Liberty For All and Teaparty groups seek to defeat McConnell in 2014

[sailingaway]

FRANKFORT ¡ª Many of Kentucky's Tea Party leaders are plotting a strategy to defeat U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in the 2014 Republican primary, a spokesman for a group calling itself the United Kentucky Tea Party said Tuesday.

Tea Party groups in the state are so dissatisfied with McConnell that "we are working on a battle plan with the ultimate goal to retire him next year," said John T. Kemper III of Lexington, a spokesman for the group.

Kemper's comment came a day after the group, which describes itself as a roundtable of leaders from more than a dozen Tea Party groups in Kentucky, issued a news release warning McConnell that "we will not allow our message or movement to be co-opted for political purposes."

Kemper, a developer who lost a bid for state auditor in 2011 and a bid for Congress in 2010, would not identify any potential opponent for McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, but acknowledged that he is "probably on a short list of folks."

Meanwhile, an out-of-state Super PAC expressed interest in helping "the right candidate" defeat McConnell. Last year, Liberty For All spent almost $700,000 to help elect Republican Thomas Massie to Northern Kentucky's 4th Congressional District seat.

Preston Bates, executive director of Liberty For All, said in an email Tuesday that McConnell is "anything but a tea partier" and is "that special politician who could unite libertarians, independents, anti-war Democrats, everyone" against him.

"Should the right candidate emerge ¡ª be they Republican, Democrat, or Independent ¡ª Liberty For All will remain committed to electing those dedicated to more civil liberties, more economic freedom, and freeing America from corporate influence," Bates said.

Liberty for All is primarily funded by John Ramsey, a college student from Nacogdoches, Texas, who is armed with an inherited fortune.

McConnell, who has represented Kentucky since 1985, is seeking re-election next year. So far, no one has announced to challenge him. He already has a $7 million campaign war chest and the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Bowling Green, a Tea Party darling.

In a news release sent by email late Monday, the United Kentucky Tea Party said McConnell and state Republican leaders are being "intellectually dishonest" by calling anyone associated with McConnell's campaign a Tea Party leader.

"The Tea Parties in Kentucky are led by local grassroots individuals, not by any national organization," the statement said. "Any representation otherwise by the Republican Party leadership of Kentucky or Senator McConnell and his surrogates is inconsistent with the truth and will be vigorously and publicly disputed every step of the way."

Kemper said the group was referring to McConnell's campaign manager, Jesse Benton.

Benton led the 2010 general election campaign of Paul, who rode the Tea Party wave to defeat Attorney General Jack Conway in the general election and the McConnell-backed candidacy of then-Secretary of State Trey Grayson in the Republican primary election.

Benton also managed the 2012 presidential bid for Paul's father, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. Benton is married to one of Ron Paul's granddaughters.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01...#storylink=cpy

more at link: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/01...#storylink=cpy

[JoshLowry]

[angelatc]

I'd rather see them go after Graham.

[Bastiat's The Law]

McConnell has a 20 million dollar war chest. Waste of time. Be smarter than this Liberty For All.

[FSP-Rebel]

McConnell has a 20 million dollar war chest. Waste of time. Be smarter than this Liberty For All.

I presume they're looking for a big fish to fry to boost their status but I agree that Graham should be the target.

[Bastiat's The Law]

I presume they're looking for a big fish to fry to boost their status but I agree that Graham should be the target.

Graham is much weaker and has less money. Plus there's good candidates from SC that could step up.

[Uriah]

McConnell has a 20 million dollar war chest. Waste of time. Be smarter than this Liberty For All.

They tout themselves as the PAC that wins elections. If they support a candidate against McConnell it's because McConnell can lose.

[sailingaway]

McConnell deserves opposition or we have no credibility.

I suspect if Davis is in it, they will also go after Lindsay, but how is he worse than McConnell?

Also, they said 'the right person', who might not step up.

[TheTyke]

This is getting big. What I find most encouraging is that over a dozen Tea Parties in Kentucky refuse to be co-opted. Even though they face the most formidable opponent, they are standing strong for their beliefs. This should be encouraged. On top of it, the issues we disagree with McConnell on WILL be publicized. His deeds will NOT go unchallenged.

Don't get angry with Rand or liberty candidates if they don't jump on this very challenging endeavors - we need them positioned for even bigger battles. This tendency is the biggest drawback to taking on McConnell... It's simply not worth it if it undermines our heavy hitters.

Know that if a good candidate emerges, a large force of Tea Party volunteers will be backing them up on the ground. This is roughly the same coalition that took Phil Moffett within 10% of beating the Republican Senate President in the primary for governor, despite having 1/10th of his funds. With any national support at all, we might've pulled it off.

McConnell will be a bigger hill to climb, but let's see how the situation unfolds. Put your money where it'll have most effect - state house races are less expensive and often overlooked... other senate races (like Graham,) or this one if we get line up a good situation.

[Bastiat's The Law]

This is getting big. What I find most encouraging is that over a dozen Tea Parties in Kentucky refuse to be co-opted. Even though they face the most formidable opponent, they are standing strong for their beliefs. This should be encouraged. On top of it, the issues we disagree with McConnell on WILL be publicized. His deeds will NOT go unchallenged.

Don't get angry with Rand or liberty candidates if they don't jump on this very challenging endeavors - we need them positioned for even bigger battles. This tendency is the biggest drawback to taking on McConnell... It's simply not worth it if it undermines our heavy hitters.

Know that if a good candidate emerges, a large force of Tea Party volunteers will be backing them up on the ground. This is roughly the same coalition that took Phil Moffett within 10% of beating the Republican Senate President in the primary for governor, despite having 1/10th of his funds. With any national support at all, we might've pulled it off.

McConnell will be a bigger hill to climb, but let's see how the situation unfolds. Put your money where it'll have most effect - state house races are less expensive and often overlooked... other senate races (like Graham,) or this one if we get line up a good situation.

I agree with a push towards targeting House seats over Senate seats. Senate seats take at least 5 million dollars or more. To win a Senate seat with a liberty candidate, we'd need an outstanding candidate in the first place, and so far Kentucky doesn't seem to have anyone that could foreseeably step in to challenge McConnell. We'd all have to be pulling in the same direction to win a Senate seat and I think only Graham could galvanize everyone of us against him at this point.

[Deborah K]

Senate seats take at least 5 million dollars or more.

This is a sickening reality. Our elections aren't won - they're bought. So let's just accept that a creeper like McConnell will stay in office screwing us, irreparably, because nothing can be done about the fact that our elections are bought and paid for - and the money goes to.......the main stream media - the brainwashers.....yep....we're screwed until there's REAL campaign finance change.

Carry on...

[Jeremy]

This is a sickening reality. Our elections aren't won - they're bought. So let's just accept that a creeper like McConnell will stay in office screwing us, irreparably, because nothing can be done about the fact that our elections are bought and paid for - and the money goes to.......the main stream media - the brainwashers.....yep....we're screwed until there's REAL campaign finance change.

Carry on...

You could easily say that all of our candidates won thanks to money. Nothing new...

[Deborah K]

You could easily say that all of our candidates won thanks to money. Nothing new...

Yes, you could say that. But I, for one, would much prefer an electoral process that provided a level playing field. Trying to get the right people in office is never going to happen at a fast enough pace to make any difference as long as money controls the process. The money power will always win out. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but I'm just not 'feelin it' these days.

[Bastiat's The Law]

You could easily say that all of our candidates won thanks to money. Nothing new...

It takes money to reach the non-political junkies.

Then it takes more money to educate them on matters the government schools either overlooked or brainwashed them into believing.

[Ivash]

This is a sickening reality. Our elections aren't won - they're bought. So let's just accept that a creeper like McConnell will stay in office screwing us, irreparably, because nothing can be done about the fact that our elections are bought and paid for - and the money goes to.......the main stream media - the brainwashers.....yep....we're screwed until there's REAL campaign finance change.

Carry on...

That's going a little too far. In most cases both party's main candidates have enough money to compete for the Senate, so it isn't 'bought' when it comes down to the general. The primary can be bought though, and most people don't have the kind of money needed to run.

[SpreadOfLiberty]

They need to target Chambliss too if Broun runs.

[supermario21]

McConnell will be the one establishment Senator in 2016 that endorses Rand. Chambliss and Graham are better targets, with guys in the state that we can already trust and not have to dig up somewhere, they just need convincing.

[sailingaway]

McConnell has screwed the country for decades. Who is worse?

[Keith and stuff]

McConnell has screwed the country for decades. Who is worse?

Every single Democratic US Senator.

[sailingaway]

It isn't either or. Until Rand endorsed McConnell I fully expected we would be going full bore opposing both Graham and McConnell, since they are the two worst.

[Bastiat's The Law]

It isn't either or. Until Rand endorsed McConnell I fully expected we would be going full bore opposing both Graham and McConnell, since they are the two worst.

When you have finite resources, yes it is an either or decision. I'm not entirely convinced we have the resources to mount credible challenges to multiple Senate seats simultaneously. To defeat someone as entrenched as McConnell you need to secure the three M's: Man, Money, Message

At this juncture we have none of those requirements fulfilled.

[sailingaway]

When you have finite resources, yes it is an either or decision. I'm not entirely convinced we have the resources to mount credible challenges to multiple Senate seats simultaneously. To defeat someone as entrenched as McConnell you need to secure the three M's: Man, Money, Message

At this juncture we have none of those requirements fulfilled.

but the point is you spend your resources others spend theirs. You don't want people cutting down efforts you find worthy of spending your money on, and might want to be considerate of other people's efforts as well,

It isn't like there is a pot of money and a democratic control of where it goes. Each spend their own money.

[itshappening]

Waste of time trying to take out the Senate Republican leader.

McConnell has 8 million dollars and plenty of state wide recogition and goodwill in the state.

If they find anyone they will have a huge uphill battle and ultimately likely fail.

There are much better opportunities, we should be focused on WV and finding a good conservative there because it's an open seat and very winnable.

[sailingaway]

People who want to work on it can, and those who don't don't have to.

[itshappening]

People who want to work on it can, and those who don't don't have to.

it's a complete distraction though when you get excited and post dozens of threads on no hope causes, raising people's hopes and diverting precious resources.

McConnell is not going down despite what the media might want

[Bastiat's The Law]

People who want to work on it can, and those who don't don't have to.

Your propensity for sending people off on fools' errands stretches out our resources. I know you're trying to play the role of diplomatic schoolmarm here, but it's severely damaging to the liberty movement.

We had to reign in this mentality during the campaign too. We accomplish nothing when everyone is scattered to the wind.

[Deborah K]

Your propensity for sending people off on fools' errands stretches out our resources. I know you're trying to play the role of diplomatic schoolmarm here, but it's severely damaging to the liberty movement.

We had to reign in this mentality during the campaign too. We accomplish nothing when everyone is scattered to the wind.

Wow, this is dispicable on so many levels. Sailingaway isn't damaging the liberty movement, what a ridiculous assumption. You not only insult her, but everyone else because you assume we need YOU to keep us on the straight and narrow since we can't think for ourselves. We're not the borg. Wow. How about you "reign in" your self-righteous attitude.

[Bastiat's The Law]

Wow, this is dispicable on so many levels. Sailingaway isn't damaging the liberty movement, what a ridiculous assumption. You not only insult her, but everyone else because you assume we need YOU to keep us on the straight and narrow since we can't think for ourselves. We're not the borg. Wow. How about you "reign in" your self-righteous attitude.

Do you think the word "Republican" behind Dr. Paul here was an accident? What about the phrase "We Are The Future"? This was in direct response to supporters wanting to give up and leave the party. Keeping the liberty movement focused on what actually works has always been the agenda from Ron Paul on down. I'm sorry you just got the memo.

[Deborah K]

Do you think the word "Republican" behind Dr. Paul here was an accident? What about the phrase "We Are The Future"? This was in direct response to supporters wanting to give up and leave the party. Keeping the liberty movement focused on what actually works has always been the agenda from Ron Paul on down. I'm sorry you just got the memo.

Memo to you! It's your approach, Genius! Get it? And besides, you're never going to get liberty-minded people all on the same page of political action, nor should you want to. Restoring freedom in this country requires a multi-pronged approach (including but not limited to infiltrating BOTH parties), and either you're going to have to trust the people to move in the right direction - or NOT! But you don't get to insult other members while sitting on your high horse trying to corral everyone into thinking and acting the way you deem we should. Just knock it off.

[sailingaway]

you act as if other people's resources were yours to direct.

Everyone should obviously decide how to use their own time and resources, but I thought one of our points here is not to get in the way of others taking the actions they want to see move forward just because we may not always agree on priorities.