Attack of the Vichy Republicans

As a conservative and a Republican of long standing I’ve always been amazed at the duplicity of a large number of moderate Republicans.

When a moderate wins a primary he or she is virtually assured of the votes of the conservative wing of the party. Maybe begrudgingly but the support nonetheless. When moderates lose they are more apt to run as independents or endorse the Democrat than support a conservative nominee.

We’re seeing this played out today in District 2 and District 3B.

In District 2, Senator Don Munson was turfed last night by Chris Shank for the Republican nomination. As there is no Democrat in that race, Shank will be heading for Annapolis to begin what we know will be an exemplary career. What does Munson have to say:

Trending: We’ve Come A Long Way

However, Munson, 72, of Hagerstown, said in a phone interview shortly before midnight that he is not conceding.

He said he is weighing his options before making a decision about his future. That includes the possibility of waging a write-in campaign in the general election.

Last week, when The Herald-Mail asked Munson if he’d consider a write-in campaign if he lost, he said he would not.

Asked Tuesday night about the change, Munson said, “I just think some very, very bad things are going to happen with Chris Shank as senator.”

Charles Jenkins, who was appointed to the House of Delegates over the objections of the Frederick County GOP by Governor O’Malley to fill the term of another mendacious moderate, was beaten like a rented mule by the a combination of hard work and his own sorry record for the nomination in District 3B. According to the Frederick Gazette:

Jenkins feels so maligned by Hough that he refuses to get behind him in the general election and is asking his supporters to vote for Democrat Paul Gilligan on Nov. 2.

“Michael Hough does not have the ethics or morals I want in my candidate,” Jenkins said. “I encourage folks who share my concerns to support Democrat Paul Gilligan.”

So we have the sorry spectacle of two sore losers, who, after making their case to the people and being repudiated at the polls, refuse to observe even the barest vestige of civil behavior.