duke Cunningham’s term, but his margin of victory was so slight that it is a foregone conclusion that he won with the votes of non-Republicans).
I believe that Eric Roach knew he could win that primary, which is what makes it that much more frustrating and unfortunate that he has decided not to run.
In addition to having a private conversation with Roach this morning, I also spoke to Roach’s Campaign Manager, Stan Devereux, who told me that, “Eric did not believe it would serve the interests of the conservative majority to campaign aggressively against the Republican Special Nominee, as the Special Election occurring on the same day appears to be very close race. It is important that Republicans hold this seat.”
Devereux went on to tell me that Roach wishes to thank those who have fought so hard on behalf of his campaign and the conservative agenda we all know America needs.
I will tell you that my primary source of sorrow is that Eric Roach would have made such an outstanding Congressman. He possesses a great combination of traits that really would have served him well – starting with his faith, and a deep understanding that we are all endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. Roach is smart, thoughtful, engaging, persuasive, and understands both the big and little pictures. It my sincere hope that he continues to stay engaged in the political sphere, working to promote the conservative cause in which he truly believes.
That having been said, I truly believe that for Brian Bilbray, the House Leadership, and the big wheels at the Republican Party, this may truly be a case of, “Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it!”
Without Roach on the ballot, Bilbray has a big challenge ahead of him in turning out conservative voters. All you have to do is read Wall Street Journal editorial writer John Fund’s column today, The Enemy Within, to understand the problem. In it, Fund says:
“Some polls show public disapproval of the GOP among conservatives reaching dangerously high levels. A new Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll found that only 66% of Republicans now approve of President Bush’s performance. A new Associated Press/Public Affairs poll found 45% of self-identified conservatives disapprove of Mr. Bush’s job as president, and 65% disapprove of the GOP Congress. The disapproval numbers are probably exaggerated because of an oversampling of Democrats, but even if somewhat lower, the numbers are still toxic.”
Brian Bilbray earned a reputation in his three terms in Congress as being a very moderate Republican. Well, I can tell you that it is moderate Republicans in Congress who have created our biggest problem in Washington – the huge gulf between what Republicans say and what we do. I have heard over, and over, and over that the reason why spending is up, not down, at the federal level is that while we have a majority of Republicans in both the Senate and House of Representatives, because of moderate Republicans, we don’t have a majority of votes to reduce the size and scope of the national government.
If I lived in this Congressional District, I would go to the polls and vote for Bilbray over Busby. She is awful. But that said, given that I have traveled to every part of California, it seems, to help candidates in important special elections, but I am so frustrated at what moderate GOPers have done to hijack our majority and imperil its very existence, that I am not to motivate to get myself to San Diego anytime soon.
Perhaps Bilbray can count on support from moderate Reps. like Bill Thomas, Mike Castle, Chris Shays, Sherwood Boehlert, Jim Leach, et.al. Maybe Senators Arlen Spector and Lincoln Chafee will come walk a precinct. If these folks aren’t too busy defending the status-quo for which they are responsible.
Well, I will close this post by expressing my appreciation – first to Bill Hauf, Bill Morrow, Howard Kaloogian and the other fine conservatives who ran in the 50th and who were willing to put it on the line and support Roach. I would also like to recognize John Feliz and Stan Devereux from “Team Roach” for their hard work. Finally, I would like to thank Eric himself for running a clean campaign on the issues, and for reminding me that there are good, solid conservatives out there.
May 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
That’s a pity. If Bilbray even wins the election, the GOP will be stuck with a big spending Rep for twenty years or more. Oh well.
May 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Eric Roach did the right thing for the Party and the Country. Now we Republicans can concentrate on the real enemy: Francine Busby, Nancy Peolsi and the liberal Democrats who support open borders, higher taxes, social engineering in our schools and who oppose the war on terror.
May 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Who is going to call Howard? Who is going to call Bill? If neither one is willing, I say we mount a write-in campaign for Roach.
May 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Eric Roach stands tall. Thank you !
May 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
You’re right, Allan. It’s a crying shame. It’d almost be worth Bilbray losing the election so Roach, or any conservative could mount a winning campaign in ’08.
May 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
San Diego Republican Chairman Ron Nehring’s Statement Concerning the 50th Congressional District Election
SAN DIEGO – San Diego Republican leader Ron Nehring today issued the following statement concerning the Republican campaign in the 50th Congressional District:
Eric Roach is a forceful spokesman for Republican ideals, and a great asset to the Republican Party in San Diego County.
As San Diego’s majority party, we’re very pleased Eric Roach will have many opportunities to serve the people of our county and state in elective office, and I hope he chooses to enter public life as a Republican elected official in the near future.
While the overwhelming majority of elected offices in our county – 63% — are held by Republicans, there are still plenty of offices (temporarily) occupied by Democrats, plus many open seats, and there’s a U.S. Senate race coming up in just a few years as well.
The Republican Party’s strength is drawn from the values, skills, and talent of our more than 560,000 members in San Diego County. We need the best and the brightest members of our party to seek and win election to public office so we can maintain San Diego’s quality of life, and preserve it for future generations by putting Republican ideas into action.
For this reason I hope to welcome Eric Roach to the ranks of Republican elected officials in our county in the near future.
That same appreciation applies to all of our friends who offered to serve in Congress in the 50th district special election – we need their leadership in elected office to implement our ideas, to make important decisions guided by solid conservative values – and of course to drive the Democrats further into the abyss in North County. I hope each of them will consider seeking elective office as a Republican candidate this November or in 2008.
Now, we need to turn our full attention to winning the runoff election in the 50th district on June 6th, and electing our other official Republican candidates who will appear on the same ballot. There’s no such thing as a “non- partisan” election in San Diego County – every election is an opportunity to put our Republican ideas of lower taxes, smaller government, promoting personal responsibility, into action.
May 8th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I consider it shocking that any Republican would wish a loss for Bilbray thus punishing a Republican Congressional District with a Democrat knowing full well how hard it is to get rid of an incumbent not to mention when some new jerrymandering comes along to insure the seat stays with the other party. Shame on you.
May 9th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I consider it shocking that a Republican would, given the dire need for Republicans in DC who actually hold to Republican values, turn over such a “safe” district to a moderate who’ll have a seat for life.
And no, getting rid of an incumbent isn’t THAT difficult. We did it quite a lot in ’94, if you remember. Shame on yourself for settling for a RINO.