GOP Chairman or Immature Child? [UPDATED]

By: pitin
Published On: 10/27/2006 6:31:19 PM

Cross-Posted from the Hurst 2006 Blog

Tom Kopko Chairman of the Prince William Republican Committee needs to take some lessons in etiquette and professionalism.

In published reports in the The Gainesville Times about the Prince William County debate between Andrew Hurst and Tom Davis for the VA-11 Congressional seat, Kopko is quoted as being extremely rude:

Kopko, who was sitting behind a table 15 feet or so away from the panel where the two candidates spoke, scorned comments by Hurst throughout the debate, though relatively quietly at first, saying "yeah, right" and sneering at the end of some of Hurst's comments.

After each candidate made their closing statements, their supporters cheered and applauded as loud as possible. However, when Hurst concluded his remarks and shook hands with Davis, Kopko yelled as the hall drew silent, "Go home, Andy!" The comment drew a chorus of boos from the standing room-only crowd that filled two rooms.

One man said, "That is so rude." A woman added, "That's unprofessional.

Mr. Kopko needs to apologize to Mr. Hurst for these rude statements.

Then again, I canGt really blame him: he was merely following the lead of the Tom Davis campaign which, in recent weeks has gone increasingly negative.

In the past few weeks DavisGs mailers have gone more and more negative, to the point that they are now personally attacking Hurst, alleging he is a Gǣdangerous out-of-this-world liberalGǥ.  Claiming that Andrew Hurst wants amnesty for all illegal immigrants (not true) and attacking Andy for Gǣdefending criminalsGǥ.  Well in our country everybody accused of a crime is not only allowed a defense lawyer, but is guaranteed one by our constitution.  And the worst of it is, of the 9 cases that Davis cites, only 2 resulted in convictions meaning 7 of the 9 were declared innocent, might I ask what is wrong with defending the innocent?

Mr. Davis is running scared (having spent $2.6 Million as of 10/18) and Mr. Kopko is just plain rude and unprofessional.  It is absolutely unacceptable for someone of Mr. KopkoGs stature to act in such a childish way, that behavior is not acceptable from a volunteer or supporter, and certainly not from a Republican Party Chairman.

If you want to get in touch with Tom Kopko and ask him to apologize, his e-mail is chairman@PWCGOP.org

[UPDATE] Please remember that if you write Kopko or the Davis campaign (info@tomdavis.org) please remember to be Polite and to Stay Classy, let's ask them for an apology but not drop to their level.
Nate de la Piedra is the Online Outreach Coordinator for the Andrew Hurst for Congress 2006 Campaign. The ideas expressed herein belong to Nate de la Piedra and do not necessarily represent those of Andrew Hurst, his advisors, staff, or "The Campaign".

Comments



Redshift (dc blue line - 10/27/2006 6:44:00 PM)
This is typical behavior of the Republicans, especially in this cycle...get them a little scared, put them on the run, and all they can do is bare their teeth. They think that going negative and putting out misleading info will help them keep seats, and I think we can all agree they're in for a rude awakening on the 7th.


It's a telling sign (lwumom - 10/27/2006 7:30:57 PM)
when prominent Conservative bloggers are calling for Republicans to vote Democrat or stay at home.  I read Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish because I've seen him on Real Time with Bill Maher (and, by the way, Sullivan will be on Bill's panel tonight, 11 PM eastern, HBO).  We don't always agree, but I respect him because he doesn't resort to personal insults the way some Repubs do.  Anyway, he has been telling his readers for days/weeks to vote Democrat or abstain.  According to Sullivan, "The Plank", at The New Republic has encouraged Republicans who cannot vote Democrat to stay at home on election day.  (I read the article at the time, but can't find it now).  You know things have to be going pretty badly for the GOP if the Conservative voices online are bailing on them.


All together now (sndeak - 10/27/2006 7:56:09 PM)
It's  V O T E  D E M O C R A T I C 

NOT Democrat

Sorry but this drives me nuts.



Unsurprising...I witnessed the same behavior from Wolf supporters... (SaveElmer - 10/27/2006 8:44:57 PM)
At the last Feder-Wolf debate....

I arrived dismayed that I was sitting in front a chattering gaggle of teenagers. However they were quite the whole debate...

It was the Wolf supporters in front of me who would not shut up, making exactly they kinds of comments referenced here...

I am loathe to confront people normally, but I finally asked them to button it...



Accused is not the same as convicted (libra - 10/27/2006 8:50:15 PM)
attacking Andy for “defending criminals”.  Well in our country everybody accused of a crime is not only allowed a defense lawyer, but is guaranteed one by our constitution.  And the worst of it is, of the 9 cases that Davis cites, only 2 resulted in convictions meaning 7 of the 9 were declared innocent -- pitin

Which is *precisely* what's screwy about the whole "torture act"; it prevents, possibly innocent people, from having any recourse by denying them access to the law and defense. And don't tell me, please, that it's only terrorists who will be affected -- not when it's Chimperor the Decider who decides on the issue.

Someone ought to send a copy of "Gideon's Trumpet" to every last SOB, starting with Kopko (me, I got my copy as a gift from my son, when I got my naturalisation certificate )



Read this! (drmontoya - 10/27/2006 9:19:46 PM)
Tom Davis was speaking in falls church and my friend and I were working the Webb/Hurst table and Andy Hurst came by to chat with me before he followed Davis up and we started to quietly laugh about something and Ms. Davis sshhed me and Andy and then gave us a dirty look.

What a bitch.

My friend Amy gave her a dirty look back.



I just sent Kopko an email........ (Ambivalent Mumblings - 10/27/2006 9:55:03 PM)
Everyone should follow Nate's advice and send Kopko an email so that he will have a significant amount of pressure to actually act in an appriopriate manner by issuing an apology.


Sorry I didn't respond to this sooner I was at the Marriage Amendment debate (Used2Bneutral - 10/27/2006 10:43:30 PM)
I was present last week when Kopko made a fool of himself... I stood less than 20 feet from him and watched him act like a total Jerk, not once but at least a half a dozen times.... but he wasn't alone.... others at his table and the table next to them heckled Andy every chance they could.... impolite and obnoxious.... the organizers were even embarassed. Andy handled it with grace and class.... He certainly acts well beyond his political experience


Tom Needs to Realize (pitin - 10/28/2006 11:48:00 AM)
that Andy is a fantastic litigator, he has gone up against the best, and they know all the greatest mind tricks.

If you watch Tom at the debates, Andy gets under his skin just by making valid arguments and Davis gets visibly red (you can also read about the time I made Tom Davis Freak Out) 

This must be Tom's Desperate attempt to get Andy off balance, but with Andy's courtroom experience, I'm sure Andy just shrugs it off as pathetic.



Ah, the joys of kicking ass (Catzmaw - 10/28/2006 12:15:34 PM)
Any good litigator will tell you that an aggressive attack only gets the juices flowing better and usually makes ones own response much more acerbic and pointed.  There's nothing more fun than a good verbal dust-up.


Hurst handles interruptions with grace (Andrea Chamblee - 10/27/2006 11:50:46 PM)
and if Davis is trying to make him look bad or flustered, it will only backfire.


Stuck Pig Syndrome: Tom Davis (Mookie - 10/28/2006 6:45:01 PM)
They know Andy's right and makes his points, and when it hurts, he squeals louder.
Why didn't Tom Davis have the class to ask him to be quiet?  If Tom did have good points to make, he would have made them and let them stand on their own merits.