* Umm…
* The tweet caused quite a stir on Twitter…
Ad infinitum. Lots of people are upset.
* The tweet was quickly deleted…
…Adding… Duckworth campaign…
In response to the NRSC’s vile tweet, since deleted, Duckworth deputy campaign manager Matt McGrath issued the following statement:
“Tasteless and dishonest, just like everything else to do with Mark Kirk’s flailing campaign. Tammy has made fighting for Veterans her life’s work, and will continue to do so in the Senate.” - Matt McGrath, campaign spokesman
* Meanwhile…
Despite the title of that poly sci course you took in college, politics really is an art, not a science. Good politicians almost instinctively know when to take up a given subject, when to show up and how far to go. The others bumble or stumble, coming across as arrogant and disconnected.
Which leads to U.S. Senate hopeful Tammy Duckworth.
By just about all indications, the northwest suburban congresswoman is going to win a smashing victory a week from today, on March 15, capturing the Democratic nomination to oppose GOP incumbent Mark Kirk in the fall. By all indications, she’ll enter that contest as the clear favorite.
But you never want to act like the clear favorite. Voters want to be courted and treated with respect, not taken for granted. But like Hillary Clinton did in the presidential race earlier this year, Duckworth continues to do so in the Senate contest.
The latest example is Duckworth’s decision to skip tonight’s WTTW-TV/Channel 11 debate. Her aides are suggesting only that her primary debate schedule was all filled up long ago—with (golly) three whole debates in three months. […]
Duckworth isn’t senator yet. She needs to do what all good pols do: run scared. If she can’t handle a half-hour exchange on public TV, she can’t handle the job.
I don’t think Sen. Kirk has debated even once this primary season, but she should’ve been more available.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
I’m tired of stupid amateurs wrecking perfectly decent campaigns and I’m tired of candidates who let them.
Pookie’s new college degree does not entitle her to pontificate about someone she doesn’t know, a place where she doesn’t live, with an attack she doesn’t understand.
I’m tired of amateurs who believe that an insult is as good as an accomplishment.
- Debate talking points - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:47 pm:
So Duckworth doesn’t want to do anymore debates? One could say she plans to roll right towards victory.
- Just Me - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
This tweet is an example of party staffers who are so rabid in their belief system they can’t even think about the nonsense they are spewing over social media. Stupid on so many levels.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
Nothing good comes out of campaign twitters.
Get of Twitter.
(End Rant)
- Observations - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
One could say that Tammy has rolling right towards victory.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:51 pm:
Thank you, Rich. Your post illuminated a couple of things. With regard to Jonathan Chait’s tweet: the humorously quaint notion that there will be any kind of accountability for the NRSC’s thoughtless attack. Has Chait ever heard of former US Senator Max Clelland and what the NRSC did to a triple amputee war hero?
With regard to Hinz, who is a good reporter, in his desire to prove he’s not just another lib columnist (the right’s constant refrain against the “mainstream media”), he sometimes forgets to fully consider if the criticism he’s leveling against the Democrats might apply equally, or more so, to the Republicans. Imagine he feels the pressure more for writing for a business audience.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
Debate talking points and Observations really should be ashamed of themselves. Trolls without even a scintilla of Tammy Duckworth’s courage and valor.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
Well, if you’re a Republican in good standing and have an idiot cousin who needs a job, you now know where they can apply.
I don’t understand why Kirk’s peeps keeping bringing up veterans.
Duckworth’s service record was real, while Kirk made up much of his.
Why do they keep inviting that comparison?
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
I will savor your banishment.
– MrJM
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
This won’t be the last time Kirk and/or the NRSC steps in it while attacking Duckworth. The only chance Kirk has is to attack Duckworth. He does not have a record he can run on. It’s his only choice.
- Irishpirate - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
Kirk could always choose to lose with dignity and go on to a lobbying career. Or he can play the game the NRSC is playing
- MSIX - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
The two biggest threats to every career are Facebook and Twitter. Followed closely by Raunerism.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
–Despite the title of that poly sci course you took in college, politics really is an art, not a science. –
There’s much more to the field of Political Science than campaigning.
And there’s plenty of science nowadays in campaigning.
- Independent retired lawyer, journalist - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:25 pm:
Don’t blame Twitter or Facebook for what the NRSC did. Even if the staffer was ignorant, there was no oversight…?
- quicknote - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
FWIW Duckworth issued a press release in 2013 with the headline, “Congresswoman Duckworth Stands Up For Small Businesses By Introducing Paperwork Relief Legislation.” http://votesmart.org/public-statement/774837/congresswoman-duckworth-stands-up-for-small-business-by-introducing-paperwork-relief-legislation#.Vt9DWhi7UXg
- Beaner - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
This is probably an overreaction and misstep caused by the highly effective VetVotes or VoteVets.com advertisement Rich posted in the past few days.
- Downstate Dem - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Duckworth is a classic DSCC talking points candidate, straight out of central casting. No real policy depth, taking no chances with policy statements. She has potential.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
I don’t blame Twitter, I’m scratching my noggin trying to figure out the rationale of a campaign (in this case a campaign operation) being on Twitter.
Twitter is fine.
Pols and campaigns shouldn’t use it, however.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
When will people learn that deleting a tweet or a Facebook post or anything on the internet does NOT mean it will disappear?
Think before you post.
- Gmma - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
FYI: Journal Star is endorsing Zopp over Duckworth due in part to Tammy’s failure to show up downstate. http://www.pjstar.com/article/20160304/OPINION/160309661
- Ginhouse Tommy - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:44 pm:
Even if the lady had never been wounded it still takes a lot to be a helicopter pilot. You go thru basic which is the easy part. You have to go thru officer’s training where there is constant pressure on each candidate, then comes flight training where you are only allowed one mistake. Make another you’re washed out. Anyone who can pass all that has my respect. It takes tons of discipline to do that. Jeez these campaigns are sleazy this go around.
- Anon - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:03 pm:
How’s that whistle blower law suit going?
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
Faux outrage is a lot easier than substantive debate.