After much thought and research, as well as prayer and discussion, the WMD board of directors has decided to endorse Bill Pierce for US Senate in the coming May 2nd Primary vs. incumbent Michael DeWine. The one exception was Matthew Hurley, who recused himself from the decisionmaking as he is the blog administrator for Pierce for Senate. We here at WMD realize the conventional wisdom goes against us in endorsing the challenger to an incumbent in a primary, particularly one with no legislative experience, but let us tell you why we endorse Mr. Pierce, whom we find to not only be highly qualified, but also the best person for the job.
In his years in the Senate, Michael DeWine has continued to frustrate many Conservative and Republican voters back here at home. Despite overwhelming support from home in the battle over the illegal fillibustering by Democrats in the Senate, Mr. DeWine decided to go against his constituents and join the Gang of 14 who came up with the compromise agreement. Mr. DeWine has continued to thumb his nose at voters back home, both in the generality of his replies to inquiries, some of which you have seen here on WMD, and in his philosophy that it is the legislature, not the people, who are the ultimate source of authority in government. Mr. DeWine has not lived up to his campaign promises of seeking a more limited government, he has not lived up to his promises to monitor the expansion and spending of government, and he has not voted as his constituents have begged him to vote on many issues. He has become a political insider, more a career politician than a citizen legislator. He has become more about his lobbyist friends than his voters back home. When was the last time Mr. DeWine himself toured this state, other than when campaigning briefly for his son in the 2nd district? When was the last time his staff has been anything but evasive and unhelpful? When was the last time he took our votes seriously? Mr. DeWine takes the privilege of serving the people of Ohio for granted.
Unlike Mr. DeWine, Bill Pierce has been visiting the counties in Ohio. Unlike Mr. DeWine, he has shown himself at County Republican meetings and has been speaking with constituents directly, telling his story and getting their views and insights as well. Bill Pierce is not searching for a career in politics. He has seen from the inside and through communicating with others the dangers of the federal bureaucracy, and the arrogance of the bureaucrats and members of Congress from both parties in responding to inquiries from the voters. Mr. Pierce has become, through self-instruction and necessity, a scholar on the need for oversight of the federal bureaucracy, as well as the need for a more citizen based legislature, as opposed to career politicians out to make friends in Washington and a fast buck upon leaving Congress. Mr. Pierce has a demonstrated record of community, political, and national service--he served in the Air Force reserves, upon being given the choice of resigning his commission or taking an inactive duty upon the drawdown after Vietnam; he was the county campaign chair for Ronald Reagan when the Ohio GOP was still out to lunch on supporting the Great Communicator. Mr. Pierce has served his community by being on local boards of schools and fundraising. Mr. Pierce has shown, in personal interviews and through his writings, to truly have a servant's heart in seeking this office. His opponent has tried to paint him as a man out for a vendetta, but in my own conversations with Mr. Pierce and those who have met him, that is not the case. While Mr. Pierce definately has a justifiable cause for seeking a vendetta, you do not get this from reading his writings or speaking with him. What Mr. Pierce is out for is to seek to bring a common sense, no agenda perspective to Congress, and to reinstate the necessary oversight of an uncaring and vicious bureaucracy. He is everything Mike DeWine is not--concerned, attentive, professional, and conservative. He is against judicial fillibustering, against partial birth abortion, and for a smaller government. He is the conservative candidate. His record on issues and his avowed writings show this.
Mike DeWine, on the other hand, has a record as at best a moderate, and at worst a liberal Republican. He has been condemned in national conservative magazines from National Review, to Human Events, to the Weekly Standard. He has tried to paint himself as a conservative, but he cannot hide from the record. Conservatives in Ohio are tired of being betrayed. The time for action is now. WMD is moving, with others, into the breach to help make positive changes in the Republican party and more importantly, in Congress. It is high time that Conservatives had a real choice in Ohio, and finally they do. Bill Pierce has WMD's vote, does he have yours?
DISCLOSURE: WMD Contributor Matthew Hurley is the blog administrator for Pierce for Senate, but we at WMD wish to go on the record as saying Mr. Hurley recused himself from our discussions and did not push for endorsement of Mr. Pierce.
