James Antle mentions Virgil Goode’s nomination in his Weekend Political Wrap-Up post.
3. Virgil Goode won the Constitution Party presidential nomination this weekend. The former Virginia congressman — who had previously been elected as a Democrat, independent, and Republican — is the conservative third party’s most politically experienced nominee. Unlike Alan Keyes four years ago, Goode was able to overcome his record of supporting the Iraq war and the Patriot Act. The Constitution Party opposes both policies. Darrell Castle, the party’s 2008 vice presidential nominee, made a last-ditch effort to derail Goode but came up short in his own bid for the nomination.
I am actually writing a longer piece on this for TAC. This was just a blog post about political events of that particular weekend.
I think Jim Antle’s assessment is on the mark.
Castle assured a number of people, including Goode and Howard Phillips – at the convention – that he had no intention of running. His about face, in my opinion, wasn’t due to a groundswell draft: it could have been an ego trip, perhaps he had an urgent message to deliver (if so, it escaped me), or maybe he saw it as a swan song.
I do know several long-time CPers walked out when he got up to talk – they felt betrayed since he was offered their support starting 4 years ago but he had told them all that a Castle for Prez campaign was a non-starter.
I wish – I expected – Jim’s coverage to be more detailed. He has a good eye for a story like this.
Thanks for visiting, James. Link us more often 😛
Additionally, here is my 2008 profile of then CP nominee Chuck Baldwin:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7060/is_14_7/ai_n28542997/?tag=content;col1
Richard, the sentence in question says that Goode overcame his support for the Iraq war and Keyes didn’t. If you follow the link in the sentence, it is to my 2008 column about Keyes losing the Constitution Party nomination.
As for Jeff’s comment about “spin,” maybe “derail Goode” is too strong a way of putting it. But Castle supporters were trying to defeat Goode’s bid for the nomination, just like (say) Santorum running against Romney. I’m not sure why this is a controversial point.
Richard, I didn’t read it that way at all, but on second reading I could see how someone could get that impression. I can assure you thought that Antle is aware of the 2008 situation. He wrote two stories about it, one before and one after the nomination.
Jeff, I don’t think Antle is spinning this at all. Castle was asked to run because some people were unsatisfied with Goode and were unsatisfied with Wells as the concensus not Goode candidate. Had there been overwhelming support for and satisfaction with Goode or satisfaction with Wells as the alternative standard bearer, then Castle would likely not have been asked to run. Perhaps “derail Goode” is not the best way to frame it, but what interest does Antle have in spinning a blurb about the CP? Antle covered the CP convention battle in 2008, which is more than can be said for the vast majority of conservative pundits.
James Antle is just casting spin. Darrell Castle did not enter the race to “derail Goode,” but entered because, as the ’08 VP nominee, several state delegations nominated him. Anyone who has ever heard R. Emmett Tyrrell speak can tell that his underwear is too tight which results in this type of slanted editing.
The article conveys the impression that the 2008 Constitution Party nominee was Alan Keyes. I tried to leave a comment at the Spectator, mentioning that the Constitution Party’s 2008 nominee was Chuck Baldwin. However, the Spectator site said it believed my comment was spam, and would not post it. Maybe someone else will have better luck.