Baumbach: ‘It was a piece of propaganda’ [Idaho Election - Ward vs. Labrador]

The Spokesman Review ^ | 2:25 p.m. on May 26 | Betsy

[meadsjn]

Lucas Baumbach, the Boise Republican legislative candidate who created the video mash-up juxtaposing phrases from speeches by Vaughn Ward and Barack Obama, calls himself a “RINO hunter” and a “Tea Party activist” and is blunt about why he created the mash-up: Because he supported Raul Labrador over Ward. His video mash-up gives the impression that Ward, in his announcement speech in the Idaho Capitol on Jan. 26, parroted Obama’s 2004 Democratic National Convention speech word-for-word, though that’s not exactly the case.

“No, it wasn’t accurate - it was a piece of propaganda,” Baumbach told Eye on Boise today, “and people thought that there was enough truth in it to change their votes.” Baumbach said he decided to exercise his video-editing skills after a May 13 blog post from the Idaho Statesman’s Dan Popkey pointed out similar turns of phrase in the two speeches, and Dustin Hurst of the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s IdahoReporter.com followed up with a May 21 story including video from both speeches. “That wasn’t attracting much attention,” Baumbach said. Simply posting both videos wasn’t enough, he said, “when you’re trying to get the word out, sensationalizing something.”

“I admit that there was a lot of editing that went on there,” Baumbach said. He’d just finished being congratulated by other like-minded Republicans after a GOP unity rally today at the state Capitol, where some were throwing around the word “brilliant;” last night, at GOP election-night headquarters, Baumbach attracted similar praise from some in the crowd who called him “the man of the hour.” Baumbach’s mash-up was featured on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” last night, though Leno left off the final scene in which Baumbach shows Ward’s face slowing morphing into Obama’s. Click below to read the full text of the speech sections that included the similar turns of phrase; click here to watch Baumbach’s mash-up.

According to my notes, Ward’s Jan. 26 speech in the capitol focused on what Ward said he’d been hearing from Idahoans as he traveled the state, mainly that, “Folks, Idahoans are furious” about the national debt and a sense that Congress wasn’t accountable. “I look at Idaho and I see our state being haggled over by politicians who are unaccountable to the people and are more concerned about self-preservation,” Ward said then. “It is time to usher in a new era of leaders who will do what is right.” He also alluded to his military service, criticized “government-run health care, billion-dollar bailouts and failed stimulus plans,” and said, “My fellow Idahoans, like you I am frustrated and angry with the direction that Congress is taking us.” The part about “urgency” and “passion” that matches Obama’s rhetoric comes at the end of the speech. The speech does appear to be studded with much-used phrases, like “usher in a new era of leaders” and “it starts here, it starts today,” but those appear to be just cliches.

From Obama speech in 2004:
“As we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices and meet the challenges that face us.  America, tonight, if you feel the same energy that I do, if you feel the same urgency that I do, if you feel the same passion I do, if you feel the same hopefulness that I do, if we do what we must do, then I have no doubts that all across the country, from Florida to Oregon, from Washington to Maine, the people will rise up in November, and John Kerry will be sworn in as president, and John Edwards will be sworn in as vice president, and this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come.”

From Ward’s Jan. 26, 2010 speech:
“As we stand on the crossroads of history, I know we can make the right choices and meet the challenges that lay before us.  If you feel the same urgency and the same passion that I do, and if we stand united and strong, then I have no doubt that our voices will be heard in November. Our country will reclaim its promise.  A better day is on the horizon, and out of this darkness will come a stronger, more united nation.  One that believes in personal responsibility, fiscal discipline, and limited government.”

[meadsjn]

Labrador will probably win in November, and he might be a tad better than Minnick, who votes 100% with Pelosi.

But mark my words, he is no conservative, and he will turn out to be a disappointment to conservatives nationwide.

He will vote for amnesty, and God only knows what else for the liberals.

[Al B.]

Here is a letter to the editor in yesterday's Coeur d'Alene paper which may shed more light on this. This woman claims Ron Paul people and some leftists were involved in taking down Ward:

Unholy alliance turns into ungodly mess. An excerpt:

"Technically, adultery is still illegal in Idaho but that didn’t stop the Ron Paulers from coupling with Saul Alinsky and his vile Rules for Radicals techniques. The bastard child of this illicit union is the victory of Raul Labrador. What we now have is a 1st Congressional District candidate who is un-vetted and thus wide open to the incessant sniping of the small creatures who proudly took down Vaughn Ward.
.
.
.
The disconcerting truth is that the crowd rejoicing at the victory of Raul Labrador is comprised of the conspiracy-besotted, empty headed Far Right and the much more strategic Left. This adultery has gotten completely out of hand and will lead to a diminished Republican Party and the decline of America as those who would spend us out of existence remain in power. Reasonable people of conservative stance have been crowded out by those who show zero curiosity regarding why one candidate is constantly investigated and reported on, while the other gets a pass. I understand that the drive for victory can leave some with no zeal for the truth but how can it explain the complete lack of ethics? Why was a cheap-shot artist with a vendetta treated as a hero when he admitted he’d edited heavily to create propaganda? His words, not mine, “No, it wasn’t accurate - it was a piece of propaganda, and people thought there was enough truth in it to change their votes.” That’s what Raul Labrador calls “Icing on the cake”? This can’t possibly be good for my beloved Republican Party."

Looks like some upset people up there. Not good news for Labrador if a bunch of 'em sit out the general.

[onyx]

Thank you, Al B.

Of course Ron Paul’s people would go against the candidate with the military experience. They can’t have a Veteran serving in Congress.

Unholy alliance is is right.

I am so sad for Vaughn Ward. He fought the GOOD fight and lost to a scumbag campaign.

[SoConPubbie]

Ward was a moderate John McCain guy who came to Idaho to put out conservative Bill Sali.

Accusing someone of being a moderate is one thing, proving it is another.

Talk is cheap.

Prove it, or in other words, put up or shut up!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Most low-down ever ? I've seen a lot worse. I'll make it clear that I made no endorsement in this primary race, and I challenge the Ward people to locate any posts of mine where I did. Frankly, this whole race and the motivations of some of the supporters is bizarre to me, not to mention the claims of either side (one reason I didn't feel comfortable making an endorsement). I saw good things about Ward early on, and presumed him to be the likely nominee (this was about the time of the Palin endorsement). However, over time, I started to see claims that Ward was a "Establishment" choice, a McCainiac, and that he was no reliable Conservative. All of a sudden, it was this fella named Labrador who was the preference of base Conservatives/Tea Partiers and Ward was "bad news." It was reaching the point for me personally that I didn't know which was which. I could only judge some of the "alleged" mishaps of Ward, the PR comment, that "it sounds like he repackaged Zero's speech" speech and the like. It looked like Ward was not ready for prime time. But still, I gave no endorsement.

Some of the comments I've seen read like conspiracy theory stuff, way too over the top. Meadsjn, for example, has been all over the place. First he runs down Bill Sali, who was one of the best ID members in years, and frankly, the only people who viscerally opposed Sali WERE RINO liberal establishment types. If he's going around complaining that Ward was sabotaged by liberal interests, why is he using their same stance against Sali, who was screwed by the RINO establishment. It ends up making Ward look like he WAS supported by the RINO establishment. The whole thing is a confusing mess. All I know is that I want to see Minnick defeated in November. Time to put aside the divisive crap and conspiracy theories. If Labrador turns out to be an establishment hack himself, voting the wrong way on issues such as illegals, we toss his butt out in the 2012 primary. It's that simple. Because the alternative is allowing Minnick to settle down into a long career while he gets away with sounding like the Democrat version of Helen Chenoweth when in reality he votes more like Frank Church.

[onyx]

I pinged you for the purpose of an FYI so you would see that Lucas Baumbach is bragging about his dirty deed.

I suspected sabotage or utter stupidity on the night of the election.

Too bad the voters were deceived.

[Impy]

The plagiarism speaks for itself. It happened, no matter what you read into this article.