Lie, cheat, whatever it takes to stay in office. Republicans have lost touch with ethics. Whatever happened to the party that published the "Book of Virtues"?
7
Oh my! More of this rampant voter fraud we keep hearing about.
8
The Republicans consistently back the weakest Democrats in primaries too.
2
So he supported third party candidates to syphon votes from his opponent.
Sleazy, yes. But nothing new.
The so called "Green Party" is supported by Republican operatives to do the same thing nationally. And in 2016 they seemed to get help from the Russians, as well.
The problem is voters that are so very easily hoodwinked.
13
Acting like trump is NOT a good way to show character.
Or morals.
Or ethics.
Or any other trait that republicans trot out whenever TV cameras are pointed in their direction.
9
“culture of corruption” - that pretty much describes the current crop of Republicans. This is NOT the party of Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower or even Ronald Reagan. Shameful.
8
When democracy cuts against Republicans, they will not adjust. They will simply get rid of democracy.
VOTE this November. Your country needs you.
PS: Please ignore the Republican/ Russian supported third party "candidates". (Looking at you "Green" Party).
13
These scandals in the GOP provide us with the very definition of irony. Trump won primarily because people are sick of corruption in government and laughingly thought someone like him was the answer. In other words elite, to them, is synonymous with dishonesty and graft. Because he “don’t talk good” and does schtick in front of crowds, Trump must be OK like us, they reasoned.
The truth is that the elites they’re talking about are simply the educated classes; the vast majority of whom have a leg up on the rest of us economically and socially, who know how to network and have collected advanced degrees of one kind or another. These are the people who advance in most societies because an intellectual bent gives us confidence that they know what they’re talking about. Their privilege alone does not deserve anyone’s contempt.
But the real definition of “high class” if you will, or “elite” involves integrity, honesty, rectitude, not privilege. These qualities are more difficult to discern than privilege especially in political campaign. However as we’re finding out, the aforementioned character traits are more important than anything else under the sun.
6
Seems like an entire generation of Republicans think it's perfectly OK to lie and cheat. They fool themselves and lie to others they only "look at the issues". Then their representative gets caught--inside trading, or feathering their own nest, or dirty tricks to steal an election. The carnage of partisan war. Casualties include honor, integrity, faith. Aren't you revolted by it?
9
We KNOW that "WINNING" is the goal. President Trump made that one of the themes of his campaign, and he repeats, over and over again, those campaign themes at rallies addressing only his supporters. Winning at any cost. Without integrity. The end justifies the means. His supporters love this attitude. The rest of us are left to the "weak" values that I used to think we shared across the country: belief in "do unto others," "my word is my bond," and I live in a society based on the thought that we have to figure out how to ALL get along. That the Trump view of the world has permeated this election, and probably others, can only hope that people across the country DISAGREE with "do whatever it takes to win" and VOTE in November.
8
Donald Trump is and has always been a liar and a cheat. He never even tried to hide it - and yet people voted for him and Republicans in Congress support him. That speaks mountains about their character?
7
Henry II made penance when his knights killed Thomas a Becket. The man at the top of the pyramid may not have been aware of his underlings' behavior but he should do the right thing and resign. Have a special election and let the voters truly decide.
4
So has this fine upstanding patriot brought about his own ruin...no woman coming forward to be blamed. The whole republican party should be investigated for crimes against the people & the country. Another one bites the dust!
9
The GOP/culture of corruption has plenty of sleazy tactics to get bad people in office is very sad. If they would use that energy to compromise and do right we would not be so polarized as we are now. They want less government but because they are so corrupt that won't happen as we will be building all the prisons for them.
6
If the allegations are true, Mr. Taylor is a man without any respect for the rights of others. He’s just like the crooks who used all means possible to control local political systems like Boss Tweed did in New York. If so, then the loyalty to his fellow SEAL members and honor as a member of the Navy have simply shifted to another exclusive group instead to the country as a whole, unlike John McCain’s and many others’. He seems to share this self centered attitude with another former SEAL, Erik Prince.
8
She's a Navy Commander? Outranks the Seal. Vote for the senior officer, always a smart move.
10
It's amazing that people will refer to Washington DC as a swamp yet still vote for and support politicians who are indicted or investigated for sleazy deals.
6
Do you want social security? Do you want healthcare? Or do you want another giant tax cut for really rich guys.
10
Is there something in the Navy Seal ethic that makes them unsuitable for civilian life? These men are trained to be honest to god Masters of The Universe who are both physically and mentally as tough as they come. They are brave and committed and taught that there is no obstacle that will stop them.
But what is good in a commando may not always translate well to what is good in private life. Ryan Zinke, Eric Greitens and Eric Prince come immediately to mind as former seals who can't seem to recognize that in private life there are limits that have to be respected. Compare this with the many female veterans running for office this year, who have the training and toughness but also the humility and compassion needed for public service.
13
Funny. Republicans are the party supposedly worried about election fraud especially with regard to illegal aliens. And here they are, committing it out right. They have to resort to it in order to hang onto power. Voter suppression and gerrymandering have apparently proven insufficient.
9
American elections are stained with cheating and corruption. George Bush Jr. was not elected. He was appointed by a republican supreme court with a "majority" of 600 Florida votes, after 60,000 Democratic votes were illegally blocked by republican voter suppression. trump occupied the White House with a "majority" of 60,000 votes with over ONE MILLION Democratic votes blocked by republican voter suppression. 3 million more Americans voted for Clinton than trump. Do you care? This is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their COUNTRY, not their PARTY. Particularly the kind of party described in Kavenaugh's hearing.
7
A fish rots from the head down....
Everything , everybody in Trump's Administration and Republican party eventually gets compromised, entwined in scandal...
I sincerely hope Elaine Luria wins!
8
As a veteran myself, I find it curious the apparently broad acceptance of Republicans as being somehow "for the troops" or worthy of our vote.
Al Gore & John Kerry volunteered to go to Vietnam while George W Bush went to a Air National Guard unit filled with well connected kids and apparently didn't even show up for most of his drills, yet somehow the Vietnam volunteer Democratic nominees were apparently not good enough to choose over the guy in the rear with the gear who never set foot in Vietnam. I seem to remember all the Republican voices beating the drum for war were people like Dick Cheney & Dennis Hastert, who both got repeated deferments and were egged on by radio host Rush Limbaugh who got out of the draft because of a cyst on his backside.
I seem to also remember that Republicans were cutting the VA budget even as a new generation of war wounded were being created in Iraq and Afghanistan. I also seem to remember Republicans gutted the CFPB that was quite active in helping protect those in uniform from predatory loans and such.
As to the deification of the Navy SEALs in media & culture, they are simply one of the special operations forces in our military and are no braver, no more fit or more capable than others- but they seek great PR. The Army's 160th SOAR participated in the raid that killed OBL, but we heard next to nothing in the media- the Night Stalkers don't seek media attention & prefer to do their work without public adulation.
Wake up fellow vets.
11
"SEAL team guys, and there are lots of them around here, sort of play by their own rules because they are trained to do things that don’t fit in normal channels.”
I would hesitate to consider that as a desirable trait in and of itself. Witness the current White House tenant.
8
The fact that all 5 of his involved employees, whom he paid for their work, took the 5th, to avoid testifying before the Va Supreme Court, on all matters including questions on Taylor's instructions, The scandal goes on!
13
I get that he's a SEAL and would do anything required to get the job done. But c'mon, if you can't win an election fair and square, then maybe you should do something better. Work harder and smarter than your opponent.
12
As has become so common, the Republicans have no shame. They will stoop to any level, including illegal act to retain political power.
7
Taylor shares the Republicans philosophy of "we do not care how you win, just win." Do we really need more of these white male Republicans in Congress? They are selling our country down the river without a thought of long term repercussions.
I am not a "party" person per se, and have voted Republican, but there is no Republican left worth voting for.
I hope the good people of Virginia Beach see fit to elect Luria
13
Scott Taylor isn't to be trusted. Don't vote for him!
5
Military people for the most part will vote party over person and gender over everything other than race. They voted 65% for Trump even though he had no foreign experience and have demonized Obama even though he was at every holiday with them and tried to get additional benefits.
They seem fine with Trump even though he disrespects thems, does not give them raises and cuts their benefits. The military may have nice saying but at the end of the day the Reoublican will.win in a landslide
3
This is what's wrong with 'hard charging' 'play rough' politicians: They want to WIN at all costs. If they sense they're not 'winning', cheating & corrupt methods are employed to ensure a win. Truth, fair play & justice take second place that then bleeds into their actions while in office.
This has been the republican's play book for decades and it is eroding our country's future and the ideals it was founded upon.
3
He's my congressman and he's could be less effective if he tried. His paid staff were so busy forging signatures he forgot all about government employees on the eastern shore when he asked for that locality pay increase he brags about.
After forgetting came the lies. Lie after lie after lie. Every phone call to the office, a different lie. "It was a paperwork mistake." "It was the fault of OPM" "There aren't government employees on the eastern shore." (That was my favorite. His staff doesn't know NASA launches rockets, big ones, in his district.)
He can carry a log on his head. That's not leadership. He's commanded nothing and his office staff is the most incompetent I've ever come across. (And why is taxpayer funded staff working on a re-election campaign during work hours?)
Luria commanded and expeditionary force. She can lead. She can govern. Taylor has proven he can do neither.
11
I wonder what his fellow SEAL, Jocko Willinck, would think about this, considering Jocko is the author of the book "Extreme Ownership". The book details explicitly how in both the military and corporations/other organizations responsibility both begins and ends with the leader of the team.
3
Nixonian. He had the lead...if not for Watergate breakin, he would have sailed to second term , finished 2 terms and we never would have known of all the corruption until it was too late.
GOP can't help themselves. They LIKE to cheat. They think it is a game. "party of values voters"
5
Virginia has much work to do to create sensible ethical standards across laws on conduct and 'gifts'.
Remember 'not so ethical' former Gov Bob McDonnell? Hearing Virginia Beach was a refresher of that conduct and some quick searches indicate that no meaningful changes have been made.
2
So, Navy Seals get to ride on the coattails of their honest and heroic fellows, just as lower court judges get to ride on the coattails of their predecessors, even after it is discovered that they have committed crimes. Another Republican bites the dust! Yeah, there have been a few Dems who have been called out, but this WAVE OF REPUBLICAN CRIME is almost impossible to comprehend, and it appears to be very deeply entrenched. Let's dump the establishment, and the status quo, before it kills this country. Vote Democratic, and then supervise that candidate. You can no longer just vote, and walk away, expecting everything to work out. Civic responsibility is an everyday requirement. It's government BY THE PEOPLE.
1
People say that it is time to put Country over Party. I say its time to put honor and decency over party.
9
Remember Duke Cunningham a former Naval jet fighter and you also have Duncan Hunter out in California. People give too much weight to military service.
3
This story isn't over. If the special prosecutor is able to flip some of those very junior campaign workers there might be a strong federal case against the Congressman. This was a complete unforced error on his part. He really should have been able to get re-elected just based on the demographics of the district. Nobody likes dirty tricks.
2
What I do not understand is how is it that all these officeholders on both sides of the aisle do not seem to understand that they live in a fishbowl 24/7/365. Do they not understand how the internet and modern telecommunications and digital footprints work?
There is no privacy in the 21st Century.
All sorts of agencies public and private have software programs that can undercover almost any type of activity now. Meaning, it is becoming very difficult to do anything without leaving a trail that can be uncovered. An email, a phone call, a blog posting, an internet search, using a credit card, just carrying a smart phone can track your whereabouts, or your cars gps, etc., etc., etc. There is no such thing as private emails or phone calls. We know where you have been, what you were doing and who you were doing it with.
2
"“This being a military town, this is where honor, civility and integrity are among the biggest things,” said Valerie Jones, a senior producer for a public television station."
Oh, come on. This town supported trump, yes? It's citizens *can't* claim honor, civility and integrity when endorsing trump. They endorse a lying, unethical, insulting president to support their honor, civility and integrity? Taylor is a trump loyalist.
Republicans' scandalous tactics derive from the G.O.P. strategy to employ underhanded tactics to swing elections. trump himself endorses that strategy with his failure to condemn the traitorous acts of Russian operatives (one of the *many* corrupt practices that he denies).
My question is, did Steve Bannon have anything to do with the support of the independent candidate in this election? Bannon has been involved in these races to degrees of success and failure. He was a principle in Cambridge Analytica. Fooling with the voter rolls is beyond Taylor's individual capability. He needed help.
9
Republicans don't seem to care if their candidate is immoral or unscrupulous. They only reserve judgment for those outside of their tribe.
7
Mat Maxwell certainly sounds like he's under orders to parrot what ever propaganda he's chosen to replace his own reasoning powers.
Former military or not, Republicans keep demonstrating that they know they can't win without lying, cheating and stealing. Seems it's just in their DNA.
12
The GOP is so desperate to keep power they'll do anything - from working with Russian oligarchs to blaming their wife for misspent funds for wounded veterans (California) to begging a man who called them every name under the sun to come rally for them (Texas)...
...oh add voter suppression to the list (Florida and Georgia)...
Every Democrat, Independent and moderate Republican needs to come out and vote them all out!
15
Why is the GOP so uniformly and profoundly devoid of ethics? What is wrong with these people? Has this nation raised a generation of sociopaths?
18
no, of course not.
but, there is always some small percentage of the population who are sociopaths.
they are drawn to the GOP like moths to the flame.
birds of a feather flock together,then appoint the biggest birdbrain of them all as their leader.
5
Voter fraud! Oh, it's the GOP? Never mind.
7
It always amazed how foolish and short sighted the families of the military can be. Just because someone served does not make them a good civil service candidate. Plenty of people who served are wife beaters, serial abusers and out right liars. Seeing in the military does not mean we should over look that. Might is right is nit the way to govern. Go to Russia if that is what you want and join Trump's friends.
12
@Donald Ambrose: The military is an formal kiss up-kick down pecking order. One doesn't join it to learn all about liberty.
2
Taylor knew about the signature effort but did not think it was wrong? Anyone with a brain would know that garnering signatures for a potential competitor's petition smells fishy. And, a supporter who doesn't "moralize politics"? This is the Trump era where lying and sleaze are perfectly okay (except for "voter fraud," of course). I can't wait until Taylor and the rest of that hypocritical bunch are shown the boot.
13
Republicans need to direct their ever-alert election fraud radar at themselves. This story calls into question every independent run in gerrymandered districts (like in Virginia) where the race is tightening up.
16
I suspect Democrats and Republicans commit personal crimes at roughly the same rate.
The issue with the Republican Party is that they are an organization with a criminal purpose. They expose the environment to corporate polluters, they limit access to healthcare unless we pay our last dime, and they enrich corporate interests through radical deregulation in every sector. To treat citizens like cattle - a resource to be used and exploited, seems criminal to me.
23
@PNicholson: Don't forget how they pander to people who want to make a theocracy out of the US as well.
1
The part of this article that really got to me was the voter who said he didn't "moralize politics." That's a big part of the problem today. Don't we care if our politicians are moral? Do we only care that we approve their policies?
25
Coming from the military does not mean a person cannot be unethical.
Republicans suggest Democrats play the 'race card" unethically while ignoring how they blindly deify the military. This is not to suggest that military veterans do not deserve our respect because they do. Rather a person's character is judged by their actions and not assumed impeccable because they serviced.
9
I've been following this race, as I have family in the area, and thought that Luria had an excellent chance of unseating Taylor. As the campaign heated up, I've been seeing smear/attack ads on Luria, and was disgusted at the clumsy dirty trick Taylor's campaign has played to try to split the vote.
To me, this says enough about the "character" of a former Navy SEAL, who can't attack another veteran on patriotism (but is trying to cast her as a commie/socialist/feminist villain.)
I hope that the people in the Norfolk/VA Beach area get the representation by a vet who will focus on taking care of the military and veteran population in the district. (That is: Elaine Luria.)
147
@Kathleen Warnock
In this year, at this time, your comment is a clarion call to get off our behinds and rally and canvas for the better candidate, and a new arrangement in the Trumpublican-held congress.
I hope you're listening to yourself!
1
Elaine Luria, Taylor's opponent, is a Naval Academy graduate. I am too, but much earlier. At a local alumni association lunch last week another of the Naval Academy alums told me "well, at least Taylor was a Seal and knows how to win." Egad, that sums up the current Republican philosophy; winning is more important than the good of our country, even if it means putting a morally deficient person in office. But, we already knew that.
221
@Jim Palmer Sorry to hear fellow alumni would prefer a liar and a cheater than one of their own. Wow.
8
SEAL membership did not make Erik Prince an ethical person, either. I guess we need to understand that one cannot presume that all who have met great challenges have noble hearts. Some just like adventure and the thrill that they experience.
2
Scott Taylor encouraged his staff to get Shaun Brown on the ballot to divide the Democratic vote and facilitate his re-election. Nothing really wrong with that; the Kennedys did the same thing so John could win a congressional seat in 1946.
The reason I will enthusiastically vote for Elaine Luria is that Taylor voted for last year's corporate tax cut and is now running a commercial touting the boost it's given the economy. This may work with voter who don't rely on recent history to see that such tax cuts may provide a brief "sugar high," but will leave us in worse shape to pick up the pieces when the inevitable economic correction hits.
The current Republican Party is beholden to the increasing influence plutocrats have gained from recent Supreme Court decisions. Scott Taylor is a team player, but he's playing on a team that is working against the interests of the overall American public, and that is why he must be voted out of office.
163
"nothing really wrong with that"? using the names of dead people and out-of-district voters on signature petitions is illegal. There IS something wrong with that.
5
@D. Meyerholz, I like your reasoning about the tax scam but can't agree that the scam to recruit a third party candidate in this manner is okay, no matter who did it in the past.
4
@D. Meyerholz read a bit further and you will see the part where they put dead and ineligible voters on the petition - nothing really wrong with that? Need to read beyond the headline.
4
According to local news reports, Taylor's former campaign advisor and four staff members signed statements advising the court that they'd invoke their Fifth Amendment rights if called to testify on whether signatures were forged and whether Taylor directed the effort. I think we can all draw the correct inferences. Part of leadership is "setting the expectations." The people you lead should understand the type of behavior you expect. Taylor says he didn't direct this, but at a minimum, he seems to have led his staff to believe that he'd turn a blind eye to it.
234
@In VA
Clearly, having served in the military no longer carries any weight or honor if "winning at all cost" is is what the Republican party values over all else.
America is destined for failure.
A key point missing about the signatures was who they were for: The candidate that Taylor beat by 26 points in '16. Why would he allow his campaign to even collect signatures for an "independent" candidate who is awaiting retrial for fraud against the government? What was the purpose? Only to attempt to siphon votes from the duly nominated Democratic candidate with a better resume and a stronger campaign. There is no integrity in the claims that the campaign was just trying to help an independent get on the ballot in the same race.
I sincerely hope my fellow voters in VA02 reject this type of politics and elect a representative more suited to our district.
237
That Taylor "plays by his own rules" says plenty. He also has a 6 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters - in a district beleaguered with water quality and environmental issues - and has voted almost completely in lockstep with President Trump. Trump has been playing by his own rules, too, and look at how badly that's going.
298
@KenS
"Plays by his own rules." Translation: goes rogue whenever it suits him.
We don't need another one.
85
@KenS Doesn't the military discourage people who "play by their own rules"? And hold the person at the top of the chain of command responsible for the actions of their troops?
3
I'm a former Army captain and a Vietnam veteran. One of the things that I miss in today's political world is the integrity and moral purpose that drives many in the military. In officer candidate school, I knew with absolute certainty that any ethical breach would result in immediate dismissal.
One thing in this piece that gravely concerns me is a statement by one voter that he does not “moralize politics” but only concerns himself with "issues". A fundamental reason that the military demands absolute moral integrity from its leaders is the enormous, life and death, power granted them and our utter dependence on their trustworthiness.
I would suggest that honor, integrity, and morality are the most important qualifications for the politicians we elect and that lack of those attributes is a major factor in the dysfunction of both electoral branches of our government. History teaches us that political issues wax and wane over time in cycles. At any moment they may seem to be absolutely crucial, but he most important political issue the ability of people in government, as in the military, to trust and work with each other. We have lost that and desperately need to get it back.
379
@Dick Dowdell: People who rely on facts and reason cannot work productively with people who introduce considerations based entirely on fantasies.
1
@Dick Dowdell thanks for your service. When I was in OCS, a candidate got kicked out after smoking in a stairwell, not for the act itself, but for lying about it! The decision was supported unanimously by a board of his peers.
@Steve Bolger I'm only 72-years old, so what do I know. However, it has been my experience that human beings operate far more on emotion and opinion than they do on facts and reason. Politics and government depend upon cooperation far more than anything else. I come from a long line of engineers and we love logic and reason, but we demand things that work. Right now, neither side of our political spectrum wants to compromise. That certainly hasn't worked.
Yes, the "conservative/reactionary" side has abandoned all pretense of fact and reason. What are we going to do about it, pick up our ball and go home?
I got a new slogan for the GOP/culture of corruption instead of making America great again. I am disgusted the evangelicals and the catholics are siding with the GOP. It is mainly over getting permanent tax exempt status for their churches. Abortion should not be an issue in our elections. God will deal with the sick people killing babies. I am against abortion but not for all this GOP/culture of corruption. If you vote for them then you are for the culture of corruption and you will reap what you sow.
15
“Abortion is morally wrong!”
“I don’t moralize politics”
These are the kind of co-existing yet contradictory comments you can expect from the mouths of the mental patients known as modern Republicans.
49
@Jim or you can expect them from those who would rather win at any cost. My new mantra is believe what they do and not what they say.
2
@Jim
Jim, mentally ill people generally cannot be held accountable for their circumstances. Republicans can.
2
You can’t make this up!
12
The whole mentality of the US military is to overwhelm the enemy with superior force.
7
I am so sick and tired of people serve in our (over budgeted) military and people automatically think they are better than the next person. Wrong! If there was ever a place to stop free thinking, open mindedness, compassion, etc., it is in the military. Please don't misunderstand me. To serve your country in the military is honorable; especially in a time of true war, where the country one lives in (or a true ally of) has been attacked, and it is necessary, such as WWI & WWII. On the other hand, wars we never should have started or fought in, such as Vietnam, Iraq, and especially Afghanistan are perfect examples of what I refer to. Trillions of dollars and worse, tens (if not hundreds) of millions of lives wasted (I absolutely include collateral damage), for no reason whatsoever. George W. Bush should have never got us involved in Iraq and Afghanistan, and everyone (now) knows we never should have gone to Vietnam. Enough ranting. I want people who are intelligent, compassionate, make good real time critical decisions and put there foot down when needed as well to be public servants; not the idiot baby we have in the White House now. He is a megalomaniac with the heart of a grape seed; in other words, gutless. Please don't make more mistakes by doing the same thing with this guy.
29
@Easy Goer I served in the army as a volunteer enlisted at the end of Viet Nam and while I very much don't fit into the get along go along mindless mindset, I do appreciate an important aspect of the military. That is the concept that all service persons are equal. The military was blind to color and ethnicity. Basic training reduced everyone to the same level before building you back up. The concepts of integrity, and honor were also important. Not everyone can lead but the leaders should be honorable and lead from the front, be accountable.
Crooks ,cheats,liars and sexual deviants Trump attracts them all to the Republican party.Why isn't that expected from someone that flaunts all these characteristics
16
@cwt The crooks, cheats, liars and securely deviants were in the Republican party long before Trump.
1
Shows what the NYT understands about local politics outside the NYC zone. I lived ten years in the Tidewater area and it's hard to think of a more hated representative than Taylor.
12
Let's see..."using the names of dead people or voters who did not live in the district on signature petitions." It appears that Donald trump and Kris Kobach were right. Voter fraud is rampant. It's almost safe to say that if you're GOP, you're a decietful, entitled crook.
Mr. Taylor, we thank you for your service to the country but it by no means confers on you intelligence, morality or electablity. Just go away, "bro."
34
I'm beginning to wonder whether the language of that monument should change: Retain "valor" and erase "honor." Taylor's actions surely don't bespeak the notion of "honor" with which I was raised. How about you? With Greitens in Missouri, Hunter in Calif, and who knows how many other incidents of similar vintage, perhaps it is time to rethink the automatic moral prestige we assign to military heroics.
27
@Dan Stevenson ...don't forget to add Michael Grimm (former Rep from Staten Island), convicted of tax evasion. He was a former Marine.
It just goes to show you that there are bad eggs in every organization, who are willing to take advantage of their group's hard-earned good name.
6
@Dan Stevenson They are a trained as assassins. Why would anyone assume they were ethical?
2
@Dan Stevenson
Have 2 sons currently serving,one a SEAL and nothing drives them up the wall faster than someone trying to trade on his “military experience” esp if they were Spec Ops, SEALs etc. as my oldest says it’s like the rest of society with it’s own share of dirtbags. He also said he would never vote for Taylor.
3
Republicans are the party of lies, cheating, subterfuge, greed, sloth, corruption, vulgarity, hate, racism, misogyny and the list goes on. How can people vote for them? Are there so many people who behave the same way? One-third of our electorate find these behaviors acceptable and even meritable? How do we ever get past this and grow as human beings? I believe we as a nation are on the edge of a precipice with only doom waiting for us below. One more step and we are gone.
14
Again and again, the reality for all GOP candidates, is that their party is a minority party. No matter how solid a district maybe, they have few appealing issues to run on and they have no diversity in a country that is becoming more and more diverse by the day. So...there only remaining strategy is this demographic race is to cheat---which, I might add, they have been quite skilled at. Trump was their latest hat trick, which, now seems to be fading. What is making things worse for this party, is their bag of tricks heavily filled with cultural issues---race, crime---but, few if any substantive policy issues---except for lowering taxes--even that is not working anymore.
11
Ironic that a substantial, credible whiff of real voter fraud comes from - a Republican!
23
@GARY nyc: They reveal what they do themselves in all their accusations of others. Because everyone else is so bad, they have to be badder. It is done completely without shame or even self-awareness.
4
You don't need to "moralize politics" to be law abiding. For a party so concerned with "voter fraud", they seem time and time again oddly antagonistic towards taking concrete actions to preserve the integrity of our democratic processes.
18
As Machiavelli commented, it is important to appear religious, virtuous and honest as most people only "know with the eye" and do not "touch with the hand" to come to know a man. Observe the "fit, square-jawed and telegenic" Congressman Taylor's election machinations. The ethically uninhibited will follow Lenin's observation, 'If the ends don't justify the ends, what does?' Now that is real collusion with Russia.
25
Cheat to win. Republicans have been doing it forever (Nixon) because when they actually pass legislation (billionaire tax cut) or speak about real issues (healthcare) they lose because there vast majority of Americans are against them.
9
Your reporting is blatantly bias when you state:
"Democrats, facing comparatively few legal problems and seeking to portray a “culture of corruption” under Republican leadership, have tried to lump Mr. Taylor in with about a half-dozen other Republican candidates ... "
Even if the ratio were 5 to 3, Republican to Democrat, any issue is a problem, as we are talking about our representatives, and your reporting should at least name some of the Democrats facing similar matters. Too many of our politicians, and the media, portray one candidates as someone who is not as bad as the other. That is truly unfortunate. We should be talking about good traits. But then that would not garner attention (and money for the media).
1
@Christopher James Can you name any Democrats who are currently under investigation for voter fraud?
11
It’s increasingly obvious that nearly every GOP politician is drunk on power, arrogant, and thoroughly corrupt. They look and see Trump is “president” and undoubtedly think “if he can do it, so can I”.
Vote these crooks out in November.
38
Asked about the petition scandal, Mr. Maxwell said he did not “moralize politics.”
Yeah, no one ever accused the right of situational ethics.
Who is president?
15
If you're going to trade on the honor and integrity of the SEALs, you should stand by them. You don't get to say "My subordinates did it, but I didn't know."
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I do not moralize about politics — i.e., I don’t care if Republican politicians are moral as long as they are ideological. Sums up the entire Republican base.
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If you can't win on policy, use every other tactic under the sun including gerrymandering, fraud, dog whistle claims, fear and slander.
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@Hootin Annie, and what is really strange is that, like Nixon, he was probably already winning!
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I live in his District and I am a supporter of his opponent, Elaine Luria, a Navy veteran and small business owner. I am hoping not only for a Blue Wave this Fall, but a Pink Wave as well. We need more women in office who will understand and address the struggles of the other 99%... and if yard signs are any indication, he's in big trouble around here.
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"He plays hard. Electoral politics is a combat sport, and for him is not a light contact sport."
I hope Ms. Luria understands that this is code for someone who will try to win by any means necessary, fair and foul. That's what she's up against and she'd better be ready for it.
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They know the demographics and numbers are working against them, so the best chance they have of winning is to cheat. This is why they are so desperate to get the Kavanaugh nomination through, which will ensure the playing field for elections remains tilted for years and decades to come.
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Why is being an ex-SEAL a qualification for political office? I never understand the enthusiasm voters have for military people who enter politics. I tend to view members of the military as the ultimate examples of "go along to get along." Military training teaches them to obey superiors, not to think independently. Conformity, assimilation and compliance are drummed into recruits from the start. I can see why the political parties would want ex-military people to be in office, because they would be more likely to uphold the status quo, not step outside the box. But, I would think voters would want just the opposite.
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@Ms. Pea you have not served, correct? It also seems that you have no friends or family who have served - if you do, you should talk to them about your feelings about servicemembers - you may learn something new. From my time in the service (26 years) I've observed that for the most part service members are a cross section of society - some more creative/compliant than others. We are not trained to "go along to get along". We are trained to be very flexible and innovative - at least equal to or more so than I'm observing from the average corporate person now that I am in corporate America. I've switched parties when voting over the years and many of my fellow service members have, so I also disagree with your "status quo" comment". I do agree that what Scott Taylor did was not acceptable, despite his service, and I would not vote for him. Based on your comment you are the one who is closed minded and not willing to go outside of your boundaries to learn new things.
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The man said "I do not moralize politics". The cynical truth. If you do not moralize politics you are not a moral person...sad.
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The Taylor supporter who choses not to "moralize," and instead focuses on "issues" may as well come out and state that the ends justify the means. The sentiment is the same, and that seems to be the mantra of the current GOP.
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This gimmick is actually legit in Florida state legislature elections. After the primaries 'independent' candidates appear all the time. Absentee voter fraud is very common, but since it is a GOP trick the legislature and Rick Scott let it go on.
GOP morality - died with Eisenhower.
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@Fla Joe
You must have hard facts and statistics that no Democrat operatives have used this same technique. It would be very helpful to see them cited in you comment. Thank you.
For me , I paraphrase Mercrutio ,"A pox on both of our parties!"
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The Republican Party has morphed into something not even its most ardent detractors could ever imagine, an empty shell, devoid of honor and a soul, as hollow as a dead tree.
Trump isn't the cause, but, he is it's poster child. Taylor is just another con.
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Mr. Taylor comes “from sort of the bad-boy part of defense. SEAL team guys, and there are lots of them around here, sort of play by their own rules because they are trained to do things that don’t fit in normal channels.”
Astute observation. Please add former Mo Governor Eric Greitens to this list.
51
When exactly did the Republicans stop caring about our country and only care about “winning”
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@Paul The answer is "about a hundred years ago".
1
@Paul
1968
3
1980
4
As i recall this man was asked at the time of his election how independent his votes would be from trumpism
I am my own man he thundered
Same low life as cheating lying Donald
Not accepting responsibility too
This political party has no message
No wonder it has to keep cheating to win
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Great. Another entitled one to whom the rules don’t apply. Mommas, don’t let your babies grow up to be Republicans.
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Once again, the party committing voter and election fraud is the one screaming the loudest about same. You can’t find a bigger group of hypocrites on earth than the GOP.
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@Mike this is exactly what I was thinking...
I find him to be a cowardly liar. He attempted to help a third party get on the ballot illegally. This says a lot about his character. He tries to his behind his military service. Fat Leonard has proven that military members are capable of illegal acts.
44
"Ashley Betz was one of them. After making small talk with the congressman, she asked him to pose with her for a selfie. He quickly replied with a practiced smile. “He’s so well known,” Ms. Betz said. “Everybody respects him. He has our total support.”
It's all about the "selfies".
29
Russians keep inspiring Republicans. Who knew that Gogol's Dead Souls would continue to have such relevance in American elections? Seriously, if you have buy dead voters, it might be time to consider another career.
39
Until all this republican chicanery is demolished, deleted, aborted (choice of wording intentional) ..... any votes for a third party should either be discounted as potentially illegal, or, even better .... we should be ready for RUN-OFF elections between the 2 highest vote-getters, as they do in some countries.
24
“Electoral politics is a combat sport, and for him is not a light contact sport. It’s like rugby.”
Our very lives and the lives of our children depend on getting this right and these guys, a bunch of smarmy jocks, are “playing” contact sports. When, when will they stop seeing this as a spectacle in an arena where there are opposing teams and winners and losers. We’re all losing.
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@Longfellow Lives
First of all - he didn't say - someone else said it about him.
Secondly - what is wrong with playing rugby - there are rules of conduct - it teaches camaraderie and it requires personal courage to take the field.
Because Rugby is still win or lose, and everyone goes home. A win in politics means all the problems are yours, and whether by your action or inaction the lives of your constitutes will be impacted.
4
@Longfellow Lives
That is code for someone who will win by any means necessary, fair and foul. In other words, a modern Republican.
6
However exorcised Republicans have been about voter fraud, we’ll see how blasé they are to an actual instance of voter fraud when the fraudster in their own midst.
110
Republicans are convinced America is riddled with voter fraud. If they’re right, they may want to begin looking a little closer to home. I wonder if “Virginia Beach” will be shorthand for “dead voters” in the 21st century the way “Chicago” was in the 20th.
33
I guess Trump knows all too well that there is voter fraud. Just not where he says it is.
48
It sounds like “honor, civility, & integrity” are the watchwords of this community. Until it becomes inconvenient. But integrity doesn’t work that way. People willing to vote for a rule breaking, responsibility denying man because they’ve bought into the swagger & they like it, are not being good citizens. What are you if you don’t walk the talk?
52
"He added that he had received assurances he is not personally under investigation."
The new GOP mantra.
195
Telling comment, "I dont me moralize politics."
Really? So all is fair in love and war and politics. Maybe military guys aren't so great as public servants.
59
These people, the current republicans, disregard the law at their whim for their benefit and not even a passing thought to public service. I hope these former and current military voters realise that "playing by their own rules" is what gets mercenaries and the USA in long range trouble. We need to be done with this party who no longer serves.
58
The candidate or party that lacks confidence in their message, values and ideas is the party that will try to win by cheating. Whether it be by purging voter rolls, redistricting, closing polls in areas that don’t vote for them, or in this case trying to split their opponents vote. Similar to a child who kicks and punches their parents instead of expressing in words what is bothering them or what they want, cause their words will fall on deaf ears.
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