Hmmm. Why Did Jeri Thompson Endorse Sue Lowden Today?

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LAS VEGAS — Just settling in for an hour or two of reporting before I head out to Searchlight this afternoon (it’s 9:30 a.m. out here) and I saw this column by Jeri Thompson in The American Spectator:

In the Senate race to defeat Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid, we have several candidates who want the opportunity to challenge and defeat him. Each candidate has different skills and a particular constituency. But to defeat a sitting Senate Majority Leader will take someone with the “total package” — an experienced leader, who has run the political and public gauntlet, who can raise money on a national level and who can clearly communicate their principles. For Nevada, that person is Sue Lowden. . . .
While there are other Republican candidates in this race, I am convinced Sue is the only conservative Republican with the toughness and experience to go toe-to-toe with former boxer Harry Reid. Harry seems to be acknowledging that, because Sue is the only Republican who Reid is regularly attacking. . . .

And something weird at the end:

On the issue of life, the past week has made it clear to us what it means to be a “pro-life” Democrat. Sue has made it clear she knows where she stands and how she will legislate. She will be pro-life.

Weird, I say, because . . . well, is there a pro-choice Republican in this primary? Not that I know of. So why does Jeri feel the need to assert Lowden’s pro-life bona fides?

Maybe my initial impressions of this Nevada primary are screwy, but I thought Danny Tarkanian was the grassroots populist “outsider” candidate and Sue Lowden was the GOP Establishment candidate. So why is Jeri Thompson backing Lowden and making these pro-life rumbles? Then I checked Tark’s site and found this:

I believe life begins at conception and that we have a responsibility as human beings to protect that life if at all possible. That is why I oppose abortion, except where the mother’s life is threatened. I also oppose federal funding for abortions.

Ah, now I see. This could be trouble for Tarkanian. But wait a minute, what’s this story in the Las Vegas Sun?

In the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate, Danny Tarkanian has hit fellow candidate Sue Lowden — a casino owner worth an estimated $50 million and former chairwoman of the state Republican Party — with the socialist label.
In a recent automated telephone message, Tarkanian tells listeners his “latest message for freedom” — accusing Lowden of supporting the Wall Street bailout, which led to taxpayer money propping up the auto and insurance industries. “That’s not freedom. Let’s call it what it is: socialism,” Tarkanian says.

Oooooh. This is getting good . . .

UPDATE 1:35 p.m. ET: Just got off the phone with Lisa Graas, talking about contested GOP primaries this year. Couple of items at Memeorandum:

No plans to go to Utah on this trip, but I’ll be in Arizona on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, I’ve got plans for some serious shoe-leather reporting this afternoon. Just keep hitting the tip-jar, folks.

53 comments

  5. Stacy, Jeri Thompson is generally a pretty smart cookie.

    But I am sure you will get to the bottom of all of this.

  6. Stacy, Jeri Thompson is generally a pretty smart cookie.

    But I am sure you will get to the bottom of all of this.

  7. But I am sure you will get to the bottom of all of this.

    Well, the rap on Lowden I’d heard from Nevada conservatives was that, as GOP state chair, she sucked. It is possible to suck as a state party chair and still be a good Senate candidate. One reason I was so eager to get out here was to check it out on the ground myself.

  8. But I am sure you will get to the bottom of all of this.

    Well, the rap on Lowden I’d heard from Nevada conservatives was that, as GOP state chair, she sucked. It is possible to suck as a state party chair and still be a good Senate candidate. One reason I was so eager to get out here was to check it out on the ground myself.

  12. So many little threads. Palin backed Perry, Cheney backed KBH. Palin backed Rand Paul; this week Cheney backs Grayson. I believe Mitt has endorsed Grayson too. Palin’s dad has been stumping for Tark, and today Jeri Thompson comes out for Lowden. This looks like a proxy war to me. My money’s on Palin to win the balance of these bets, but we shall see.

  13. So many little threads. Palin backed Perry, Cheney backed KBH. Palin backed Rand Paul; this week Cheney backs Grayson. I believe Mitt has endorsed Grayson too. Palin’s dad has been stumping for Tark, and today Jeri Thompson comes out for Lowden. This looks like a proxy war to me. My money’s on Palin to win the balance of these bets, but we shall see.

  15. Jeri Thompson is the second in line to endorse Lowden; the first is Linda Hirshman, who derided Lowden as a mini-Pain. Thompson is going with the “Elect whomever the crazy lefties hate the most” idea, which, come to think of it, is a good strategy.

  16. Jeri Thompson is the second in line to endorse Lowden; the first is Linda Hirshman, who derided Lowden as a mini-Pain. Thompson is going with the “Elect whomever the crazy lefties hate the most” idea, which, come to think of it, is a good strategy.

  30. Jeri Thompson is very involved with the Susan B. Anthony List Organization, which works to get pro life WOMEN elected. The Opposite of the EMILY List Abortion Advocates.
    Regarding the statement from Tark’s site;the phrase,”…if at all possible.”, has a lot of lawyerly wiggle room.

  31. Jeri Thompson is very involved with the Susan B. Anthony List Organization, which works to get pro life WOMEN elected. The Opposite of the EMILY List Abortion Advocates.
    Regarding the statement from Tark’s site;the phrase,”…if at all possible.”, has a lot of lawyerly wiggle room.

  32. Who knows since Sue Lowden has voted Pro-Choice in the past and has only recently started mouthing the words ‘pro life’ when she decided to run as a republican against Reid. Republican?? Don’t think so. She and her husband have donated thousands to Harry Reid and voted for him in the past. She even admitted this on Facebook. Nevada does NOT need any more of these kinds of RINOs!!!

  33. Who knows since Sue Lowden has voted Pro-Choice in the past and has only recently started mouthing the words ‘pro life’ when she decided to run as a republican against Reid. Republican?? Don’t think so. She and her husband have donated thousands to Harry Reid and voted for him in the past. She even admitted this on Facebook. Nevada does NOT need any more of these kinds of RINOs!!!

  36. I just noticed it was Graas that threw out the Ron Paul comment. Figures – she’s often wrong, but never in doubt.

    Lowden shut down the GOP nominating convention when Ron Paul was going to win the damned thing. She literally picked up the ballot box and left the building. Check it out – she was reprimanded by the national GOP for the whole shenanigan.

    The Ron Paul candidate in the race either is or was Sharron Angle, who was far more interested in monetary policy than foreign policy, meaning the GOP had no interest in her.

    If the paelo wing of the GOP is backing Tarkanian, I suspect it’s probably because Angle dropped out.

  37. I just noticed it was Graas that threw out the Ron Paul comment. Figures – she’s often wrong, but never in doubt.

    Lowden shut down the GOP nominating convention when Ron Paul was going to win the damned thing. She literally picked up the ballot box and left the building. Check it out – she was reprimanded by the national GOP for the whole shenanigan.

    The Ron Paul candidate in the race either is or was Sharron Angle, who was far more interested in monetary policy than foreign policy, meaning the GOP had no interest in her.

    If the paelo wing of the GOP is backing Tarkanian, I suspect it’s probably because Angle dropped out.

  38. lol I love abortion + “Ron Paul candidate aka Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” when he’s a OB doc who has helped deliver thousands of newborns.

    Got some mexican red-hair in a roach clip or something here?

    Of all the smears to throw against the tradition-cons, the “not pro life,” is probably the weakest, especially with their heavy traditional-catholic bent. Mrs. Graas, if you want to smear traditional conservatives, use foreign policy. Just be careful how you frame the issue, or the non-paying-attention public will be able to out you for tossing falsehoods there, too.

    There is nothing wrong with being a neo-conservative leaning smear-merchant, but it is just best to wear it on one’s sleeve. Be who you are and say how you feel! For those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind, don’t matter (or something like aka Dr. Seuss).

  39. lol I love abortion + “Ron Paul candidate aka Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” when he’s a OB doc who has helped deliver thousands of newborns.

    Got some mexican red-hair in a roach clip or something here?

    Of all the smears to throw against the tradition-cons, the “not pro life,” is probably the weakest, especially with their heavy traditional-catholic bent. Mrs. Graas, if you want to smear traditional conservatives, use foreign policy. Just be careful how you frame the issue, or the non-paying-attention public will be able to out you for tossing falsehoods there, too.

    There is nothing wrong with being a neo-conservative leaning smear-merchant, but it is just best to wear it on one’s sleeve. Be who you are and say how you feel! For those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind, don’t matter (or something like aka Dr. Seuss).

  40. Oh, yeah, we all know that OBs are 100% pro-life. Just like that Teddy Kennedy who was Catholic, huh? Give me a freakin’ break. Read the bill he authored. It would be a FEDERAL LAW that says the unborn are “persons” whom state legislatures can allow to be killed. Now, call me crazy, but I don’t think innocent babies have committed any crimes. States must provide equal protection of the laws to all persons. Saying Ron Paul has a pro-life position would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. Have fun in your Ron Paul America where states can enact statewide gun bans and legalize wife beating and subsidize methamphetamine use. If we get there, I’m moving to Fiji.

  41. Oh, yeah, we all know that OBs are 100% pro-life. Just like that Teddy Kennedy who was Catholic, huh? Give me a freakin’ break. Read the bill he authored. It would be a FEDERAL LAW that says the unborn are “persons” whom state legislatures can allow to be killed. Now, call me crazy, but I don’t think innocent babies have committed any crimes. States must provide equal protection of the laws to all persons. Saying Ron Paul has a pro-life position would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. Have fun in your Ron Paul America where states can enact statewide gun bans and legalize wife beating and subsidize methamphetamine use. If we get there, I’m moving to Fiji.

  44. I believe Jerri is a member of SBA List. They support pro-life women in Congress and running for Congress.

    Lowden may be pro-life, but Tarkanian is too and he is the outsider and the conservative. Sue is establishment.

  45. I believe Jerri is a member of SBA List. They support pro-life women in Congress and running for Congress.

    Lowden may be pro-life, but Tarkanian is too and he is the outsider and the conservative. Sue is establishment.

  46. If Lowden voted for Reid or helped him in the past, she needs to be run out of the state period.

    Utterly unforgivable and reprehensible.

    I don’t care if she is a lady. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

    Is she…Mitt Romney West?

  47. If Lowden voted for Reid or helped him in the past, she needs to be run out of the state period.

    Utterly unforgivable and reprehensible.

    I don’t care if she is a lady. The line has to be drawn somewhere.

    Is she…Mitt Romney West?

  48. Seriously – the position that Roe v Wade should not be overturned because it somehow saves unborn babies is beyond ludicrous, as is the contention that the partial birth abortion ban somehow equates to a definitive late term abortion ban.

    Those of us in the paleo wing of the party simply want Congress to define life as beginning at conception, which would give the states both the right and the responsibility to protect the unborn. It would also avoid the apparently unattainable goal of amending the constitution.

    I know you cringe at the thought of the individual states having rights, but I’ve said this patiently over and over – there is no existing federal statute against murder. Each state already handles that on its own. When a state doesn’t handle their responsibility, the federal government has the power as well as the responsibility to intervene with the civil rights legislation that is already in place. (While it is true that “conception” could probably be more clearly clarified in those efforts, that point is entirely moot in this discussion.)

    Ronald Reagan wanted Roe v Wade overturned. Ron Paul wants Roe v Wade overturned. The large majority of the pro-life movement wants Roe v Wade overturned. Looks like you’re pretty much out there with the Democrats with your position.

    But it gets you the attention you crave, so go ahead – keep fighting windmills.

  49. Seriously – the position that Roe v Wade should not be overturned because it somehow saves unborn babies is beyond ludicrous, as is the contention that the partial birth abortion ban somehow equates to a definitive late term abortion ban.

    Those of us in the paleo wing of the party simply want Congress to define life as beginning at conception, which would give the states both the right and the responsibility to protect the unborn. It would also avoid the apparently unattainable goal of amending the constitution.

    I know you cringe at the thought of the individual states having rights, but I’ve said this patiently over and over – there is no existing federal statute against murder. Each state already handles that on its own. When a state doesn’t handle their responsibility, the federal government has the power as well as the responsibility to intervene with the civil rights legislation that is already in place. (While it is true that “conception” could probably be more clearly clarified in those efforts, that point is entirely moot in this discussion.)

    Ronald Reagan wanted Roe v Wade overturned. Ron Paul wants Roe v Wade overturned. The large majority of the pro-life movement wants Roe v Wade overturned. Looks like you’re pretty much out there with the Democrats with your position.

    But it gets you the attention you crave, so go ahead – keep fighting windmills.

  50. Neither Sue Lowden nor Danny Tarkanian are the conservative candidates. The real conservative candidate is Sharron Angle. She has a record to prove her conservatism. She served 4 terms in the Nevada legislature and always voted the constitution and the conservative way. Even Danny Tarkanian said he would support her if he wasn’t running. Funny he got into the race after her.

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