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*** UPDATED x1 *** Federal Democratic tracker shows up outside of state Democratic fundraiser
Monday, Aug 20, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller * I arrived a bit too late to see her, but a Democratic “tracker” showed up at a Republican State Fair event on Wednesday. That’s not so unusual. Video trackers go pretty much everywhere these days. What is somewhat unusual about the tracker’s presence was that the event was held in a tavern. People were drinking. I really don’t like this idea. There ought to be things that are off limits to video trackers, and taverns are one of them, unless maybe a candidate has a DUI or something. This particular tracker apparently follows Republican congressional candidate Rodney Davis. “She’s everywhere,” said one Davis friend. And she was at DH Brown’s on Wednesday for a state party function. It was a private affair, so she was given the boot. Figuratively, of course. * But then this same Democratic tracker reappeared Thursday evening - at a function for two Democrats. The Democrats, Rep. Elgie Sims and state House candidate Lance Tyson, were holding a joint fundraiser at an office on West Capitol Ave. I try to attend as many State Fair political events as I can, and I showed up for that one. The tracker was on the sidewalk across the street from the building. She had been in the building’s private parking lot before she was shooed away. I drove up to her after I left the fundraiser and asked her a couple of questions… * As you can see by the video, the tracker originally identified herself as working for “Coulson Research,” then said she worked for “Olson Research.” Neither of those firms show up in a Google search, nor in the candidate disbursements. The DCCC confirmed later that she was a Democratic tracker, but denied that she works for them. The DCCC person I communicated with did not respond to my questions about why this person would be sent to a Democratic event. The Democrats involved weren’t exactly pleased, to say the least. * The bottom line is I still don’t know why this Democratic tracker showed up at a Democratic event. I’m posting this in case somebody can help me out here. Thanks. …Adding… There’s a tracker page used by the DCCC that follows Republican congressional candidate Jason Plummer. The page has an interesting twist to it. For instance, on the video of the recent congressional debate, there’s a link to all of Plummer’s transcribed comments. *** UPDATE *** Via a commenter, could this be the OR firm?
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- Shore - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 12:06 pm:
the tv station posted the plummer debate online on youtube. The guy looks like he’s gained about 50 pounds but my favorite line was in the middle where he’s asked about tough decisions in governing and he responds “my hs friends and I were at chick fil-a having lunch the other day”…His consultants should take a victory lap fpr getting him to say that.
- OneMan - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 12:20 pm:
Since she didn’t seem to be able to get the name of the firm she was with right, perhaps she didn’t realize it was a Democrat event.
- Crime Fighter - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 12:33 pm:
Illinois Dems. have adopted national GOP policies against both public service employees and luxury taxes (revenue and tax fairness). These 2 issues encompass a large number of state policymakers responsibilities. Therefore, with the exception of several social issues, Illinois Dems have essentially defected as GOP policymakers and may be monitored by Democratic leaning groups.
- Skeeter - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 12:37 pm:
Dems are supposed to be the party of freedom. What you do on your own time is your own business, as long as you are not hurting anybody. If somebody goes out after work, it should not matter unless that fail to function in the office in the morning.
Sad to see the party stoop this low.
- MrJM - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 12:45 pm:
OneMan’s theory would make Occam proud.
– MrJM
- videooo - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 12:49 pm:
I think I saw her on the fairgrounds shooting the State Fair parade too.
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 12:52 pm:
Are some of these folks just hired guns working on spec trying to catch anyone, regardless of party, in a George Allen moment?
- Cheswick - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 1:18 pm:
I wonder how much she gets paid for that job.
- LINK - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 1:29 pm:
Freudian slip on (Charles) Coulson maybe?
- Ahoy! - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 1:52 pm:
So, if a tracker is taping an on duty police officer, are they breaking the law?
- Spliff - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 1:54 pm:
Next time you talk to her let her know that she works for Eric Ohlsen at www.ohlsenresearch.com
- OneMan - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 2:19 pm:
Looks like he is on twitter if it is the same firm.
- Been There - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 2:19 pm:
Maybe she was tracking me. That’s my car in the background. I hope she still wasn’t filming when I left the fundraiser.
- Perplexed and Perturbed - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 2:24 pm:
Tracking the tracker. I’m scandalized.
- Pot calling kettle - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 2:30 pm:
I was wondering the same thing as Wordslinger. If nothing is happening at the State Fair, why not pop over to some other shindig. If a candidate comes stumbling out of his/her fundraiser, someone will certainly pay for the video.
- Team Sleep - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 2:39 pm:
I understand the “need” for a tracker, but after a while these firms and campaigns either need to tap the brakes or perhaps bring in some new people. I know that sounds odd but this young lady could very well become a tracker who attends more events than necessary and draws the ire of enough people who are willing to call the police or have an owner of an establishment remove her.
- Just Observing - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 2:40 pm:
Spliff… are you sure its the same firm? Do you know this for a fact, or did you just come up with the firm via a Google search? Not attaching you, but just wondering so the wrong firm is swept into this.
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 3:09 pm:
If Republicans don’t want to be seen drinking then they shouldn’t hold party events in a public bar. Rich, what would your attitude have been had they kicked journalists out of an event held at a public establishment?
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 3:12 pm:
===Rich, what would your attitude have been had they kicked journalists out of an event held at a public establishment? ===
If it’s a private event, they can kick anyone out they want.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 3:14 pm:
Also, it’s a privately owned establishment, like this one. If I can ban a commenter, they can kick anybody out they want.
- Sunshine - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 3:21 pm:
…..and then there was silence….
- soccermom - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 3:24 pm:
actually, I hear crickets.
- Spliff - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 3:25 pm:
99% sure (i don’t google that stuff).
- soccermom - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 5:19 pm:
Incidentally, if it’s really Ohlsen, they do stuff for advocacy groups as well. So if there’s a group that’s annoyed with both parties (nothing comes to mind, but it’s a possibility.)
- Cheryl - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 5:40 pm:
A group annoyed with both parties? She must be working for the voters of Illinois.
- annon - Monday, Aug 20, 12 @ 6:40 pm:
Isn’t there some kind of law being broken, especially on private property. Might be something perhaps in the state’s wire tap statutes that might apply. You can’t audio tape someone with out their knowledge. Did anyone get a plate number off the car or nearby cars ??