Preston Bates was a Democrat who worked for Jack Conway

[itshappening]

This is extraordinary.

The Liberty for All director Preston Bates was a Democrat until 2010 and worked for Jack Conway, Rand Paul's opponent in the Kentucky Senate race.

No wonder he seems so interested in a pathetic, long shot bid to unseat Mitch McConnell.

He is trying to forment division within Tea party ranks in Kentucky and to find a candidate against McConnell, which is really silly considering how much it would cost and the fact that NO ONE decent is going to take a year out of their life to run against the Senate Republican leader.

Not surprisingly, liberal activists and Democrats (maybe some of Preston's old buddies?) are jumping on the bandwagon.

POLITICO has a report on how Democrats and liberal activists are promosing to help in a contested GOP primary, just like they did in Missouri when they boosted Todd Akin running ads and calling him the most conservative candidate.

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Preston Bates, is a former Democratic operative who worked for Jack Conway, the Democratic candidate who lost to Rand Paul in 2010.

Bates said he left the Democratic Party in 2010, adding that while he personally identifies more with his former party, his year-old group puts money behind viable small government and libertarian-minded conservatives.

“Generally, what we need is to stop electing Republicans that are out of touch with most general election voters,” Bates said
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Full article here:
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/0...ell-86787.html

Really, Preston Bates if he wasn't a former Democrat with Kentucky roots and really someone interested in advancing liberty would be looking for candidates for OPEN seats in West Virginia, Iowa and Georgia.

Instead he wants to spend Ramsey's inheritance and Liberty for All donors money taking out McConnell.

Utterly ridiculous.

[fr33]

It's strange to find McConnell defenders on rpf.

[itshappening]

It's strange to find McConnell defenders on rpf.

I dislike him but trying to take him out is a waste of time, money and energy when there are open seats in West Virginia, Iowa and Georgia RIPE for picking.

Bates is only interested because he has Kentucky roots and was a former Democrat, he has a beef with McConnell and is trying to give false hope to Tea party activists in Kentucky.

Democrats and liberal activists are delighted at the prospect of a contested primary, why is that I wonder?

[XPhobic76]

From Liberty for All Website:

"Preston Bates, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Preston has worked on more than 150 races–advancing a pro-freedom agenda since 2005. Enamored with campaigning, Preston has paved a path as an earned media consultant, spreading liberty and freedom for local, statewide, and federal candidates, PACs, and non-profit organizations."

150 races advancing pro-freedom since 2005? If it's true that he was a Democrat until 2010, then I'd like to know which Democrats are pro-freedom. Regardless, Liberty For All scored a lot of points for us by backing what looks to be legit liberty candidates. Maybe they should change this guy's bio so they don't lose people's trust.

I agree that trying to knock off McConnel is a waste of resources. That money is better spent on state racers for candidates who support nullification.

[Jeremy]

I agree that primarying Mitch is a waste of money. It's just a bad idea... I mean 30% against Mitch would be pretty significant, but it's not even close to winning.

[LibertyEagle]

This whole deal about Bates is up to John; not bystanders.

[itshappening]

From Liberty for All Website:

"Preston Bates, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Preston has worked on more than 150 races–advancing a pro-freedom agenda since 2005. Enamored with campaigning, Preston has paved a path as an earned media consultant, spreading liberty and freedom for local, statewide, and federal candidates, PACs, and non-profit organizations."

150 races advancing pro-freedom since 2005? If it's true that he was a Democrat until 2010, then I'd like to know which Democrats are pro-freedom. Regardless, Liberty For All scored a lot of points for us by backing what looks to be legit liberty candidates. Maybe they should change this guy's bio so they don't lose people's trust.

I agree that trying to knock off McConnel is a waste of resources. That money is better spent on state racers for candidates who support nullification.

An interesting find.

If he was a former Democrat who "saw the light" in 2010 and wants to advance liberty he would be looking for candidates in Iowa, WV and Georgia.

In those states just $500k would boost a primary challenger massively, establish their credibility and allow them to become more well known.

Trying to take out Mitch McConnell by contrast would cost MILLIONS, Mitch himself has 8 MILLION in the bank and he hasn't even started yet. He's also backed by Massie and Rand Paul because he's working with them and helping them.

For example, it was probably McConnell who put Rand on the Senate Foreign Relations committee without which we would not have had those two epic episodes of him questioning Clinton and Kerry this past week.

This is like taking on Boehner or Pelosi in a primary of general election, complete waste of time.

If Preston Bates wants to take someone out in Kentucky then they should target Hal Rogers, who is voting for the pork laden Sandy relief bill and numerous other terrible things. Even that's difficult enough.

[XPhobic76]

They just embellished the guy's bio to appeal to liberty donors. The liberty movement is filled with people who we democrats untill recently. I don't think we need to look for grand conspiracies, especially when Liberty for All seems to have done some good work. Whether going after McConnel is a bad idea is a legit debate though. I am convinced that the movement can grow the most by focusing on state races.

[Keith and stuff]

We are all aware of this. About the Mitch thing, when Benton joined the campaign, that ship sailed, IMO. There might be 100s of races in NH and 100s more throughout the country that interest liberty lovers, better to pick some of those races than challenge the 2nd most powerful man in the US Senate

[Cowlesy]

They just embellished the guy's bio to appeal to liberty donors. The liberty movement is filled with people who we democrats untill recently. I don't think we need to look for grand conspiracies, especially when Liberty for All seems to have done some good work. Whether going after McConnel is a bad idea is a legit debate though. I am convinced that the movement can grow the most by focusing on state races.

Embellished bios repel me.

And agreed that John Ramsey has been outstanding in helping to elect better people to Congress.