AUGUSTA, Maine — A little-known presidential candidate who also is a pre-eminent national voice in the right-to-life movement has launched television ads in Maine before the state’s presidential caucuses next month.
Randall Terry of West Virginia is running as a Democrat and said his primary goal is to ensure that President Barack Obama is not re-elected.
“My goal is to help elect people who make it a crime to kill unborn babies,” he said in a telephone interview on Friday.
Terry’s 30-second television spot, which has started running in the Portland market and is expected to run in the Bangor market soon, criticizes both Obama and GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney. The ad also features graphic images of aborted fetuses.
He said the ad is targeted toward evangelical Christians and Catholics, many of whom he believes share his view that in the hierarchy of ethics, abortion is unequivocally wrong.
“I don’t even use the word ‘abortion.’ It’s child killing,” he said. “You abort a space shuttle launch. You don’t abort a human.”
Terry’s name is on the ballot in more than 20 states, including New Hampshire, which holds its primary next Tuesday. He is not on the ballot in Maine.
Terry held events in Maine earlier this week announcing his plans. His campaign manager in Maine, Elizabeth Libby, did not return a call for comment on Friday.
Lizzy Reinholt, spokeswoman for the Maine Democratic Party, said Terry stopped by the party offices unannounced this week to introduce himself. Staff there told him that the Maine Democrats are fully supporting Obama in November.
Terry said he ultimately knows he won’t win a Democratic presidential primary against Obama but he believes he can weaken him, particularly in Colorado and Ohio, two states that helped get Obama elected in 2008.
“I will pummel Obama with these ads,” he said. “If he loses Ohio and Colorado, I don’t believe he can win re-election.”
Terry compared the fight over abortion to past debates over slavery, women’s voting rights and civil rights.
“Those movements fielded candidates who forced the electorate to confront their issue,” he said. “That’s what we need here.”
“Randall Terry of West Virginia is running as a Democrat and said his primary goal is to ensure that President Barack Obama is not re-elected.” Can’t be that bad of a guy even though he is a Democrat.
Nah, just another tactic learned from ALEC and used somewhat successfully in the Wisconsin recall elections; run a fake democrat to confuse and distract voters. They have learned when you can’t win an election with integrity, use any means necessary, sort of like the communists. The end justifies the means to the republicans.
You know I know some pretty hard core Republicans and none of them would ever call themselves a Democrat for any reason.
That might be true in Maine as voters here are much harder to fool. If you look at last year’s Wisconsin elections you will find what I said is true. Obviously this guy is neither a democrat nor from Maine.
Granted, I did look him up and he has been a Republican before. Also I find it interesting that you bring up Wisconsin and dirty tatics. Wasn’t it Wisconsin where the democrats fled the state because they couldn’t win a vote.
And none of them lost their seats in a recall election, so it looks like the voters did not think it unethical (it wasn’t). However, running as a candidate for the opposing party with the stated goal of damaging the leading candidate of that party is definitely unethical. If he was a legitimate candidate he would run either as a republican or as a third party.
Wait you think it is perfectly fine for Senators to run and hide and refuse to return to work.
Well I got to get going so have a great day.
They were within their legal rights and the rules of their senate. I may or may not agree with their tactics, but I support their goal in that case, blocking new laws which were not revealed in the previous election.
Thanks for a reasoned discussion.
It’s pretty funny how much you control freaks can’t handle freedom and absolutely detest anyone acting under their own free will when it doesn’t line up with your agenda…
How does your comment relate to the subject? It reads like just another rant from a right wing nut who can’t think unless Faux news tells them how. Apparently you did not notice that Sleepycreek and I were having an intelligent reasoned discussion from opposing views.
Really, it’s okay to you if democrats in Wisconsin violated their oath of office by fleeing to a neighboring state in order to avoid their sworn duty to vote, yet there is something wrong running on a platform to stop Obama from being re-elected as President? It’s okay to violate an oath of office but it’s not okay to exercise one’s First Amendment Right to promote a cause deemed worthy?
Actually I said “I may or may not agree with their tactics”, which in plain english does not tell you whether or not I think their method was ok. Apparently, since none were recalled, the voters did not think they did anything wrong. In plain english, the voters did not think they violated their oath of office. That is what counted.
Claiming to be a democrat (by calling yourself a democrat) when your policies are intended to damage the chances of the leading candidate but not get elected yourself is nothing more than an attempt to deceive the voters.
This “cause deemed worthy”, wouldn’t be the one promoted by the Maine Heritage Police State Center would it?
First of all, voters in Wisconsin did not say whether they agreed with the Democrat legislators’ dereliction of duty. That’s a conclusion you made. But does this make it right? They violated their oath of office. Had the Republican done the same thing, they would be screaming bloody murder, and, rightfully so.
Mr. Randall is a registered Democrat who obviously doesn’t support the party’s pro-abortion stand. As a registered Democrat he is not obligated to accept its party plank. He is not even obligated to vote for any Democrat. What he intends to do is become a voice in the party in order to influence it to change its plank. Party members are always free to ignore him if they wish to do so. That’s their prerogative. Now, are you saying no one is allowed to oppose the President for the party’s nomination? I don’t think so, unless the rules have just changed.
It is your interpretation that they were guilty of dereliction of duty. None were arrested and charged. Those that were forced into a recall election were all re-elected. I think it is safe to conclude from that that the voters did not believe they had neglected their duty to the people of the state.
Party members are always free to vote the way they see best. When a republican breaks party ranks other republicans call them a rino. Randall is now a registered democrat when in the past he was a registered republican. I doubt he will have any say in democratic politics as it is so easy to see him for what he is- a fake democrat.
The liberal voters knew all too well their elected Democrat state reps were derelict in their duties. To them, just like you, the rule of law only applies to others who are not like-minded. Therefore, they voted for them.
As to Randall, he hopes to point out to misguided voters that Obama and the Democrat party are NOT pro-life. If he succeeds, Obama could conceivably lose a substantial number of supporters. In the meantime, all you democrats can do is what you do best, that is , demonize your political opponents.
Speaking of ‘demonization”. And who you callin’ a Democrat?
So why isn’t he on the primary ballot?
The bad guys in WI are the duplicitous governor and the Rs.
I guess I’ll have to start bowing my head to you and your ilk. You’re so much purer that everyone else.
They fled the state when the Republicans were passing major legislation without consulting the opposition. Although Republicans think it is o.k. to pass laws while locking anybody else out of the process, most reasonable people believe accommodations have to be made for the opposition. When Democrats do this, Republicans act like it is the end of democracy. When Republicans do it, they crow about how they are doing what is right. (See tone of your post.)
“they fled the state when the Republicans were passing major legislation without consulting the opposition” you say, right? Well, that’s not the excuse those Democrat legislators who fled used. They said they did it in order to stall and delay a vote, a vote against their wishes they knew was certain to pass. Please, stop twisting matters and then call others LIARS.
Here’s a report on this Wisconsin incident:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=democrats%20flee%20to%20avoid%20voting%20in%20wisconsin&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CC0QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Fnews%2Fstatepolitics%2F116381289.html&ei=FJAIT-3SHOrX0QHGstCSAg&usg=AFQjCNF5vuUvBcbx0rNcm-i64ltYtW92rg&cad=rja
Ah, yes, typical whawell posting. You pick one small nugget and blow it up to be the whole picture. Also, typical that you resort to putting words in my mouth. As in, does the word LIAR even come up before you raise it? Right.
Questions: How did it get to the point where the loyal opposition felt they had to use a doomsday weapon to make a point?
How many times did the Republican bosses meet with the gov. and how many times with the Dems?
Why did they try to negotiate with their Republican governor, but did not even try to compromise with their cohorts in the legislature?
The newly elected gov. (S. Walker) came up with the ideas and pushed his side to pass them all at once without even cluing in the Dems. Sounds like your hero LePage, except his Republican party isn’t as compliant. Two of 6 Republican state senators were defeated in a recall, but all 3 Dems won. This is why Gov. Walker is a little more quiet these days and the Dems don’t have to leave the state to make a point.
While you are thinking about how those dastardly Dems walk out to avoid a vote, do some checking on how the situation in Texas was similar and different. Repubs did the same thing there some years ago, and Tom Delay used Federal resources in a highly partisan way. In effect, he hijacked some of the forces of the Feds to advance the cause of the Republican Party. How would you like it if the Dems did that? I can only imagine the indignation you would feel, and call for who knows what to fix the problem.
Did you notice that the usual Republican tactic of crying about the state of democracy came up many times? Did you also notice that they felt no shame being hypocrites by acting like dictators? Have you noticed that it was the Repubs in D.C. who literally locked the Dems in a broom closet rather than allow them to debate legislation? Have you noticed that it is the Republicans who insist on a “Loyalty Oath” from those who vote in the VA Repub. primary? All traits of a party that values democracy, NOT.
So I understand where you are coming from. You are simply an apologist for the worst excesses of your political party. You ignore the causes and just go for the easy headlines. O.K., but don’t come on here putting words in my mouth and giving half the story. Fact is, Republicans in several states act in the most undemocratic fashion because they know they have people like you in back of them, making excuses and agreeing with everything they say.
Wow, what a dump that was! With that long memory of yours you surely hold a grudge against Republicans, don’t you? You mustn’t sleep too well at night with all those negatives images in your head.
With that, please don’t blame me for reminding you of the excuse Wisconsin Democrats used when they flew the coop. I’m just a faithful messenger. I didn’t make it up as you can see from the web link, so don’t be upset with me. Peace!
Nice attempt at deflection, to the Wisconsin morass. Stick to Maine issues.
Hey, I’m not the one who brought up the Wisconsin morass. If you set the presentation of comments in this forum in chronological order (“Oldest first”) you will see that one of your political comrades, namely, Poster ademain, initiated that topic and helped keep it going. You, yourself, even chipped in your 2 cents worth when you made the following comment:
“The bad guys in WI are the duplicitous governor and the Rs.”
You need to take a memory pill.
Wisconsin isn’t the only place the Republicans have done this. They also ran Republicans-as-Democrats in AZ, and have done it in NY also.
What do you mean by “They have learned when you can’t win an election with integrity, use any means necessary, sort of like the communists”? Where’s the lack of integrity here? Surely he is getting the attention he wants like all political candidates, isn’t he?
So, to advertise in Maine he should be a candidate in Maine. He isn’t.
I know what ademain means. He might be referring to the fiasco in FL where police were deployed in majority minority districts to intimidate voters. But maybe ademain is referring to how FL trimmed its voter rolls to delete mostly minority names from it. (They agreed to not do it again after being sued.)
Or maybe ademain is referring to the time in NJ where the Repubs paid to suppress the Af-Am turnout. Or do you think ademain is referring to last year’s MD gubernatorial election where the Republicans made robocalls to Dems telling them to stay home? Or do you suppose it refers to 2008 when Republicans passed out papers in Democratic areas in MD that listed fake precincts and wrong election days. Or do you suppose ademain is thinking about how all over this country, Republican led states have been trying to limit voting? Not sure what ademain might be talking about because there are innumerable examples proving dirty tricks.
And, whawell, I already know what you will say, “Everybody does it”, to which I will say prove it, to which you will write about “stolen elections” by the Dems but offer no proof. So, let’s hear of proven cases on the scale Republicans do. I haven’t even brought up how the co-chairs of the Bush election committee spent time in jail for the shenanigans in NH.
What other Republicans allegedly do has nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, to do with Terry Randalls. Remember what I told you about not wanting to waste my time with you trying to respond to every objection you raise. Well, that holds true with every objection others make as well. I’m not going to get into the trap of trying to answer them all, because it would take up all my time. Besides, nowhere have you made any attempt whatsoever to answer my own question to Ademain concerning Terry Randalls. Are you trying to avoid it too?
Lizzy Reinholt, spokeswoman for the Maine Democratic Party, said Terry stopped by the party offices unannounced this week to introduce himself. Staff there told him that the Maine Democrats are fully supporting Obama in November.
Wow that’s pretty presumptuous of Lizzy Reinholt, how does she know that? I sure hope she was at least welcoming and gracious to a fellow Democrat.
Maybe because she is the spokesman for the Maine democratic party.
“Fellow Democrat” Where? Where?
This man should be in jail for inciting the violence that caused the deaths of abortion providers around the country rather than walking around stiring up hate and discontent.
How is he inciting violence or is this a baseless accusation you are making? Terry is against violence. That is why he is trying to stop the senseless, needless killing of innocent human beings going on in this country.
Sure looks like he’s complicit in inciting violence.
Please tell me what did he to incite violence? Organized protests in front of abortion clinics? This guy has not incited violence anymore than Martin Luther King did when he organized protest marches. Like Martin Luther King he went to jail for doing so and faced a lot of trumped charges like a lot of other abortion protesters who now cover their own protests with audio/videos to protect against fabricated charges.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2004/04/Hes-Bringing-Great-Sadness-To-Our-Home.aspx More on Randall Terry- he is a rabid homophobe.
I actually worked for an investment company owned by this insane person for a few months in the 80’s in Texas. The entire board was constantly getting arrested at abortion protests and I was actually asked in my interview whether I had any plans to go to jail in the near future. (I asked if that was a job requirement, and was assured that it was strictly voluntary, albeit acceptable behavior.) The word “Wackadoo” best describes this fella.
Their ‘scam’ was purporting to be a 401K advisory firm, but then convincing minimum wage employees to take 50% of their contribution and putting into a whole life insurance policy within the retirement plan (paying the company 140% commission while providing no valid investment value to the worker and zero chance to recoup that money if they changed jobs) I was eventually fired for not selling enough of this terrible product. I am quite proud of the fact that I did not meet their expectations.
This sounds like more name calling. If you can’t stop a message, demonize the messenger. This is all the more reason why I am no longer a Democrat. Just too much liberal mind-set in this corrupt party of no principle.
Who’s name calling? This guy and the orgaization sound totally disreputable (and worse).
He may sound disreputable but he is not in fact. Tell me what he has done wrong, not merely what you have heard about him. A lot of Democrats are upset because he is using a Democrat platform to expose Obama who refuses publicly to admit he is not pro-life. He knows doing so will cost him some votes, maybe enough to cause him to lose his re-election.
Wow, I wonder if I chaged to Dem at the same time, makes me even happier I did! You defend a guy who is lying, and loks like he took advantage of people in his business, from someone who worked there. No matter how sleezy someone is, as long as they are pro life, you support them eh?
Another carpetbagger, an alleged Democrat. Where registered? I hope that TV channels won’t run his disgusting ads.
What a sleezebag fakely running as a Democrat to get the Republicans a win. This cheating loser should crawl back under his rock. Lying, how Chrisitan, loser.