Tag: Elections

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Harris Employs Gays But Attacks Opponent for Lukewarm Opposition to Gay Rights

Jon Ponder

Florida Republican Senate candidate Katherine Harris, who has a gay person on her staff, is attacking Sen. Bill Nelson, her Democratic opponent because he does not oppose gay marriage enough:

Republican Senate hopeful Katherine Harris says Florida’s Democratic incumbent supports unchristian political policies.

Harris – whose comments were made on a Christian radio network and published Monday by Agape Press, a Christian news service – did not mention specific policies, but she has repeatedly berated Sen. Bill Nelson for not supporting a ban on certain late-term abortions and a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

The congresswoman has worked to attract Christian voters throughout her campaign. This summer, Harris told the Florida Baptist Witness newsletter that Christians should be involved in politics because otherwise legislative bodies would “legislate sin,” and that the separation of church and state is “a lie we have been told.” The comments caused a stir among Democrats and many Republicans, as well as some Christians.

In an effort to explain those remarks, Harris told American Family Radio News: “I was being specific in talking to them and differentiating myself from Bill Nelson, who claims to be a Christian and yet votes completely contrary to what we say we believe.”

…Nelson has said he voted against the ban on what conservatives call partial-birth abortion because the legislation did not have an exception for the health of the mother.

Nelson has also said that he is personally opposed to gay marriage, but that it is an issue that should be decided by individual states.

Give to the GOP – Help Pay Those Legal Bills

Trish

When you donate to a Republican candidate, it’s quite likely your money will be used, not for getting the word out about how qualified your guy or gal is, but for legal bills to keep his or her butt out of the slammer.

Just look at Mark Foley.

Last year, the Federal Election Commission issued an opinion that former California Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham could use his campaign money for legal expenses surrounding his conviction on bribery charges

Foley also had a political action committee whose purpose was to give money to other political candidates. Foley’s latest report shows he had about $14,000 in that account, which was run by his sister, Donna Winterson.

That money could be used in any manner the committee determines…

Last year, the Federal Election Commission issued an opinion that former California Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham could use his campaign money for legal expenses surrounding his conviction on bribery charges related to his congressional duties…

Federal election laws allow the use of excess campaign money for political purposes such as paying campaign staff, storage costs for records and contributions to other political candidates and political parties. But the money may not be converted to personal use, such as paying for rehabilitation for alcoholism.

Well, that’s a relief. But even if Foley pays for his own legal defense (which is a pretty damn big “if”), he’s still on the publicly-assisted dole.

In addition to campaign money, Foley will be entitled to his congressional pension. Based on his age and 12-year service in Congress, Foley would be eligible to receive a pension of about $22,600 a year beginning in 2010 — when he turns 56 — or about $32,100 in 2016, according to House staff and the National Taxpayers Union.

But think about it, friends. Foley’s got that money coming (no pun intended) for all his hard (no pun intended) work to keep our kids safe as chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children (pun intended).

It’s O.K. to Vote for Foley, Florida Elections Officials Say

Trish

Florida elections officials, whom you met in 2000 even you don’t live here, are being helpful again. Just trying to avoid voter confusion, they say, and make sure all those morons who normally rely on being able to spot the “R” after a candidate’s name are not repelled by seeing “Foley” preceeding the “R” and for once in their miserable lives vote “D.”

Election officials are considering posting signs in polling places and including notices in absentee ballots clarifying that a vote for former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley is a vote for his Republican replacement, Joe Negron

Yes, the folks who brought us the butterfly ballot, credited with helping one of the most most heavily Jewish population centers in the entire country go for Pat Buchanan in 2000, are at it again.

Election officials at state and local levels are considering posting signs in polling places and including notices in absentee ballots throughout the 16th Congressional District clarifying that a vote for former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley is a vote for his Republican replacement, Joe Negron.

Supporters of Negron’s opponent, Tim Mahoney, and some legal experts are crying foul, saying this would give the Republican an unfair advantage in a congressional race already overshadowed by controversy and turmoil.

…[B]ecause Foley pulled out of the race after the primary-election results were certified, it will be his name, not Negron’s, on the Nov. 7 ballot in District 16.

…Sterling Ivey, spokesman for the Florida Division of Elections, said state law does not prohibit such signs from being posted at polling places in an effort to clear up confusion for voters.

…Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Arthur Anderson said he liked the idea of signs and didn’t think they would put Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, at a disadvantage.

“Often times people don’t read signage at polling places,” Anderson said. “I don’t think it would necessarily do anything to Mahoney.”

Well of course not. But some might ask, if that’s true, why put up signs?

I feel confident that if the situation were reversed, and some Democrat was forced to resign after being exposed as an ephebophile, Republicans would be lining up to “help” voters understand. *Snork*

Poll: Dems Lead in 11 of 15 Key Congressional Races

Buck Banks

Minority retort: With the Republicans acting more and more like a circular firing squad over the Foley Fiasco and George Bush’s approval rating dropping back below 40 percent, the Dems are looking stronger in the midterms according to a Reuters/Zogby survey released today. The poll found that Democrats lead in 11 of 15 races for Republican incumbent congressional seats.

The Democratic edge includes leads in three of five open seats where well-known Republicans are on the way out – some to seek higher office and some because of scandal. The race for the Illinois seat occupied by GOP icon Henry Hyde, who is retiring after 22 years in the House, is led by Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who holds a 43 percent to 38 percent lead over Republican Peter Roskar.

‘The formula for Democratic victory: in each case where Democrats lead, the candidates are winning near or above 80% of their own party vote and they are leading among independents.’
— Pollster John Zogby

The series of telephone polls were conducted Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, and included at least 500 interviews in each of the 15 congressional districts tested. Each district poll carries a margin of error of +/– 4.5 percentage points.

The Republican is losing in the race to hold the Ohio seat held by Republican Bob Ney, the high-profile, once-powerful committee chairman who abandoned his reelection bid after recently pleading guilty to accepting money and gifts in an influence-peddling scandal. In that race, Democrat Zack Space leads Republican Joy Padgett, 45 percent to 36 percent. Padgett faces tough sledding in a state where the GOP has dominated for more than a decade but which has fallen on hard times because of scandals, including the Ney affair and another involving the administration of Gov. Bob Taft.

In Connecticut, moderate Republican Christopher Shays, who has worked hard to distance himself from the White House and the unpopular war in Iraq, still faces an uphill reelection battle. Right now, he trails Democratic challenger Diane Ferrell, 46 percent to 41 percent. Another 11 percent said they are unsure for whom to vote in that race.

While Iowa Republican Jim Nussle appears to be leaving his seat in safe GOP hands as he departs to run for governor, the same cannot be said for the Republican House seat of Bob Beauprez, who is leaving Washington to run for governor of Colorado. In that suburban Denver district, Democrat Ed Perlmutter leads Republican Rick O’Donnell, 45 percent to 34 percent.

The Democratic edge is such that their candidates lead in seven of the nine House districts that contain Republican advantages in party identification. In the other six House races included in the Reuters/Zogby package of surveys, Democrats lead in four.

In other reliably GOP districts where incumbent Republicans are running for re-election, the Reuters/Zogby package of polling shows that this year they are trailing significantly. In usually conservative Indiana, Republican incumbent Mike Sodrel trails Democratic challenger Baron Hill, 46 percent to 38 percent. Just 39 percent said Sodrel deserves to be re-elected, while 45 percent in Indiana’s 9th District said it is time for someone new. In Indiana’s 2nd District, another Republican faces serious trouble: Incumbent Chris Chocola trails Democratic challenger Joe Donnelly, 49 percent to 39 percent.

The situation is much the same in the mountains of western North Carolina, where Republican-leaning voters in the 11th District give Democratic challenger Heath Shuler a 51 percent to 40 percent edge over eight-term incumbent Charles Taylor. Two years ago, Taylor won reelection with 55 percent of the vote.

Schwarzenegger Snubs Bush during President’s California Fundraisers

Jon Ponder
“President Bush is coming out here not to help California, but to do fundraising in California, so there’s no reason for me to meet with him.”
— Gov. Schwarzenegger

President Bush is in California to raise money for Republican House candidates like the ultra anti-environmentalist Rep. Rich Pombo and Rep. John Doolittle, who has been closely associated with GOP scandal figure Jack Abramoff . But one Republican who will not be photographed with the president is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:

By [Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phi] Angelides’ account, the governor is trying to hide his allegiance to President Bush and the national Republican Party’s agenda in order to get reelected in a Democratic-leaning state. He said Schwarzenegger was “scurrying to get away, out of the camera shot” as Bush visited California on Tuesday to raise money for Republicans in Los Angeles and the Central Valley.

Schwarzenegger, however, said it was more important to campaign for the bipartisan ballot measures than to meet with Bush.

“President Bush is coming out here not to help California, but to do fundraising in California, so there’s no reason for me to meet with him,” Schwarzenegger told reporters in Beverly Hills after a breakfast fundraiser for the bond campaign.

Bush, Cheney and Boehner Raise Money for Congressman Who Tried to Strangle His Mistress

Jon Ponder

In September 2004, the girlfriend of Republican Rep. Don Sherwood of Pennsylvania, alleged that Sherwood assaulted her in his Washington, D.C., apartment. Sherwood, who was married at the time, was a “family values” conservative who voted in favor of banning gay marriage.

According to this news report, President Bush, Vice President Cheney and House Majority Leader John Boehner are raising money for Sherwood’s reelection:

President Bush and two other top Republicans will appear at Lackawanna County fundraisers for U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood in the next month.

Mr. Bush is set to be in the county Oct. 19 at an undisclosed location, two Republican sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

Vice President Dick Cheney raised money for Mr. Sherwood last week at a Wyoming County home.

A spokesman for House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, confirmed his appearance here Tuesday. He is scheduled to be at a $25-a-person fundraiser at the Montdale Country Club in Scott Township, the sources said.

The appearance of House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, also $25 a person, is scheduled for Oct. 18. Other details were unavailable.

Mr. Sherwood is locked in a tough re-election campaign with Democrat Chris Carney.

Race to Replace Foley Could Give Dems a Pickup in Florida

Jon Ponder

Probable Republican candidate to replace Foley supported government efforts to keep brain-dead woman alive despite husband’s wishes. Dem Tim Mahoney moves to seize advantage in GOP-leaning district.

“Three of the four candidates for Florida attorney general said Friday the government should not have intervened in the Terri Schiavo case, but one state Rep. Joe Negron said it was right for the state and Congress to try to usurp the courts.”
— Associated Press

The Rep. Mark Foley (R-Palm Beach, Florida) sex scandal rocking the GOP leadership in the House right now may provide an assist to the Democrats’s effort to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives, if Foley’s Democratic opponent, Tim Mahoney, can pull out a win in the 16th district, which has elected a Republican to Congress in every cycle since 1980.

Florida law allows the GOP to replace Foley in the election (although Foley’s name will still appear). The likely replacement appears to have some baggage however:

The frontrunner right now to be the GOP’s candidate for the seat of Rep. Mark Foley — who resigned yesterday amid revelations of his sexually-charged emails to House pages — is Florida State Rep. Joe Negron, a 45-year-old lawyer and aggressive fundraiser. Florida GOPers are telling the St. Petersburg Times that Negron is a strong contender, and Negron himself told the paper, “I’m making calls as quickly as I can.”

Who is Negron? Well, here’s one indicator: Negron full-throatedly supported Gov. Jeb Bush’s efforts to intervene and prevent doctors from allowing the death of Terry Schiavo, the Florida brain-dead woman who was allowed to die after a national battle over her fate. Negron’s take on Schiavo? It was wrong, Negron said in June, “for a judge to say you can’t put water on the lips of a citizen of Florida.”

In his run for state attorney general earlier this year, Negron was the only candidate in the field of four to support intervention by the government in the Terri Shiavo matter, according to an Associated Press story from June 23, 2006:

Three of the four candidates for Florida attorney general said Friday the government should not have intervened in the Terri Schiavo case, but one state Rep. Joe Negron said it was right for the state and Congress to try to usurp the courts.

The Democrat in the race is a former Republican, Tim Mahoney:

[…]

NC 08: Ads for Dem Challenger to Rep. Hayes, Heir to Mill Fortune, Focus on Common Sense Values

Jon Ponder

In North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, Democrat Larry Kissell is running against Republican Rep. Robin Hayes, who is a principal heir to the founder of Cannon Mills, a cotton mill empire that dominated the southern Piedmont of North Carolina for most of the Twentieth Century.

In the ad above, Kissell comes across as being cut from the mold of Piedmont North Carolina’s archetypal favorite son, Andy Griffith. It underscores the preception that Rep. Hayes is a cipher by completely ignoring him. The blue grass banjo underscores his down-home appeal but the content of what Kissell says in the voice over is spot on:
[…]

Katherine Harris Tells Chris Matthews She Has Cut Sen. Nelson’s Lead by Half

Jon Ponder

Rep. Katherine Harris was on Hardball this afternoon painting rosy pictures of her campaign to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Host Chris Matthews opened the segment by saying that Rep. Harris had just told him off camera that her poll numbers were surging — that she had cut Sen. Nelson’s lead in half. Nelson lead Harris by about 30 percent last time I checked.

On September 21, Harris was allowed to attend a GOP rally in Orlando headlined by President George W. Bush. She was not allowed to appear on stage with the president and other Republican notables, which included the president’s brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, and the nominee to replace him, Charlie Crist.

Basking in their reflected glory seems to have helped.

FL Gov: GOP’s Crist Has ‘Commanding’ Lead over Dem Davis

Jon Ponder

“Grim:”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist has taken a commanding lead over Democrat Jim Davis among a large swath of Florida’s electorate, a new poll indicates.

Six weeks out from the Nov. 7 election to replace Gov. Jeb Bush, Crist leads Davis 51 percent to 36 percent in the poll of 625 likely voters conducted last week.

The Mason-Dixon poll conducted for Gannett Co. and other news organizations puts Crist over the magic 50-percent threshold, a significant signpost for campaigns.

And the overall picture it paints for Davis is grim.