This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, May 2, 2012 - Former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, contended Wednesday that the Democratic focus on the federal Violence Against Women Act -- and her recent failure to know the details of the measure -- are "a distraction" to avert public attention from more serious government failings.
"None of the economic issues that our country is facing have the Democrats dealt with," she said in an interview.
If those fiscal matters, including the nation's debt, are not addressed, Steelman contended, the federal government won't have money to fund initiatives like the Violence Against Women Act, which focuses on investigations and prosecutions of such crimes.
A spokeswoman for the Missouri Democratic Party replied later, “If Sarah Steelman thinks domestic violence is a'distraction,' there are thousands of women and children across Missouri who would be willing to tell her otherwise."
Steelman was interviewed as she waited to address several dozen tea party activists who had gathered in a parking lot in Fenton to hear her and other speakers, along with entertainers, on a stage erected by the Tea Party Express.
Steelman is among six U.S. Senate candidates in various states who have been endorsed by the California-based group, which is sending two buses around the country to highlight the candidates and promote their fiscally conservative views.
"We believe she is a fighter," said Amy Kremer, the Express' national chairman. "She reminds me a lot of Sarah Palin."
Kremer added that the fact that Steelman is a woman could be a plus for Republicans since the Missouri Democrat the party hopes to unseat is U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.
Although gender wasn't the reason the tea party group is endorsing Steelman, Kremer observed that the fact that Steelman is a woman "levels the playing field" and negates much of the Democrats' War on Women talk.
Kremer said that the size of Wednesday's crowd wasn't important. "Judge us by what happens on Election Day," she said, touching off applause. "That's what matters."
Tea Party Express at odds with Ed Martin
The Tea Party Express also says the small turnout was, in part, because of a last-minute change in the location of its Fenton rally – and it’s blaming Missouri attorney general candidate Ed Martin for the switch.
The event was previously scheduled at the Victory Fieldhouse in Fenton, where Martin and fellow Republican Cole McNary, a candidate for state treasurer, have their campaign headquarters.
Martin’s campaign had even been sending out e-releases for days promoting the Victory Fieldhouse site.
But now, the Tea Party Express contends that Martin was under pressure from Steelman’s rivals to back out. Her opponents in the Aug. 7 primary include St. Louis businessman John Brunner and U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood.
Sal Russo, chief strategist of the Tea Party Express, said, “We are extremely disappointed in attorney general candidate, Ed Martin, for caving into outside pressure and cancelling our location at the last minute.
“The Tea Party Express rallies have always welcomed all competing candidates to our rallies, even when we have strongly endorsed one of the candidates,” Russo said. “Mr. Martin, however, has bowed to pressure from other candidates who did not want to compete with Sarah Steelman who enjoys strong support from the Tea Party Express and leads in every recent primary and general election poll of Missouri voters.
When other candidates put pressure on Mr. Martin and he caves into it, they do not present a very attractive choice to voters. In fact, it reinforces our strong support for Sarah Steelman, who will not only win the primary, but she will defeat Sen. Claire McCaskill.”
A spokesman for Brunner said its campaign had not exerted any pressure on Martin.
Martin's campaign manager Steve Michael said in a statement that other factors were at work. “When contacted by the Tea Party Express recently, we readily agreed to host an event that was to be for all candidates in this region including those in contested primaries," he said.
"In the last few days, the Tea Party Express has made it clear that theirs is a candidate-specific effort. Therefore, their event has strayed from what was originally agreed upon, and they have said they will gather at another location. Ed and Cole will be hosting a volunteer event this evening at which all candidates are welcome.”
Local tea party groups dispute endorsement
Russo added a veiled threat: “The Tea Party Express endorsed Ed Martin in 2010 in his failed congressional bid. I hope that his inability to keep his word today will not inhibit his ability to mount a strong campaign against liberal Attorney General Chris Koster. "
Russo also observed: "Mr. Martin also would enhance his prospects for success by returning phone calls.”
The Tea Party Express is ignoring the local controversy prompted by 17 Missouri tea party groups who have protested the Tea Party Express' endorsement of Steelman in writing.
Allies of Steelman's rivals assert that it may have been that opposition from Missouri tea party groups that contributed to Martin's decision to withdraw his invitation.
Sandy Garber, a member of the St. Charles County Republican Central Committee, was among those attending Steelman's event. Garber emphasized that she and several others were there in support of the Express' conservative views. Garber is an activist with K & N Patriots, a tea party group that is not endorsing any candidates.
Steelman said she wasn't going to get involved in the dispute over tea party endorsements: "I respect each individual tea party in this state."
