The [Marie Newman dog poop] ad amounts to a little bit of proactive offensive defense.
Perhaps the largest issue in the campaign has been the fact that Newman is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegedly offering a staff job to a potential election opponent if he’d drop out of the race. However, Casten has pretty much ignored that in his own TV ads, instead focusing on positive aspects of his career.
Did Casten know that he could take the high road while an ally—in this case, the Democratic Majority for Israel super PAC—went low?
Casten denies that, and the super PAC so far hasn’t responded to requests for comment. But both the Casten and Newman camps confirm that the group has made a $261,000 cable TV buy for a spot that’s believed to focus on Newman’s ethical problems.
Under investigation for corruption. Is that really what we want in our member of Congress? The Office of Congressional Ethics was unanimous: There’s “substantial reason to believe” Marie Newman may have violated federal law by promising a taxpayer-funded job to an opponent if he agreed not to run against her. Newman even put it in a signed contract. Say ‘No’ to a corrupt politician representing us. Say ‘No’ to Marie Newman. DMFI PAC is responsible for the content of this ad.
Not a gigantic amount of money behind that ad so far, but oof.
That ad would have been even more effective if they showed the actual contract and her signature on it.
- Chris in ChiTown - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
Those PACs with money cannot find a close General Election candidate to support? They’d rather attack a progressive, woman who’s a Democrat than support a Democrat in the fall who has a difficult race.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
Good ad. Nothing fancy, just facts. I don’t live in this district, but I really despise Marie Newman. A member of Congress selling their foreign policy positions or bribing potential opponents with jobs is revolting.
-Surprised Dems didn’t talk her out of this race.-
Based on what we’ve seen, there’s no talking her out of anything. Not a good listener, that one.
Not knowing the PAC, and if it truly is pro-Israel or if it is just a name, but I would have expected a more directed attack on the fact that she not only is paying this guy (aside - is she still paying him out of campaign funds while he’s running himself in another district?), she by contract ceded her own policy positions on Israel-Palestine to this guy. To me that is huge and unforgivable in an elected official.
-They’d rather attack a progressive, woman who’s a Democrat-
Assuming this is an actual pro-Israel PAC, they are attacking her specifically because she sold out her position on issues important to them to an anti-Israel staffer… and she is in a primary with an opponent who they like better. Seems like pragmatism to me.
A-. I agree that it would’ve been nice to see the contract with her signature. And it’d have been helpful to add the man she bribed is currently on her payroll. But overall a very solid ad.
“Those PACs with money cannot find a close General Election candidate to support? They’d rather attack a progressive, woman who’s a Democrat than support a Democrat in the fall who has a difficult race.”
As others have mentioned, Marie Newman is one of the most anti-Israel members of the Democratic caucus so naturally they oppose her. But also, if Democrats want to hold onto the district, she’s wildly out of step and would lose. Seems like a good reason to take sides.
==Those PACs with money cannot find a close General Election candidate to support? They’d rather attack a progressive, woman who’s a Democrat than support a Democrat in the fall who has a difficult race.==
You must not be familiar with special interest PACs at all. This type of stuff is their bread and butter. It’s literally how Newman won the 2020 primary.
- Chris in ChiTown - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:41 pm:
She never hired this person as a US House of Representative staffer. She settled the issue with him by offering him a campaign post. If people enjoy writing information that is incorrect, that reflects negatively on the commenter.
-She never hired this person as a US House of Representative staffer. She settled the issue with him by offering him a campaign post.-
There are House staffers, and there are campaign staffers. Neither changes the fact that she paid this guy off and her votes were on the table. Have a problem with that? I sure do.
==She never hired this person as a US House of Representative staffer. She settled the issue with him by offering him a campaign post.==.
She said she was going to hire him then didnt. She was sued, then settled the issue with the campaign post offer. There, fixed it for you.
- Newman is done - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:53 pm:
Newman is toast. The ethics investigation makes her a major liability for the party- vulnerable to losing in November- this isn’t rocket science - people who care about maximizing D victories in the fall want this liability eliminated on 6/28.
It’s a very good ad. I would rate it a B+ only because it could have gone a bit further in highlighting Newman’s actions.
Marie Newman has no one to blame but herself. Being a progressive woman is not a defense for violating federal laws. And using it as such is an affront to all progressive women.
In DuPage County, I see only Casten signs, no Newman signs. Signs don’t vote but it is telling that no one seems to want to go public with any support for Newman.
Jim Oberweis is forever linked to his “helicopter” ad. Always will be.
Newman will forever be linked to an ad where her pup is relieving itself. Just an overall mistake to be tied to, and glad she is probably going to lose to Casten. I’m in her district and will not be voting for her.
===
In DuPage County, I see only Casten signs, no Newman signs. Signs don’t vote but it is telling that no one seems to want to go public with any support for Newman. ===
Opposite is true in the south suburbs. That’s their respective home bases so it makes sense.
- here we go - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 11:59 am:
Good ad - newspaper headlines, third party sources amplifying her ethics cloud. Surprised Dems didn’t talk her out of this race.
- New Day - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:01 pm:
That ad would have been even more effective if they showed the actual contract and her signature on it.
- Chris in ChiTown - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
Those PACs with money cannot find a close General Election candidate to support? They’d rather attack a progressive, woman who’s a Democrat than support a Democrat in the fall who has a difficult race.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
Good ad. Nothing fancy, just facts. I don’t live in this district, but I really despise Marie Newman. A member of Congress selling their foreign policy positions or bribing potential opponents with jobs is revolting.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:13 pm:
DMFI has targeted progressive Democratic candidates all around the country. They’ve played in Ohio 11, Pennsylvania 12, North Carolina 1, and others.
- here we go -
You must not be familiar with Marie Newman.
- DougChicago - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:20 pm:
As a Republican I hope Newman wins. But boy oh boy is she a mess.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:21 pm:
-Surprised Dems didn’t talk her out of this race.-
Based on what we’ve seen, there’s no talking her out of anything. Not a good listener, that one.
Not knowing the PAC, and if it truly is pro-Israel or if it is just a name, but I would have expected a more directed attack on the fact that she not only is paying this guy (aside - is she still paying him out of campaign funds while he’s running himself in another district?), she by contract ceded her own policy positions on Israel-Palestine to this guy. To me that is huge and unforgivable in an elected official.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:24 pm:
-They’d rather attack a progressive, woman who’s a Democrat-
Assuming this is an actual pro-Israel PAC, they are attacking her specifically because she sold out her position on issues important to them to an anti-Israel staffer… and she is in a primary with an opponent who they like better. Seems like pragmatism to me.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:25 pm:
B+ Agree with New Day on the signature bit, though maybe there’s legal issues with that. Perhaps more to come. She is a terrible public servant.
- Wrigleyville Creature - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:25 pm:
A-. I agree that it would’ve been nice to see the contract with her signature. And it’d have been helpful to add the man she bribed is currently on her payroll. But overall a very solid ad.
- low level - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:28 pm:
Marie Newman is anti Israel. Nothing more needs to be said.
- New Day - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:29 pm:
“Those PACs with money cannot find a close General Election candidate to support? They’d rather attack a progressive, woman who’s a Democrat than support a Democrat in the fall who has a difficult race.”
As others have mentioned, Marie Newman is one of the most anti-Israel members of the Democratic caucus so naturally they oppose her. But also, if Democrats want to hold onto the district, she’s wildly out of step and would lose. Seems like a good reason to take sides.
- ChrisB - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:29 pm:
==Those PACs with money cannot find a close General Election candidate to support? They’d rather attack a progressive, woman who’s a Democrat than support a Democrat in the fall who has a difficult race.==
You must not be familiar with special interest PACs at all. This type of stuff is their bread and butter. It’s literally how Newman won the 2020 primary.
- Chris in ChiTown - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:41 pm:
She never hired this person as a US House of Representative staffer. She settled the issue with him by offering him a campaign post. If people enjoy writing information that is incorrect, that reflects negatively on the commenter.
- Wrigleyville Creature - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:47 pm:
===She never hired this person as a US House of Representative staffer. She settled the issue with him by offering him a campaign post.===
When you have to clarify the source of the money paid in a bribe, you’re fighting a losing battle.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
-She never hired this person as a US House of Representative staffer. She settled the issue with him by offering him a campaign post.-
There are House staffers, and there are campaign staffers. Neither changes the fact that she paid this guy off and her votes were on the table. Have a problem with that? I sure do.
- low level - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:49 pm:
==She never hired this person as a US House of Representative staffer. She settled the issue with him by offering him a campaign post.==.
She said she was going to hire him then didnt. She was sued, then settled the issue with the campaign post offer. There, fixed it for you.
- Newman is done - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:53 pm:
Newman is toast. The ethics investigation makes her a major liability for the party- vulnerable to losing in November- this isn’t rocket science - people who care about maximizing D victories in the fall want this liability eliminated on 6/28.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 12:53 pm:
It’s a very good ad. I would rate it a B+ only because it could have gone a bit further in highlighting Newman’s actions.
Marie Newman has no one to blame but herself. Being a progressive woman is not a defense for violating federal laws. And using it as such is an affront to all progressive women.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 1:03 pm:
==She settled the issue with him by offering him a campaign post==
And you think that makes it any better?
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 1:08 pm:
B+, but not excellent but close enough to it to be effective.
Thanks to Representative Newman I thought to myself “Say no to S**t” at the end of the add.
- Suburbanon - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 1:53 pm:
In DuPage County, I see only Casten signs, no Newman signs. Signs don’t vote but it is telling that no one seems to want to go public with any support for Newman.
- Old IL Dude - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 3:28 pm:
Jim Oberweis is forever linked to his “helicopter” ad. Always will be.
Newman will forever be linked to an ad where her pup is relieving itself. Just an overall mistake to be tied to, and glad she is probably going to lose to Casten. I’m in her district and will not be voting for her.
- Mike - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 4:46 pm:
===
In DuPage County, I see only Casten signs, no Newman signs. Signs don’t vote but it is telling that no one seems to want to go public with any support for Newman. ===
Opposite is true in the south suburbs. That’s their respective home bases so it makes sense.
- Amalia - Thursday, Jun 2, 22 @ 4:48 pm:
I’m betting the list of lakefront progressives who so pushed Newman is way shorter this time.