Tea Party Rhetoric in 59th Assembly Race Reaches Fever Pitch

Tim Donnelly is not one to mince words. Like many conservative candidates who've climbed aboard the Tea Party Express, only to be absorbed into the far-right wing of the Republican Party, Donnelly's rhetoric has taken a militaristic tone, with words like "revolution" and "war" creeping into stump speeches and sound bites throughout the campaign. Donnelly is the founder of the California Minutemen Civil Defense Corps.

If history is any indication, the solid Republican majority in California's 59th Assembly District, which includes Sierra Madre and Monrovia, will likely elect Donnelly to the Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

While Democratic challenger Darcel Woods was unavailable for comment, campaign spokesman Dermont Givens said that their campaign had been going well, that they had "left no stone unturned," and that they believed they have a strong shot at winning the seat. Woods, a former Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, is zeroed in on reforming the budgetary process and "opening it up to the public," according to Givens.

After narrowly beating Republican Party favorite Chris Lancaster in the June Primary, Donnelly is seeking the seat left vacant by Republican Anthony Adams, who chose not to run for reelection after a highly publicized recall campaign nearly removed him from office in 2009.

But if his campaign rhetoric is any indication, Donnelly is anything but the typical candidate for the district.

Asked what separates the Tea Party from mainstream Republicans, Donnelly said "There's no difference when it comes to platform," but added that the Tea Party "is serious." Indeed, Donnelly said that Tea Party candidates have often needed to separate themselves from traditional Republican candidates while on the campaign trail.

"If you mention Meg Whitman's name," said Donnelly, "you will likely get into an argument or possibly a fist fight in someone's front yard." Among other issues, Donnelly said that Whitman is on the wrong side of illegal immigration and A.B. 32, stances he says will cause her to lose the election.

But Givens maintains that the Tea Party will have little effect on the election in the 59th District. "Mr. Donnelly ," said Givens.

Asked what he believes brought on the anger and frustration that spawned the Tea Party movement, Donnelly says, "it's obvious" and is quick to point to the recently passed healthcare reform bill.

"When Obamacare came down," said Donnelly, "the level of rage that I was hearing from people that I would consider normal was just unbelievable."

Donnelly says people voted in 2008 "not realizing that Barack Hussein Obama was a man of his word, and when he said he believed in socialism and believed in spreading wealth around, that he would keep his promise," said Donnelly in a telephone interview.

Much worse, says Donnelly, than the fiery rhetoric coming from many Tea Party candidates, is that of many of their supporters.

Donnelly recounted a story of one man he met on the campaign trail, who he cited as someone with a less extreme viewpoint than that of others with whom he had spoken.

"He said we need to line up every member of the Assembly and the Senate, and we need to throw in Obama, and we need to blow their heads off," said the man, according to Donnelly.

Donnelly said he was surprised that a man would be talking like this "to a complete stranger." Donnelly said that the people who are "not doing as well… I can't tell you what they're saying."

"If we don't make some headway; if we don't win some victories and start shrinking the size of government, it's possible that we will see a violent insurrection in Southern California," said Donnelly, adding that he feared his children could grow up "in a war-torn country." As for his energized, supporters, Donnelly said that he "will take their anger with [him] to the Assembly."

Nevertheless, Donnelly said he is committed to a "peaceful revolution and transfer of power," and consistently said that he is "optimistic." But despite that optimism, Donnelly said he remains committed to the need for a new "citizen government."

Again, Givens dismisses Donnelly's comments as "an extremist, wing-nut point of view."

Challenging the idea that the Tea Party has a strong influence over the 59th District, Givens asked where this violence might take place. "Is there going to be violence in the streets of Sierra Madre?" Givens asked rhetorically and with a slight chuckle.

Asked what he might say to those who believe certain language of the Tea Party goes too far, Donnelly said they should "get a life" and "go screw [themselves]."

Vehemently defending his and other candidates' rights to free speech, Donnelly said "this is America" and "I see this as the second American Revolution."