Virginia Beach, Va. - Jamie Radtke told the second Republican senatorial primary debate this evening that George Allen is “part of the problem” as the country deals with a $16 trillion debt and annual budget deficits of more than $1 trillion.
 
Warning that, “If we do not deal with spending, nothing else matters,” the chairwoman emeritus of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation and former president of the Richmond Tea Party itemized the big Congressional spending record that demonstrates why Allen cannot be part of a solution to the debt problem:

• George Allen voted for every single spending bill that came before him in the Senate, adding $3.2 trillion to the national debt and supporting 52,000 earmarks;
• George Allen took money from Fannie and Freddie and refused to support needed reforms. Losses from the government sponsored giants added billions to the federal debt, while homeowners suffered massively from the mortgage meltdown;
• George Allen voted for the prescription drug entitlement – the largest expansion of entitlements since Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society – making no provision to pay for it;
• George Allen voted “to put corn in your gasoline” by supporting the ethanol mandate that contributes to higher gas prices today.

Notably, of the four GOP primary candidates, only Jamie Radtke has offered a concrete plan to eliminate the federal deficit: The Radtke My Two Cents Plan
 
During the debate this evening, Radtke also made clear that George Allen’s big spending record fatally undermines his ability to challenge Democrat Tim Kaine – another career politician who has supported the runaway expansion of federal debt.
 
Instead of taking the opportunity to admit his mistakes, Allen has resorted to trying to divert attention away from the key issue of federal spending and onto other areas like energy dependency. At the last debate, Allen lamely tried to excuse his votes to increase the national debt, saying: “Those are those days, and now is different.”
 
Radtke told this evening’s debate: “The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Virginians are craving a candidate who doesn’t fit the status quo Washington profile – another lawyer or career politician.”
 
Radtke explained why her experience makes her the most qualified candidate to change the debt culture in Washington: “I worked in corporate America, I know what it is to be self-employed, I’ve helped start a non-profit, I’ve been a leader in civic organizations and I certainly know what it feels like as a mom when the government is invading the four walls of your home with all their mandates.”
 
Focusing on the urgency of the spending problem and recent Congressional gains made by Tea Party-backed candidates, Radtke declared to a standing ovation: “This election isn’t just about sending people to Washington. It is about saving people FROM Washington.
 
“America needs a new generation of courageous, conservative leadership that can inspire younger generations with the conservative message – and restore their trust in our government,” Radtke said.“The election of young and dynamic Senators like Marco Rubio in Florida shows that this is exactly what voters are looking for.”
 
Virginians go to the polls to choose their Republican Senate candidate on June 12.

Radtke says of Allen: “He was part of the problem.”

Radtke tells Allen: “Democrats AND Republicans need to stop picking winners and losers [in the market].”

Radtke rebukes Allen for rejecting attempts to reform Fannie/Freddie while he was in the Senate.

Radtke notes Allen had no answer on Fannie/Freddie; then attacks his vote for the expensive prescription drug entitlement program.

Radtke on freezing, curtailing spending: “This mom will get it done!”

Radtke slams Allen for his support for expanding Department of Education

Radtke says Allen’s undisciplined ’06 campaign provided swing vote to pass Obamacare.

Radtke affirms national defense as primary responsibility of Congress

Radtke: “This election isn’t about sending a person to Washington. It is about saving people FROM Washington.”

In addition, here are some exceprts from the media on the Virginia Beach debate on May 11 -

• Breitbart – Jamie Radtke ‘Savages’ George Allen in VA Senate Debate


“Savaged”? Sounds like a grisly debate; or, is Radtke, a Mother of three, the latest in a growing list of “Mama Grizzlies” to emerge? She gave a roaring debate performance, according to multiple media reports. See here for video of debate highlights.

[...]

Radtke’s stand out debate performance, versus Allen’s now usual debate stupor, should also put an end to any previous foolish and unfounded blog speculation that the former conservative activist and Liberty University grad, with a Master’s from William and Mary and previous work experience in the Senate somehow isn’t up to the task.

• Richmond Times Dispatch – Allen draws fire at Va. GOP’s Senate debate


A riled-up Jamie Radtke provided most of the fireworks at tonight’s second Republican U.S. Senate debate in Virginia Beach, relentlessly attacking former Gov. George Allen’s record as a U.S. senator.

The event at the Cavalier Hotel, attended by about 500, was a stark contrast to the first debate in Roanoke two weeks ago, which was largely a family affair.

While the four candidates — Allen, Radtke, Del. Robert G. Marshall of Prince William County and Chesapeake minister E.W. Jackson — didn’t differ dramatically on policy, they made significantly different cases for why they should win the June 12 primary.

Radtke savaged Allen out of the gate while addressing the nation’s $15 trillion debt.

“George Allen, he was part of the problem,” the tea-party activist from Chesterfield County said in opening remarks. “He voted for every single spending bill, added three trillion dollars to the national debt, and he voted for his own salary increase when we were deficit spending.”

She later indicted Allen for failing to support a 2005 measure to strengthen oversight of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and for backing Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit, which has added to the deficit.

• Virginian-Pilot – Radtke goes on offense against Allen in GOP debate


Radtke went on the offensive from the outset, calling Allen “part of the problem” of out-of-control federal spending. During his Senate term from 2001 until 2007, the Chesterfield County activist said, Allen “voted for every single spending bill, added $3 trillion to the national debt, and he voted for his own salary increase when we were deficit spending.”

“He took money from Fannie and Freddie Mac and refused to support reform, and we’re still reeling from that, even today…. And he voted for the largest expansion of entitlements since Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society.”

Radtke kept up the drumbeat through her closing statement, when she lumped Allen in with the “career politicians” she said are destroying the country.

“We need a new generation of conservative and courageous leadership that can inspire young people to believe in the conservative message again,” she said.

Allen said much of the federal spending during his Senate term was necessary to bolster the military after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

“I cannot believe we’re going to blame $3 trillion in spending on war spending,” Radtke shot back.

“I don’t remember Medicare Part D, and I don’t remember No Child Left Behind, and I don’t remember your salary increase being a part of war spending. That is not why we had $3 trillion in debt.”

All four candidates pledged to work to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. But Radtke went further, blaming Allen’s “undisciplined campaign” in 2006 for handing control of the Senate to the Democrats, enabling passage of the health care law.
That was a reference to Allen’s “macaca” comment directed at an opposition campaign staffer, which was widely perceived as a racial slur that helped sink his re-election campaign.

• WAVY-TV 10 – Radtke goes on offense against Allen


Still, Radtke was relentless at taking aim at Allen’s record on spending and said that career politicians need to leave Washington, not be sent there.

“Now George Allen, he was part of the problem. He voted for every single spending bill, added $3 trillion to the national debt and he voted for his own salary increase when we were deficit spending,” Radtke said in her opening statement.

RICHMOND - TEA Party Republican Senate candidate Jamie Radtke blasted the American Conservative Union (ACU) endorsement of George Allen today, citing a list of the former senator’s actions as proof the group is ‘shilling’ for the Washington Establishment.

Radtke said, “ACU endorsements are apparently based on friendships, rather than records. While they opposed Dick Lugar for his poor record in Indiana, they’re supporting George Allen despite his.” 

Lugar’s ACU rating was as low as 77, while Allen’s was as low as 80. In fact, Lugar’s rating for 2002 was a 90 when George Allen’s was an 84. ACU opposed Lugar’s re-election bid this year, but last week the group endorsed George Allen. The 2002 ACU scorecard even highlighted George Allen’s opposition to capping federal spending over a 5-year period.

Radtke is pointing out the ACU’s double standard.

Radtke said, “The ACU coddles the pet career politicians they like, giving them cover whenever they’re working to manipulate conservative voters. The fact is, George Allen can’t run from his horrible record. The ACU should be ashamed for helping to undermine the term ‘conservative’ in Washington, DC.”

In their endorsement, the ACU cited a virtually meaningless election year vote from 2006 when Allen was clearly trying to persuade true conservatives that he was one of them. “In so doing,” Radkte said, “they ignored Allen’s abysmal record that proves he’s a card-carrying member of the Washington Establishment.” 

As examples, Radtke points out that Allen:

• supported increases in federal spending totalling 46%
• voted cumulatively to add $3.2 trillion to the national debt
• supported the assault rifle ban during his 2000 campaign
• supported liberals like Arlen Specter over conservative candidates
• forsook his 2000 campaign promise to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment until his re-election campaign in 2006
• voted for 52,000 earmarks
• supported the wholesale undermining of private property rights with historic preservation
• promoted liberal judges for appointment to the federal bench
• voted for the No Child Left Behind legislation that intrudes into an area that should be left to states
• voted for massive new government programs like the prescription drug entitlement
• backed the ethanol mandate and costly federal subsidies for corn
• voted to unconditionally increase the federal debt ceiling four times
• flip-flopped on a campaign promise to conservatives, voting in favor of extending ‘hate crimes’ status on the basis of victims’ sexual behavior
• openly supported abortion rights until a recent campaign conversion

The ACU statement endorsing George Allen as ‘a consistent conservative,’ Radtke said, “is absolutely laughable in light of his record.”

Radtke concluded, “Virginians need a real conservative to represent them in the U.S. Senate – - rather than a big government liberal who forgets his conservative rhetoric whenever he crosses the Potomac river.”