by DCG
Back in September, Christopher Rufo declared that he was going to run for Seattle City Council, District 6. He was going to challenge incumbent Mike O’Brien. Rufo started a CrowdPac page and had raised $12,760 of his $15,000 goal.
I read about Rufo in September and recall him saying he was “socially progressive” and “fiscally conservative.” (I can’t remember where I read that so I don’t have a link to that information.)
Turns out that not being 100% progressive will not get you anywhere near winning a council seat in Seattle. MyNorthwest.com reports that on Wednesday Rufo dropped out of the race. Excerpts from their report:
“When Rufo first made the announcement that he was running, someone on Facebook commented that he seemed like a nice guy, but had been at an event in town thrown by a conservative group, which automatically made him suspicious. Does attendance at a conservative event now disqualify you? What if you attended an event of a conservative you disagreed with just to hear what they had to say?
Christopher Rufo said that he wanted a new way of doing business, a new method — and now he’s already out. On Wednesday, he sent an email out to members of his campaign saying that he’s got to leave. It’s not because he wants to leave; it’s because of the “tolerant” atmosphere in Seattle. (The “tolerant” description was sarcasm.)
I had hoped that this would be a campaign of ideas, but I quickly discovered that the activists in this city have no interest in ideas. Since the campaign launch, they have harassed and threatened my family nonstop. I was prepared to take the heat, but unfortunately, they have focused their hatred on my wife and children. They’ve made vile racist attacks against my wife, attempted to get her fired from Microsoft, and threatened sexual violence. They have even posted hateful messages to my 8-year-old son’s school Facebook page. I know that as the race progresses, the activists will ratchet up their hate-machine and these attacks will intensify significantly.”
Read the whole story here.
Here’s more of Rufo’s statement from his Facebook page:
“I’m deeply disappointed by this turn of events and hope I have not let down my supporters as well. I’ve been overwhelmed by the excitement, love, and generosity from hundreds of people all over the Puget Sound. I know in my heart that our cause is just and our ideas would make Seattle a better place. But my primary responsibility is to make sure my family is healthy, happy, and safe. That’s not possible in our current political climate, which has been overtaken by polarization and the ever-present threat of violence.
I’ve learned that our problem here in Seattle is much deeper than the city council’s policies—we have created a culture of intolerance that is deeply destructive to the common good. I plan to spend the next few months reflecting on this experience and charting a way forward in a series of essays. I hope that some positive benefit can come out of this disappointment.
Over the next two weeks, I will be refunding all of our campaign donors and will personally cover the costs incurred since the launch of the campaign. I’m deeply grateful for all of you who have contributed and hope you can reroute your hard-earned money to other worthy candidates in the city.
I’m honored to have had your support.”
While Seattle runs amok with homelessness, drug users, prostitution and increasing crime, here was a man willing to step up to the plate offering solutions that the current council cannot deliver. Yet because he was spotted at a “conservative event” he must be destroyed. No differing opinions allowed in progressive, “tolerant” Seattle!
Instead of considering a new, fresh approach to solving your multitude of problems, the open-minded progressives try to take down his family.
I’m fresh out of empathy for Seattle citizens. May you reap all the consequences you deserve for being so close-minded and spiteful against anyone who dares to attend an event of the opposite political spectrum.
DCG