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NRSC kicks up Twitter backlash over Duckworth slam

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* Umm…


Quite a day for @NRSC to say this about a woman who lost her legs in combat #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/PwBBakrihs

— Alex Horton (@AlexHortonTX) March 8, 2016

* The tweet caused quite a stir on Twitter


Tammy Duckworth lost both legs after her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade in Iraq. https://t.co/CyrMHOqZZZ

— VoteVets (@votevets) March 8, 2016

It’s funny because SHE LOST HER LEGS IN THE IRAQ WAR. You’ve got a bang-up sense of humor there, @NRSC. pic.twitter.com/UItDnRkaCY

— Waldo Jaquith (@waldojaquith) March 8, 2016


Ad infinitum. Lots of people are upset.

* The tweet was quickly deleted…


@Nate_Cohn and… it's gone

— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) March 8, 2016

It lasted 10 minutes @BrendanNyhan pic.twitter.com/vqm7SSyGjD

— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) March 8, 2016

ICYMI: @NRSC has now deleted this attack on veteran who lost both legs in #Iraq pic.twitter.com/8KpLcX6CJy

— Julian Pecquet (@J_Pecquet) March 8, 2016

Poorly worded NRSC tweet on Duckworth deleted after roughly 10 min of existence.

— Pete Schroeder (@peteschroeder) March 8, 2016

Called NRSC, who told me that their social media team is not available for comment!

— Luke Brinker (@LukeBrinker) March 8, 2016

Already feeling bad for the @NRSC social media staffer who will never work again pic.twitter.com/WxC4pKJO75

— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) March 8, 2016

…Adding… Duckworth campaign…

In response to the NRSC’s vile tweet, since deleted, Duckworth deputy campaign manager Matt McGrath issued the following statement:

“Tasteless and dishonest, just like everything else to do with Mark Kirk’s flailing campaign. Tammy has made fighting for Veterans her life’s work, and will continue to do so in the Senate.” - Matt McGrath, campaign spokesman

* Meanwhile

Despite the title of that poly sci course you took in college, politics really is an art, not a science. Good politicians almost instinctively know when to take up a given subject, when to show up and how far to go. The others bumble or stumble, coming across as arrogant and disconnected.

Which leads to U.S. Senate hopeful Tammy Duckworth.

By just about all indications, the northwest suburban congresswoman is going to win a smashing victory a week from today, on March 15, capturing the Democratic nomination to oppose GOP incumbent Mark Kirk in the fall. By all indications, she’ll enter that contest as the clear favorite.

But you never want to act like the clear favorite. Voters want to be courted and treated with respect, not taken for granted. But like Hillary Clinton did in the presidential race earlier this year, Duckworth continues to do so in the Senate contest.

The latest example is Duckworth’s decision to skip tonight’s WTTW-TV/Channel 11 debate. Her aides are suggesting only that her primary debate schedule was all filled up long ago—with (golly) three whole debates in three months. […]

Duckworth isn’t senator yet. She needs to do what all good pols do: run scared. If she can’t handle a half-hour exchange on public TV, she can’t handle the job.

I don’t think Sen. Kirk has debated even once this primary season, but she should’ve been more available.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:39 pm

Comments

  1. I’m tired of stupid amateurs wrecking perfectly decent campaigns and I’m tired of candidates who let them.

    Pookie’s new college degree does not entitle her to pontificate about someone she doesn’t know, a place where she doesn’t live, with an attack she doesn’t understand.

    I’m tired of amateurs who believe that an insult is as good as an accomplishment.

    Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:47 pm

  2. So Duckworth doesn’t want to do anymore debates? One could say she plans to roll right towards victory.

    Comment by Debate talking points Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:47 pm

  3. This tweet is an example of party staffers who are so rabid in their belief system they can’t even think about the nonsense they are spewing over social media. Stupid on so many levels.

    Comment by Just Me Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:49 pm

  4. Nothing good comes out of campaign twitters.

    Get of Twitter.

    (End Rant)

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:49 pm

  5. One could say that Tammy has rolling right towards victory.

    Comment by Observations Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:50 pm

  6. Thank you, Rich. Your post illuminated a couple of things. With regard to Jonathan Chait’s tweet: the humorously quaint notion that there will be any kind of accountability for the NRSC’s thoughtless attack. Has Chait ever heard of former US Senator Max Clelland and what the NRSC did to a triple amputee war hero?

    With regard to Hinz, who is a good reporter, in his desire to prove he’s not just another lib columnist (the right’s constant refrain against the “mainstream media”), he sometimes forgets to fully consider if the criticism he’s leveling against the Democrats might apply equally, or more so, to the Republicans. Imagine he feels the pressure more for writing for a business audience.

    Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:51 pm

  7. Debate talking points and Observations really should be ashamed of themselves. Trolls without even a scintilla of Tammy Duckworth’s courage and valor.

    Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:54 pm

  8. Well, if you’re a Republican in good standing and have an idiot cousin who needs a job, you now know where they can apply.

    I don’t understand why Kirk’s peeps keeping bringing up veterans.

    Duckworth’s service record was real, while Kirk made up much of his.

    Why do they keep inviting that comparison?

    Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:56 pm

  9. - Observations - Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 2:50 pm:

    One could say that Tammy has rolling right towards victory.

    I will savor your banishment.

    – MrJM

    Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:02 pm

  10. This won’t be the last time Kirk and/or the NRSC steps in it while attacking Duckworth. The only chance Kirk has is to attack Duckworth. He does not have a record he can run on. It’s his only choice.

    Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:02 pm

  11. Kirk could always choose to lose with dignity and go on to a lobbying career. Or he can play the game the NRSC is playing

    Comment by Irishpirate Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:05 pm

  12. The two biggest threats to every career are Facebook and Twitter. Followed closely by Raunerism.

    Comment by MSIX Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:07 pm

  13. –Despite the title of that poly sci course you took in college, politics really is an art, not a science. –

    There’s much more to the field of Political Science than campaigning.

    And there’s plenty of science nowadays in campaigning.

    Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:22 pm

  14. Don’t blame Twitter or Facebook for what the NRSC did. Even if the staffer was ignorant, there was no oversight…?

    Comment by Independent retired lawyer, journalist Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:25 pm

  15. FWIW Duckworth issued a press release in 2013 with the headline, “Congresswoman Duckworth Stands Up For Small Businesses By Introducing Paperwork Relief Legislation.” http://votesmart.org/public-statement/774837/congresswoman-duckworth-stands-up-for-small-business-by-introducing-paperwork-relief-legislation#.Vt9DWhi7UXg

    Comment by quicknote Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:26 pm

  16. This is probably an overreaction and misstep caused by the highly effective VetVotes or VoteVets.com advertisement Rich posted in the past few days.

    Comment by Beaner Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:26 pm

  17. Duckworth is a classic DSCC talking points candidate, straight out of central casting. No real policy depth, taking no chances with policy statements. She has potential.

    Comment by Downstate Dem Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm

  18. I don’t blame Twitter, I’m scratching my noggin trying to figure out the rationale of a campaign (in this case a campaign operation) being on Twitter.

    Twitter is fine.

    Pols and campaigns shouldn’t use it, however.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:27 pm

  19. When will people learn that deleting a tweet or a Facebook post or anything on the internet does NOT mean it will disappear?

    Think before you post.

    Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:28 pm

  20. FYI: Journal Star is endorsing Zopp over Duckworth due in part to Tammy’s failure to show up downstate. http://www.pjstar.com/article/20160304/OPINION/160309661

    Comment by Gmma Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:30 pm

  21. Even if the lady had never been wounded it still takes a lot to be a helicopter pilot. You go thru basic which is the easy part. You have to go thru officer’s training where there is constant pressure on each candidate, then comes flight training where you are only allowed one mistake. Make another you’re washed out. Anyone who can pass all that has my respect. It takes tons of discipline to do that. Jeez these campaigns are sleazy this go around.

    Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 3:44 pm

  22. How’s that whistle blower law suit going?

    Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:03 pm

  23. Faux outrage is a lot easier than substantive debate.

    Comment by Robert the Bruce Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 4:06 pm

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