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* I told subscribers about this mailer on Monday…
* NBC 5…
Two candidates for state representative on Chicago’s Northwest Side say they - one a survivor of domestic abuse and the other of sexual violence - have been subjected to false and deeply personal attacks from their opponent that they’ve found to be far more hurtful than just “politics as usual.”
Joe Duplechin and Patti Vasquez are both running in the Democratic primary for state representative in Illinois’ 19th District, which encompasses parts of the Jefferson Park, Portage Park and Dunning neighborhoods, plus portions of the surrounding suburbs.
They’re challenging incumbent state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, who was appointed to the office in July 2019 in a sort of musical chairs common to Chicago politics. LaPointe is now seeking her first full term, running a campaign that has sent several pieces of direct mail to voters in the district - four of which claim Duplechin and Vasquez are “backed by extremists.”
* It’s not the “extremist” part that’s particularly egregious, though. It’s this…
Duplechin is a Chicago police officer who most recently unsuccessfully ran for 39th Ward alderman. He said the mailers were particularly difficult for him because both his biological father and stepfather physically and verbally abused his mother for years when he was young - culminating in a traumatic altercation with the latter when he was 10 years old.
“Finally at 10, I stood up and I ended up getting beaten and my brother and I ended up getting knocked out a window,” Duplechin said. “It was my stepfather, and he ended up going to jail for six months for it.” […]
“It’s shocking that with everything we know now, with the Me Too movement, with everything that women have endured, sexual violence, workplace harassment and abuse - that she is willing to attack a victim,” Vasquez said in an interview on Tuesday, calling LaPointe “not fit to lead.”
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:44 am
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I have complained loudly in the past about idiotic over the top direct mail like this. It shows an utter lack of integrity on the part of the candidate sending the mail (in this case Lyndsey LaPointe). Candidates like this seem to just give themselves a pass, but the reality is that your name, Ms. LaPointe, is on this mail. You are responsible for what you know are wildly dishonest attacks. It does a disservice to you and is a statement about your integrity.
Candidates, I know she’s not the first and certainly won’t be the last to engage in this level of shameful campaigning. It’s just sad and doesn’t help you be a better legislator. The ends of getting you elected don’t justify the means of losing your soul. #DoBetter
Comment by Southern Skeptic Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:51 am
And negative mailers are being sent about LaPointe claiming she is backed by the far right when she is the most progressive of the three.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:53 am
Whaaaat? People are lying in direct mail pieces? There’s gambling in Casablanca?
But I agree with Rich, this is lame.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 11:55 am
For Lindsay. The fact she hasn’t faced these allegations is troubling.
Comment by Defining moment Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:05 pm
As a resident of the district receiving mail, LaPointe is enduring the most attacks including a very old school accusation of being soft on crime and a leaflet left on cars in the district referencing the second city cop blog saying that she is anti-police and doesn’t even want the job.
Comment by The Young Gov Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:10 pm
it’s especially disturbing when such nonsense comes from the Left. you would think all the principles of treating people nicely would apply to opponents and not just kumbaya to the average person.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:12 pm
===And negative mailers are being sent about LaPointe===
Yes, I wrote about those on Monday as well. Madigan people used to be such tough guys, now they just whine all the time. Sheesh, the comments I’ve deleted or blocked lately. Pathetic.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:14 pm
=Madigan people used to be such tough guys, now they just whine all the time.=
I agree with you. I suspect that this is a direct result of the turmoil in the Speaker’s operation. The leaders that steered the ship in the past (read: some contract lobbyists) are no longer engaged for obvious reasons, or involved actively in campaigns, and the pressure to “win” on those who remain is greater than ever.
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:20 pm
In my opinion,the only way to stop this is by the Voters holding the candidate responsible for crossing the line. Remember the mailers tying Madigan to child pornography through Keith Farnahm? I had to threaten to walk off the campaign if they distributed a mailer like that with my name on it. No one knew but those on the inside. I lost by less than 1/2 a point - I sometimes wonder if MY integrity cost me the election?
Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:21 pm
This is disappointingly sickening.
My hope is that folks aren’t numb enough to this type of thing that they will remember who sent what… and vote accordingly… to send a message this “stuff” will boomerang back badly on ALL campaigns.
Wishful thinking, I already know, but geez, enough of this garbage.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:21 pm
LaPointe will fall back on the old “I didn’t send the mail it came from the party” if she responds at all.
@anonymous - calling someone who is progressive a Republican is a lot different than saying a survivor of abuse is now an abuser- but you know that already your just looking to justify this terrible mail piece
Comment by Frank talks Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:23 pm
Duplechin tried to choke someone with a phone cord? Was it in a museum? I have seen any corded phones since at least the 90’s.
Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:26 pm
My message to the candidates:
“Would you rather win by all means? Or would you like to maintain even a thread of integrity?”
Comment by Colin O'Scopy Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:30 pm
Rich may have covered it but mainstream outlets have not. LaPointe is also getting hammered by sketchy ads and that’s not receiving the attention. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but also she has to push back or get run over.
Comment by Boomerang Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:40 pm
“Would you rather win by all means? Or would you like to maintain even a thread of integrity?”
Let me try to fix this - Would you rather win by all means or would you rather lose with a thread of integrity?
Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:49 pm
Perhaps voters could be given the opportunity to list their email addresses at the Board of Elections so candidates could respond to this kind of garbage without the huge expense of mailing.
In a race in my district I got literally two or three really nasty pieces in the mail everyday from a candidate supported by Madigan or a candidate helped by BR folks..
The cost reduction would allow candidates that didn’t have access to special interest money to respond to these kinds of accusations quickly and could give voters a more balanced view.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:52 pm
===but mainstream outlets have not===
“LaPointe did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the mailers”
When you don’t respond, you can’t get your side of the story out there. I have zero sympathy in this instance.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:54 pm
@ A Jack -
I bought a new corded phone just a couple of months ago.
Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:54 pm
Looks like nobody told the lady in the photo to stop touching her face.
Comment by Bud's Bar Stool Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 12:56 pm
It’s time for all of these people to go. Mailers like these are why it’s so hard to get people to run for any office.
Comment by K3 Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:01 pm
Sounds like the only whining is being done by Duplechin and Vasquez.
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:21 pm
The phone cord reference is to Ken Dunkin. But don’t let it stop Duplechin from pearl clutching that it’s about him.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 1:36 pm
I have seen Vazquez in the district quite a bit and at my door recently. She is taking a page from Kotowski book and really walking. It must be working if Lapointe has to resort to these tactics.
Comment by Regular democrat Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 2:04 pm
@Formercandidate- Maybe knock more doors and not complain about whether or not a negative mailer would have won for you?
https://capitolfax.com/2016/10/24/it-can-always-get-worse-2/
Comment by Frank talks Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 2:54 pm
@Frank talks -
I did - 14,156 documented - campaign did over 200,000 - I was not complaining.
Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 3:09 pm
I just got a robocall from Alderman Jim Gardiner in support of Duplechin. This is ironic because there were truthful negative ads about Gardiner that his ex-girlfriend had to get an order of protection against him. This is who a victim chooses for an endorsement?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 11, 20 @ 3:16 pm