GOP Corp Comm candidates admit they were targeting independents
Posted by: Donna
Aha! I knew it!
The AZ Republic has picked up the story I blogged about right before the primary election. The AZ Dem party has filed a complaint with the Clean Elections Commission charging the Republican candidates for Corporation Commission with improperly using public funds designated for the primary election to influence general election votes. In my earlier post I wondered if independents got the joint mailer from Republican candidates Bob Stump, Susan Bitter Smith, and Bob Burns that went out several days before the primary. Turns out independent voters did get the mailer, as the Republicans admitted in their letter responding to the allegations.
“Apparently, the Democrat Party concludes that in a primary election we should be restrained from discussing anyone from any other party when messaging to Republicans and Independent primary voters,” the Republicans said in their response to the Clean Elections Commission.
The letter said the mailers were intended to energize Republicans and solicit Independents, and that so long as the money was spent in the primary period, they should be allowed, regardless of message.
“Democrat Party”. Just so you know, the use of that phrase pretty much identifies you as an ignorant buffoon.
Anyway, it’s not a violation of the rules simply to solicit independent votes in the primary. But that’s not what the Republicans were doing. The message on the mailer they sent out was clearly aimed at the general election, so much so that Republic columnist Bob Robb criticized the team for sending it out so early in the campaign season. They blatantly and arrogantly broke the primary funding rules and their main defense strategy appears to be whining about being caught. We have to wait until September 27th for a decision on this but if the Commission decides the GOP candidates violated the rules they could lose their general election funding. Couldn’t happen to a nicer group of people. In the meantime, the Democrats should condemn the Republicans’ dishonesty and misuse of public funds at every opportunity.
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Apparently, the Democrat Party concludes that in a primary election we should be restrained from discussing anyone from any other party when messaging to Republicans and Independent primary voters
Cool! Aha! (wait, what?) That means the Democrat party can compare
voting Repulic with a return to George Bushs (who?) policies? The bigotry of Russel Pearce? The wit and wisdom of Bruce Ash? (had to).
Usual stupid arrogance of local Goopers. “Give us your money but you can’t tell us what to do with it.” They do something unethical then play the outraged victim when called on it.
Oops sorry, I forgot. For a Republic it’s only unethical if you get caught.
O more also too and in addition I still don’t think a whole lot will happen because…..
toot-ta-tooo!
IOKIYAR!
Wow; advocating that the clean election committee be able to regulate speech.
Wow, when you accept Clean Elections funding you accept their rules. What a concept!
I hope you all make it to the Clean Election’s public meeting!