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* If anybody thinks this is actually news, they don’t know much about campaigns…
As Congressman Joe Walsh’s legal team preps for a pretrial conference in his child-support suit next week, his primary election opponent, Congressman Randy Hultgren, has taken a poll that among other issues, looks at how Walsh’s personal past might cost him politically.
The poll, the first conducted by the Tarrance Group for the Hultgren campaign, sampled residents of the new 14th Congressional District, Hultgren campaign officials said.
Of course Hultgren would put questions about Walsh’s child support issue in his benchmark survey. You’d have to be an idiot not to examine how this is playing in Voter Land. A campaign which didn’t poll the issue wouldn’t be worth a dime, Walsh’s included. But Walsh wasn’t asked if he tested the issue in his own polling. I cannot fathom why he wasn’t asked about this, since that would be important to know if he’s gonna bring up a phony issue about polling questions.
* But, of course, Congressman Walsh just has to play the aggrieved victim card…
Yet, after hearing from constituents that the poll contained a number of questions on child support and his financial past, Walsh is calling the effort a “push poll” — a political campaign technique designed to influence voters by disseminating negative and false information — and evidence of a dirty campaign.
“If he raises his voice and calls into question who I am as a father, I’ll punch him in the face, figuratively speaking,” said Walsh, of McHenry.
This is not a “push poll.” A push poll is a phone canvass of lots of voters that focuses on one issue. It’s an advocacy call, not a survey, even though some are thinly disguised as polls.
And I’m sure Hultgren is content to let Walsh’s ex-wife do all the talking about who Walsh is as a father.
* And, obviously, Congressman Hultgren doesn’t need to make this promise…
Walsh said he would “sign a pledge tomorrow” that he “won’t go personal.”
“And I’d ask him to do the same thing,” Walsh challenged.
Hultgren is a boring, conservative church-goer who, I’ve heard, prays before every vote. Walsh would have to make something up to “go personal” on Hultgren.
All Walsh did by whining about Hultgren’s poll was put his own very damaging issues in front of voters yet again. But that’s Joe Walsh. When the only tool you own is a hammer, all problems look like a nail. Congressman Walsh’s only tool is publicity about his personal and political victimization, so he constantly resorts to it.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 8:10 am
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Let’s all face it Deadbeat TeaPot Walsh must be declared winner of the “2011 CFS BullsEyeBuddy of the Year” — even though there are nearly 2 months left to win nomination
Joe - your award will be sent to ex so she can pawn it to put some food on the table
Fire,Aim Ready!
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 8:17 am
I sincerely wish the Walsh 2012 campaign could go on forever.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 8:41 am
Last night at the Lake County Republican Federation Dinner, the (last) campaign manager for Joe Walsh, the man who was instrumental in his upset victory, represented Hultgren.
I just thought you all would find that little tidbit interesting.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 8:55 am
Not only common for campaigns to poll personal negatives on the opponent, but also common for the aggrieved to claim victimhood. What’s rare is for a reporter to think it’s worth reporting.
Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 9:17 am
Careful rich you might upset the Tea Partiers with statements like: “Hultgren is a boring, conservative church-goer who, I’ve heard, prays before every vote.”
But you gave me the first laugh of the day, so thanks.
Comment by Anonimo Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 9:32 am
If it is not news, why bring it up here?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 9:42 am
How do you punch someone in the face, figuratively speaking? Does it hurt as badly as your dad figuratively paying child support?
Comment by Boone Logan Square Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 9:54 am
“If he raises his voice and calls into question who I am as a father, I’ll punch him in the face, figuratively speaking,” said Walsh, of McHenry.
Very statesman like… unreal.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:14 am
trying to convince people that something (especially a message testing poll) is not a push poll is fruitless. people don’t understand what a push poll is (even though even wiki has a good definition of one). given his history, walsh has to play the victim (and, if the herman cain story tells us anything, you can raise money off of it!)…
Comment by bored now Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:16 am
Louis, I hope we can count on guys like you to drive narcissistic whack jobs like Walsh out of the GOP.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:25 am
FYI, Joe, you are supposed to show indignation when they attack those close to you, like family. Not when they attack you (not saying this is even an attack)
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:26 am
I can’t believe this guy might represent me in DC. Maybe Denny Hastert will come out of retirement. Or at least figuratively punch him in the face.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:32 am
Unfortunately, wordslinger, your hope is in vain.
Comment by Springfieldish Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:33 am
Sorry that was me posting from my phone. Hi everyone!
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:41 am
It would be news if Joe Walsh actually paid some
child support.
Comment by mokenavince Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:48 am
Joe’s pledge reminds me of something Adlai Stevenson once said: “I have been thinking that I would make a proposition to my Republican friends… that if they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them.”
Comment by reformer Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 10:51 am
I’m working on a theory that Lauzen and Walsh were seperated at birth.
They look somewhat alike too if you haven’t noticed.
Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 11:07 am
I can’t wait for Joe Walsh to go away. Also waiting for a little equal coverage of Bobby Rush and his crazy statements comparing the NCAA to the mafia. We have more than one crazy congressman in this state Rich.
Comment by Fed up Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 11:19 am
Of course Mr. Walsh is playing the “aggrieved victim card”. It worked so well for other “men” in the Republican Party during the last election that they’re now our “fearless” leaders. Why not?
I remember the day when Republicans actually won the women’s vote by exhibiting strength and proving that they were “forces” to deal with–and therefore positioned well to represent our Country.
Somehow, most of our recent candidates, and those we elected, can’t seem to “muster” up the strength to do that. They measure how effective they are by the size of their coffers and how perverse they can get at filling them up.
Comment by The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 12:14 pm
I’m sure it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Great examples for next generations of Republicans. (Yes, that was “snark”.)
Comment by The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 12:19 pm
Too bad Walsh wasn’t running against Mike Jacobs … then they could hit each other in the face physically. I would also pay to see them beat the snot out of each other … The state could charge for attendance and we could pay off all of our past due bills.
Comment by Spliff Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 12:28 pm
I love that Joe Walsh exists. This is going to be great.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 12:32 pm
The whole “going personal is wrong” thing is ridiculous. Some personal things are certainly irrelevant, like a few marriages, maybe a long past alcohol or drug problem, etc. But there’s a line where personal problems reach a point that puts character into question. Scott Lee Cohen clearly crossed that line, as did Walsh.
Comment by Matt Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 12:54 pm
=The whole “going personal is wrong” thing is ridiculous.=
WAY too late for well-mannered sentiments like that, I’m afraid. First blood.
Comment by The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 1:01 pm
I agree. The Victim Card is one of my least favorite Walsh songs. I wish he’d stop playing it. But I can’t remember. Is it from his days with the Eagles, or the James Gang?
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 1:27 pm
He’s just a “Victim of Love”, soon to be history, I hope.
Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 1:33 pm
Mmmmhmmm…show ‘em who you are.
Comment by The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 1:41 pm
I will say this … all the negative on Walsh also shows the Vanilla of Hultgren which could be seen as something so bland, that there is no “passion” there from Hultgren to the voters.
My fear is that as Hultgren goes through the district, Randy will be the guy, “The ‘negative’ guy, but there is no ‘there’ there with Hultgren”.
Very tight spot given Hultgren’s persona.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 2:21 pm
It’s hard to leave when you can’t find the door…
Comment by Nuclear Bozo Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 3:05 pm
I think it’s putting Rich in an awkward situation to be a character witness about a politician’s sex life.
There have been a few examples of political figures who marketed themselves as pious who had… “colorful” sex lives when the truth came out.
Absent information it would be ridiculous to label Hultgren as having something unusual or sordid going on. But it’s… strange for the media to make a judgment call or market someone’s sexuality as being particularly normal.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 3:11 pm
Fed Up,
I won’t comment on Rush’s relative sanity, but if you get in a discussion about the NCAA with old-timer Illini fans, you’d probably find many that agree with Rush’s description of the organization.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 3:55 pm
I’m happy I’m not in that district. I would hate to have to choose being Walsh and a boring, conservative church-goer, because I can’t stand either of those choices.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 4:45 pm
Rich,
How much do Faux News “personalities” make?
Would WLS 890 home of Don “I’ve never had a real job in my life” and Roma make him an offer?
I think he’s going to be moving into a higher income bracket after this. The Tea Party will make him a millionaire.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 6:59 pm
This is the Joke of the day……..
From today’s Suntimes
Republican Rep. Joe Walsh was the only Illinois congressman to be named a “True Blue” member of Congress for “unwavering support of the family” by the Family Research Council Action committee Thursday.
Comment by I'm Just Saying Thursday, Nov 3, 11 @ 7:27 pm