Polis Politics

DCCC Takes Down Second Attack Ad

A second attack ad against Republican Jon Elrod appeared Thursday, again paid for by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). And yet again, it has been removed from YouTube, this time voluntarily. A link to the video has also been removed from liberal blog Blue Indiana, who had been giddily promoting the DCCC concoctions.

The second video had simply only deleted footage from WISH-TV, whose parent company had filed a copyright complaint against the DCCC. Whether WRTV or WTHR had filed a similar complaint, leading to the second takedown, as their footage remained in the ad, is unclear.

A Tale of Two Candidates

Elrod vows to not use earmarks

Democrats spending to help Carson campaign

WISH-TV files Copyright Complaint against DCCC

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is the campaign arm for U.S. House Democrats, and one of their top priorities is seeing that Andre Carson is elected in the upcoming special election. They got him a Washington, DC, campaign team; a fancy new web site; and some large DC money. But their latest trick may have gone too far.

Last week, a YouTube video surfaced online, essentially a scary attack adagainst Republican Jon Elrod, even containing the "paid for by DCCC" style disclaimer at the end. It was prominently featured on the DCCC's YouTube Channel (View this photo). The problem is that all the footage was obtained from Indianapolis area news broadcasts.

Normally we would show you the video, but as you can see below, the video has been removed by YouTube, stating that "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by LIN Television Corporation." LIN is the parent company of WISH-TV. As you might see on the DCCCLive page, WISH's Jim Shella was featured prominently, and apparently without permission.

The result is just amazing to think about. Our local media accused the campaign arm of Nancy Pelosi, while working for Andre Carson, of plagiarism, and YouTube agreed.

Just more evidence the Dems will stop at nothing to smear Jon Elrod and force Andre into office.

Switched at Birth: Ken Johnson Edition

We also submit for your approval...

Marion County Judge Ken Johnson and oddball actor Adam West.

Switched at Birth: Gary Miller Edition

With all the blog attention being paid to the GOP slating losers, we submit for your approval...

Marion County Judge Gary Miller and vertically-challenged actor Joe Pesci. 

Dems challenge McCain in the face of Democrat negligence

Indiana does not have the most bipartisan election system, but it does have some vestiges in this state.

Keep that in mind while contemplating the story of McCain's 4th district campaign signatures. Dems are saying McCain does not have the signatures to get on the primary ballot, but State Dem Chairman Dan Parker is not filing a complaint. Nor are any of the Dem County Chairs in any of the 11 counties with parts of the 4th District in it. Instead, they got what is publicly a college student who writes a decidedly partisan blog (like us).

Fact is that if these claims are true, it will have to expose some Democrat election officials who initially approved signatures that were later invalidated. Parker may have learned his lesson in creating party division for minimal political gain with the Elrod video fiasco (Bauer and house Dems were not happy with that one). Unless Evan Bayh persuades Hoosier voters to elect him Vice-President (a prospect we have repeatedly said is unlikely), Indiana is likely to send Republican electors to the Electoral College, and State Dems are not likely to make any headway electorally with this challenge.

There is no juice here, and if there is, it will drag Democrats through the mud in addition to Republicans.

Roundup of the intraparty/slating contests

I love the story of State Sen. Brent Waltz (R-36th) versus his primary opponent, Mike Beeles. Beeles was attempting to get Waltz knocked off the primary ballot due to residency issues (thus making Beele's the GOP nominee by default in a strong GOP district). But he gave a little to much detail, and now Sen. Waltz has a restraining order against Beeles. That one backfired...

In GOP slating, Waltz was unopposed in his slating, as were all of the incumbent legislators. Sitting Judges Ken Johnson, John Hammel, and Gary Miller were not slated, raising a few eyebrows. Teacher Adam Nelson got the nod for House District 86 (vacated by Orentlicher) over attorney Kurt Webber, who got close in his race to unseat Monroe Gray last November.

On the Dem side, they cut some dead weight by not slating Mary Catherine Barton. However, Chiropractor Ken Ackles was slated again for County Coroner, setting up a tough re-election battle. Dems also slate Mary Ann O'Sullivan over City-County Councilor Dane Mahern in District 97 (vacated by Elrod).

Some of these surprises were bin contests between two good candidates, or where the challenger was superior to the incumbent. Others represented races where the party loyalist won out over the better General Election candidate. Our view is that in such a predicament, always go with the better candidate over the favorite son.

Let's put it this way: If Peyton Manning retired, we'd hope the Colts would investigate finding the best quarterback available before elevating Jim Sorgi, even through Sorgi has "put in his time within the organization." Successful party politics is no different.

Andre Carson in "Land of the Lost"

Amateur hour yesterday at the Andre Carson for Congress campaign, as reported by the Indianapolis Star. An event was held last night billed as the first joint appearance between Carson, Republican Jon Elrod, and Libertarian Sean Shepard. Carson called the event organizers yesterday, saying he couldn't attend because of a scheduling conflict.

That would have been ok. Most of us conservative bloggers would have made light of the situation, and that would be the end of it.

As Ron Popeil would say...But wait, there's more!

In the Star's  reporting, they gave the Carson campaign a chance to elaborate, and did they. Carson campaign manager Alex Zwerdling came off offended that the organizers did not tell them it was a candidate forum they had to be there at a certain time. In choosing, they chose not to attend the candidate forum.

What does Andre Carson have to hide? Why did he choose an event attended by 10 people over a candidate forum with his opponents?

Amateur hour lives at Andre Carson HQ...

Journalism 101: Dr. Strange-Bias (or How I learned to Spin a Story)

Not that we haven't seen the Indianapolis Star spin a news event to fit its chosen narrative, but let us consider the facts of this story: Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard's testimony today to the Indiana House of Representatives:

• Ballard was elected on a wave of voters who wanted property taxes reformed, if not repealed.
• Ballard promised to trim Indianapolis'  Budget
• Liberals and Dems think that this is impossible (because no government budget is ever bloated!)
• Ballard backed Daniels tax reform plan
• Liberals and Dems believe Daniels tax plan will cause local government to raise taxes
• Dems invited Ballard to testify in the Dem-controlled House, to embarrass him and try and get him to say something not supportive of the Daniels plan (or break a campaign promise)
• Jim Merritt, Ballard's campaign chairman, has proposed the state assuming pension liabilities that cost Indianapolis millions
• Ballard testifies he supports Daniels Tax Plan and Merritt's proposal.

So what is the Star headline? Ballard to lawmakers: Indy will need help with tax caps

No agenda, right?

Romney Out

Mitt  Romney has suspended his presidential campaign and has all but endorsed McCain as the nominee.

Some have commented that that now leaves no difference between McCain and the Democrats. Again, look at this tool and judge for yourself (on taxes at least).