CD07: Introducing the New Walberg Watch

by: Fitzy

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 23:51:34 PM EDT

In August of 2006, a man named Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) defeated incumbent Congressman Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) in the Republican primary. Those that live in Michigan's 7th District may remember the vicious primary campaign, in which Walberg-- funded by the Club for Growth and other radical right-wing groups-- destroyed the name and good work of a dedicated public servant. Schwarz was conservative, but he was honest and hard-working, and was one of the few "good" Republicans left. And Tim Walberg, a former far-right minister, attacked Schwarz without mercy.

A few days after the primary, I started a blog called Walberg Watch. Originally hosted on Blogspot, I wanted to create an online record of Walberg's extreme positions as the 2006 election approached, facing the terribly underfunded Democratic nominee Sharon Renier. Walberg won that election by just four percent, and I found myself with a new blogging mission: following Tim Walberg's adventure through what will hopefully be his only term in the United States House of Representatives.

Over the last two years, a lot has changed, with much of it building toward the re-launch at the new www.WalbergWatch.com. Below the fold, I'd like to walk you through some of the additions to Walberg Watch. I'm excited by what we can accomplish in the next 126 days as we work to bring about better representation. I hope that by the time you're done reading this, you are too.

Mark! Mark! He's Our Man!

by: Eric B.

Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 22:17:31 PM EST

Yes, Sharon, you are chopped liver.  From MIRS tonight:

But it's the liberal blogs' rejection that really stings Renier. They've launched an all-out campaign with multiple posts like "Mark! Mark! He's Our Man!" trying to raise money for Schauer to combat Walberg's fundraiser this week with Vice President Dick CHENEY.

Renier has -$113 cash on hand and has $5,387 in debt, according to the latest reports by the Federal Election Commission. Schauer is flush with $500,720 in the bank. So Renier contends she's the one who could use a cash injection.

"That makes me really mad," Renier told MIRS. "Michigan Liberal should be neutral if their goal is to get progressives and liberals elected. They should wait till after the primary."

Michigan Liberal poster Eric BAERREN's only justification for championing Schauer over Renier was, "Sorry, Sharon, but I's gots to follow my instincts" in the middle of a post celebrating the anti-Cheney fund drive.

If Sharon Renier wishes to get angry at someone, it should be the god of political probability, who says that come August that in all likelihood she is going to get pummelled by a superior candidate.  Working to that is not something that I need to justify to anyone, including anonymous hit piece authors who may or may not have just last Fall publicly complained about anonymous blogger hit pieces in a column written for the Battle Creek Enquirer.

It's also unfortunate that Sharon Renier thinks we should feel obligated to remain on the sidelines until after the primary.  This says much about why, in this case, we aren't remaining neutral.  While Renier complains about how she has no money and nobody loves her, Schauer is out raising cash and building organization.