* Yesterday, I received a call from a Republican operative [Doug Ibendahl - see update below] who said he’d seen a Tom Swiss campaign billboard on Chicago’s West Side. Swiss is a former Cook County Republican Party executive director who is running in a Democratic primary in a majority black district. Swiss is white. Click the pic to see a larger version of Swiss’ billboard…

* My initial, humorous reaction in reply to the operative’s subsequent e-mail with the billboard pic was that this looked like the John Stroger “fisherman” ad in reverse. Stroger’s TV ad for Cook County Board President featured a white fisherman and the joke was back then that lots of voters thought the old white man fishing with his grandson was actually Stroger. Here’s the e-mail I sent…

It’s like the old John Stroger fisherman ad in reverse. lol

Notice the “lol.”

After I sent that e-mail, I scrolled down and realized there was a pic of a second billboard…

* So far, Swiss has managed to fly almost completely under the Chicago media’s radar screen despite the obvious news potential of his campaign - a white Republican operative running as a Democrat in a black majority House district. Chicago media is notorious for ignoring state legislative races, which is one reason I’ve been able to establish my niche. I wrote about Swiss in the subscriber version way back on December 2nd…

(T)he longtime Republican Swiss has filed to run in the Democratic primary against appointed incumbent Derrick Smith, who got the seat when Annazette Collins was appointed to the Senate. A recent blast e-mail from the Illinois Log Cabin Republicans stated that Democrats often insert Republican plants into Chicago races and went on to claim: “It’s time to turn the tables and use their same tricks against them! This year we have a lifelong Republican supporter running as a Democrat.”

In his own e-mail, which was date-stamped May 24th, Swiss dismissed the majority African-American district’s residents as “extremely low information voters,” and said he had three paths to victory. Branding and get-out-the-vote were his first two goals.

His third goal, however, may raise some eyebrows. Swiss wrote that he planned on “hiring people’s yards to place a yard sign for $5.”

Swiss would neither confirm nor deny last night that he wrote the e-mail, saying only that he was “running as a Democrat to serve the public and bring sound judgment to Springfield. I don’t believe that patriotism is a party label. William Lipinski, Dan Lipinski, Richard M. Daley and even Speaker Madigan can each be fairly described as Conservative Democrats. I look forward to the race.” Swiss also did not answer a question about the ethics of paying for yard sign placements.

Swiss promised to run an “extremely aggressive” campaign in the e-mail, adding that the race “could possibly be the least expensive State Rep. seat pick up for conservatives.”

* I had planned to reach out to Swiss again today about the billboards and to see how he was doing with his paid yard sign placements, but at 12:21 this morning several reporters including myself received this blast e-mail from the Swiss campaign…

DEMOCRAT MACHINE PLANS SMEAR CAMPAIGN ON REFORMER TOM “JOBS NOW” SWISS

Tom Swiss, reform candidate for the Democratic Nomination for State Senator in the 10th District, announced today that multiple sources have warned him of a coming Democrat Machine racist smear campaign against him to be unleashed to incite Black voters. It is to be run through press and blog sites friendly to the Machine, such as Rich Miller’s “Capitol Fax”.

“I don’t care if someone is black or white. I care that families are suffering and people are going hungry from a lack of jobs stemming from the fiscal catastrophe that is Illinois,” stated Swiss. “The current regime cares a whole lot more about votes than jobs.”

Swiss stated that he had been tipped off that the campaign would start almost immediately, and accuse Swiss of trying to misrepresent himself as African American. “I’ve never hidden who or what I am,” said Swiss. “I’ve also never waivered from my deep concern that we need to restart economies in Black neighborhoods before they are overcome by poverty and gangs. It is not a race issue. It is a people issue, and the only long-term answer is business development, starting right here in the 10th District.”

He sent out a correction 21 minutes later noting that he was running for the House, not the Senate.

If the Republican who sent me the billboard photos consents, I’ll post his name later in the day. I wanted to get this post up, however, because I am the one clearly being smeared by a candidate who has already apparently boasted about planning to pay for yard sign placements in a district populated with “extremely low information voters” and whose ally has all but admitted that the candidate is a GOP plant.

* Also, just for snicks, you may remember this Tom Swiss story from 2010…

Visitors to ChicagoGOP.com may have gotten a bit of a surprise today — for much of the afternoon, the lead item on the site featured a provocative picture of a bare-chested woman wrapped in a bed sheet. […]

A phone call and email to Tom Swiss, who Blessing said runs the unofficial site, were not immediately returned.

*** UPDATE *** The Republican who called me about the billboard yesterday was Doug Ibendahl. He sent me this statement…

Anyone who knows me knows I’m completely against these dishonest games. As a Republican I know this nonsense hurts the Republican Party. We don’t win over Democratic voters by lying to them right out of the box. I don’t know what Tom Swiss is, but he’s not a Democrat as his signs claim. This goof has been embarrassing the GOP for years. The good news is Swiss is officially out of the Republican Party now.

       

47 Comments - CircularFiringSquad - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:28 am: Is this another WhackyJack Roeser productions or are there more wing nuts lose in Chicago? - bored now - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:29 am: so when he loses, he blames you (rich)??? that’s a heck of a communications strategy (maybe he’s laying the groundwork for a statewide bid)… - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:39 am: I will refer folks to my comment yesterday regarding the futility and stupidity of picking a fight with Rich Miller. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:43 am: BTW, in general attempting to smear journalists in the media is neither an effective nor sustainable communications strategy. Nor is repeating the charges against you. Not even bush league: little league. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:43 am: “Never get into a media battle with someone who buys ink by the barrel.” I guess we can change that to “bandwith in bulk…” There are many times I mock the ILGOP, some of its operatives, heck, the GOP leadership and establishment, and I do feel, “that might be too much, but I am glad i posted.” Then … dopes do things like this and all that goes away. I know that the Chicago GOP, at times, could have a meeting in a phone booth and still have room for a dessert table, but they claim to be part of the party I belong and I have to put up with their shenannigans. Tom Swiss was useless. The internet/website picture “thing” was just a small piece, but important enough to focus on that he was, and is, a dope. So here we are. A “former” CGOP ED, running as a Dem, in a minority drwn district … and now is claiming a “tinfoil” conspiracy, including someone who buys his bandwith in bulk … and we are going to believe this guy? Best ways to explain the Executive Director term of Mr. Swiss is the internet fiasco … and now sending a press release with the wrong seat he is running for and then sending that correction. Way to go, Tommy Boy! You want to know why I get so snarky about the HGOP or the ILGOP or republican operatives … This is pretty self-explanitory, especially with guys like Tommy Swiss … - PublicServant - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:52 am: Swift may not be, well, so swift, but his strategy is purge GOP. - PublicServant - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:53 am: Sorry, press release correction, Swiss..teehee - OneMan - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:55 am: The sad thing is on some level this wasn’t a bad strategy if you wanted to spend a term in the state house. But… There is flying under the radar and then there is spending time talking about how the radar operator isn’t paying attention. Regardless by attracting reporters to the story with the e-mail you are doing your self no favors, nor is poking Rich. - dave - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 8:58 am: Not only is it a bad idea to pick a fight with a journalist in the media, it is also a bad idea to send a press release that doesn’t know what office you are running for. Hilarious. - wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:02 am: –He sent out a correction 21 minutes later noting that he was running for the House, not the Senate.– I don’t know about the district voters, but Swiss certainly is a low-information candidate if he doesn’t know what he’s running for. I’ll put my tinfoil hat on and say this guy is a deep-cover Dem mole. He took the ChicagoGOP.com domain and put up girly pictures, making a further mockery of the GOP brand in the city. And now he’s a Republican running as a Democrat in a black district but doesn’t know for what office. A real Republican wouldn’t subject the party to such humiliation. That Madigan is a diabolical genius. - ChicagoR - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:08 am: Hell hath no fury like Rich Miller scorned. - Davey Boy Smithe - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:12 am: I wonder if they’ll put him on the ballot as Rich Whitey. - Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:15 am: Are you planning to go Matt Harrington on Swiss if he doesn’t return your calls? - Don't Worry, Be Happy - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:29 am: There was a blitz this week of Swiss signs in the 32nd Ward. All of the signs went in the parkway or on utility poles. I even saw one on a school fence. None on private property. I don’t think any of them are still up. - soccermom - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:38 am: Clearly, a fiendish plot by Rich Miller to drive traffic to his blog. Does this “Tom Swiss” really exist, or is this some sort of prank? Am I the only one who thinks this cheesy “Swiss” story is full of holes? Oh, Mr. Miller, this type of photoshopped gag is beneath you…. - Hyperbolic Chamber - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:39 am: “I don’t care if someone is black or white…” – Tom Swiss “I don’t see race. People tell me I’m white and I believe them…” — Stephen Colbert Swiss seems to be the personification of Colbert’s satirical self (yet probably doesn’t even realize it). Too bad there is absolutely nothing humorous about his campaign. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:53 am: Doug Ibendahl sent you the pictures … this story is getting better and better. “The GOP in Illinois - Compelling and Rich.” - Cheswick - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:55 am: It’s like the Counter-Clock Incident. Also, does anyone else think Black Tom Swiss looks a lot like Black Alderman Ed Bus (if there was one)? - And I Approved This Message - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:56 am: Has anybody ever seen Tom Swiss and Scott Lee Cohen in the same room? - LincolnLounger - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 9:56 am: If Doug Ibendahl is a Republican “operative”, then I am a high powered accountant because I balanced my checkbook once. - Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 10:09 am: So, publishing e-mails discussing a campaign plan is a “smear.” Go figure. - just sayin' - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 10:24 am: This is the dumbest scam in politics since Tom Swiss helped then Cook Co. GOP Chair Gary Skoien take out that ridiculous $10,000 bounty on Mayor Daley with “wanted” posters etc. a few years back. And as I recall it was reported that the county party had about 100 bucks in the bank at the time. - mark walker - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 10:33 am: April 1st already? - Bill - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 10:49 am: ==friendly to the machine== LOL!! What machine? Friendly how? - Shock & Awww(e) - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 11:13 am: == This goof has been embarrassing the GOP for years. == Amusing and ironic considering the source. - reformer - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 11:18 am: This ploy reminds me of the ersatz Irish candidates who used to run for judge in Cook County, until a state law was passed to require their former name to be listed on the ballot. These were people who changed their names, adopting Irish surnames or middle names, to enhance their chances of winning a judgeship. Now we have an ersatz Democrat — a lifelong Republican who is pretending to be a Democrat to enhance his electoral chances. - too obvious - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 11:21 am: Too funny Tom Swiss is attacking the Democrats even as he runs as a Chicago Democrat. And as far as a “racist smear campaign against him to be unleashed to incite Black voters,” I think Black voters have good reason to be incited as they find out an arrogant white guy is trying to trick them into voting for an arrogant white guy who has not only been a Republican, the guy was a Republican party official up until just a couple or three months ago, i.e., a Republican Ward Committeeman. - Esquire - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 11:28 am: @Reformer: Sometimes, the bait and switch routine works. It should be recalled that following the death of Republican David Shanahan, a one time Speaker of the House who represented the Bridgeport neighborhood in Springfield, Richard J. Daley was elected to serve in the Illinois General Assembly for the first time by posing as a Republican. Once in office, Daley quickly bolted to the Democratic side of the aisle. - WazUp - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 11:55 am: Gingrich/Swiss ticket = Moonshot! - Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 12:23 pm: The sign-funding strategy begs the question of what is in the Swiss bank account? I for one look forward to his 2014 campaign for Lt. Governor. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 1:31 pm: Anything from Mr. Swiss? The silence is deafening. - just sayin' - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 2:30 pm: Someone needs to connect the dots to the Mike Madigan challenger. Also a “Republican” backed effort. And where did Tom Swiss get 30 come grand to give to his own campaign? Follow the money. - BlueDog - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 2:57 pm: Illinois is the most corrupt state and Chicago the most corrupt city. I vote for the dems and they do this to us. If this guy is shaking things up in Illinois I am for it! - BlueDog - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:06 pm: I just got off the phone with a republican friend who is involved in their party. He tells me this Doug Ibendahl is the single most hated person in their party. He said Doug Ibendahl is a pariah in their party and is not even allowed in republican events anymore. In any event its republicans that are attacking Mr. Swiss. Now I like him even more! I bet he jumped ship after finally realizing the republican party is dysfunctional. - Bleed Red - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:12 pm: They used Doug Ibendahl and referred to his as an “operative”? Most people regard Doug Ibendahl as the single least respected person in the Illinois republican party. He literally is not allowed in most of their events. In fact, many Illinois republicans say all he does is attach republicans. Many believe he is actually a democrat plant. How on earth did was he cited as a credible source. Bush league journalism! - Truth Teller - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:19 pm: I just took a close look at the picture on the bill board. It is just a pic of an african american guy carrying pipes and wearing a hard hat. And it has the slogan “jobs now”. Looks like a pro jobs piece to me. Does it matter what race the worker is on a marketing piece? It doesn’t look like he is trying to fool people to me. What’s the big deal? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:19 pm: Blue Dog, Bleed Red - Coincidence that they have the same points … hmmm - too obvious - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:29 pm: Funny to watch the hissy fits as the Tom Swiss “plan” blows up in their faces. What a bunch of bozos. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:30 pm: Truth Teller, there is an old tradition in Chicago of making sure that voters in certain areas believe a candidate is of a certain race, either positively or negatively. That was my initial reaction before seeing the other billboard pic. Since dropped. - blue to the bone~ - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:33 pm: Tom Swiss must be loving this. He is getting all kinds of free publicity and his opponent isn’t even mentioned once. Let’s not take the bait any longer. He’s gonna end up waltzing right to Springfield. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:39 pm: ===Let’s not take the bait any longer.==== Somehow I doubt that more than a small handful of people in the district are regular Capitol Fax blog readers. - Truth Teller - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:45 pm: Rich, I understand what you are saying but it is a pic of a guy in a hard hat with pipes in his hand. No reasonable person will mistake that for candidate photo. It would be different if it were a photograph of a black guy in a suit and tie designed to make it appear that it is Tom Swiss. I just see this as a marketing piece. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:46 pm: ===No reasonable person will mistake that for candidate photo. === Voters ain’t always reasonable. - just sayin' - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 3:48 pm: Note how the attack dogs really come out when the funding source question is asked. And people wonder why Chicago is considered the most corrupt city. Let’s not forget Republicans contributing their share of bad behavior. - Team Sleep - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 4:17 pm: Doug Ibendahl has been embarrassing the GOP for years. Just sayin’… - too obvious - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 4:52 pm: Yeah it’s hard to believe a candidate who would lie to voters about being a Democrat would also not have a problem misleading voters about his race. - wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 16, 12 @ 6:26 pm: ==I just got off the phone with a republican friend who is involved in their party. – I didn’t know there were two phone booths left in Chicago. Which one is the GOP holding its city party meeting? You can’t take seriously a GOP that thinks it can’t crack 35% in Cook County. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.