Mudslinging starts early in the Lt. Gov race
With almost a full year to go before the GOP primary, the race for Lieutenant Governor saw it's first round of mudslinging. A recent petty shot tossed out by the Bill Connor campaign makes this blogger wonder what is to come next.A couple of weeks ago, a Connor staffer attempted to convince me that I needed to do a story on the fact that two candidates for Lt. Governor had not filed campaign disclosures (Ken Ard and Ralph Norman). While he was trying to convince me I should diss them for not getting their disclosures in, convincing me I should be a "campaign finance watchdog", he forgot a some disclosure of his own when he didn't mention who he was working for, but since I knew who he was working for, his motives weren't difficult to figure out.
I wasn't really bothered by the lack of disclosure. Since it's so early in the campaign, the candidates have spent little money. I doubted that they're hiding a whole lot at this stage in the game.
However, I was trying to figure out what he was doing calling me at my office. NOBODY calls me at my work, nor have I invited anyone to call me there, and I certainly don't need - or want - to drag politics into my workplace.
When I recently asked the candidate about this, he didn't seem concerned that his campaign took the first negative shot of the campaign, nor that they tried to play me for a fool. In fact, he didn't seem to understand why I would have a problem with what was done.
Hopefully, this isn't a sign of things to come in the race for Lieutenant Governor, but if the mud is already being thrown a year out over things this petty, who knows what's next?
Earl, thanks for blowing the whistle on this!
In the Blogland, you'll get the fairness you earn.
First, we have this link from The State news in Columbia, SC. It describes illegal phone calls referring listeners to tackbacksc.com, the Web site of South Carolinians for Truth and Disclosure (SCTD). The SCTD website reveals that it is headed by Earl Capps, who has revealed that he is strongly supporting Ken Ard, candidate for Lt. Gov. of South Carolina.
http://thestatecom.typepad.com/ygatoday/2008/05/calls-warn-of-o.html
Other blogs highlight even more unscrupulous, illegal robo-phone calls (blog link posted below). These calls are also associated with South Carolinians for Truth and Disclosure, again headed by Earl Capps.
http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/05/29/busted-2/
Even more – The South Carolinians for Truth and Disclosure have themselves been the target of ethics violations in regards to state elections. Read about it here:
http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2008/05/29/three-strikes-for-new-watchdog-group/
We know that South Carolinians for Truth and Disclosure is heavily involved in unscrupulous, underhanded mudslinging. They have also been targeted for ethics violations for violating South Carolina law which “prohibits coordination between campaigns and non-candidate committees.”
A look at Earl Capps’ blog reveals that he is strongly in support of candidate Ken Ard.
http://earlcapps.blogspot.com/2006/07/behind-blog-bloggers-speak-out.html
Guess we see what kind of characters Ken Ard associates with!!! Since Ken Ard and Earl Capps have established their intent to make mudslinging a prominent part of this campaign, I hope the other candidates will steer clear.
Hector Gonzales
Sumter, SC
The recorded robocalls simply advised people that large amounts of undisclosed money were being spent in that race and encouraged them to visit our website to get more information.
Further, if you're going to link me with Ken Ard, where's the proof? Reporting on an event at the state convention hardly suggests I'm in anyone's pocket.
Nowhere have I suggested any connection to the Ard campaign. If you have proof, lay them cards on the table.
Since you're all about disclosure and truth, why don't you post your real name and number? By the way, the IP address tracks back to Columbia, not Sumter.
I'm betting we all know who he is. Some ingrate who took your hospitality at your party last year, only to think it meant you would be a blind and trusting sucker for his candidates. I'm supposing he didn't know you as well as some of us do?