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* OK, now they’ve really gone too far. Check out the cover of the latest Democratic mailer that’s attempting to skim hard-right votes away from Mark Kirk. Click the pic if you need a larger image, but notice the rally sign: “Terrorists won’t kill us… Cap & Trade will!” Sheesh…
It’s also repeated on the back…
Let’s zoom in…
Here’s the Kirk hit…
And then to make it all legit, here’s Giannoulias saying the two boys are not playing well with each other…
Oh, for crying out loud.
* Meanwhile, things are deteriorating fast all over. Remember that interruption of a debate by Republican Joe Walsh supporters who “demanded” to recite the Pledge of Allegiance? Well…
The incident has inflamed the conservative blogosphere. Professional lightning rod Glenn Beck assailed Tate-Bradish and the League of Women Voters on his Fox News show earlier this week.
Tate-Bradish, a retired teacher, notified police after taking dozens of phone calls and e-mails at home and viewing “scary” comments in online forums, she said.
“They believe that I, personally, Kathy Tate-Bradish, mother of three, am planning to bring this country down,” she said.
Jan Czarnik, executive director of the Illinois League of Women Voters, said she reported to the FBI that death threats had been posted online against her and Tate-Bradish.
Incumbent Democrat Deanna Demuzio and Republican challenger Sam McCann were in studio for WLDS’ “What’s On Your Mind” program.
During the interview, McCann likened those attacking him to terrorists.
“There’s a lot of folks out there that want to run for office,” says McCann. “You know why they don’t? They give me the same answer everytime. I say, ‘Why don’t you run?’ They say, ‘I don’t want to go through what they’re putting you through.’
“Instead of being public servants, it’s like they’re being terrorists.”
Let’s all chill out a bit, eh?
* Maybe we should all just have a cold beer or other adult beverage and listen to our old buddy Dave Dring on WBEZ’s Best Game in Town…
We meet up at Gene & Georgetti for a conversation about the final stages of the campaigns for governor, senate and the Illinois house. We also break down the latest on the race for Chicago mayor, after this week’s announcement that Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart will not seek the office.
Panelists:
Victoria M. DeFrancesco Professor, Northwestern University
Dave Lundy: Political strategist
David Dring: Political strategist and republican lobbyist
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:19 pm
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Best part about the election being 4 days away is that Walsh and his annoying emails will soon go away. I cannot wait.
Comment by Bakersfield Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:24 pm
Stay classy, Illinois Victory.
Comment by The End Is Near Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:30 pm
“Cap & Trade won’t kill us… An aneurysm caused by over-the-top mailers will!”
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:30 pm
They sent out a similar one on Randy Hultgren yesterday. Same group.
Comment by Ghost of John Brown Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:32 pm
How long until the “your mamma is so fat” jokes start between Kirk and Alexi?
Comment by Living in Oklahoma Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:34 pm
the hotter the race, the hotter the rhetoric. hmmm, i seem to remember a little race in 2006 where some political party went all out to destroy the non-slated candidate. what was his name???
Comment by bored now Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:39 pm
Brilliant strategy– Enable someone else to say what you want to say but do not feel you can get away with saying. How pathetic.
I can personally deal with people who stand up for what they believe in even if I disagree. To engage in sock puppetry is forbidden on this site and should not be tolerated by the electorate. It is not just low, it is cowardly.
Walsh is just extreme and will thankfully be shown the door. I can kind of understand McCann’s point.
Comment by Richard Afflis Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:41 pm
He who lives by the Flip-Flip dies by the Flip-Flop.
Mark Kirk wants to have his cake and eat it too. And claim he invented cake.
Considering how Republicans have completely distorted Democrats’ record in the past and in this election — one comment or vote completely out of context — i have no sympathy for Kirk.
Especially since his support for Cap and Trade was real and long-standing, and not taken out of context at all.
Plus, Democrats are being upfront about the fact they paid for the mailer — as you point out, its on the return address.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:55 pm
Great timing with today’s news. Stay classy Alexi…er, I mean “Lake County Democrats”….yeah, that’s the ticket
Comment by ANON Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:58 pm
That’s it. I’m changing my vote. No more Kirk, I’m votin’ for that other guy, Labon, Lanob, Lanbo, whatever his name is. Sheesh, maybe I’ll write in his name….Nolab, Nobal, Naolb.
At least it’s easier to spell than Giannoulias.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:59 pm
So Giannoulias wants voters to pay attention to the third-party candidates?
*googles LeAlan Jones*
Comment by JN Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:00 pm
These ads and the negative press they generate, I believe, have fallen into the catagory of more harm than good. They are just plain dumb.
BTW, no one should vote for Dan Rutherford because he doesn’t no how to pronounce his name.
He says Rootherford. It bugs me every time I hear it.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:02 pm
When the Weekly Standard took a screen shot of my FB page to write a blog entry that was factually inaccurate, I got two FB messages that were moronic rants of people hopped-up on Right Wing ideology.
That’s how they roll.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:03 pm
Maybe I’m way too cynical, but I don’t really see anything wrong with the Giannoulias tactic. The source of the mailer is printed on there and the Dem candidate appears inside. It’s not really all that deceptive.
The Dems have been hoping for 18 months that the Tea Party would fraction the GOP, it hasn’t happened as much as they’d like so now they’re they’re trying to give it a push. May be too late to matter, they probably should have done more of this sooner.
Comment by siriusly Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:04 pm
- Bakersfield - Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 3:24 pm:
“Best part about the election being 4 days away is that”
it’s not 5 days away!! Just a few hours now from being only 3 days that the tactics can sink lower…..on both sides.
Comment by TimB Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:06 pm
If Democrats made the signs in the mailing and presented them as Tea Party signs, this clearly seems unethical.
But if they are real Tea Party signs, what’s the problem?
If Republicans get to use over-the-top language to excite their base, what’s dirty about the Democrats using photographs of the over-the-top language to excite Republican voters?
If the Republicans had objections to dishonest signs at Tea Party rallies, I didn’t hear them.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:06 pm
If the Illinois Victory group doesn’t bug you this election, imagine if the RGA had poured money into Rich Whitney’s campaign to take voters from Quinn.
Comment by Jeff Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:10 pm
It also seems odd to whine about mailings that are pretty clear who they are paid for by at the same time the GOP allies are dumping millions into attacks ads on TV that it’s unclear who is paying.
Pealing off voters is fair game. If Republicans don’t like it they are free to introduce legislation that allows ranked voting or approval voting.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:10 pm
Nothing here, folks. If Kirk’s folks believed they could get away with it and it would make a difference in the vote, they would not hesitate for a second.
Comment by easynow Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:12 pm
I hope someone with integrity in Chicago media–and there are quite a few–will do a Pulitzer worthy investigation of these Labno- Giannoulias-Victory Project-Lake County Dems shenanigans. Who is the architect? Was Labno “put” in place as a front for this “project” from the very get-go as has been done by Dems in other states to siphon off Republican votes? And if not, why is Labno not complaining to high heaven or getting restraining orders or cease and desist orders to prevent his reputation from being trashed this way? Yes. Lots of inquiring minds want to know.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:16 pm
“Nothing here…” So insinuating that Mark Kirk is a bigger threat than terrorists is “nothing”…right.
Comment by ANON Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:16 pm
Rich,
I have on pretty good authority that Alexi is hoping to provide 3 million dollars worth of bike racks to the terrorists.
Sorry, the ad really got to me today. Really just shows hot petty this election has gotten.
Comment by Wow Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:19 pm
Nothing illegal, just silly and desperate. Now I ask Alexi, is Kirk a conservative or not? Another lie by Ali G.
Comment by Wumpus Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:19 pm
As I typed this, bike rack just came on again. It might be titled “Alexi’s Priorities”
Comment by Wow Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:20 pm
ANON, that’s probably the nicest thing that either candidate has said about each other this whole campaign.
Comment by easynow Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:21 pm
wow, I think that’s an old ad. I don’t have time to look, but if someone can go to Kirk’s YouTube page, I bet they can find it.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:25 pm
I don’t want to get banned and so will be careful, but alexi’s mail guy is the same one that I noted a few months ago was on chicago tonight 8 years ago bragging about he got blago elected. If we are going to allow democrats to trash republicans with guilt by association, I think it’s fair to point out that the man behind this filth is the same guy that ran blago 2002 according to the chicago tonight piece. accountability would be nice.
Comment by shore Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:28 pm
== It also seems odd to whine about mailings that are pretty clear who they are paid for ==
Considering the Chair of the Lake County Democrats had no idea about it seems to render you statement a bit questionable Carl.
Glad Alexi decided to go positive….
If it is coordinated, I guess technically it does not fall under his pledge…
Comment by OneMan Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:48 pm
shore, you mean pete giangreco?
He’s also Mark Giangreco’s brother.
Comment by George Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:48 pm
Ugh, Rich’s site left out the funny part of my comment … which was:
(cue scary music)
Comment by George Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:49 pm
This is bad on so many levels it’s hard to know where to begin.
It’s not only sleazy, but it’s really bad strategy. It’s offensive and insults the intelligence of conservative voters. The people behind this obviously think that conservatives are stupid and that these childish antics will fool people.
Even if one person actually falls for this scam, there are likely to be another hundred or more who now may be even more motivated to go to the polls.
One thought – these mailers make me think the Democrats have already written off Quinn. If they happen to succeed in motivating anyone to get to the polls chances are good it’s one more voter for Brady. Similarly, this can’t be helpful to House and Senate Democrats for the same reason. I hope they sent a lot of these into Decatur, Carlinville and Joliet.
Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 4:56 pm
I don’t see the problem in trying to tell Republicans, especially conservatives ones, that Kirk may not be their guy. I don’t see anything being hidden in those mailers.
I hate seeing otherwise smart people falling for Mark Kirk’s latest whining jag. Plus, Kirk is dishonest, not those mailings.
Comment by just sayin' Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 5:08 pm
I think the whole Lake County thing is a waste of money. Most Conservatives I know are by nature watchful and careful (”conservative”, remember?) and will see that Democratic tag in a heartbeat. Plus, if they was any strong conservative appeal in Labno it would have been apparent by now. It’s getting around that Alezi is behind it, which can’t help him much with any Independent who knows.
Comment by Bubs Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 5:12 pm
>>
Is this the same as being a little pregnant?
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 5:16 pm
out of respect for rich I won’t name names, but alexi spent an entire debate trashing rove who is not part of team kirk, but now has the same campaign qb as blago and is running a gutter campaign.
Comment by shore Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 5:33 pm
Given what has occurred today via Yemen sent packages, this is disgusting.
Is it fair game? Of course, but disgusting nonetheless.
Way to stay classy.
Comment by ChrisChicago82-Independent Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 5:33 pm
This stuff has helped me make up my mind. Although neither party can claim much moral high ground, I’m going almost straight republican except for some local county races. We need a change from the party and people that are making the situation worse.
Comment by Logic not emotion Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 5:33 pm
NBC Nightly News just ran a story based in Decatur about negative political ads in Illinois. The report stated at 80% of the political ads on the local tv stations were negative ads. 80% OOF!
Comment by PAD 24 Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 5:50 pm
If Giannoulias wins this way you can expect this tactic to spread. It is an unethical fraud that will not be forgotten by anyone interested in running a campaign without any conscience.
You want to know why Illinois politics is famous for it’s high stink factor? Because both parties are focused only on winning, not trying to get the best people nominated, focused on retaining political power, not governing, and focused on collecting as many millions as possible, not trying to make this state a better one.
When tactics like this, (which is definately a new low, even for Illinois) appear - we can’t just sit back and ignore it as politics as usual. Or this kind of evil tactic will become usual.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Oct 29, 10 @ 7:56 pm
Well, folks, politicians may be responsible for negative ads, but they would not run the ads if they did not work.
Comment by RFK fan Saturday, Oct 30, 10 @ 5:45 am