Our coverage of the race between Courtney Cole (D), the challenger, and Denny Hoskins (r-noun, verb, CPA), the incumbent, in the 121st Legislative District continues – the current contrast between the campaign mail plans is instructive.

Previously:

“Noun, Verb, CPA”: Hoskins (r) mail attack on Cole (D) in the 121st Legislative District race (October 8, 2010)

Hoskins (r) mail attack on Cole (D) in the 121st Legislative District race, part 2 (October 9, 2010)

Courtney Cole (D) in the 121st Legislative District: mail – a constructive outlook for the district (October 10, 2010)

Denny Hoskins (r) had a thing or two to say during his paid local radio program yesterday morning about all the mail that is going out on his behalf which he didn’t pay for (er, excuse us, which his campaign didn’t pay for):

Announcer: ….and this portion of our program, as always on Monday at this time, paid for by Citizens for Hoskins, Stormy Taylor, treasurer…

[….]

Denny Hoskins (r): ….So, I, I’ve never voted for a, a tax increase on, on senior citizens.

Announcer: Somebody said you did?

Denny Hoskins (r):  Well, I, I, I’ve just heard some, some rumors [crosstalk]…

Announcer: Oh.

Denny Hoskins (r): …out there that, that, uh, that, uh, my, my opponent is, is that’s what, uh, she is saying and, and that’s just simply not true, so.

Announcer: Oh, okay.

Denny Hoskins (r):  So, I don’t know. But, uh, you know [crosstalk]…

Announcer: Where that comes from.

Denny Hoskins (r):  Right, I , I don’t  know where that comes from, I don’t know where that comes from. And then, you know, we, we’re in full campaign mode, you know [crosstalk]…

Announcer: Yeah.

Denny Hoskins (r): …we’re, uh, going door to door, making phone calls, been out there several events. Um, any media ad that’s paid for by me will say paid for by Citizens for Hoskins, Stormy Taylor, treasurer.

Announcer: Yeah.

Denny Hoskins (r):  You get some of these other groups, whether it’s the Democrat party or Republican party that will come in and, and buy different ads about different things. And, and a lot of them, what they try to do is contrast pieces. Or at least, um, I know that’s what, that’s what, uh, the Republican party has, has came in and done and said, well, you have Denny Hoskins who believes in this and you have his opponent who believes in this. And that’s the contrast [crosstalk]…

Announcer: Yeah.

Denny Hoskins (r): …in between those two, so.

Announcer: And you don’t have anything to do with those, do you?

Denny Hoskins (r):  No, no, un, unfortunately, um, under Missouri statutes it’s, would be illegal if I knew anything about those, so.

Announcer: Really.

Denny Hoskins (r):  Uh, yes, lots of times they will come out and go on, on, uh, out there on the Internet and find pictures, where there’s pictures of me or pictures of, of my opponent or pictures of whoever and then they can, they can use those and, um, literally, I, I go door to door and [announcer laughter], and I see people say, oh, I got something in the mail from you today. And I say, well, you did? [laugh] You know, what, what was it? Can I see it? And they’ll show it to me and I say, well, that wasn’t, that wasn’t paid for by me, that was paid for by somebody else. But, uh, you know, like I said, anything that’s paid for by me you’ll have Citizens for, or, paid for by Citizens for Hoskins, Stormy Taylor, treasurer just like the announce at the beginning [crosstalk]…

Announcer: Like this program right here.

Denny Hoskins (r):  Exactly, exactly, so….

“…lots of times they will come out and go on, on, uh, out there on the Internet and find pictures…”

Yeah, wink, wink, high resolution photos that were posed and suitable for reproduction on glossy stock:

They found it on the Internets? A recent attack mail piece sent by the Missouri republican party on behalf of Denny Hoskins (r).

The irony of the “what’s in their wallet” theme on the inside of the piece eluded the folks who put this together.

As one wag commented, “Man, there must have been a lot of hidden cameras following him around.” Maybe they were trackers who showed up at the wrong event.

More scare tactic campaign mail from an astroturf right wingnut corporatist organization.

Previously: 60 Plus Association – rightwing campaign mail: fear as a tool

This stuff is slick and expensive:

The address side of the mail piece.

Note the scare tactic “IRS Notice.” And then this:

This IRS Notice is NOT real.

That defeats the whole purpose of the mailing, doesn’t it? If it’s not real than you shouldn’t be afraid of it.

The “B” side is just as pathetic:

The back side of the mail piece.

Ah, it’s directed at Representative Ike Skelton (D).

…Social Security….will be bankrupt…

Wrong. They have that much contempt for people in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District – they think voters are stoopid.

Here’s the rich part – this astroturf group isn’t concerned about preserving Social Security. In fact, they have been advocates for privatization.

And as for their scare tactics about Social Security, here are the facts:

Social Security Sense and Nonsense

…Social Security is a well-run, fiscally responsible program.  People earn retirement, survivors, and disability benefits by making payroll tax contributions during their working years…

….Every year since 1984, Social Security has collected more in payroll taxes and other income than it pays in benefits and other expenses.  (The authors of the 1983 Social Security reform law did this on purpose in order to help pre-fund some of the costs of the baby boomers’ retirement.)  These surpluses are invested in U.S. Treasury securities that are every bit as sound as the U.S. government securities held by investors around the globe; investors regard these securities as among the world’s very safest investments.

Investing the trust funds in Treasury securities is perfectly appropriate.  The federal government borrows funds from Social Security to help finance its ongoing operations in the same way that consumers and businesses borrow money deposited in a bank to finance their spending.  In neither case does this represent a “raid” on the funds.  The bank depositor will get his or her money back when needed, and so will the Social Security trust funds.

As far back as 1938, independent advisors to Social Security firmly endorsed the investment of Social Security surpluses in Treasury securities, saying that it does “not involve any misuse of these moneys or endanger the safety of these funds….”

This is the consequence of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (No. 08-205) – astroturf right wingnut corporatist organizations can spend unlimited amounts of money to pervert our elections, and because obstructionists in the republican minority carry water for them, these organizations don’t have to divulge who is bankrolling them.

Vice President Joe Biden was in Springfield last night for a fundraising event for Robin Carnahan’s (D) campaign for the open U.S. Senate seat:

Vice President Joe Biden spoke at a fundraiser for Missouri Senate candidate Robin Carnahan Thursday night in Springfield, Mo. Biden blamed many of the country’s problems on the George Bush administration and said the stimulus and other programs are working.

“The reports of the death of the Democratic Party are greatly exaggerated,” he said, playing off of the famous quote from Missourian Mark Twain.

He said Carnahan has “more grit and backbone in her little finger than most people have in their whole body. I can’t imagine her bending to anything.”

He said Democrats will continue to push for science and environmental issues.

Carnahan spoke about her opponent, Rep. Roy Blunt, and the money that third parties have put into the campaign.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, who won handily in several conservative counties, touted Carnahan’s record as Missouri secretary of state and said Blunt is part of the problem.

“We’ve got a lot of problems in this country now’s not the time for this state and this country to mess around,” Nixon said.

Earlier that day, Biden attended an event for Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett in Madison, Wis.

Carnahan’s campaign said the event sold out at 170 people, and it expected to bring in $100,000. Tickets started at $500 per couple for event, which was at the Tower Club in downtown Springfield.

Diners ate chicken and beef, a house salad and cheesecake or chocolate cake. Biden spoke for about 45 minutes. Carnahan’s mother, Jean Carnahan, who served with Biden in the Senate, attended the event, along with state Rep. Sara Lampe and some local candidates.

Roseann Moring

Springfield News-Leader

What is it with rock star republican candidates and their big bucks donors? Tom Schweich (r) keeps racking up those $10,000.00 and $20,000.00 contributions. In the last two days, via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $5,000.00 RECEIVED BY ANY COMMITTEE FROM ANY SINGLE DONOR – TO BE FILED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 9/29/2010

Kevin Beckmann

Town & Country, MO

Trident Steel

9/29/2010

$20,000.00

Roy Pfautch

St. Louis, MO

Civic Progress

9/29/2010

$20,000.00

Sam Fox

St. Louis, MO

Harbour Group

9/29/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN $5,000.00 RECEIVED BY ANY COMMITTEE FROM ANY SINGLE DONOR – TO BE FILED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF RECEIVING THE CONTRIBUTION

C091153 SCHWEICH FOR AUDITOR [pdf] 9/30/2010

Robert Topping

St. Charles, MO

Western Aerospace

9/30/2010

$10,000.00

Centene Management Company LLC

Centene Corporation

St. Louis, MO

9/30/2010

$10,000.00

TSI Holding Company

St. Louis, MO

9/30/2010

$10,000.00

Blair Financial Services, Inc.

Clayton, MO

9/30/2010

$10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Can’t you just feel the grassroots energy oozing out of that campaign?

We received a mailing today from our brothers and sisters of the AFL-CIO explaining Roy Blunt’s (r-lobbyists) sad record and lack of support when it comes to working people and their families:

Important Union Message

Roy Blunt Failed to Create Jobs in Congress.

Why Should We Trust Him Now?

Roy Blunt Failed Missouri’s Workers

Roy Blunt’s anti-worker economic policies have failed Missouri. Now Blunt wants a promotion that he hasn’t earned. Here are the facts:

Failed to Create Missouri Jobs

Blunt opposed legislation that would create good-paying Missouri jobs. [H.R. 2847, Vote #991, 12/16/09; St. Louis Front Page, 12/20/09]

Failed to Protect Missouri Workers

Blunt opposed legislation to extend unemployment insurance to laid-off Missouri Workers. [H.R. 5618, Vote #398, 6/29/10 Washington Times, 6/12/08; CQ, 6/10/08]

Failed to Improve Missouri’s Economy

Blunt voted for the massive bailout of wall Street but opposed legislation to protect Missouri jobs. Time and again, he’s stood on the side of big banks and corporations over working families. [H.R. 1424, Vote #681, 10/3/08; gannet, 10/2/08; H.R. 2847, Vote #991, 12/16/09]

How You Vote is a Personal Decision

Your Union Has Endorsed Robin Carnahan for U.S. Senate

Vote Tuesday, November 2nd

And this mailing is a pittance compared to the special interest support Congressman Blunt (r-lobbyists) is getting from his inside the beltway Washington friends. From a Robin Carnahan (D) campaign e-mail sent today:

…Consider this:

   * Karl Rove’s Crossroads groups are spending $4.7 million on TV attacking me (they’ve already spent over $2.1 of that);

   * The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has already spent $1 million on TV attacks;

   * The National Republican Senatorial Committee just reserved $1.2 million for TV;

   * Congressman Blunt is the top recipient of lobbyist money of all House Members of Congress, and he’s number two in PAC contributions, giving him nearly limitless resources to spread lies about me and distort his own record.

What does this mean? A couple things: First, that the Washington Republican establishment knows that Congressman Blunt’s record makes him extremely vulnerable; and second, that they’re willing to spend anything and say anything to stop us from holding them accountable….

[emphasis added]

That’s serious money to prop up a Washington insider. I wonder who he’d be looking after?

Heh. You get to turn left at the Missouri sign.

Announcer: After thirty-three years in Washington Ike Skelton’s gotten lost. Instead of voting for Missouri, Skelton’s voting Pelosi’s party line, for Obama’s failed stimulus, for Nancy Pelosi’s irresponsible budget, for the death tax, even for a new job killing energy tax that could devastate Missouri’s farmers and cost over twenty thousand jobs. Ike Skelton, voting with Washington, costing Missouri. The National Republican Congressional Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.

Well, apparently Vicky Hartzler (r) is running against Nancy Pelosi twice.

A question for the NRCC, is Roy Blunt (r-lobbyists) a Washington insider? Just asking.

A piece of campaign mail, directed at older voters in the 4th Congressional District, was sent by the 60 Plus Association:

The 60 Plus Association: A Corporate Assault in “Good-for-Seniors” Clothing

The 60 Plus Association, a pharmaceutical industry front group, claims it is a “nonpartisan senior advocacy group,” but it really operates counter to elderly citizens’ best interests. 60 Plus advocates positions on issues that benefit big corporations but that stand to harm seniors….

A Scary Primer on the 60-Plus Association

The “60-Plus Association” was AstroTurf before AstroTurf was cool. These kinds of right wing phony groups are a dime a dozen now. 60-Plus is a DC outfit mostly made up of longtime Republican operatives that pretend to be concerned about senior issues. In reality they appear to exist for little more than to help Republicans win elections and to scare the elderly….

….The 60-Plus Association fancies itself as a right-wing version of the AARP but its IRS filings show that it derives zero dollars from actual membership dues, even though it lists over $1.8 million in revenues. So if they are not getting their money from their nonexistent “membership” then how are they paying to scare… seniors? [60-Plus Association 2008 IRS Form 990]

Some of that question was answered when AARP hired an independent investigator to thoroughly research the phony group and they found that the pharmaceutical industry is actually paying a lot of the bills. The report revealed that in 2001 alone, 60-Plus got hundreds of thousands of dollars from some of the following: the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA); drug companies like Merck, Pfizer and Wyeth-Ayerst, and even from Hanwha International Corp.; which is the U.S. subsidiary of a Korean conglomerate with chemical and pharmaceutical interests. For this reason a Public Citizen report described 60-Plus as being part of “PhRMA’s Stealth PACS” [pdf]. [AARP Bulletin Today, “Pulling Strings from Afar”, 2003]….

The mailing text (on the “B side”):

The irresponsible bureaucrats and politicians in Washington are bankrupting our Social Security, our Medicare, and our nation at a record speed.

The consequences of this reckless and uncontrolled spending spree are clear: An economy handcuffed by uncertainty, millions of lost jobs, ruined pensions, unaffordable and rationed health care, thousands of failed businesses, a worthless dollar, and a future America without liberty and prosperity….

….call your United States Representative, Ike Skelton, right now….and demand he vote to repeal “ObamaCare”, to ban eramarks, bailouts, and “stimulus” boondoggles….

…It’s Our Country, Our Health Care and Our Prosperity….

Really, they claim to be defenders of Social Security?

The 60 Plus Association, Proud Supporters of Social Security Privatization

David Weigel 11/12/09 5:28 PM

One important fact about the 60 Plus Association’s move into the health care debate is that from 1995 through really the end of the Bush administration, its big cause was support for Social Security privatization. It did a lot of blocking and tackling when President Bush pushed for privatization in 2005, and it kept on message long after he dropped the campaign…

How’s that privatization thing working out for you? You know, investing it in the stock market so people running high risk schemes can bankrupt you.

And, as if dubya’s administration didn’t exist from 2001 to 2009? Let’s see the TARP bailout occurred under which president? Uh, dubya.

Nope, it’s the corporations’ country, it’s the insurance companies’ health care, and it’s the top one percent’s prosperity. The rest of us only get to live here.

Note the cute dog graphic. A “no” vote is for those who think that puppy mills as they currently exist in Missouri don’t need any more regulation.

Official Ballot Title

Proposition B

[….]

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

       * require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles;

       * prohibit any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets; and

       * create a misdemeanor crime of “puppy mill cruelty” for any violations?

It is estimated state governmental entities will incur costs of $654,768 (on-going costs of $521,356 and one-time costs of $133,412). Some local governmental entities may experience costs related to enforcement activities and savings related to reduced animal care activities.

Fair Ballot Language:

A “yes” vote will amend Missouri law to require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles.  The amendment further prohibits any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets.  The amendment also creates a misdemeanor crime of “puppy mill cruelty” for any violations.

A “no” vote will not change the current Missouri law regarding dog breeders.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

The Humane Society, interfering fly by night radicals that they are, believes a “yes” vote is the right thing to do:

…Prop B will not shut down all puppy mills in Missouri. But it will require that breeders maintain certain humane care standards, and if past patterns hold, a fair number of them won’t be interested in complying. They turn hefty profits by cutting corners-not providing sufficient space for the animals, denying them veterinary care, and starving them of human affection and attention. If they weren’t able to cut so many corners, many of them would no longer be in the business, since they wouldn’t realize the profits they counted on…

Ah, such a choice – profits or humanity? It’ll be telling to find out which of the two the voters of Missouri will choose in November.

…and that might imperil his own sense of outsiderness.

Heh. It appears Roy Blunt (r-lobbyists) would rather hide behind special interest attack ads:

Robin Carnahan for US Senate

For Immediate Release:

September 22, 2010

[…]

True to His Record, Congressman ‘Bailout’ Blunt Bails on Debate Package With Robin Carnahan

Robin Carnahan Accepts Debate Package With Blunt, Including Fox News Sunday and Meet The Press

Blunt Backs Out of All But 2 Debates and Refuses to Finalize Negotiations for St. Louis Public TV Debate

St. Louis – After months of claiming he will debate anytime, anywhere with Robin Carnahan, it appears that Congressman Roy Blunt is trying to fashion his own personal debate “bailout” package by refusing to take part in the very debates he called for and on the very dates he proposed. For weeks, Congressman Blunt has sidestepped and stalled the process and now failed to complete negotiations on a St. Louis Public Television debate with Robin Carnahan.

“During his 14 years in Washington, Congressman Blunt has perfected the art of DC Doublespeak and negotiated the Wall Street bailout – now he’s using his art to bail himself out of debates,” said Linden Zakula, Robin Carnahan for Senate spokesman.  “Just like on the campaign trail, Congressman Blunt wants to talk as little as possible about his 14 year Washington record of wasteful spending, corruption and sticking it to the middle class.  This refusal to agree to additional debates over the smallest of issues is a clear sign that Congressman Blunt consistently says one thing, but does another and he simply can’t be trusted.”

The Facts About Congressman Blunt’s Debate Bailout:

   *      On July 22, Robin Carnahan sent letters to all the qualified candidates proposing a series of three general election debates with all four U.S. Senate candidates in Missouri.

   *      On August 5, Congressman Blunt sent out a press release calling for 6 debates with Robin, noting that he had accepted nationally televised debates with Fox News Sunday and Meet the Press.

   *      Congressman Blunt then proposed to respective representatives dates for Meet the Press with David Gregory and Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.  Among those dates were September 26 for Fox News Sunday and September 12 for Meet the Press.  Robin Carnahan accepted those dates, but Congressman Blunt, despite living in Washington, DC, and having no travel concerns, refused to participate and instead insisted on a package of only 3 debates that could only be sponsored on Missouri Public TV stations and not network affiliates.

   *      In the interim, Robin also accepted debates hosted by the Joplin Globe and the Clayton Chamber of Commerce, both of which had major local TV and radio station partnerships so that more voters could see and hear them.

   *      Despite Robin’s desire to do more debates, Congressman Blunt’s campaign refused to consider them, so her campaign agreed to his package of three in-state debates proposed by Congressman Blunt: the Missouri Press Association Debate on October 15 and debates on St. Louis and Kansas City Public Television.

   *      In this process, Robin Carnahan’s campaign has agreed to every demand made by Congressman Blunt’s campaign.

   *      An agreement has been reached with Kansas City Public Television and all 4 candidates (including Jonathan Dine, the Libertarian candidate and Jerry Beck, the Constitution Party candidate) for the Missouri Press Association debate in October.

*”[Carnahan consultant Tony] Wyche, after we assured him of television coverage out of Joplin and Springfield, said that Carnahan would accept. Rich Chrismer, with Blunt’s campaign, did not decline our invitation. In fact he told me that Blunt had not declined any of the invitations. But, I didn’t get the yes I needed to move forward.” [Joplin Globe, 9/19/10]

Robin is running for the U.S. Senate Seat currently held by U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) who is retiring. She is currently in her second term as Missouri Secretary of State where she has worked across party lines to protect consumers by standing up to big institutions and getting more than $10 billion returned to wronged investors, and to cut red tape for small businesses so they can save resources and create more jobs. A breast cancer survivor with a background in business and law, Robin also still oversees her family’s cattle farm in Rolla, MO. For more information on Robin’s background and values, visit: http://www.RobinCarnahan.com

###

Yeah, those pointed questions could be so, you know…inconvenient.

…this is what we all get.