UPDATE: Todd Dorman has more thoughts in his blog here.
This is odd, but a great move from Ed Fallon. He’s written a song urging his supporters to vote for Chet Culver and not write him in. Common Iowan as more here.
Thanks, Ed.
Archive for October, 2006
Here is Denise O’Brien’s response ad to the attacks of Bill Northey — who is relying on Farm Bureau’s Iowans for Agriculture PAC to do his work by running a positive ad for him.
It is straight to the point and again emphasizes local control. It is what she’s got to do. And way to mention the Storm Lake Times endorsement as well.
that “Dave Lamberti” will benext congressman from the Iowa 3rd.
I’m guessing she’s kidding.
Uh-oh. Ted Sporer might be getting some bad press tonight if any of the local media outlets pick up the disgusting stuff he said. This just came out from the Boswell for Congress campaign:
Boswell Campaign Calls on Lamberti to Ask for Sporer’s Immediate Resignation
Polk Co. Republican Chair’s Slanderous Comments Should Result in Immediate Dismissal“DES MOINES - Today, the Boswell for Congress campaign called on Jeff Lamberti to demand the resignation of Polk County Republicans Chairman Ted Sporer for inexcusable and shockingly senseless comments made on his blog about Michael J. Fox.
On his blog, Sporer falsely claims that, “Fox did something to intensify his Parkinson symptoms in the commercials.”
“Ted Sporer’s comments are unforgiveable and morally bankrupt, and if Jeff Lamberti believes Sporer’s comments are as troubling as we do, he should call for Sporer’s immediate resignation,” said Boswell spokesperson Mark Daley. “Congressman Boswell salutes Michael J. Fox as an honorable and heroic champion for families hoping to find cures for countless diseases.”"
Ouch. I love the phrase ‘morally bankrupt.’ Sporer should immediately apologize for his comments. And, honestly, I think resignation is also an appropriate step for him to take. You can’t just get away with comments like these and live to see another day simply through apologizing.
We all know that Polk County Republican Chairman Ted Sporer is outspoken — very outspoken — and can be pretty forceful with his words. But his comments about Michael J. Fox and his visit to Des Moines yesterday are downright denegrading and crude. So wrong, in fact, that the Iowa Democratic Party might’ve launched the first volley in a battle about partisan blogs and the speech that takes place on them. Here’s what they had to say today:
Does Jim Nussle Agree with Polk County Chair Ted Sporer’s Disgusting Comments about Michael J. Fox?
“DES MOINES – Last night, Republican Polk County Chair Ted Sporer posted a comment on the Krusty Konservative Blog saying, “You know if he [Michael J. Fox] OD’d on his meds, and that artificially exacerbated his tremors, its still a fraud. Since Teen Wolf’s tremors are identical in each iteration of the commercial, regardless of candidate, it’s an intentional fraud.”
Even worse, on his own blog on Sunday, Sporer wrote, “But we can’t forgive [Fox’s] own exploitation of his personal calamity, as pitiable and sympathetic as it is, coupled with the fraud of visually enhancing the symptoms to make himself appear to be even more pitiable. If this isn’t a shameless use of emotional distortion of a complex ethical issue, knowingly false, and aimed at demonization of its opponents, what is?”
So, does Jim Nussle agree with Polk County Republican Chair Ted Sporer’s disgusting comments about Michael J. Fox? Will he call on Sporer to apologize?
“Iowans already know that Jim Nussle doesn’t support lifting Iowa’s restrictive ban on embryonic stem cell research,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sally Pederson. “Now, Iowa voters need to know if Jim Nussle agrees with Ted Sporer, the Republican Chair of Iowa’s largest county, and his disgusting characterization of Michael J. Fox’s debilitating disease. Will he call on Sporer to apologize for his outrageous and offensive remarks?”
“It seems that the Iowa Republicans have taken a page from the Rush Limbaugh playbook choosing to demonize Mr. Fox rather than engage in a debate over embryonic stem cell research,” said Pederson. “Republicans know that they are out of the mainstream on this issue, and their extreme position on this vital research could prevent potential cures for some of the most debilitating diseases, including Parkinson’s disease.”
To find Ted Sporer’s disgusting comments:
http://therealsporer.blogspot.com/2006/10/invasion-of-shameless.html
The Comments Section at http://krustykonservative.blogspot.com/2006/10/krusty-kudos-to-nw-iowa.html“
I’m sure this isn’t going to be the end of the Republican party’s problems with officials and staff members posting things on blogs — especially if they’re acting as party spokespeople or are supposed to be ranking officials who should stick to the talking points.
How many campaigns do you think have folks trolling the blogs? And who do you think runs Krusty Konservative? Seven days out, I think this is the perfect time to begin discussing the netroots and the online community on this race. Leave your thoughts below.
Yesterday the Des Moines Register endorsed Bill Northey for Secretary of Agriculture because:
“It is greater experience regarding that last factor - the growing role of Iowa agriculture in producing renewable energy - that tips our recommendation to Northey. In his various roles with the Corn Growers, he was on the ground floor of building the corn-grain ethanol industry. If Iowa is to remain a leader in the renewable-fuels revolution, it needs the best people, with the most expertise and worldwide connections, all pulling together to make it happen.”
Ok, so we should vote for Northey because he’s all about Iowa’s ethanol economy.
And he shows this by working to invest a million dollars into Brazil’s ethanol industry? Brazil is our number one international competitor with regards to ethanol. Here is what the Iowa Democratic Party has to say:
“Despite running a campaign that almost exclusively promotes ethanol, Republican candidate for Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is a leader in an organization that has invested nearly $1 million in Iowa’s number one competitor, Brazilian agriculture.
“Bill Northey doesn’t have full faith in Iowa’s agriculture, so he is hedging his bets in Brazil,” said Iowa Democratic party Chairman Sally Pederson. “Iowa can’t afford a leader who is leading the outsourcing of our agriculture.”
Northey sits on the Global Investment Committee of the AgVentures Alliance, which invested $786,000 to purchase 19,595 acres of Brazilian farmland. Don Hofstand, the Executive Director of AgVentures Alliance, wrote in an article to the Iowa State University Extension Service that Brazilian agriculture expansion “poses a competitive threat to Iowa farmers.”
Brazil is the number two producer of ethanol in the world and in direct competition with Iowa’s ethanol industry. The South American nation is aggressively expanding its sugarcane plantations and expects to more than double its annual exports of alcohol fuel, or ethanol, by 2010.
“By outsourcing agriculture to Brazil, Bill Northey obviously doesn’t have the best interest of Iowa farmers in mind. Iowa’s ethanol production is the future of our state’s economy, and Northey’s efforts to help the competition just shows how out of touch he is,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sally Pederson. “Iowa’s farmers deserve a Secretary of Agriculture who is truly committed to expanding Iowa agriculture, not outsourcing it, and that candidate is Denise O’Brien.””
You can see his role on the AgVentures Alliance Global Investment Committee by clicking here and read about Brazil’s ethanol competition here. And you can judge just how much of a competition threat Brazil is by clicking here to read more information from the ED of the AgVentures Alliance wrote in 2002 to the ISU Extension.
The Storm Lake Times decided to endorse Denise O’Brien because of the lies in Northey’s ads against her. Maybe the Register will reconsider its endorsement of Northey since he’s busy investing in Brazil, not in Iowa.
UPDATE: Below you can watch Bill Northey try to defend investing in Brazil, even though it is bad for Iowa ethanol:
Today, David Yepsen writes a five-piece column — either because there are too many things to talk about before Election Day or that he is just being lazy — and his first highlight is attacking Chet Culver and Patty Judge on their Iowa Rainforest ad. I’m sorry, but if even State 29 likes the ad then there has to be some kind of appealing quality to it even if we don’t understand the style or State 29.
I think State 29 is on the point when he writes:
“Listen, Yepsen, you’re not fooling anybody. The Register is in bed with the Omans and Bob Ray can do no wrong. Your newspaper has rarely been objective about the rainforest scam, especially in recent years. A reporter is always around whenever David Oman has a press conference, but there’s never any critical analysis by your army of opinion columnists.”
‘In bed’ might be a bit strong of a phrase, but there has been limited highlights of criticism by the reporting staff or the opinion page. Oh, and if State really believes that the Register is in bed with David Oman and Bob Ray, then I had better never hear him call the paper some kind of liberal rag, because both are quite the popular and influential Republicans.
The fact is, you can’t sell Iowa to tourists and others with something that is uniquely un-Iowa, in this case, a rainforest. It is a waste of federal tax dollars to try to improve tourism in Iowa by building this thing. Why not indulge in building on what Iowa already has that we can sell and attract people to our state?
Listen, Culver is right on the money by criticizing the rainforest. Who honestly thinks it is a good idea to spend at least $50 million on a rainforest here in Iowa? I want to build on this state as much as Yepsen does, but a rainforest is a waste.
Yepsen’s other criticism is that the ad doesn’t look professional or gubernatorial. Yepsen doesn’t get what the people are looking for. Culver took one out of Fallon’s playbook, to some extent, by making this ad different and adding humor to it. It stands out from the typical attack or comparison ads — not to mention it incorporates Patty Judge as a running mate, which is more than the Nussle campaign has done with BVP, who they are right to control because when he speaks he says dumb things like intelligent design is good in schools.
This letter to the editor says it so well, I’m reproducing it in full:
“There is a disconnection between what the Register says needs to be accomplished in the upcoming midterm election and what it advises voters to do.
On the front page of the Oct. 29 Opinion section, the editorial board proclaims, “Vote the GOP out of power for its abject failure.”
And then on page 3 it recommends that Republican 2nd District Rep. Jim Leach be returned to Congress, thus providing a vote necessary to put these failed Republicans back into power. On the same page, the Register concludes its endorsement for the election of 4th District Democratic candidate Dr. Selden Spencer by writing, “Spencer was right during a recent meeting with the Register when he noted that the current Republican leadership in Washington has failed the country. And Latham has been part of the problem.”
Leach has also been a part of the problem. As he philosophically contemplated his navel and fiddled in pious posturing, the halls of this Republican-controlled Congress burned with abuse, corruption and neglect.
On Nov. 7, I am voting for Dave Loebsack to represent the 2nd District. In fact, I am going to vote to throw all of the rascals out by casting a straight Democratic ticket.
- Sam Osborne,
West Branch.”
Word.
This statement was released from Chet Culver’s Campaign yesterday afternoon to talk about just how restrictive Iowa’s ban on somatic cell nuclear transfer is.
Statement from University of Iowa Researcher Dr. Roger Williamson on Adverse Impacts of Iowa’s Current Stem Cell Law “Current stem cell research law is more restrictive in Iowa than most other states (only 6 to 7 other states have similar laws).
Specifically, current law bans a particular form of stem cell research called ’somatic cell nuclear transfer.’ Some researchers believe this will be the most effective way to treat diseases by preventing immune rejection.
Qualified researchers who are aware of the restrictions do not come here to join Iowa research teams that are otherwise nationally-known for their work.
Under current law there is zero state-funding for stem cell research. We are competing with other states (California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and others) that have initiated state-based stem cell research.
Some of our best and brightest scientists either do not come to Iowa, leave Iowa, or are restricted in their work in Iowa.”
Roger A. Williamson, M.D.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Krusty notes here that in some of the talk about stem cell research, the word embryonic is missing. To be fair, though, in general there is a field known as stem cell research. There are multiple different methods of the kind of research, one of them happens to be embryonic.
The difference is that Democrats support all forms of stem cell research in an effort to advance human life and save human life. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is one way to improve the research and continue down the path towards the research with the greatest success potential. As I have noted before by linking to this LTE in the Register, the only real hope for true cures and understanding of these diseases rest with the unlimited potential of embryonic stem cell research.
And finally, a question I pose to conservatives who are opposed to embryonic stem cell research: What do you propose we do with the embryos that remain frozen at in vitro fertilization clinics that end up never being used and will eventually be destroyed in some fashion or another?
Ed. Note: This post comes from the field crew at the Iowa Democratic Party. They’re looking for volunteers across the state — and you can help in their GOTV efforts.
There are only a few days left until the election and the Iowa Democratic Party needs your help. There are going to be some tight races, and we need you to lend a hand. The most important thing you can do now is volunteer to help Get Out the Vote between November 4th and Election Day, November 7th. Working together, we will elect Chet Culver as Governor, help add Democratic Congressional seats, and take control of the Iowa House and Senate. Please give us a call or e-mail Casey Muhm at cmuhm@iowademocrats.org if you can help out. Thanks for your support. Here are our office locations and phone numbers:
Office and Office Number
| Ames | 515-232-7592 |
| Burlington | 319-753-0445 |
| Cedar Rapids | 319-221-1065 |
| Clinton | 563-241-1356 |
| Council Bluffs | 712-328-0086 |
| Davenport | 563-322-3948 |
| Des Moines | 515-974-1701 |
| Dubuque | 563-556-7764 |
| Fort Dodge | 515-955-1016 |
| Ft. Madison | 319-372-7596 |
| Grinnell | 641-236-1166 |
| Iowa City | 319-337-3164 |
| Marshalltown | 641-752-2930 |
| Mason City | 641-422-0156 |
| Newton | 641-792-2877 |
| Ottumwa | 641-682-9038 |
| Sioux City | 712-233-2056 |
| Warren | 515-962-1211 |
| Waterloo | 319-226-4428 |
I’ve been gone for a few days because of midterms and planning for events on campus. I should be back in full-force until election day next week, when my plan is to volunteer a lot, and then get around town to gauge turnout and expectations. This is going to be a massive post with a lot of links. Please click-through to what you can.
Iowa Governor’s Race
- First, here’s the new ad from the Culver Campaign. It features current governor Tom Vilsack:
It is a great ad. Some may not like it because of Vilsack, but he is what is needed in the ad. Vilsack has worked hard for this campaign, he needs Culver as a legacy, and Democrats in Iowa support Culver’s vision which will ad to the progress of Vilsack’s last eight years. We are officially 8 days out. Keep up the hard work on your end as well. - And here is the ad that appeared several days ago with regards to the Iowa Porkforest. State 29 liked it and Dave Price of WHO has Nussle’s response radio ad here — it isn’t a good sign when they can’t compete on the air and go for radio instead.
- As I’m sure you’re well-aware, the Register endorsed Culver yesterday as well. You can read that endorsement here, with thoughts from John Deeth and Common Iowan.
- Culver has also received the endorsements of the Mason City Globe-Gazette, the Quad-City Times, and the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
- Nussle’s running-mate Bob Vander Plaats is a fan of teaching intelligent design (read: creationism) in schools. Just an example of what a Nussle administration would bring to Iowa: a disdain towards science.
- Jimmy the Hustler put in his two-weeks notice. We’ll be sad to see him go. And yet happy at the same time.
- Michael J. Fox drew 1,000 people to Drake’s Olmsted Center — quite possibly the biggest turnout for an event there ever. The Register’s first write-up of the event is here. You can also watch Flash-based video of Fox’s speech from that page. Make sure to watch it.
IA-01, 02, 03, 04, and 05
- The Register endorsed Bruce Braley, Selden Spencer, and Joyce Schulte as the challengers in their races, along with incumbent Congressman Leonard Boswell. Unfortunately they did not endorse Dave Loebsack. Common Iowan and John Deeth rightfully take the Register to task for their endorsement of Leach. At least they admitted they were wrong in endorsing Steve King in 2002 and 2004.
- Selden Spencer and Tom Latham debated last week and Spencer made some campaign stops. Common Iowan has some thoughts here.
- More on Selden Spencer: He’s up on TV now — go see his ad here.
- Here in Central Iowa, President Bush campaigned for Jeff Lamberti by calling him Dave. You can see video here. The conventional wisdom coming from the folks there was that Bush slipped up because it happened right Bush talked about Dave Vaudt. Not according to Kay Henderson. Iowa Progress has some fun here too.
- That’s all I’ve got for now, but I’m sure I’ve got more odds and ends that I forgot to add to this post, so expect to see them later.
Iowa Statewide Races (Ag and SoS)
- Michael Mauro is up on the air with his first campaign ad — you can watch it here. I’ll try to get it on YouTube in a bit.
- Denise O’Brien is also up on the air, this time with a second advertisement on local control. You can view it below:
Local control is an important part of this race — Denise O’Brien is the candidate to support in this race because of that one issue, not to mention she is the candidate of the future, not the status quo. - Speaking of O’Brien, Common Iowan saw her at a campaign stop over the weekend. Read his thoughts here.
- In the Secretary of State race, Michael Mauro got the Register’s endorsment. You can read John Deeth’s thoughts here, including the part where he boils the race down to one real simple point.
- Denise and Mike both got the endorsement of the Storm Lake Times as well. There is some harsh criticism of Northey that’s worth noting here:
” We support Denise O’Brien for the job, based on that stupid and dishonest ad.
[…]We don’t know what Northey means by Iowa values, but by our definition he lacks them. Chief among Iowa values is honesty. The sort of dishonesty Northey displayed in that ad disqualifies him from state office. He knows better.
Vote for O’Brien, and put a stop to the sort of rubbish put out by the likes of Northey.”
Ouch. And in the Republican bastion of Northwest Iowa.
And I think that is about it for now. That took forever to put together and I’m sure I’ll have more reports soon. Damn, it is going to be a long 8 days.
A quick recap: All the Democrats running for office support this research, and making Iowa a center for research and potentially finding cures. The message today was one of hope for those who have these diseases, and it really seemed like people found this event moving.
As Culver introduces Michael J. Fox, the entire floor comes to their feet to cheer overwhelmingly for the special guest of the day.
It is immediately evident, the terrible effects of the disease. But as people cheer “welcome to Iowa,” Fox continues.
To laughs, he compares himself to Arnold Schwartzenegger, as Fox was born in Canada but became an American citizen.
“I think [character Alex P. Keaton] would tell me I’m doing the right thing.”
“Chet Culver once taught government and history…now he’s going to be part of history.”
“However, Jim Nussle–By the way, President Bush’s name is Jeff Lamberti–they both side with President Bush against stem cell research.”
“I have every confidence that stem cell research” will bring new hopes to those who suffer from degenerative diseases.
“Over 70% of Americans support expanding research.”
“I recently had a run in with a not-so-compassionate conservative,” referring to Rush Limbaugh.
“We are going to stand up for what’s right…for Americans who have been touched by or know those touched by” these diseases.
“It’s time to get back to our future,” Fox tells the crowd, again bringing them to their feet in applause.
Mr. Culver has taken the stage.
“It’s great to be back at Drake University–I’m a bulldog, I got my Master’s at Drake University.” Chet Culver was here last Wednesday for a rally at Pomerantz Stage.
“It’s gonna be exciting after Democrats take control of both houses of Congress!”
Culver is thanking his running mate, Patty Judge, his wife, Mari Culver, Congressman Boswell and Senator Harkin.
“I couldn’t be more honored than to have such a strong, talented, and courageous person as Michael J. Fox joining us here at Drake.”
“This is no time to slow down, to stop, or retreat” in terms of progress in science. “We need a governor who shares our Iowa values…and with your help on November 7th, I will be that governor!”
Thousands of Iowans struggle with diseases that could be helped by stem cell reserach.
“Stem cell research is not a political issue…rather it’s a deeply personal issue for thousands of Iowans who suffer every day,” Culver emphatically states.
80 Nobel Laureates have supported this research, he notes.
Because of the laws in place right now, a Iowa State student is trying to raise money to get treatment in Portugal, Culver relates. Culver relates the story of other students who could benefit from treatments derived from stem cell advances.
Culver tells the crowd that like Senator Harkin, he has had a family member who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease.
“Simply lifting the ban will not be enough”–Iowa must actively help to search for cures, like the University of Iowa academics that left for the University of Illinois.
Culver promises $10 million to fund a center for regenerative medicine if elected governor.
Leonard Boswell notes Harkin’s help passing the landmark Americans With Disabilites Act, and his support for “lifesaving [medical] research.”
Tom Harkin is taking the stage.
Tom Harkin thanks both Leonard Boswell, and then Michael J. Fox for his “incredibly powerful” advertisement. “He is a fighter, he is relentless, he has made a huge difference” on this issue, campaigning for both Democrats and Republicans who support stem cell research.
“A true profile in courage”–Michael J. Fox.
Jeff Lamberti, Tom Latham, and Jim Nussle all supported President Bush’s first and only veto, overturning the bipartisan stem cell research support bill, Harkin notes.
“President Bush didn’t just veto a bill, vetoed the hopes of tens of millions of Americans.”
Harkin promises that a Democratic Congress will overturn President Bush’s veto.
“I want to know who appointed [Bush] our moral ayatollah,” in declaring stem cell lines after August 1, 2009 immoral.
“We need to go back to the future,” Harkin jokes, to a chorus of laughter.
“This bill we passed had stronger ethical guidelines than the one we have right now.”
The “real pro-life” position is supporting research that can save lives.
Harkin notes the loss of important stem cell research from the University of Iowa because of current policies on stem cell research.
“If you want to have our scientists in our state on the cutting edge of this who are helping our people in our state, you only have one choice, and that is Chet Culver.” “He has a plan for a new center for regenerative medicine.”
