Here’s a sad testament to these politically testy times: Of the 30 or so campaign ads rolled out across the country Tuesday in contested congressional races, three are positive. According to the New York Times, the unflattering subject matter goes beyond voting records and campaign donations into personal finances, business histories and even old student writings, presented with lots of “shadowy images, breathless announcers, jagged music and a dizzying array of statistics, counterstatistics and vote citations.” By comparison, Kansas’ air wars in the gubernatorial and attorney general races seem pretty tame so far.
Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, doesn’t appear to have been included in the Times’ review, likely because his race isn’t considered to be competitive. But Tiahrt has a positive commercial up this week that emphasizes jobs and his efforts to keep the U.S. economy competitive.
Meanwhile, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ new ad expresses her disappointment with Jim Barnett’s anti-immigration commercial.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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27 Comments
Tanker Todd trying to connect himself with job growth. After the 911 he mentions he helped provide millions in corporate welfare to the airlines. The airlines in turn sent pink slips to thousands of workers in Wichita.
Or is that the same Tanker Todd who supported legislation to allow federal contracts to go to companies that outsource their labor to developing countries at the expense of American workers?
Or is this the same Tanker Todd who supported Tom Delay who thinks forced abortions, sterlizations, slave wages and sweat shops is the American business model for Micronesia?
Or is this the same Tanker Todd that supports union busting and the hiring of illegal immigrants to lower wages and deprive people of health care benefits?
When it comes to Tanker Todd and jobs in Kansas we’d be better off if he did nothing.
Bush saved a lot of aircraft jobs here in Wichita by passing the provision that allows corporations to frontload the depreciation of business aircraft to write-off it in taxes.
Without that, Cessna, Raytheon and Lear would be really hurting.
That being said, if the Union decides to strike against Bombardier, you can kiss that plant goodbye.
Unions are Bad for America!
If employers treated their employees fair and paid living wages, there would be no reason for unions.
Sebelius ran a whole bunch of good ads, and Barnett did nothing but slam on Sebelius in his.
Eventually you have to defend yourself, and expose why you’d be a better candidate.
Sleaze and more sleaze sells in America. Just look at most of the shows on the Fox Channel.
Elections come, elections go; we (the polled members of the public) say we don’t like “negative ads”, but they work. I wish they didn’t, but they do. That’s why they are used. If, indeed, we, as the public, really don’t like negative political ads, then we wouldn’t vote for the candidate utilizing them.
What exactly has Todd done?
His usolicited campaign email to me said:”Tiahrt identified eight issues that must be addressed by Congress to help create and maintain high paying, high quality jobs in America.”
I queried back what exactly has he done beyond identifying the 8 issues. I don’t expect a response.
What is galling is the campaign people got my email address when I wrote to his congressional office regarding several issues — he’s never answered any of those – not even a form letter. He is walking in the footseps of Kline.
I would guess Joe above thinks we should bring back sweat shops and child labor. Why is it companies can form trade associations and business “unions” but the working class shouldn’t? Granted some unions have stepped overboard in their demands, but not all unions are bad.
Combining democracy with unregulated capitalism we have created a society that is free to be greedy.
So Tankerless Todd has identified eight issues – how long has he been in Congress? With his party in majority? And what have they done about these issues?
Did anyone else notice that his commercial is entirely filmed inside Boeing’s facilities?
who is running against tankerless Todd anyway?
Garth McGinn is running against “No Term Limits” Todd.
Of course Tony – as a former employee of Boeing who has financial interests with Boeing one would expect that.
Vote for Garth!
I got a post card in the mail today which I thought at first was a Morrison mailing. Morrison’s picture is predominantly placed on the card. But, it is next to a picture of a prisoner that got out out of prison via Senate Bill 323, and then re-offended. (Is it really a big surprise that a former prisoner re-offends and is it legit to pin this on Paul Morrison?)
The card, obviously a hit piece on Morrison, notes: “Paid for by the Kansas Republican Party [gives Topeka address] Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.”
This deal reminded me of the swift boat tactic, wherein a candidate has another group make outlandish claims about an opponent, so the candidate then does not have to get their hands dirty.
This is a link to the Kansas Republican Party web site. I must admit I am a little surprised that they are tying their boat to Kline’s to this extent.
Forgot one thing; the link:
http://www.ksgop.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=2172
call me crazy but didn’t Barrents own running mate vote for the Drivers License bill that he his bashing the Gov over?
Garth McGinn would never vote to allow American military personel to be raped. I can’t say the same about Tiahrt who, just today, voted to allow rape as an acceptable means of interrogation.
Shit, Rhonda, why complain about negative ads when YOU ALL at The Eagle print scurrilous lies by Bonnie Huy against Raj Goyle not once but TWICE.
“Oh, let’s desparage all the negative campaign . . . how terrible it is! However, if the right-wing writes it, we’ll print it.”
Joe,”Unions are Bad for America!” Tell that to workers who were shot by pinkerton butt wipes for trying to get decent working conditions. Tell that to the guy who’s one year from retirement and gets canned because the “company” is too cheap to pay his pension.
You have no idea what a stupid statement you made, Joe. Unions were the working mans answer to companies that ran death traps for workers to die in; they were formed so workers could protect what they earned; they were formed so workers could afford to live a decent life.
How many more do you want, Joe. I’ve stayed out of your battles with others on this blog, but that was as ridiculous a statement as I’ve ever read from you. Hell, you’re so far right, your left side bailed, along with your common sense, because even it got sick of the bs.
I’m not dissappointed, I’m furious. From the city council to the county commission to the governor and attorney general to members of congress. Those who refuse to understand the results that would come from losing the War on Terror to the ones who refuse to listen to what their constituents views and desires.
What is the answer? Throw the blighters out. Jefferson said that a little revolution is good now and again. I have decided on my own little revolution. I will vote against every incumbent on the local level and I will support those who understand that our very lives are on the line,if we show any weakness to our enemies.
Dissappointed, I wish what I felt was so mild. Incensed, raging, seething, and fit to be tied are much better adjectives to describe my state of mind.
Well said JM.
But you’ve done nothing when you’ve bested a fool.
Joe has said that I don’t want him posting here. Well that is only partially true.
I think Joe Williams provides gallows comic relief. It truly is sad that America has allowed to reach adulthood such an addled fool. So while Joe is amusing in his gentle delirium, he is illustrative that America has a serious problem.
On the other hand, my sense of compassion wishes Joe would moderate and better think his posts. He moslty embarrases himself.
You do have a point CR! But most employers do treat their employees well.
Joe:
I wish your statement had any bearing on reality.
Case in point, Wichita, oh, a year or so ago.
Boeing sells its Wichita division to Onex. Onex cherry-picks which workers it wants to retain (anyone with seniority, close to retirement, etc gets laid off.) Boeing owns a large chunk of Onex and funnels work through it. Onex workers get paychecks from… you guessed it… Boeing.
The USPS plans to try and cut health benefits for its bargaining unit employees this contract.
Some companies DO treat their employees well. Last I heard, Starbucks was a great place to work due to their benefits package. Some of the Big Box retailers pay a decent wage (HD, Lowes).
Unions are a necessary evil. Unfortunately, unions are often too little, too late, and they don’t do a lick of good when Boeing pulls an Onex or any other company pulls its manufacturing out of the US during periods of record profits.
The only employees that seem to be relatively well-treated are CEOs, who whether or not they are grossly abusive and incompetent wind up with some of the best golden parachutes.
You forget, bad employers also pay their congressmen well – greased pockets buy alot.