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“Candy” (updated with video links)

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Illinois

The new Gordon Maag TV ad I wrote about today has just landed in my in-box. It’s harsh. You can click here to see the 5th District Supreme Court candidate’s spot.

He used candy to lure the children into the house.Â

Once inside, the three children were sexually molested. Â A four-year-old girl raped, her brothers sodomized.

A Belleville man was arrested and convicted of the crime after trying to develop pictures of the abuse.

Despite prosecutors’ objections, Judge Lloyd Karmeier gave him probation, saying “The court should grant leniency.” Â [St. Clair County Court transcript 9/28/90 and case numbers that pulsate and glow]

Another case where Karmeier let a violent criminal out into the community.

Lloyd Karmeier, the wrong choice for Supreme Court. [Also in that same pulsating, glowing font]

The Republican Karmeier’s attack ad was pretty harsh as well, as was Democrat Maag’s first negative hit on Karmeier. My question is, why isn’t the local media doing any “truth squad” work on this campaign?

Click here to watch Maag’s first negative TV ad, which ran all last week and the first part of this week.

We count on judges to protect us and put violent criminals behind bars.

Judge Lloyd Karmeier let us down by giving reduced sentences to violent criminals.

Five years ago, Karmeier caused outrage when he gave only probation to kidnappers who tortured and nearly beat a 92-year-old grandmother to death. And despite objections, Karmeier reduced bail for a couple who beat their own child to death. [Newspaper quotes: “…lenient sentences for their vicious crimes” Belleville News Democrat, 2/15/01. “thugs terrorized a helpless old woman” Belleville News Democrat, 2/15/01. Circuit Judge Lloyd A. Karmeier reduced the bond…” St. Louis Post Dispatch, 1/18/90.]

Karmeier failed us.

Lloyd Karmeier, the wrong choice for Supreme Court.

And click here to watch Karmeier’s first attack ad.

Before we pick a judge to make important decisions, their record matters. [Newspaper clipping: Candidate for Illinois Court gets Low Marks From Attorneys” - St. Louis Post Dispatch (no date)]

Take Gordon Maag, ranked almost last among judges for his troubling record, including voting to overturn the conviction of a man who sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl. [Source: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 1, 2000.]

There’s a better choice. Judge Lloyd Karmeier shares the southern Illinois values that we live by.

Rated “highly qualified” by the Illinois State Bar, Judge Lloyd Karmeier has the integrity and common sense judgement needed for our Supreme Court.

I think I’ll be analyzing these ads in tomorrow’s Capitol Fax (since nobody else is). Without seeing the ads it’s difficult to comment on them, which is why I uploaded them. Not sure how long it will last, though. Whatever. What do you, the blogosphere, think of these three spots?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 11:26 am

Comments

I am reminded that electing Judges is a bad idea.

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 1:36 pm
Why would Karmeier try to inject a positive message for himself into such a negative advertisement?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 1:39 pm
A pox on both of their houses. Those are everything I hate about campaign commercials. If I was in the district, I wouldn’t vote on that race is how bad they are.

They are very effective attacks in driving up negatives, but more than anything I just don’t anything to do with either of the candidates after seeing them.

Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 2:12 pm
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 8:05 pm
I don’t mind a bit of rough and tumble, but let’s try to be civil in the comments section.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 8:09 pm
This isn’t Wisconsin Archie. Those ads will move voters. Gotta love Illinois politics,its a blood sport!!

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 8:52 pm
Much better. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 14, 04 @ 8:55 pm
I agree that judges need to be taken out of the political madness. I thought it was bad enough when Rita Garman used a front group to do her dirty work and then claimed no association with them. But, she won the race. Her attack ad’s were nothing compared to what’s going on now. We all know negative works and this race has set a new low for judicial campaigns. There goes any perception of integrity….
As far as the ads themselves… who produced them?
I don’t understand why Karmier would want a family photo in an Ad mentioning child abuse. Maag’s ad’s are brutal, but I think very effective.

Comment by whynottt Friday, Oct 15, 04 @ 12:04 pm
Good point about that family photo. Hadn’t thought about it.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 15, 04 @ 12:38 pm