[Editor Note: I have revised my thinking about who is to blame for the attack on Jill Morgenthaler and have apologized to “pro-Roskam Republicans” blamed in this blog entry because I think I blamed them without proper proof. I sincerely regret the error. Here is the apology and explanation of my changed views.]
Congressman Peter Roskam’s supporters must fear Democratic Candidate Col. Jill Morgenthaler, because they just mailed a hit piece against her purporting to be from a group called the “Patriotic Democrats of DuPage.” The piece is designed to look like it supports Jill - but then makes accusations designed to attack her and hurt her standing with Democrats.
[Heading of attack piece on Jill Morgenthaler supposedly by a group calling itself the “Patriotic Democrats of DuPage”]
“Given the throw-all-the-bullcrap-they-can-and-see-what-sticks m.o. the Republicans had in the 6th district last year in trying to not just defeat but literally smear and stain Major Tammy Duckworth, here are just a few of the despicable tactics that Colonel Morgenthaler can expect:
* The NRCC and/or other allied groups like a 527 or PAC may toss out a slew of annoying, subversive and downright misleading robocalls which seem designed mostly to sour voters and turn them off from the process rather than actually inform anyone of anything substantive
* Rather than considering a candidate who is a veteran, the VFW may rely on Republican backroom suggestions instead of actual service records while endorsing her opponent who has zero military experience
* The Repubs will photoshop pictures of the Colonel to make her look ominous and scarey. Boo!
* The Illinois GOP will use the memory of 9/11 for political hackery and imply that the Colonel is somehow best buds with that guy that Pres. Bush let escape Osama bin Forgotten
* Her home phone number will be given out by conserv-o-partisan hacks. No word on whether they’ll also encourage their lemmings to breathe heavy on the other end
* And, if none of those dirty tricks work, the cons may just flat-out lie and lie again … and then your Republican opponent will demean your service and sacrifice to our great nation”
It sounds like this is par for the course. Tell your Democratic, Independent and Republican friends that this is a hit piece - don’t let pro-Roskam Republicans define this campaign through slime. The fact that they’re already attacking Jill Morgenthaler speaks well of her - they fear Jill - and they’re afraid to challenge her on the merits of the issues.
[Update: ArchPundit reports about this here. You can read the document here - 6th Congressional - Patriotic Democrats of Dupage flier 10-16-07]
Comments 14
I bet they’re recording the robocalls with those subversive talking points now….
One can only hope that Col. Morgenthaler’s stints in Bosnia, Iraq, etc. have prepared her for the level of crapitude the Repubs and their allies are about to unleash on her.
Posted 16 Oct 2007 at 11:31 pm ¶I’m impressed with the speed of this - she’s barely started - they’re not taking chances with Congressman Roskam despite his pile of money. Shows you how bad they must think things are for Roskam - supporting Bush isn’t good at the ballot box.
Posted 16 Oct 2007 at 11:36 pm ¶Could there be two Jill Morganthalers? I need to check on this Thursday, but look at this link… http://uruknet.info/?p=m36773&s1=h1
Posted 16 Oct 2007 at 11:39 pm ¶The problem with “his pile of money” is that there is little back-up for it. A lot of his support in ‘06 came from the NRCC in tv buys, robocalls, and mailers.
NRCC is in the red right now and having to defend a near-record number of open seats, including 3 of 9 in Illinois alone. Add in all the incumbents on the bubble (ie, Kirk & Roskam in Illinois) and there are going to be a lot of incumbents left to fend for themselves.
I agree, the swiftness of this attack is telling. At least Tim Baldermann is man enough to do the attacking himself.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 12:04 am ¶Hey, I’d like to believe that that pile of slime Roskam is behind this, but what proof do you have that this is so?
By the way, when I called his office to demand that Roskam either take his kids off the tax-payer subsidized health care we’re paying for or vote to support SCHIP, I was told that Pete doesn’t keep his family on the Congressional plan. Also that he voted against the SCHIP because of all the illegal aliens that would be able to access the plan. I politely informed the nice woman that that was known as a ‘Cleveland steamer’ where I’m from, since not even legal aliens can apply for SCHIP.
She didn’t have much else to say.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 5:24 am ¶Duckworth had several million dollars from fund raising and the DCCC, big time support from Washington, Axelrod ads, a large volunteer force, endless energy, a compelling story, national recognition and great personal presence - but she lost against the Ratscum slim machine. Looks like they are dusting off the machine early. I hope Jill can pull this off, but she’ll need more than Tammy had in this ultra right-wing District.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 7:54 am ¶Congressman Roskam is the best thing that has happened to this District since, well Henry Hyde. I truly doubt, actually I know that Roskam’s campaign did not send this out, especially because of the lack of evidence. And reading this piece I don’t see that it bashes her, it really doesn’t. WHY don’t you investigate who is behind this Democrat Patriotistic Dupage group?
And for the SCHIP, MR. Whiskey, you are unaware of the truths. Illegal Immigrants were covered under the SCHIP bill, so get your facts straight.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 12:35 pm ¶Besides, this Slime Fest Campaign, you all think you know about, NEVER HAPPENED. Peter Roskam ran a smooth and clean campaign without mud slinging, were as your loyal Tammy would use anything from the term “cut and run” to her advantage. Give me a break.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 12:39 pm ¶Hi Rich,
That seems to be the right Jill - she was a spokeswoman in Iraq.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 7:27 pm ¶Hi Christian,
Welcome to the discussion. I’m not sure if you’re an intern or staffer from Congressman Peter Roskam’s office - but please know that you (and they) are welcome to comment here. I do think it important (for a fair perspective) that people know that you’re blogging from the U.S. House and that your email address begins with InternChris6.
You write:
“I truly doubt, actually I know that Roskam’s campaign did not send this out, especially because of the lack of evidence.”
I tried (and I think succeeded) in being careful to attribute it to a “pro-Roskam” group and not to the Roskam campaign directly. I think the piece tends to speak for itself (more on that follows).
You write:
“reading this piece I don’t see that it bashes her, it really doesn’t”
Given what I assume to be a pro-GOP perspective from your handle/location (to which you are entitled) I can see what you mean. Much of this does sound like a pro-Republican piece for a GOP candidate. You can then, I hope, understand why it might harm a Democrat (inaccuracies aside).
You write:
“WHY don’t you investigate who is behind this Democrat Patriotistic Dupage group?”
We are.
You write:
“And for the SCHIP, MR. Whiskey, you are unaware of the truths. Illegal Immigrants were covered under the SCHIP bill, so get your facts straight.”
That is a GOP talking point that is simply false. From the Atlanta Journal Constitution under the heading “CORRECTING THE MYTHS”:
“Claim: Illegal immigrants will be able to sign up for benefits. It is against federal law for illegal immigrants to sign up for SCHIP programs. That wouldn’t change.”
Your claim that there was no “Slime Fest Campaign” against Tammy Duckworth is simply
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 7:53 pm ¶a lienot the truth. I saw the pieces. There were the phone calls at the end of the campaign. You are either poorly informed or lying.Christian.
While I realize there is a difference between a candidates campaign and the local party and other supporting groups the Duckworth general race was distinctly slimy and most of the slim came from Republican and conservative sources.
And if you think I was a Duckworth supporter you are quite wrong after the divisive Deocratic primary I could not bring myself to activly support Duckworth. But it goes without saying that I didn’t support Roskam either.
Posted 17 Oct 2007 at 10:08 pm ¶Dear Mr. Roskam’s Intern:
Are you freakin’ kidding me? You’re seriously going to claim that Peter Roskam ran a positive, anti-mudslinging campaign? You, know, you can go to hell for lying as well as stealing, as my Mom says. Who could forget such Roskam classics as “let’s make a mailer with Tammy’s eyes slantier than they actually are!” or the ever-popular with the GOP-base “Hey, let’s convince every voter that Tammy really wants to help more illegal brown folks over the border! That’ll be a gas!”
Please stop embarrassing yourself. And the fact that you are either lying about the illegal immigrants issue on the SCHIP bill shows that either you’re a moron with no grasp of the facts (likely) or that you’re lying about this bill because you know it’s the only way on God’s Earth that your employer can possibly justify his ‘no’ vote (also likely).
How you people sleep at night is beyond me. If you had a conscience, you’d just quit your job.
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 7:04 am ¶DEAR READERS-
IT DON’T SURPRISE ME. THE G.O.P. CALLS ITSELF “AMERICAN” THEN SLAM OUR VETS.( IF ITS RUNNING FOR OFFICE OR VA MEDICAL PROBLEMS. )
WHAT IS WROSE YET IS HAVING PEOPLE LIKE LARRY CRAIG STILL IN THERE. I WOULD BE EMBARRASSED IF I WERE A REPUBLICAN!
-Robert Jones
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 9:57 am ¶Blue Dog Democratic member
That figures. He failed in the 13th and as “state sen.” He is a another plug in failed G.O.Per of Dupage!
Posted 20 Oct 2007 at 3:22 pm ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 3
[…] Wurf notes the subversive conservative mailer is actually a switcheroo: it appears to be an endorsement of Col. Morgenthaler but ticks off a bunch of negative points. […]
[…] reading the comments of others I think the fair thing to say is that I jumped the gun on attributing blame to Republicans in the recent Jill Morgenthaler hit piece. It may or may not have been from pro-Roskam Republicans on the right, as I originally suggested, […]
[…] (IL-6) is telling as he tries to explain away his vote against children’s healthcare… Other constituents had also noted that Rep. Roskam was not telling the truth about the SCHIP compromise […]
Post a Comment