From The Daily Caller (via Atlas Shrugs):
When the Tea Party Express last week endorsed Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick — the only Democrat to receive the backing of the conservative grassroots group — one of his Republican challengers said he was simply baffled to learn the news, considering Minnick’s past votes that line up with Democrats on the estate tax and Guantanamo Bay.
“He voted for Nancy Pelosi. I mean all these things — I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. This is the guy you guys want to get behind nationally?’” said Republican Vaughn Ward, an active Marine Corps reserve officer whose candidacy for Minnick’s seat was endorsed by Sarah Palin.
Ward spoke to The Daily Caller, expressing his frustration at learning that the Tea Party Express endorsed his Democrat opponent without consulting first with the local tea party groups in Idaho. Ward faces primary competition from incumbent state Rep. Raul Labrador and three other Republican candidates. Ward questioned the TPX’ rationale behind the endorsement of the Democrat.
The Republican added: “It’s almost like, ‘Did they really do a thorough job of investigating his voting record?’”
Sal Russo, chief strategist for the Tea Party Express, defended the TPX endorsement.
“… said the group did reach out to a number of groups and activists, many of whom support Minnick. Democrats who “are willing to stand up to Pelosi and Reid” should get support from Tea Party organizations “to encourage others” to act similarly, he said.
“When you find someone willing to stand up, you got to stand up with him,” Russo said.
The strategist said he wouldn’t be surprised to see the group add another Democrat or two to the list. “It can’t be a one-party issue. Fiscal responsibility has to be embedded in both parties,” he said.
Yet activists are still asking questions about the motive of the endorsement. Andrew Ian Dodge, a Tea Party participant, said that the Minnick endorsement was an “odd” move “that is no doubt based on the Tea Party Express’s desire to be seen as non-partisan.”
“There are a lot of frankly befuddled Republicans, Tea Partiers and Idahoans that deserve an explanation why this race was singled out for such a spot of bizarre meddling,” Dodge wrote in an op-ed published by The Daily Caller.”
Pappas reports that prior to TPX’ endorsement last week, Politico published a story suggesting TPX was “merely a front for Republican political operatives seeking to take advantage of the energy of the Tea Party movement. The endorsement of Minnick has since been called a reaction to that view, with critics calling Minnick the group’s “token Democrat.””
Tea Party Express spokesman Levi Russell denied that’s the case, saying the Minnick endorsement was in the works for weeks prior to the announcement.
That confusion over the endorsement, Dodge wrote, is because Ward’s stance on issues reads similar to other candidates beloved by Tea Partiers: repeal and replace the health-care bill, eliminate wasteful spending, secure our borders are all planks listed on Ward’s campaign Web site.
Read the entire piece here.
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