Here I go to keep earning the reputation as Leonard Boswell’s biggest cheerleader on the blogosphere. Maybe that’s the case, but someone has to do it. We need more Democratic self-identification and Leonard Boswell is a proud Democrat. You may not like his message, but at least he’ll vote for someone other than a Republican for Speaker of the House.
Today, Ed Fallon sent an email out that talked about all the negative advertising going on, particularly on the Republican side of the aisle. But he made sure to make time to criticize Leonard Boswell as well. You can read Fallon’s full letter here at Common Iowan. Coincidently, Kyle posted today explaining how Boswell lost his vote (but Lamberti didn’t gain it) because of Boswell’s attack ad against Lamberti.
John Deeth’s got his thoughts on the issue here and I think he hits on the biggest point: Fallon’s gearing up for a challenge to Boswell in 2008 and he’s setting himself apart; he just happens to be doing it before Boswell’s even been re-elected. Now I’m sure Fallon and others will deny this, but this is the positioning I see and I know others do as well. The biggest problems I have are these two: 1) Fallon doesn’t need to set himself apart from Boswell, the differences are and will become quite clear; and 2) Fallon’s attacking Boswell before the primary season for 2008 even begins. So much for trying to be a team player.
Now maybe I’m being a bit harsh on Fallon. But there’s an expectation in a tough race like this that some of the torch-bearers in your party (and whether people believe it or not, Fallon carries weight with progressive Democrats and those who are unaffiliated) should do what he can to enhance your teammate, in this case Boswell, in a way that affirms the importance of his campaign and calls out the other parties for so virulently attacking Boswell.
Boswell is getting bombed at least three to one everyday by a combined attack from the EFF, the NRCC, and Lamberti. The NRCC and EFF had to change their ads for originally being misleading but Lamberti’s been able to keep his misleading one up (you can find the full release about the NRCC’s required changes below the fold). Boswell’s also getting hit from misleading and smear mailers from the EFF, of which a second one arrived to folks in the district today. And, as Kyle well knows, the EFF is behind the push-polling in the area against Boswell. It’s all in an effort to take this seat for Republicans, which we can’t allow. Kyle says things may not get worse with Lamberti as a representative but he’s dead wrong. Lamberti will stick with the Republican status quo and screw Iowans and Americans over just like they’ve been doing for so many years now.
Look, I don’t want this to be an attack on Ed Fallon or on Kyle. They’re both good people and have added a lot to the Democratic Party in this district and this state. And I think Fallon could do a lot to help in this race as well. He doesn’t like negative ads? Ok, go to the Boswell people and let them know that. Talk with them. Culver has sat down and listened to you, why wouldn’t you expect Boswell’s people to do the same? Fallon could set up an event touting a progressive agenda with Boswell and talk about how Boswell’s re-election will help in the effort to make Nancy Pelosi the highest ranking woman ever in American politics and will make her in charge of the Democratic and progressive mission in the House. Fallon could talk about the importance of taking back the House to bring health care for everyone in America, to protect our environment from deadly polluters, and how taking back the Congress could bring about meaningful discussion on campaign finance reform and voter-owned elections.
Instead, those on his email list get a critical comment about negative advertising when he needs Democratic support the most. Do you know what is worse than negative ads? Losing elections. We can’t let Boswell lose.
I would be very surprised if Fallon ran against the Boz in ‘08. It’d be interesting though, and I think Fallon would win.
I can state, unequivocally, and with my reputation at stake, that in the 16 months I’ve worked for Fallon he has NEVER expressed interest in running for Congress.
He’s upset with Boswell’s negative ads, as am I. We work together so sometimes we end up writing about the same things because we discuss the same issues.
But the fact that we’re talking about Boswell doesn’t mean we’re trying to defeat him.
The issue here isn’t if Fallon is going to run in 08. The issue is about Boswell. He had the choice to run a clean campaign and stick to the issues. Instead he chose the low road and ends up looking just like his opponent.
As I was campaigning in the primary I talked to a lot of people who were turned off by the negative ads by Blouin and Culver. These people wouldn’t have been able to tell who came out negative first. Culver would have been better off if he would have stayed positive. Boswell is the same.
The only thing the negative ads do is turn voters off of the election process. And people wonder why voter turnout is so low in our country.
Surely, if we made a list of stupid questions that have been posed this year, yours at the top of this post would make the top ten. How have you become known as Boswell’s biggest defender? Where do we start? You made excuses for his unfathomable vote on immigration, you wink and say “well, that’s politics” when he goes negative and cry when he’s attacked. And when someone calls you on it, you say, “well, he’s better than the alternative.” Give me a break. And I DO hope Fallon runs against Boswell. It would be like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Honesty so real that it would drive the congress batty.
Congress already has a Kucinich.
This is exactly why Fallon’s comments were inappropriate. Boswell has a tough race against a multi-millionaire jerk. Anything that distracts from that, especially comments from a “supposed” fellow Democrat, is ridiculous.
Just because someone has a D behind their name doesn’t mean they should be supported without question. Why do you think Boswell gets such a lousy rating from NARAL and such a great rating from the NRA? Because he’s a DINO.
Fallon’s comments weren’t at all ridiculous. You want to continue to be the pushover, complacent party, keep supporting Boswell without question.
I applaud Fallon.
Somehow I don’t see it being good for the Democratic Party to have Jeff Lamberti in Congress. Disagree with Boswell, fine. Don’t vote for him, that’s one more vote closer to Congressman Lamberti.
Fallon’s stunt was purely political. He threw Boswell under the bus to appease his own base. For anyone who thinks he is not trying to further his own political career you have your head firmly buried in the sand.
In the middle of a tough campaign you don’t throw knives at the nominee of your own party six weeks out of the election. If you disagree talk to them in private or just bite our f*$king tongue for 48 days and deal with it after the election.
For Fallon to come out swinging at Boswell at this point in the election cycle is a political stunt I thought Fallon was above. I voted for him in the primary and I now regret that vote-he’s no different than the rest.
Bandit. Fallon should just keep his mouth shut. Of course he is trying to further his own career–why else would he still be sending out emails to a large group of people outside of his district.
Didn’t Fallon say he would announce his plans sometime after November. He is foaming for a challenge.
You regret voting for Fallon because of this one thing? How the fuck is he “not above the rest” because of this? He’s always put what he feels is right above party loyalty, and Boswell’s attack ad was absolutely ridiculous and misleading.
Fallon is not “foaming for a challenge.” If he were doing this to prepare for a run against Boswell in ‘08, there’s no way this e-mail would be a part of it because, clearly, it has irritated Democrats. How does that advance his own career?
You guys don’t seem to know Fallon too well.