Here's a link about the Club for Growth, and below is the full text of the presser. Inquiring minds are wondering: Does this move mean the Club's very well-financed PAC won't be pouring any money into OH-02's GOP primary against U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt? In 2005, the Club tried to stop her nomination by supporting State Rep. Tom Brinkman, who is on the ballot again this year.
Washington – The Club for Growth is honored to welcome former Ohio Secretary of State and 2006 Republican candidate for governor Ken Blackwell as the newest member of its board.
Ken Blackwell issued a statement, saying, “I am honored to join the Club for Growth’s board. The Club for Growth has played a crucial role in advocating for free-market, limited-government policies and the prosperity that results from those policies. I look forward to joining their courageous fight on behalf of American taxpayers in what promises to be a rewarding and fruitful partnership.”
“Ken Blackwell is a long-time principled defender of tax payers and a strong proponent of pro-growth, limited-government policies,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “He has an impressive history of fighting for lower taxes and against bloated government spending in Ohio. It is a privilege to have someone of his stature and principle join the Club for Growth board, and we look forward to working with him in the coming weeks and months to promote economic growth in our country.”
Showing posts with label Club For Growth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Club For Growth. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2008
Monday, October 29, 2007
OH-05 Buehrer: Oops, Club For Growth Ad Used Project Vote Smart Data
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (TDB) -- Oh-05 Republican Steve Buehrer says it was "despicable" and unethical for Bob Latta to use Project Vote Smart candidate survey data in an attack ad. Yet the Club for Growth -- which has given Buehrer about $260,000 for his House campaign against Latta -- did the same thing in another political contest. It used Project Vote Smart data as a political weapon.
Jeff Coryell at Ohio Daily Blog had this piece on Oct. 18 about Project Vote Smart's complaint that Latta had used its material in an attack ad. The PVS presser noted it happened very rarely.
Still, Red SeaLLC made an attack ad with PVS as a source for the Buehrer-backing Club for Growth to use in an Idaho House race. It seems that what is wrong in the Midwest is proper in the Far West. Or maybe the Club for Growth and Buehrer figured nobody would notice.
Buehrer and Latta are arguing over a 2002 survey about school prayer and the Ten Commandments. Latta did a mailer to GOP voters earlier this month noting that the Project Vote Smart survery showed Buehrer was opposed to religion in schools and public buildings. Buehrer, however, said he didn't answer a question and indeed supports school prayer and the Ten Commandments. Meanwhile, Project Vote Smart has complained Latta was not supposed to use the survey results in an attack ad, and Buehrer has been ballistic over the incident. He was quoted in the Toledo Blade:
"Project Vote Smart is categorically criticizing Mr. Latta for using something that is supposed to be a guide for voters as a political weapon. I think that is the most despicable sort of attack you can think of."
Apparently, the Club for Growth -- Buehrer's financial angel in the NW Ohio GOP primary contest -- had already delivered the "most despicable sort of attack you can think of." Doesn't seem like Latta is the only guy with muddy hand in the NW Ohio House contest.
The Blade story was by Joe Vardon and it captures nicely Buehrer's horror. Of course, it doesn't mention that Buehrer's backers had done the same thing in another state.
Jeff Coryell at Ohio Daily Blog had this piece on Oct. 18 about Project Vote Smart's complaint that Latta had used its material in an attack ad. The PVS presser noted it happened very rarely.
Still, Red SeaLLC made an attack ad with PVS as a source for the Buehrer-backing Club for Growth to use in an Idaho House race. It seems that what is wrong in the Midwest is proper in the Far West. Or maybe the Club for Growth and Buehrer figured nobody would notice.
Buehrer and Latta are arguing over a 2002 survey about school prayer and the Ten Commandments. Latta did a mailer to GOP voters earlier this month noting that the Project Vote Smart survery showed Buehrer was opposed to religion in schools and public buildings. Buehrer, however, said he didn't answer a question and indeed supports school prayer and the Ten Commandments. Meanwhile, Project Vote Smart has complained Latta was not supposed to use the survey results in an attack ad, and Buehrer has been ballistic over the incident. He was quoted in the Toledo Blade:
"Project Vote Smart is categorically criticizing Mr. Latta for using something that is supposed to be a guide for voters as a political weapon. I think that is the most despicable sort of attack you can think of."
Apparently, the Club for Growth -- Buehrer's financial angel in the NW Ohio GOP primary contest -- had already delivered the "most despicable sort of attack you can think of." Doesn't seem like Latta is the only guy with muddy hand in the NW Ohio House contest.
The Blade story was by Joe Vardon and it captures nicely Buehrer's horror. Of course, it doesn't mention that Buehrer's backers had done the same thing in another state.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
OH-05 GOP: Bowling Green Paper Demands That Buehrer 'End The Lie'
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (TDB) -- Sentinel-Tribune editor David C. Miller pens a harsh editorial that accuses State Sen. Steven Buehrer of allowing the out-of-state Club for Growth PAC to spread a lie about State Rep. Bob Latta. Buehrer and Latta are in a heated GOP primary for Ohio's vacant 5th Congressional district seat. The editor says Buehrer's ally, the Club for Growth, has falsely claimed that Latta voted to raise taxes in 1998. Miller said Republican voters in Northwest Ohio should reject Buehrer's candidacy because he hasn't been willing to denounce the Club for Growth's attack ad.
You can read the complete text of the editorial here and it uses blunt language from start to finish to slam Buehrer's refusal to distance himself from the Club for Growth.
"It is time for voters to send a clear message to candidates who distory their opponents' records as well as those who quietly allow others to distort it for them. The message is simple: If that's your ethics during the campaign, we don't want to risk that being your ethics once you're in elected office."
That's the first sentence. Here's the final sentence:
"Voters expect more ethical campaign tactics than spreading lies from the person who wants to represent them in the halls of Congress."
You can read the complete text of the editorial here and it uses blunt language from start to finish to slam Buehrer's refusal to distance himself from the Club for Growth.
"It is time for voters to send a clear message to candidates who distory their opponents' records as well as those who quietly allow others to distort it for them. The message is simple: If that's your ethics during the campaign, we don't want to risk that being your ethics once you're in elected office."
That's the first sentence. Here's the final sentence:
"Voters expect more ethical campaign tactics than spreading lies from the person who wants to represent them in the halls of Congress."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Club For Growth Faces Ohio Questions Today: Paid $350,000 Fed Penalty In Sept.
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The conservative Club for Growth that is attacking GOP State Rep. Bob Latta in the OH-05 congressional race grew out of the organization that paid a $350,000 civil penalty last month for failing to report its political contributions and expenditures as required by federal law.
Latta has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission contending the Club for Growth has distributed an attack ad against him that distorts and falsifies his record as a state legislator. The commission plans to hold a hearing today.
The Federal Election Commission reports the penalty levied on Sept. 5, 2007 against the Club for Growth, Inc. was "the largest the commission has ever obtained after an enforcement action has moved to litigation." The full-text of the commission's media releases is available here.
This excerpt describes its conduct:
"From 2000 through the end of 2006, the Club accepted approximately $10.78 million in contributions from individuls that exceeded teh $5,000 contribution limit. Between 2000 and 2004 the Club also accepted more than $93,000 in corporate contributions."
The consent judgment reached in the civil case includes a permanent injunction that requires the Club to avoid further violations. Sharp lawyers might want to examine the legal document filed in U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia to see it it has any possible application to Latta's dispute.
Latta has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission contending the Club for Growth has distributed an attack ad against him that distorts and falsifies his record as a state legislator. The commission plans to hold a hearing today.
The Federal Election Commission reports the penalty levied on Sept. 5, 2007 against the Club for Growth, Inc. was "the largest the commission has ever obtained after an enforcement action has moved to litigation." The full-text of the commission's media releases is available here.
This excerpt describes its conduct:
"From 2000 through the end of 2006, the Club accepted approximately $10.78 million in contributions from individuls that exceeded teh $5,000 contribution limit. Between 2000 and 2004 the Club also accepted more than $93,000 in corporate contributions."
The consent judgment reached in the civil case includes a permanent injunction that requires the Club to avoid further violations. Sharp lawyers might want to examine the legal document filed in U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia to see it it has any possible application to Latta's dispute.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
OH-05 Echo In Virginia? Club For Growth Files Complaint Against Democrat
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- In Ohio, Republican State Rep. Bob Latta has filed a formal complaint with the state elections commission claiming the Club for Growth has distorted his record about raising taxes. In Virginia, the Club for Growth filed a formal complaint the same day alleging "malicious falsification in political advertisements" against a Democratic legislative candidate and the state party.
What ignited that spat? A Democrat's contention the Club for Growth's goal of major tax reforms will eventually lead to a national sales tax of 34%, causing "higher taxes on everything."
Ohio's Latta is being attacked by the Club for Growth, which is backing State Sen. Steve Buehrer in the Nov. 6 GOP primary for the vacant 5th Congressional District, which covers the NW portion of the state. In Virginia, Democrat Chris Brown has recently mailed out two political fliers that contend the Club for Growth is backing an incumbent Republican, Jeff Frederick, who favors the 34% sales tax.
The state Democratic Party financed the mailings. It has the Club for Growth howling that it has been hit with a low blow.
Phillip Rodokanakis, president of the Virginia Club for Growth PAC, filed formal legal complaints Oct. 9 with Virginia's attorney general and the state board of elections, along with local prosecutors in two counties. The full-text of the complaints, plus the fliers that triggered the controversy, are available here. Rodokanakis says:
"Every person who is active in political or grassroots circles knows that the Virginia Club for Growth PAC only promotes and endorses candidates that have taken a pledge in support or lower taxes and smaller government. To suggest otherwise is such an exaggerated folly and no knowledgeable and reasonable person can take it seriously -- it's akin to suggesting that the Pope isn't Catholic.
"The fact that these political mailings were funded by the Democratic Party of Virginia is particularly injurious . . . In other words, this is the second attempt by the Democratic Party of Virginia to malign our PAC and falsify or misrepresent our espoused and well known positions, in an attempt to deceive the voters. This sort of fraudulent campaign activity cannot be permitted to continue if the sanctity of the voting process is to be maintained."
In Ohio, Latta says the Club for Growth is maligning and misrepresenting his well known positions. In Virginia, the Club for Growth says its a victim of the Democrats doing the same thing.
What ignited that spat? A Democrat's contention the Club for Growth's goal of major tax reforms will eventually lead to a national sales tax of 34%, causing "higher taxes on everything."
Ohio's Latta is being attacked by the Club for Growth, which is backing State Sen. Steve Buehrer in the Nov. 6 GOP primary for the vacant 5th Congressional District, which covers the NW portion of the state. In Virginia, Democrat Chris Brown has recently mailed out two political fliers that contend the Club for Growth is backing an incumbent Republican, Jeff Frederick, who favors the 34% sales tax.
The state Democratic Party financed the mailings. It has the Club for Growth howling that it has been hit with a low blow.
Phillip Rodokanakis, president of the Virginia Club for Growth PAC, filed formal legal complaints Oct. 9 with Virginia's attorney general and the state board of elections, along with local prosecutors in two counties. The full-text of the complaints, plus the fliers that triggered the controversy, are available here. Rodokanakis says:
"Every person who is active in political or grassroots circles knows that the Virginia Club for Growth PAC only promotes and endorses candidates that have taken a pledge in support or lower taxes and smaller government. To suggest otherwise is such an exaggerated folly and no knowledgeable and reasonable person can take it seriously -- it's akin to suggesting that the Pope isn't Catholic.
"The fact that these political mailings were funded by the Democratic Party of Virginia is particularly injurious . . . In other words, this is the second attempt by the Democratic Party of Virginia to malign our PAC and falsify or misrepresent our espoused and well known positions, in an attempt to deceive the voters. This sort of fraudulent campaign activity cannot be permitted to continue if the sanctity of the voting process is to be maintained."
In Ohio, Latta says the Club for Growth is maligning and misrepresenting his well known positions. In Virginia, the Club for Growth says its a victim of the Democrats doing the same thing.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
OH-05 GOP Buehrer v. Latta: Attack Ad Uses Phony Plain Dealer Front Page
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Club for Growth PAC has released a political attack ad in Ohio's 5th Congressional District that displays a faked front page of the state's largest newspaper, The Plain Dealer. The bogus Plain Dealer is visible at the beginning of the 30-second spot that criticizes State Rep. Bob Latta as a tax-and-spend Republican. The ad was created to generate support for State Sen. Steve Buehrer, and is running on cable and broadcast outlets in OH-05.
[UPDATE: 2:58 pm EDT -- There was a story in the newspaper under the headline "Taft OKs tax increase, largest budget in Ohio history," but it was not on the front page as the Club for Growth asserts in its attack ad. The story written by Julie Carr Smyth and Stephen Ohlemacher, who are now both with the Associated Press, then with the paper's bureau in Columbus. It ran on Jun 27, 2003 and was on page B-4, which means it was buried in the metro section and nowhere near the front page. It was 592 words long and mentioned that Taft used his line item veto several times on the bill.]
Ironically, the Club for Growth says the ad "sets the record straight" about Buehrer's conservative economic principles. But some might say it seems disreputable, underhanded or even dishonest to present a non-existent newspaper page as proof in an attack ad. The tactic smacks of a political dirty trick.
By the way, The Plain Dealer page that that appears in the ad has plenty of clues that give it away as a phony. It doesn't have a date. It has a generic picture of the Ohio Statehouse. It uses the wrong style headline typeface. And it does not have the correct column format. The clues might not be instant giveaways in Northwest Ohio -- where OH-O5 is located -- because The Plain Dealer does not circulate in that portion of Ohio and people are not familiar with how the newspaper really looks.
There are real versions of front pages from Cleveland at this Web portal. The Club for Growth issued a press release accompanying the attack ad that says Latta "wasted no time twisting the truth." Pat Toomey, the Club for Growth's president, went on to say:
"It is sad to see Bob Latta distort the facts in order to paint himself a 'rock solid conservative' when in fact he supported tax and spending increases. The Club for Growth PAC ad will inform voters of the truth about Bob Latta's record."
Apparently, it has done some distorting of its own by creating a phony newspaper page.
[UPDATE: 2:58 pm EDT -- There was a story in the newspaper under the headline "Taft OKs tax increase, largest budget in Ohio history," but it was not on the front page as the Club for Growth asserts in its attack ad. The story written by Julie Carr Smyth and Stephen Ohlemacher, who are now both with the Associated Press, then with the paper's bureau in Columbus. It ran on Jun 27, 2003 and was on page B-4, which means it was buried in the metro section and nowhere near the front page. It was 592 words long and mentioned that Taft used his line item veto several times on the bill.]
Ironically, the Club for Growth says the ad "sets the record straight" about Buehrer's conservative economic principles. But some might say it seems disreputable, underhanded or even dishonest to present a non-existent newspaper page as proof in an attack ad. The tactic smacks of a political dirty trick.
By the way, The Plain Dealer page that that appears in the ad has plenty of clues that give it away as a phony. It doesn't have a date. It has a generic picture of the Ohio Statehouse. It uses the wrong style headline typeface. And it does not have the correct column format. The clues might not be instant giveaways in Northwest Ohio -- where OH-O5 is located -- because The Plain Dealer does not circulate in that portion of Ohio and people are not familiar with how the newspaper really looks.
There are real versions of front pages from Cleveland at this Web portal. The Club for Growth issued a press release accompanying the attack ad that says Latta "wasted no time twisting the truth." Pat Toomey, the Club for Growth's president, went on to say:
"It is sad to see Bob Latta distort the facts in order to paint himself a 'rock solid conservative' when in fact he supported tax and spending increases. The Club for Growth PAC ad will inform voters of the truth about Bob Latta's record."
Apparently, it has done some distorting of its own by creating a phony newspaper page.
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