RICHMOND
Retiring U.S. Sen. John Warner on Saturday voiced disappointment in fellow Republican Jim Gilmore's efforts to succeed him this fall and declined to endorse him.
Instead, Warner suggested that he may wind up backing Democrat Mark Warner in the race. The two Warners are not related.
John Warner took exception to Gilmore's strong condemnation of a $700 billion Wall Street rescue package that was passed by the House of Representatives on Friday and signed by President Bush.
"I'm disappointed that he spoke against the rescue package that's vital to Virginia and vital to the nation," John Warner said during a telephone news conference.
John Warner, who chose not to seek a sixth Senate term this fall, voted for the bailout last week.
Gilmore, trailing badly in polls, repeatedly criticized the rescue in a Friday night debate with Mark Warner in Roanoke. "It's not right to take $700 billion of money from the taxpayers, men and women who work hard every day, and put it in the arms of the high rollers of Wall Street," he said.
Gilmore said the bailout will create pressure for higher taxes. He said the federal government, instead of buying bad debt from financial institutions, should have loaned them money at low interest to capitalize markets.
Mark Warner supported the rescue package, saying it will prevent deep financial turmoil and job losses. John Warner, during a news conference called to discuss his support for Republican John McCain for president, said he is following the Senate race closely. When asked if he is backing Gilmore, the senator criticized his fellow Republican's position on the bailout.
When asked if he would support Mark Warner, the senator said: "There have been occasions when I've supported Democratic candidates, but I'm not there yet."
John Warner has a history of exasperating the GOP by refusing to back Republican candidates he thought were dogmatic or untrustworthy. In 1993, he refused to back Michael Farris, a Christian conservative running for lieutenant governor. In 1994, he supported an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate instead of Republican Oliver North, the central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal.
Gilmore, in a written statement, voiced respect for John Warner but noted that a majority of Virginia's U.S. House delegation opposed the bailout. "If we allow innocent taxpayers who are already struggling to be saddled with the bailout, what comes next?" Gilmore asked.
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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Osbo..
Senility isn't warner's problem his standing as a member of The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in the U.S. Senate is. Gilmore is an anathema to a group like them. Their goal is "America last." To merge us into a world government,a "New World Order",America must be ground low before we can be merged with the likes of Mexico.
Also, citibank's david rockefeller is chairman emeritus of the CFR and benefits from any bailout of his bad investments. So, Warners support of the bailout plan is not surprising.
For more info on them just google CFR. They're NYC. The best source on the CFR is a book called "The Shadows of Power" by James Perloff. Check out the reviews on amazon.
Yes, me too!
Far as I can tell right now, I will be another Drake-Warner-McCain Republican this year. Cheers, MGM
Gone Senile
I have voted for John Warner since he began his career in the Senate. I think he has become senile in recent years. He has said and done strange things in recent years. However, his failure to endorse Jim gilmore is the only thing he has done right in recent memory. The Virginia Republican party has been inept and floundering in recent years with their poor decisions and actions. Democrats have gained a foothold in Virginia because of a poorly run Republican party. Why such a lousy candidate as Gilmore is on the ticket is beyond me.
A Legacy of Independence
That's what I've always liked about John Warner. He's not a blind sheep. He goes where he thinks Virginia should go. How many Senators have that kind of record? That's why he's been re-elected so many times and I'm confident that Mark Warner will be that same kind of Senator. Virginia will be in excellent hands.
Time for a change
I am always amazed at how middle income or lower income people can identify with Republicans. What does the government bailout of high flying no regulating republicans tell you about whose interests they have in mind? Certainly, not us hard working poor people - black or white. I know it's difficult for you to think blacks are hard working, but believe me it's true. It's time to start voting our pocketbooks.
We are definitely in this together. The bailout, no matter, how unpopular had to be done to protect ordinary Americans from losing their pensions, small businesses, etc. What a shame and a disgrace after 8 years of Bush policies who can avoid more of the the same with John McShame? Oops... sorry with John McCain.
Senator Warner
is retiring from congress with a distinguished record of service.
Why would he throw that away by endorsing jim gilmore?
Blind hatred
Gilmore's work on the terrorism commission was right, and Bush essentially fired him for it.
He got screwed because Clinton's economy was a mirage.
Now he's right on the bailout, so the old man ain't gonna endorse him?
Good riddance, Senator Warner.
No Difference
It makes no difference to me who John Warner supports or doesn't. I doubt that most of the Senators even read or understood the Rescue Bill.
This is why we have the largest national debt in the history of our country because of past votes on many other issues. This was not a good vote for Virginia or our nation. I will vote for Gilmore because he may keep other foolish spending and tax increase bills from passing.
I am a Republician to
I have been a republican all of my voting life, but I cannot support Mr. Gilmore. Under his leadership as Governor of VA, the state budget was wrecked due to the car tax issue. I have personally met with Mr. Mark Warner twice in the Governor's conference room. In my opinion, he is not a partisan politician; he is a businessman and a leader. He has my vote.
Warner
John Warner has always been a weak sister. I would not exspect him to support the party that put him in office.
When the republicans were
When the republicans were riding high, John Warner was the next best thing to sliced bread. Now that your party is in the dumps he's the worst thing you ever saw. All I read was how he fought for the military and now you turn on him this fast. Jim 'Mr negative campaign" Gilmore doesn't have a chance and hopefully this will be the last of him.
John Warner
It doesn't surprise me...John Warner has alawys been a turncoat Republican and the best democrat senator in the Senate. You had to shove one last distasteful act down the throat of the people who elected you.
Goodbye John, I'll shed no tears for you.
Goodbye old man Warner
you got you’re bail out to help your friends on Wall Street along with the rest of the democRATS you love. Go ahead and stump for Barry Obama Marky, little timmy and his clowns.
A real leader
John Warner has been a gift to Virginia and our country. He works to serve his country, not just a party. What a great Virginian and American!
Warner is right
Gilmore was the worst governor in recent history. His presidential campaign was a joke and he will lose this senate race by double digits. Hopefully, he will learn from this beating and will slink away from Virginia politics once and for all.
Just so you know, I am voting for Drake and McCain and Warner. I bet a lot of people will do the same.
RINO redux
Proof that Warner has finally left the Republican party. Refusing to endorse a fiscal and social conservative and hinting he'd support the man who proposed the biggest (and most unnecessary) tax increase in Virginia history shows that he's overstayed his usefulness or gone senile. He must think he's a Republican from Rhode Island or New York. And the polls that show Mark Warner winning big show just how insane Virginia voters have become. Hope you like ObamaNation.
Glad Warner is retiring
he can take the other Wrner with him. Jim Gilmore is right to oppose this so called bailout - money for wooden arrows in Oregon and wool studies has nothing to do with Wall St and Main St being bailed out. IT IS PORK - oink oink. Look at WHEN this bill was originated and you will see the date MARCH 7, 2007 - that's right - 2007, not 2008. This has been in the works for a year and a half - makes you wonder if all this Wall St stuff is contrived just to get Nobama elected. In any case, the Senate did not come up with a bill in a couple days - they had this one waiting in the wings for well over a year.
Cudos to Jim Gilmore for standing up to it....and glad Warner is retiring. And one of the the best reasons to vote FOR Jim Gilmore is because John Warner is not going to.
John Warner is an Outstanding Senator
Who knows Jim Gilmore is NOT the best candidate, regarless of party affilitation.
Mark Warner will be an excellent Senator. And, according to the polls, this race is all but over.
I am happy to see John
I am happy to see John Warner leaving. He voted for this bailout, which does nothing but help the people who do not need the help. Has anyone seen a copy of the latest bailout??? Is 451 pages long and loaded with pork, as in the fat part of the pig!!!
BS
The previous comment is democRAT BS.
Warner is a country clubber that gives republicans a bad name.
Good Ridence to Bad Rubbish
.
A true gentleman and man of the people
While I don't always agree with John Warner's politics, this is just further proof that he is a man of the highest caliber and has the peoples' best interests at heart, regardless of what the Republican party wants.
Thank you
Senator Warner for your many years of dedicated service to Virginians.
I especially want to thank you for putting Virginians first
and not your political party. Job well done Senator, job well done!
Character IS Everything
Once again, Sen. Warner shows us how much character he has. Putting assidee the fact that my personal beliefs are further to the left than any politican want's to go, I can not deny the fact that I have the greatest respect for him. He has served Virginia well and I hope he enjoys retirement.