Va. GOP's power broker unelected but never ignored
Va. GOP's power broker unelected but never ignored
Virginia Politics
By
Paul Schwartzman May 10 at 9:33 PM
@paulschwartzman
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Unelected and unknown to the public, {Russ} Moulton, 53, led a takeover of Virginias GOP by tea party and libertarian activists, and he was a key operative in last years stunning
overthrow of then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.
Moultons current
preoccupation is pushing the state party to choose a presidential nominee in a way that benefits the most conservative candidates. But in a swing state that will be crucial to the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, his fiercest critics fellow Republicans say he is threatening the partys quest to reclaim the White House.
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A failed candidate for public office, Moulton has amassed influence through three decades of activism in Virginia, during which he has championed such conservative candidates as Oliver North and former attorney general Ken Cuccinelli II.
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His whirlwind of a life includes three children, two dogs and a tech company that develops sensor software used to train pilots and test missile systems. His rivals point to the firms defense contracts $12 million since 2000 as evidence of his hypocrisy. ... Heres a guy whos in bed with tea party folks, who preaches small government and less government but doesnt mind taking government money, said Linwood Cobb, the Cantor lieutenant who lost to the Moulton-backed candidate. ... Moulton countered that his company provides great value at a reasonable price. ... We have never received an earmark and have never lobbied elected officials for a dime, he said. Yes, I believe in limited government and lower taxes, and we practice it.