DeVore spokesman on Palin: Looks like Carly found her sheepdog

posted at 9:01 pm on May 6, 2010 by Allahpundit

I want to pause here for a moment and just exult in the rich blog content possibilities of a sustained grassroots war between Palin supporters and DeVore fans. Two “true conservatives” enter, one “true conservative” leaves.

Let the battle begin, my friends.

Team DeVore is ticked, saying that they are the ones, not Carly, who are tapped into the conservative grassroots.

“This grassroots movement is actually a grassroots movement,” said DeVore spokesperson Joshua Trevino. “Carly Fiorina thinks she can find the sheepdog to corral the sheep. Chuck DeVore knows they’re not sheep at all. They’re Americans. And they’ll make their own decisions.”

Flashback to the March 25 edition of the LA Times: “DeVore said he plans to ask Palin for Palin’s endorsement on Saturday.” Meanwhile, the Red State people are peeved:

Palin may well be making a sane judgment call by stopping Campbell at all costs. Fiorina’s got a solid shot at winning, and Palin could use the political cred that comes with endorsing a winner.

Bottom line is that this is yet another endorsement for a non-grassroots candidate, and she’s going to take another siginifcant hit to her credibility with her base in exchange for picking a winner. Probably would have been a good one to stay out of, Sarah.

Eh. Her base loves her practically unconditionally. See this post at Conservatives 4 Palin defending her endorsement as a master stroke. Palin’s problem isn’t her base, it’s centrist Republicans and independents, and today’s curveball will help her (very marginally) with that. Frankly, I like the fact that she showed some balls and jumped in on behalf of a candidate who might irk the grassroots. The rap on her is that she’s a wingnut robot, mindlessly supporting whoever the truest “true conservative” in the race might be. Not so. This required some calculation and some risk, and she’s willing and able to undertake both. Good.

Here’s the latest salvo in the developing war. Exit question: Second look at Huckabee?

Update: Another question. When’s Romney going to weigh in here?

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Fiorina is a bobblehead.

trace_9r on May 7, 2010 at 4:06 AM

One failed executive who complained about the problems then left without fixing them endorses another failed executive who left big problems.

Seems fittin’

PrezHussein on May 7, 2010 at 4:39 AM

DeVore needs to quit whining and take rejection like a grown man. You can’t always get what you want as they say in life or politics.

sarahpalinfan99 on May 7, 2010 at 5:33 AM

You know why folks can’t stand Sarah Palin-it’s not because of the MSM narrative that she is an unsophisticated, clueless yokel, but actually because she is a political genius who understands the art of politics and understands who she should endorse from a political point of view to get from point A to point B without sacrificing her principles.

I thought Palin’s endorsement of Rand Paul was her most brilliant endorsement but the Fiorina one is a close second. What it does it allows her to take down Huckabee (he endorsed Devore) but at the same time to cut away at Romney’s support of the Tea Partiers who do not want to be associated with Palin’s social conservatism, who favor fiscal conservatism be elevated and social conservatism take a back seat or at least not be as prominent.

Fiorina is seen as a primarily as a fis-con. And of course being a prominent woman will also help Palin with the female vote if she runs.

And if Fiorina can somehow beat Campbell, she will now have a decent shot to upset Boxer, because Palin and her millions of supporters will now be behind Carly, especially in Southern California.

technopeasant on May 7, 2010 at 5:41 AM

Wonder where Governor Palin got that “Phoenix Rising” pin on her jacket?

Maybe I’ll Google it.

PappyD61 on May 7, 2010 at 6:55 AM

Since when do the grassroots have a problem with winning? Do they want to lose? I don’t think so.

I don’t know how useful these endorsements are really. Not just from Palin, but anyone.

Terrye on May 7, 2010 at 7:01 AM

Palin’s problem isn’t her base, it’s centrist Republicans and independents

NO, Palin’s problem is that she’s pretty much the GOP version of Obama. Lots of flowery demagoguery, and not much else.

matthewbit07 on May 7, 2010 at 7:18 AM

Palin’s problem?

Tim Burns
Sean Duffy
Rand Paul
Carly Fiorina
Allan West
Adam Kanzinger
Michele Bachmann

No, Obama’s problem!

technopeasant on May 7, 2010 at 7:38 AM

NO, Palin’s problem is that she’s pretty much the GOP version of Obama. Lots of flowery demagoguery, and not much else.
matthewbit07 on May 7, 2010 at 7:18 AM

For some reason I am fighting an urge to quote a classic line. “You keep using that word. I dont think it means what you think it means.”
I know movie lines are cheap shots generally, but in this case? You are begging for it. Logic, the meaning of “demagogue”, and the 6 fingered man, they elude you my friend.

Irritable Pundit on May 7, 2010 at 8:08 AM

I would love to see Boxer unseated. If people can’t learn to pick their battles and are so ideologically handcuffed, then fine….but that isn’t using commonsense at all.

AnninCA on May 7, 2010 at 8:14 AM

Demagogue: a political leader who gains power by appealing to people’s emotions, instincts, and prejudices in a way that is considered manipulative and dangerous.

Yep, thanks Irritable Pundit, I think I got that.

matthewbit07 on May 7, 2010 at 8:16 AM

Sarah needs to trade in her Naughty Monkeys for a cheap pair of flip flops.. probably some leftover from the 2004 GOP convention.

Bradky on May 7, 2010 at 8:26 AM

I thnk people are really missing what Sarah Palin is looking for in these candidates. What do Carly Fiorina and Rand Paul have in common, and their opponents as well?

They are not career politicians. They have real world experience. They understand how jobs get created in this country and the practical impacts of the disastrous spneding and overregulation policies being pursued by this Democratic Congress.

Chuck deVore may have the greatest conservative voting record in the California Senate, but that doesn’t mean very much right now. It’s easy to sit back as a member of a hopeless minority and make base-pleasing votes all the time. And believe me, Barbara Boxer will hang those around his neck in a general election campaign, along with throwing the gender card every chance she gets.

Fiorina has been endorsed by every pro-life group and the NRA. She is smart and has actually run a company, and even if you don’t like how she ran it, that’s a damn sight better than most of the morons we have now in the Senate who have no clue how jobs get created. She will make mincemeat of Boxer in any debates.

I will tell you, I am from Kentucky and was very puzzled when Palin endorsed Rand Paul. I was not inclined to support him, but Palin’s endorsement made me take a second look and I really think he will be a great Senator. Trey Grayson is a good guy, but the times we are in require more than just good guys and loyal party apparatchiks. We need leaders and especially leaders who understand the real world and private enterprise.

rockmom on May 7, 2010 at 9:26 AM

Very thoughtful and insightful post Rockmom. That’s the kind of thinking conservatives need to be making. We do need more real world people in DC who understand where jobs come from. We’re talking about it and need to apply that requirement to our candidates.

Kissmygrits on May 7, 2010 at 10:27 AM

Exit question: Second look at Huckabee?

FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, ALLAH, STOP THAT!!!

No.

No.

No no no no no no no no no.

Geez. I vote for candidates because of THEIR record, not because they pick all my favorite candidates themselves. What, if Gingrich endorses DeVore next, then the MUST be the guy for 2012? Please.

Herman Cain 2012

Animator Girl on May 7, 2010 at 10:41 AM

Edit: “then HE must”

It’s too early to be typing.

Animator Girl on May 7, 2010 at 10:42 AM

Republican/conservative in-fighting. You people still don’t get it.

Narutoboy on May 6, 2010 at 9:26 PM

I hate to agree with you but I “think” you’re saying what I think.

Reading the comments here helps explain why conservatives have problems winning nationally. When your primary directive is “Fall on the sword of Conservative purity,” it’s hard to attract those who might agree with your basic agenda but not pass the purity test. Some of you would rather fight Rinos than liberals. I guess that stokes the fires of righteousness but it’s doubtful it wins national offices.

You keep telling yourselves that the voters are more conservative than generally thought. That may be true but the average voter is not inclined to demand the purity that some conservatives seem to demand. That is what makes people just like the loons on the far-left. Most of you don’t even agree on who is right and wrong to support. People seem to have their own list and there is no way Palin or any other politician could be correct on all of them.

But no problem with ignoring Palin and her endorsements – that is everyone’s right. But Palin is also entitled to support those candidates SHE thinks are the best choices. Ditto for who she wants to fundraise/campaign for. I imagine she will remember comments from DeVore’s camp.

katiejane on May 7, 2010 at 10:50 AM

I thnk people are really missing what Sarah Palin is looking for in these candidates. What do Carly Fiorina and Rand Paul have in common, and their opponents as well?

They are not career politicians. They have real world experience.

that is a very good point I had not considered. I’m all for putting people who have real jobs and real lives into Congress–people who don’t NEED the work in Washington–and retiring the career hacks.

james23 on May 7, 2010 at 11:41 AM

After sleeping on it, I’ll STILL be voting for DeVore in the primary. Fiorina’s Iran/HP sneakery during her time as CEO, coupled with the new investigations into bribery in Russia and Germany will be an albatross around her neck. Chuck DeVore says it best(some emphasis mine):

I like Sarah Palin. I think highly of her. But she got this dead wrong.

Carly Fiornia is NOT a conservative.

And she is certainly NOT the only candidate in the race who can beat Barbara Boxer.

Let me address each of those issues with some cold, hard facts.

Is Carly Fiorina a conservative?

* She supported the Wall Street bailouts.
* She supported Cap and Trade.
* She supported the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayer.
* She has criticized the new Arizona immigration law.
* Before she was fired as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, she allowed the company to sell technology to Iran.
* And last year when liberal Democrats and moderate Republicans were trying to push through a massive tax increase in a California referendum, Carly Fiorina had “no comment.”

I call her a “John McCain Republican” – she talks the talk from time to time and says she’s a conservative but she has a “never with us when it counts” record just like McCain.

Don’t get me wrong, if a liberal Republican like Tom Campbell or a moderate Republican like Carly Fiorina win the primary instead of me, I will support them against Barbara Boxer.

But there’s no need to make a compromise like that.

This is not a primary election where electability needs to be a factor.

Again, let me offer the cold hard facts.

Here’s the most recent polling numbers from the independent Rasmussen poll.

* Fiorina 38% – Boxer 42%
* DeVore 39% – Boxer 42%
* Campbell 41% – Boxer 43%

The margin of error in the poll was 4.5%.

That means Fiornia is statistically tied with Boxer.

So am I (actually one point better than Fiorina).

And so is Tom Campbell.

There is literally no difference at all in how we are performing against Boxer.
…

So the choice before the California primary voters isn’t who can beat Boxer…

…it’s which Republican candidate best represents your values.
…

I believe it’s vitally important to California and America’s future that we get Barbara Boxer out of the Senate…

…but I also believe it’s just as important we replace her with a true conservative who will faithfully hold strong to the Founding Father’s vision of a limited government

My record is clear.

I have a proven voting record in the California State Assembly that has earned me several “Legislator of the Year” awards from conservative organizations.

I was a Reagan White House appointee in the Pentagon and I’m a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army Reserve.

And I was against the bailouts, against cap and trade, and against the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayer. I support the Arizona immigration law. And when California Republican moderates tried to raise taxes I resigned my leadership position in protest.

My record has earned me support from conservatives like:

*** Senator Jim DeMint’s “Senate Conservative Fund”
*** Governor Mike Huckabee’s “HuckPAC”
*** Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA)
*** Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
*** Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
*** The Tea Party Express
*** Citizens United PAC
*** Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association PAC
*** And more than 60% of California’s Republican elected officials.

Media commentators Glenn Beck, George Will, Andrew Breitbart, and Mark Levin have all identified me as the true conservative candidate in this race.

I’m not going to lie to you, I would have liked Sarah Palin’s endorsement, too (and I look forward to getting it after I win the primary).

But the support I most need and want is yours.

NTWR on May 7, 2010 at 2:10 PM

NTWR on May 7, 2010 at 2:10 PM

Amen

matthewbit07 on May 7, 2010 at 3:25 PM

I’m beginning to think Palin isn’t a conservative. Her book gave me the impression she was but some of her actions cause me to doubt.

MCGIRV on May 7, 2010 at 3:40 PM

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