Hanger's 1st order of business--go on the attack

It's official. Senator Hanger has gone mad.

At a press conference yesterday, State Senator Emmett Hanger announced his intent to run for re-election. Then he went on a rampage.

His victims? The very grassroots supporters who put him into office in the first place. Here's a few samplings of his tirade:

“I’ve gone to the community leaders because I think they’re more significant than the members of local parties who find themselves in offices at any particular point in time - because those are somewhat thankless jobs that we kind of hand over to anybody who says they want them,” Hanger said in an interview with The New Dominion.

In the above quote, Emmett is not only insulting local party leaders, but he is slighting his campaign manager, Vickie Parkinson as well. Mrs. Parkinson is the chair of the Augusta County Women's Republican group. I suppose she is thrilled that Emmett threw her a bone, as her work as a party chair is obviously insignificant in his eyes.

Oh and by the way, the work is quite thankless. See SWACGirl for a more on this, but I found this part of her post quite interesting:

Following are some of the electeds who are in public office ... and the volunteers who work to get them there ... and the salaries of each:

*RED - Volunteer
*BLUE - Emmett Hanger Supporter

Chairman Kurt Michael, Volunteer: $0.00
Augusta County Clerk of Court John B. Davis: $100,457

Vice Chairman Tom Nelson, Volunteer: $0.00
Vice Chairman Joyce Sikes, Volunteer: $0.00
Vice Chairman Lynn Mitchell, Volunteer: $0.00
Sheriff Randy Fisher: $89,901

Secretary Chris Green, Volunteer: $0.00
Commissioner of Revenue Jean Shrewsbury: $80,879

District Chair Steve Kijak, Volunteer: $0.00
Treasurer Rick Homes: $73,997

Chairman Anne Taetzsch, Volunteer: $0.00
Former Commissioner of Revenue Ray Ergenbright: $80,000 (approx.)


He continues,

"...you have people who have taken on these positions who have agendas, and they communicate a lot through the Internet, through blogs and that type of thing, and they are influenced significantly by these antitax groups, and they’ve had a tremendous influence on our party at the national level, and not in a positive way."

Oh where to begin. Previously he states that the grassroots are not that significant, then he counters by saying that the grassroots have a tremendous influence, but not in a positive way.

So which is it Senator, influence or no influence? And why the emphasis on anti-tax? How about those constituents who are quite concerned about your stance on illegal immigration (see previous post)?

Senator Hanger has already set the tone for his campaign. He is negative and insulting. He mocks the people who work so hard to promote Republican principles. And, he has broken Reagan's 11th Commandment.

I only shudder to think what's next!