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Friday, Oct 19, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Wow…

The Rolling Stones sold out their November 25th and 29th shows at London’s O2 Arena in just seven minutes, according to multiple reports. Fans apparently snapped up the arena’s least expensive seats, priced around $152, in just three minutes, while the priciest seats at around $601 were gone a few minutes later.

The high traffic caused Ticketmaster to crash before the tickets had sold out. A holding page read, “We’re experiencing high demand. You will be automatically directed to the page requested as soon as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience.” Resale websites are already listing tickets for as much as $20,050.

* You know what that means…

Tipplin’ a jar in Jackson

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Prove it, doc

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WCIA TV’s Steve Staeger tried to get an answer from the DCCC yesterday about where the money actually came from that paid for Democrat David Gill’s controversial TV ad. As I’ve already told you, Gill’s ad claims he won’t ever take a penny from corporations, Wall Street, etc., but ironically enough the spot is paid for in part by the DCCC, which does take that cash.

From Staeger’s Twitter feed…

Got off the phone with the DCCC. They say the commercial was paid entirely with grassroots money. But they said there is no separate fund.

So, if there is no separate fund, then how the heck can Dr. Gill know that he’s not taking “tainted” money? From the Gill campaign…

All funds raised for the DCCC 441ad commercials aired in partnership with the Gill campaign come from funds raised by the DCCC’s online/grassroots donors, not PACs, lobbyists, or corporate donors.

Dr. Gill asked the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for assurances that these funds used to assist his campaign’s advertising would not be from corporate PACS or Wall Street interests and the Committee met his strict standards on this matter.

* Gill’s campaign referred all further questions to the DCCC. But the DCCC so far hasn’t said how they met Gill’s “strict standards” since there is no separate fund. I sent this e-mail to the DCCC’s spokesperson today…

Is there or is there not a separate DCCC fund that contains “grassroots” non corporate money? And if so, what is the name of this fund?

The reply…

We fundraise from different sources. Our grassroots/online fundraising money that we used in partnership with Gill only came from grassroots/online fundraising not PAC.

My response…

And how can you prove this?

The DCCC’s response…

Dr. Gill made a pledge so in partnering with him, we honored that. What we’re spending in partnership with the Gill campaign came from our grassroots and online fundraising.

So, I guess we’re just supposed to take their word, even though there is no separate fund.

* This is a problem created wholly by Gill. He made such a huge deal about not ever accepting “even a penny” from corporations, Wall Street, lobbyists, etc. It’s now up to him to prove that he didn’t get any of that cash.

* Meanwhile, I told you already that the American Action Network was upping its buy by $1.15 million against Gill. The PAC had already spent $320K. Here’s the new ad…

* Script…

David Gill loves seeing your money fly away.

Gill supported billions in stimulus spending that failed to create the jobs promised,

with billions to failed companies like Solyndra.

Gill supports Obamacare which cuts $716 billion from Medicare,

and a 2 percent healthcare tax costing families a thousand dollars a year.

David Gill: Making a mess out of healthcare, and our economy.

Vote No on David Gill.

American Action Network is responsible for the content of this advertising.

* Related…

* WCIA report on Gill

* Gill defends funding from Democratic committee

* Candidate defends taking national party cash for ad

* Gill defends ad funded in part by DCCC

* Speaker of the House appears at fund raiser for Rodney Davis

* Protestors not happy with Boehner visit: Cameras weren’t allowed inside the fundraiser but we talked to Rodney Davis beforehand. He’s just honored the House Speaker is here.

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*** UPDATED x1 *** NRCC revises ad after stations refuse to air it

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

*** UPDATE *** From the Foster campaign…

ABC now has a THIRD version of the ad submitted to them by the NRCC. They wouldn’t run the revision (#2). So there might be as many as three versions up

Oy.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* Democrat Bill Foster’s congressional campaign claims that four of the five Chicago broadcast TV stations initially refused to air this ad by the NRCC…

Only CBS2 continued to air the ad, according to the Foster campaign.

The ad claims that Foster sold his stock “just one day after congressmen held a closed-door briefing in Washington about the financial crisis.”

“Congressman Foster got the parachute, you got the crash,” the ad ends.

* Foster’s campaign says the NRCC spot was “a clear attempt to outright lie to the public without any credible facts.” More…

It’s quite simple: Bill never attended the “closed door briefing” they allege. Not to mention, it was publicly reported that AIG would require a federal bailout at that time, so anyone with an internet connection had access to information.

* WGN is refusing to air a revised NRCC ad as well. But other stations are airing the retooled spot…

Though the Bill Foster campaign is fuming over a recent campaign ad that charges he personally profited during his time in Congress — the ad is still running — with the exception of WGN.

The National Republican Congressional Committee says the ad raises a central question about the timing of the Democrat’s personal financial decisions during a critical time in congress — the 2008 housing market collapse. While some stations asked for more details about the ad before airing it, she said, they aired it after some minor changes. […]

“The major Chicago television stations are all running our ad that highlights how Congressman Foster inappropriately used his position on the House Financial Services Committee to personally benefit. We added language to our ad that reinforces the fact that Congressman Foster abused his power,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Katie Prill.

* Meanwhile, Biggert says she’s not a millionaire…

Biggert and Foster have portrayed each other as wealthy in TV ads. Asked whether it was disingenuous for each candidate to slam the other as a millionaire without mentioning they are one as well, Biggert quickly responded: “But I’m not.”

“Certainly the salary from being a member of Congress would not make me a millionaire,” said Biggert, whose congressional salary is $174,000 a year. “We have investments, and that’s good. You have to plan for retirement.”

Biggert’s financial disclosure form shows that she and her husband, Rody Biggert, a retired attorney, have assets worth $1.9 million to $5.3 million.

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“Obedient Duckling”

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I showed this to subscribers earlier today, but I thought you might get a kick out of it as well. GOP state Rep. Skip Saviano’s latest TV ad is called “Obedient Duckling.” Rate it…

“Duckling” is Statehouse slang for newbie House Democrats who need constant management by leadership so they don’t screw up their reelection campaigns.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and a campaign roundup

Friday, Oct 19, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller

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