Politico reports that donors to the Club for Growth have released an ad “Progressives for Scozzafava” in NY-23 that praises the Republican candidate as the best choice for left-wing voters.
While the points made in the ad are accurate and substantial, the ad’s self-presentation is deceptive. The ad’s donors created a front group to sponsor the ad in order to conceal the ad’s true sponsorship.
Faking campaign materials can be a crime. Nixon campaign aide Donald Segretti went to prison for forging a letter falsely ascribed to Democratic candidate Ed Muskie. The “Progressives for Scozzafava” ad stays inside the law, but surely counts as a dirty trick.
Do such tricks work? Often enough. A former Republican operative named Allen Raymond literally wrote the book on them.
(After he too went to jail for jamming Democratic phone lines in the 2002 off-year election in New Hampshire.) Newsweek ran an interview with Raymond last year:
Say you were targeting evangelical voters in Iowa. You might say, “Would you be more or less likely to vote for a candidate whose faith states that the devil and Jesus are brothers [trying to cast Mormonism in a bad light and tarnishing Romney in the process]?” You know how the voter is going to respond. They are going to have a negative response to that question. You are linking the question to a certain candidate, aiming to leave a certain impression—generally a negative impression. …
[Or] You might mail an immigration piece—a piece that says [in the name of a Democrat], “I’m the candidate for tougher immigration laws,” with a picture of someone climbing through the border fence. Then you might send that piece of mail to a household with a Puerto Rican surname. The purpose of that is to incite that household that might otherwise vote Democratic on that issue.
The political science literature suggests that these kinds of tricks work, especially if they are close to election day. On the other hand … they don’t usually get exposed until after the election day. The trick in NY-23 has unraveled unusually fast. Will Hoffman pay a price for it on election day?
27 responses so far
1 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 9:49 am
………..Republican political groups using phony front groups and dirty tricks in political campaigns?……..oh surely not?………the only difference this time around is that they are using them against the official Republican candidate and not the Democrat………Republicans were quite happy to sponsor scum like Raymond when he was useful to them but now his sort of tactics are proving self destructive of their interest it’s become unfair all of a sudden…….To quote Chairman Mao (yes I know I’m encouraging red revolution): “He who rides the tiger must be sure to be able to dismount.”
2 sinz54 // Oct 29, 2009 at 10:14 am
ottovbvs:
It’s obviously not being done by the national Republican organization, since Steele is still backing Scozzafava.
This is being done by conservative activists, likely tied to the NY Conservative party.
3 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 10:31 am
“It’s obviously not being done by the national Republican organization, since Steele is still backing Scozzafava.
This is being done by conservative activists, likely tied to the NY Conservative party.”
………Of course it’s not, I didn’t say it was, but just used a generic description of Republican political groups……but in the past official backing for stunts like this has been common…..they were involved in the NH dirty work at the crossroads …..it’s actually hard to tell whose doing what in the GOP these days since there is so much freelancing going on……..including btw attempts to destabilize Steele who has been shorn of much of his power since election…..he’s only now left with going on cable shows and saying dumb things……this is not a happy party at present.
4 midcon // Oct 29, 2009 at 10:38 am
That voters fall for “dirty tricks” is just one more reason why election by direct vote is detrimental to democracy. Voters want fast food democracy – with a drive through – “I’ll have the number 1 with no ketchup.” They don’t understand the issues, the candidates, the political process, government and world affairs. Consequently, they rely upon cheat sheets issued by interests groups to define what they should support and how they should feel. Just as we have a test for the privelege of driving, so should we have a test for voting, including language comprehension. The people of NY 23 should be able to decide on their own who they want to represent them. Unfortunately, the people will probably rely on ads and commercial sound bites to examine the issues and the candidates. The citizens are what’s wrong with this country.
5 MFarmer // Oct 29, 2009 at 10:55 am
It could hurt Hoffman if it’s perceived he had anything to do with it. The public is tired of political manipulation from both sides. Transparency and straight-shooting are the best policies.
6 MFarmer // Oct 29, 2009 at 11:09 am
One more thing — all anyone has to do is think about how they react — are you more likely to trust an ad that is upfront, clearly indentified, which says “Scozzafava is favored by progressives, and we as conservatives think this a good reason to question her candidacy”, or an ad which masks the source and tries to manipulate the viewer?
The old-style political hack admires the clever tricks, like Barney Frank so expertly performs, but I believe the public is tired of this crap — I know I am. I’m also tired of selective criticism and outrage.
7 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 11:22 am
MFarmer // Oct 29, 2009 at 11:09 am
“like Barney Frank so expertly performs”
………There’s a world of difference between electoral dirty tricks and parliamentary tactical management……you don’t seem to understand this difference………the public is almost entirely ignorant of parliamentary maneuvering
8 LFC // Oct 29, 2009 at 11:29 am
With today’s technology and “controversy instead of facts” reporting, it’s more beneficial than ever to simply make things up, pretend you’re the other side, etc. The fact checking, if it even occurs, happens long after the damage is done.
Places like factcheck.org and politifact.com try to keep up, but without their results being reported, it only does so much.
9 MI-GOPer // Oct 29, 2009 at 11:32 am
ottoBS, the New Majority Village Idiot and truth-challenged troll whines: “Of course it’s not, I didn’t say it was…”
BS. Sure you did, ottoBS. Unless, like your Worshipful Messiah, Obama, think you can get away with twisting the clear meaning of words into something other than you intended. You did write: “Republican political groups using phony front groups and dirty tricks in political campaigns” to describe the attack video on the GOP candidate.
Except, it isn’t GOP groups doing the attacking –it’s a conservative party activist and his media thugs.
Why can’t you simply admit you were wrong –again, sigh– and MoveOn back over to the DailyKos for your next set of talking points?
You really have earned the title: New Majority’s Village Idiot. What a troll. What a tool.
10 Oldskool // Oct 29, 2009 at 11:34 am
There should be more of them in jail, specifically the ones who’ve been sending letters with fake letterheads to Congress. But we live in a country without shame where the only crime is getting caught. And if you’re bigtime fat cat, even causing an economic tsunami comes with a get-out-of-jail-free pass.
11 Cforchange // Oct 29, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Everything about this election tampering should bother all voters. Outside interference is toxic – even the candidate is an outsider. Really disappointing is how the Republican candidate’s record has been sliced, diced and miscategorized by members of her own party. When the Watertown Daily endorses the Republican they say this:
“She has been a leader in protecting the rights of women, children and crime victims. Her chairmanship of a task force to protect women and children from domestic abuse and sexual violence raised awareness of the problems and resulted in legislation.”
Hmmm, remember those issues. Oviously a low priority for the GOP. The spin on Dede has not revealed any of this, nor does it appear to of importance to this New Majority. You can count on the GOP to be absent of women for an entire generation for all besides those involved in the Right to Life crusade. Here you have the fatal flaw of the GOP. Selecting a beautiful unqualifed VP opened the door wide open for the last standing bright and successful moderate female to leave the GOP complete with the door hitting their ass on the way out. But winning elections without them will be very difficult.
Otto is right, cleverly deceptive marketing has been exercised before but this time the audience is looking for it – this is not a social con market. Hence, the interloping candidate, campaign workers and outside endorsers. MFarmer is right on – the public is tired of the manipulation. You would think the majority of voters have brains for themselves. Most likely they do and they will vote for the Dem. If they are really smart, they will vote to save the 2 party system and that would be a vote for Dede.
12 MFarmer // Oct 29, 2009 at 12:50 pm
“There’s a world of difference between electoral dirty tricks and parliamentary tactical management……you don’t seem to understand this difference………the public is almost entirely ignorant of parliamentary maneuvering”
While I greatly appreciate the lesson in parliamentary tactical management, I think it’s clear I was talking about manipulating to protect ACORN — you support protecting ACORN, I’ll support not using tax payer money to subsidize them. Jeez! The spinning is sadly funny.
13 Moderate // Oct 29, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Dirty election tricks are going to be with us until the heat death of the universe, and being offended by that is an exercise in futility.
This is why I thank God I don’t live in a swing state.
14 Demosthenes // Oct 29, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Typical sleazy garbage from campaign hucksters determined to destroy the Republican Party to make a “point”. We need 2 strong, national, parties in this country, and this is not t he way to do it.
15 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 4:28 pm
MFarmer // Oct 29, 2009 at 12:50 pm
“I think it’s clear I was talking about manipulating to protect ACORN — you support protecting ACORN, I’ll support not using tax payer money to subsidize them. Jeez! The spinning is sadly funny.”
…….It may have been clear to you…….regardless, what Frank did was some practice some parliamentary tactical skirmishing which you don’t like but it’s totally different from electoral dirty tricks……apples and oranges
16 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 4:30 pm
ireign // Oct 29, 2009 at 3:33 pm
“I am going to go out on a limb and say that whoever leaked those papers (and obviously it was a Democrat)”
…………you have evidence?……could have been anyone……but I know you like making stuff up
17 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 4:32 pm
mi-goper // Oct 29, 2009 at 11:32 am
……..you really need treatment pal
18 MI-GOPer // Oct 29, 2009 at 5:25 pm
ottoBS, the New Majority Village Idiot, considers therapy for others when it’s his challenge to simply tell the truth, admit his mistake and re-enter the discussion –as any 2nd grader knows that the first step for a pathological liar is to stop lying.
Like we said, ottoBS: “Why can’t you simply admit you were wrong –again, sigh– and MoveOn back over to the DailyKos for your next set of talking points? You really have earned the title: New Majority’s Village Idiot. What a troll. What a tool.”
19 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 5:28 pm
mi-goper // Oct 29, 2009 at 5:25 pm
“ottoBS, the New Majority Village Idiot, considers therapy for others when it’s his challenge to simply tell the truth, admit his mistake and re-enter the discussion –as any 2nd grader knows that the first step for a pathological liar is to stop lying.
Like we said, ottoBS: “Why can’t you simply admit you were wrong –again, sigh– and MoveOn back over to the DailyKos for your next set of talking points? You really have earned the title: New Majority’s Village Idiot. What a troll. What a tool.”
…..you really need treatment pal
20 MFarmer // Oct 29, 2009 at 6:11 pm
“It may have been clear to you”
It should be clear to anyone with at least half a brain, which explains, I suppose, why you are struggling with it.
21 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 6:17 pm
21 ireign // Oct 29, 2009 at 6:08 pm
“BS-”…………you have evidence?……”
…….In other words…..NO
22 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 6:20 pm
MFarmer // Oct 29, 2009 at 6:11 pm
“It should be clear to anyone with at least half a brain, which explains, I suppose, why you are struggling with it.”
…….My brain is big enough to understand the difference between electoral dirty tricks and parliamentary tactics……not yours apparently
23 ottovbvs // Oct 29, 2009 at 6:23 pm
21 ireign // Oct 29, 2009 at 6:08 pm
“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Reagan (I mean Nixon) library.”
……..That wasn’t making stuff up……that was forgetting whose Republican presidential library Hewitt was fired from……..I can understand that you might not be able to tell the difference
24 MI-GOPer // Oct 29, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Wow, ottoBS, I leave for a little bit and you’ve got more people calling you a liar, a BS’er, someone who makes things up to suit his argument of the moment, a back-peddling waffler… a half-brain.
Wow. Simply amazing that more & more & more people are less inclined to accept your BS.
Village Idiot and troll.
25 ottovbvs // Oct 30, 2009 at 9:27 am
mi-goper // Oct 29, 2009 at 8:47 pm
………….more from the moderate and rational wing of the GOP……being called a liar by you folks is par for the course
“Then again, you believe that the NY-23 is one of the most conservative districts in the country.”
……..it’s one of only two or three congressional seats that the Republicans continue to hold in NYS……that would make it one of the most conservative seats in the country in relative terms……I know you guys in only deal in absolutes, a singularly innappropriate currency for politics, but even you can’t be blinkered enough to miss the distinction…..sigh…..maybe you can
26 ottovbvs // Oct 30, 2009 at 6:25 pm
31 ireign // Oct 30, 2009 at 3:46 pm
……Our 200k earning Republican operative gives his take on reality.
27 ottovbvs // Oct 30, 2009 at 6:41 pm
31 ireign // Oct 30, 2009 at 3:46 pm
“ottoBS keep digging a bigger hole”
……..irreign I know you are rather self concious about the university you went to and maybe it’s justified since they didn’t appear to give you too good a grounding in the English language and that words often have multiple meanings. For your info here is Wiki’s definition of:
“Country”
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“‘In geography, a country is a geographical region. The term is often applied to a political division or the territory of a state, or to a smaller, or former, political division of a geographical region.” government.”
……..How long have I got to go on providing remedial education for you?
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