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10/22/2010
Kagen: 2 points for irony, 0 points for honesty
I once again stared at the screen in disbelief, my jaw literally dropped and stuck that way. The third party group MoveOn.org was unbelievably attacking the Reid Ribble for Congress campaign for third party spending. Pure absurdity – and laughable if it didn’t come on top of a record-setting hundreds of thousands of dollars in blatantly false, pernicious lies paid for by…. third party groups and Kagen union buddies. (Update from today's Wall Street Journal: AFSCME biggest outside spender of 2010 elections.)
More lies and more lies and more lies.
From a Ribble press release:
Green Bay – The campaign for Reid Ribble responded today to the latest laughable attack ad from a Steve Kagen extremist group, MoveOn.org.
The ad decries third party involvement in the race for Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district and claims Reid Ribble is receiving support from “front groups” and billionaires. Nothing could be further from the truth, but MoveOn.org, which is trying to mask an abysmal Kagen track record, does not seem to care or appear to have a sense of irony.
The ad fails to acknowledge its self-contradictions. MoveOn.org is a third party front group running TV commercials in a political campaign decrying the involvement of third party front groups in political campaigns.
“I don’t even know how to respond to this ad…perhaps MoveOn should run ads against Steve Kagen and the third party front groups involved in his campaign. Because if they really believe that third party front groups which don’t disclose their donors shouldn’t be trying to influence this election, they should first look in the mirror and then look to the Big Unions who are outspending every entity in this campaign and lying about Reid Ribble while doing it,” said Brandon Moody campaign manager for Reid Ribble.
“At some point, you just have to laugh this stuff off. How does MoveOn.org, think voters will believe that a third party group decrying the involvement of third party groups is in any way credible?” Moody said.
The Ribble campaign issued a challenge to Steve Kagen: If Congressman Kagen believes MoveOn.org’s message is accurate, when will he demand that the big labor unions either disclose all their donors or pull all their advertisements out of this district?
[Update: Here's the exact same ad running in the IL US Senate race, slamming Mark Kirk. Shameful. MoveOn.org is funding this same ad in 8 U.S. Senate races and 19 additional House races across the country.]
Here’s the real Reid Ribble, who threw his hat in this race literally to save the future for his two grandsons.
”With your help, we’re going to clean house in Washington so the next generation doesn’t have a mess to clean up.”
And here. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” More than anything, this country needs service, servants of the people….
And here - Job creator
And here (Reid was Appleton East’s volleyball coach for 20 years).
And here. Each child should start with a clean slate (Not $40,000 in debt when she’s born)
This is a man of character. Real character. (Have you met him?) Exactly what we in the 8th District need. Exactly what we in America need today.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
This is more incentive to go to a Clean Money election system.
Dean Weichmann (Fri Oct 22 05:25:33 2010)
"This is a man of character. Real character. (Have you met him?) Exactly what we in the 8th District need. Exactly what we in America need today."
Man...there went my coffee through my nose...I think we covered the issue of Mr. Ribble's character yesterday. Being less than honest in not a character trait I would want in my candidate.
True...Kagen has integrity issues and so does Reid...tisk tisk...two candidates without the core values of integrity, honesty and moral courage. Too bad for the 8th.
I don't care how many many millions you have...you can't buy it. Either you have or you don't.
FoxPolitics.net is nothing more than a Ribble mouthpiece...it has lost it's value a medium for thought provoking discussions on the issues.
Dale McNamee (Fri Oct 22 08:16:55 2010)
Dale, HAVE you met the man? Or are you going off of Gannett? You characterize him as "less than honest." My question is - how do you come to that characterization?
I applaud Jo for helping get the truth out and for defending an honest man, a man of integrity, who has put himself right in the firing line of an opposing campaign that plays by no rules and doesn't give a whit about how they get what they want. And I applaud her for being so incredibly patient with her oftentimes thankless readers who apparently subscribe for the sake of antagonism...
Andrew Ellis (Fri Oct 22 09:03:32 2010)
This is what McCain/Feingold brought us. Prior to this you knew who donated to all these campaigns. Now entities who perhaps don't care to be known form a Political Action Committee, name it and donate and buy ads. Another example of, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
I beg your pardon, Dale, but equating Kagen with Ribble, a popular Democrat meme, doesn't fly, no matter if you blow pots of coffee out your nose.
Kagen has been attached to Pelosi like a remora to a shark (a rather apt analogy, I think). He's voted with any leftwing cause that came up which is reason enough to vote for practically anyone but Dr. Kagen.
His ads are lying disgraces and should you "tut tut" that, just remember his taking umbrage at John Gard's ads during his first campaign. I do believe it was the single most important thing in his winning that election.
You can believe and decide who is the principled candidate here, but my money, all $30 of it, is on Reid Ribble.
Nice try, though.
C. R. Stevenson (Fri Oct 22 09:19:03 2010)
Going back a couple of year, I still remember the "principled" Dr. Kagen making some juvenile comments about Karl Rove that turned out to be lies. Now he, like so many of his political ilk, seems to be accustomed to lying in public advertising. Now there's irony!
Dale, if you really believe what you say:
"FoxPolitics.net is nothing more than a Ribble mouthpiece...it has lost it's value a medium for thought provoking discussions on the issues."
Why do you keep coming here to discuss the issues?
Duke (Fri Oct 22 09:28:47 2010)
Have I met Reid Ribble? I spoke with him in New London, attended almost every primary debate (including Bader's), talked with him om the radio and read every word on his website. I have also reviewed the evidence on the stimulus scandal and Policheck's review of the issue. He lied about taking the money and Kagen lied about the amount.
I am also the guy who searched his FEC report and reported that he paid for the PRG "endorsement meeting" a week before the event. I also reported his mini-me twins John Gard and Rick Sense were non physicians that attended.
I can tell you where every penny that funded his campaign came from and where is was spent. Did you know that almost 25% went to Washington Consultants, lobbyist and lawyers. Did you know his fundraiser is Mary Mae, a public relations consultant with the roofing ndustry? No Andrew...all my info came from Gannett.
I understand why and what Jo is doing. She wants a staffer job, but you, did your parents teach you right from wrong? It's almost pathetic reading the stuff you guys write "thank you Jo for kissing Reid's rear"
Reid will vote my way 90% of the time, but because of that I am supposed to throw my value system in the toilet? Nope.
Dale McNamee (Fri Oct 22 09:57:27 2010)
Reid Ribble is a man of character, a fiscal conservative and a social conservative. A very good man. Dale, would you rather have Kagen in there for another two years? As a principled conservative, how could I ever argue for Kagen? Are you kidding me? Geeeesh.
Jo (Fri Oct 22 09:59:54 2010)
"Why do you keep coming here to discuss the issues?"
Because Duke, I enjoy reading your posts trying to save a dying campaign. If he wins it's because Walker carried him across the line. Seen his new lit piece? Picture of him, Walker and Johnson. No way he wins on his own. He best get on his knees and give thanks that there are some good conservatives on the ballot to carry his sorry excuse of a campaign. How does a conservative blow a 10 point lead in this political environment like this?
That and the fact it seems that I am the only conservative not willing to lower his ethical standards for a candidate.
Dale (Fri Oct 22 10:05:43 2010)
Dale - thanks for the compliment!
But your comment, "That and the fact it seems that I am the only conservative not willing to lower his ethical standards for a candidate." had me fooled. It almost looked like you were advocating for Kagen.
Duke (Fri Oct 22 10:11:42 2010)
Character, integrity in a political election...give me a break! The first candidate that comes on TV with a sincere apology for the lies, innuedoes, half-truths, and false claims made either by or on behalf of his/her campaign gets my vote!
Dennis (Fri Oct 22 10:43:39 2010)
Dale, actually, yes, my parents DID teach me right from wrong. Which is why I recognize the distinction between principle and "value system." Which is really neither here nor there in this discussion, because on the one hand I'll readily admit it was presumptuous of me to think you hadn't done your own homework (for which I apologize sincerely), and on the other hand I am still utterly confused by your purpose and intent.
Don't compromise your principles: I admire that. I'm not convinced that the man tacitly "lied about taking the money" (clever phraseology). You apparently are. So feel free acknowledge it and not to just put it under the rug. But I can't say I understand or agree with a wholesale denigration of the man, even WERE it true - and not because I advocate forsaking principle, but rather DUE to principle - not taking scandal and turning it into calumny.
That is precisely the manipulative tactic of the liberal agenda in general: Where there is no fault, make one up. Where there may be, use it to blind everything else. And in either case, at any cost, win without revealing the real agenda.
Digging up skeletons in people's closets (if indeed they have any), and wording that question just so. Like, "So Jim, did you conceal that you had hit a car?" If he says yes - we'll say he can't be trusted. If he says no, we'll say he can't be trusted. Because both answers are correct, true, and honest because the question is cleverly unqualified. And if he says yes and no, we'll say he can't be trusted....
I think if I were Reid, and someone asked me whether I'd taken the stimulus money, I'd have said yes and hoped to get my perfectly legitimate "but" and explanation in - if for no other reason than that it's a loaded question. But I could just as easily and honestly say no on the basis that I really hadn't - I'd taken the money from the school district for services I performed. Ribble's only "failure" is that he isn't a seasoned politician, and perhaps wasn't quite prepared for such a loaded question.
Anyone who dares to enter public life - particularly if they're a good person - is going to be subjected to this manipulative ploy. Which is why, no one person being perfect - character is of such importance. And the character of these two men cannot even begin to be compared.
Andrew Ellis (Fri Oct 22 13:53:33 2010)
Getting paid for a service performed isn't taking money from anything or anyone other than the person making the payment.
Is a business owner supposed to screen all monies received for potential "taints", whatever that would mean?
Even if he knew the job would be paid from stimulus money, he didn't take it the school district did, he simply performed the service, which is his job.
Next thing you know people will be complaining if a business owning conservative takes money from a registered democrat.
Clay (Fri Oct 22 21:14:44 2010)
Ya know it occurs to me that both men here ARE pricipaled. They each have beliefs that are important to them and affect how they act. I think they both have the public interest in mind.
It is simplistic to condemn them completly for shortcomings including streaching of the truth in campaign rhetoric. Nobody is perfect, we do have to finally make a judgement when we vote for one of them to represent us.
Dean Weichmann (Sun Oct 24 16:43:13 2010)
I can wholeheartedly agree with your last sentence Dean. I can't agree that Rep. Kagen is simply stretching the truth; not sure I can agree he is wholly principled. Yes, he may be acting on his beliefs for what's best for the country, believing the ends justifies the means. Not a good tactic when it comes to principles.
Jo (Sun Oct 24 16:52:54 2010)
"Ribble's only "failure" is that he isn't a seasoned politician, and perhaps wasn't quite prepared for such a loaded question."
That's a big old pile of poo....he was the President of a National trade organization and a multimillion dollar buissnessmen. He knew how he should have answered the question.
I really hate people making excuses for politicians they support while condeming thier opponents for the same behavior.
Jo...both guys subscribe to the "ends justifies the means" mentality.
I get to have Petri as my rep...he's a moderate but at least he's honest.
Dale (Sun Oct 24 20:15:04 2010)
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