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Postman on Politics

Chief political reporter David Postman explores state, regional and national politics.

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October 22, 2007 11:14 AM

GOP chair wants vigorous protests against Clinton

Posted by David Postman

State Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser says today "is a defining day for Republicans in our state." He says party members need to protest tonight's visit by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to "to show how our principles and ideals differ from those of the Democrats."

In calling for the protests, Esser turns nostalgic for 1994 when a conservative crowd heckled Clinton, then First Lady and starting a campaign for health-care reform, appeared in downtown Seattle.

Instead of the thoroughly left-wing crowd that was expected, a vigorous group of conservative counter-protesters showed up to oppose Hillary Care, energizing a national movement that pulled the plug on Hillary's dreams of socialized medicine and ultimately acting as a catalyst for the '94 Republican revolution.

It is a huge stretch to claim that the protest against Clinton here was either what killed health-care reform or lit the fuse on the '94 GOP takeover. If anything the protests were an early sign of what was already happening across the country.

If the Westlake protests are now part of Republican lore, it's worth refreshing our memories about that day. The protesters were recruited and encouraged by talk show hosts on KVI. There was a lot of shouting and crosstalk between Clinton supporters and opponents. And it got ugly. As Joel Connelly has reported:

Signs called the first lady a "witch." As Clinton's limousine exited the Westin garage, passenger Sen. Patty Murray recoiled at hearing the bellowed shout: "Kill the bitch!"

Esser sent out his call for protests in an e-mail to supporters this morning that said:

URGENT: Hillary Clinton In Seattle Today - Let's Send Her A Message

But he's also looking for money. And he's taking a page from the liberal netroots.

When President Bush visited Seattle a month ago, Democrats raised over $100,000 in online contributions. Their most liberal elements called it a "show of strength" and we as Republicans need to take the left wing very, very seriously. The Democrats are thoroughly committed to an agenda of larger government and higher taxes, and will not give up their iron grip on state government voluntarily.

...

Today, grassroots Republicans can send a message right back to Hillary Clinton and Christine Gregoire by contributing here (link) to help us spread the word about Hillary's dismal record and the danger she poses to our state.

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Posted by Perfect Voter

12:10 PM, Oct 22, 2007

Is this all the local GOP can actually DO now is protest Democrats? Are they FOR anything these days?, aside from Bush's war in Iraq and criminalizing abortion?

Posted by John

12:33 PM, Oct 22, 2007

The GOP is pathetic. Why don't they direct their misplaced rage at the clowns they keep getting tricked into voting for despite balloowing federal spending and a bloody, pointless war.

These suckers continue to vote for people who lie to them at every turn and they think Hillary is the problem.

Know your enemy clowns. Keep voting for big spending, invasive politics and keep getting disapointed.

Posted by Greg Rodriguez

1:25 PM, Oct 22, 2007

It is just like last night's GOP debate. They attacked Hillary 27 times and didn't mention Bush once. They did not bring up one new idea on anything and spent 10 plus minutes attacking the right of Gays and Lesbians to marry.

Keep it up boys, January 2009 looks better and better every day!

Posted by N in Seattle

1:53 PM, Oct 22, 2007

Luke's just pissed off that the netroots virtual fundraiser ended up putting more money into Darcy Burner's campaign than WSRP and Reichert took in from the Dubya visit combined

Posted by RonK, Seattle

2:45 PM, Oct 22, 2007

Is this how they start rebuilding the tarnished Republican brand?

What's next on the agenda... a "kill the bitch" nostalgia tour?

Posted by redflag

5:06 PM, Oct 22, 2007

Luke is just doing his job and proving that Hillary is one of the best fundraising tools the GOP has.

But the GOP leader calling for protests? That's cheap and only warranted if he's willing to lead them.

It's a nice day Luke. Got your picket?

This is obviously simply an effort to cash in.

Posted by Daniel K

7:09 PM, Oct 22, 2007

The Burner netroots fundraiser raised $123,000 in just 4 days (weekend days no less). There was a running total available for all to see.
.
Will Luke do the same and show us how much money and how many donors contributed to his "grassroots" fundraiser?

Posted by Hinton

9:42 PM, Oct 22, 2007

Gee. All your concern over what the GOP says or does.
.
Touching.

Posted by Daniel K

10:23 PM, Oct 22, 2007

Hinton - I think the Republican party long ago ceased being "Grand" in any shape or form. Ghost of a party is more like it.

Posted by Krist

7:50 AM, Oct 23, 2007

Mr Esser really said, "The Republicans are thoroughly committed to an agenda of larger government and higher borrowing."

Posted by HillaryCant

8:18 AM, Oct 23, 2007

HA!

I love how you stinky hippies block traffic in bellevue when bush comes to town, but when they protest a socialist like you you get your pantys in a bunch!

haha hippies - go take a dive Ill pay your metro fare to the aurora bridge

Posted by J.R.

10:48 AM, Oct 23, 2007

Two dozen people?! That's all the Republicans could come up with against Hated Hillary, their #1 nemesis? Stick a fork in the R's, they're done.

Posted by N in Seattle

12:22 PM, Oct 23, 2007

Were there actually two dozen (real) GOP demonstrators outside Benaroya Hall? At 5:45pm or so, I saw about that many Ron Paul cultists, but no honest-to-god Republicans.

Posted by 2cents

8:18 PM, Oct 23, 2007

When the VP or President come to town they hide behind private $1000 a plate dinners and have the Secret Service and local police keep any protestors far away. Luke "the truth" Esser isn't living up to his self given nickname.

Posted by JimD

10:41 PM, Oct 23, 2007

The republican's catch-22: With their "revolution" in tatters and no cohesive new vision of contemporaty conservativism to replace it, bashing Hillary is all they've got right now. Using her for a cheap applause line may excite the choir. but is increasingly recognized by the congregation as a poor substitute for substance.
Thompson wants to cut SS benefits and Rudy wants to step-up the war and solve healthcare by having more middle-income folk simply buy insurance they can't afford...? And Hillary's the anti-christ?
Keep it coming, guys. Every jab at Hillary emphasises how lacking the repub's are for anyconstructive substance. (McCain's the only one who gets it, I think - the only bit of class in evidence at the FOX debate)

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