There is something about Mary...
Posted on 12/05/2002 4:14:44 PM PST by nolaw0ady
Didn't they have a a lot of rain on election day in November too? Maybe God is sending the RAT party a message.
If she can't stir up the liberals. . .this is the key to why the Democrats are going more left. They can't stir up their base.
ClickLandrieu, Terrell making last minute push to reach voters
12/05/2002
Mary Landrieu and Suzanne Haik Terrell are crisscrossing the state in the final two days of the campaign, hoping to reach as many voters as possible before Saturday’s election.
Senator Mary Landrieu worked the Northshore Thursday morning, first in Bogalusa for a rally at the town hall.
B.B. Rayburn, a legendary local politician, made an unexpected appearance on her behalf and criticized the attack ads the republicans have been running.
From Bogalusa, Landrieu moved on to Franklinton where she greeted supporters at an outdoor gathering. The continuing theme on her campaign was a reported deal by the Bush administration to import more Mexican sugar to the states, a deal that would hurt local cane farmers.
She says another issue is all of the money the Republican Party is spending to try and unseat her.
“I feel great and these crowds are just absolutely magnificent,” said Landrieu. “Everywhere we go people have just decided that the National Republican Party has just gone too far and has gone overboard.”
Landrieu moves on to Lafayette, then to Houma, and finally returns to New Orleans for a rally at the Municipal Auditorium.
Landrieu’s opponent, Suzanne Haik Terrell, was to welcome another big Republican name to her campaign Thursday, but the winter storm has put a stop to that.
Lynn Cheney, wife of vice president Dick Cheney, was scheduled to speak at a Terrell fundraiser luncheon in Metairie, but her plane was snowed in and she had to cancel about an hour ago. The luncheon will go on as scheduled.
Before and after that luncheon, Terrell is touring the state in a bus her campaign has dubbed the "Truckin with Terrell" tour.
She already had morning rallies in Lafayette and Baton Rouge, with visits to Metairie, Houma, New Iberia and Lake Charles.
Terrell's final week of campaigning has been energized with visits from former President George Bush, and current President George W. Bush.
She says she feels the momentum.
“It’s been great. We’ve basically been on the road since Tuesday afternoon since the President’s visit. We’ve been to Lake Charles, Ruston, Alexandria, Monroe, Lafayette, everywhere, it’s been great,” said Terrell. “The momentum has been wonderful.”
Houma is a similar stop for both candidates Thursday. The big issue there is sugar imports from Mexico and which candidate will be best equipped to halt those imports if elected.
Yes, there is an ad that talks about Landrieu's Washington mansion, saying that she has lost touch with Louisiana values.
CLICKON THE ATTACK
Gloves are off as runoff showdown nears
12/05/02
By Bruce Alpert
Staff writer/The Times-PicayuneIn the final 48 hours before Saturday's U.S. Senate runoff, it will be hard for anyone who turns on a radio or flips on a television to avoid seeing attack ads from the two candidates and the political organizations that back them.
Among the latest is a radio ad from Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell featuring a voice impersonating former President Clinton praising Democratic incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu for voting for taxpayer-financed abortions, needles for drug addicts and the closing of vital military bases.
A Democratic counterpunch hits Terrell for not objecting to what the ad calls a disastrous plan by the Bush administration to increase sugar imports from Mexico during President Bush's campaign visit to Louisiana on her behalf this week.
Both sides complain that the ads are designed to distort the record, deceive voters or degenerate campaign issues into nasty personal attacks -- but they keep coming from both parties.
Analysts say that campaigns usually try to end with more positive messages, but the Terrell-Landrieu race is an exception.
The tone was set early by a barrage of National Republican Senatorial Committee ads that accused Landrieu of growing out of touch with Louisiana voters by living in a "Washington mansion." It continued with ads calling her "the most liberal senator in Louisiana's history."
Landrieu and other Democrats, who say they were slow to react to the attacks before the Nov. 5 primary, have countered recently by slamming Terrell's performance as state elections commissioner and questioning whether she will be a "rubber stamp" for the White House and the Republican Party that it says are running her campaign.
It's common for challengers to run more negative ads than incumbents, political analysts say, and the GOP attacks on Landrieu were particularly aggressive, trying to punch holes in her early lead over GOP challengers.
"I think that the Republican strategy has been a demolition derby against every aspect of Mary Landrieu's religion, personality and political record, and it has clearly put Mary on the defensive, which is not where you want to be," said Douglas Brinkley, director of the Eisenhower Center at the University of New Orleans.
Ed Renwick, director of the Institute of Politics at Loyola University, said the ads, although tough, were effective in turning a race that heavily favored Landrieu into a runoff that recent polls indicate is a dead heat. Other analysts agreed.
"They went after Landrieu, and it worked," said Larry Sabato, University of Virginia political analyst who has written extensively about the effect of negative political campaigns.
Landrieu said the GOP has been guilty of "so much overkill" in its advertising barrage that many voters will be turned off by Terrell.
Par for the course
Some political analysts said that the Republican campaign, although dominated by negative ads, isn't particularly out of character with other Senate campaigns this year.
"Is what is happening in Louisiana out of step with what is happening elsewhere? I don't think so," said Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes Senate races for the Cook Political Report, a Washington newsletter.
In Georgia, Republicans went after incumbent Democratic Sen. Max Cleland with ads featuring grainy footage of al-Qaida recruits in training and images of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein while a narrator said Cleland had voted 11 times against Bush's homeland security legislation. Cleland, a war veteran who lost both legs and his right arm in Vietnam, lost to Republican Saxby Chambliss.
In Montana, Democrats ran ads against Republican Senate candidate Mike Taylor, using 20-year-old footage taken when he worked as a hairdresser. The ads implied that Taylor was gay. Taylor briefly dropped out of the race and then re-entered. He lost by a wide margin to Democratic incumbent Max Baucus.
Duffy said that although the negative ads have clearly hurt Landrieu, the final round probably won't have much of an impact. People who turn out to the polls this close to Christmas are generally interested in politics, have well-formed opinions and are unlikely to be swayed by last-minute attacks, she said.
Curtis Gans, director of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, said the negative ads may end up turning off enough voters to keep turnout lower than it should be in such a hot race, a contest that is the last remaining major election of 2002 and has drawn national news media coverage and brought high-ranking officials to the state.
Terrell and Louisiana Republican Party officials defend their campaign ads, which cost $4 million in the primary alone, as accurate reflections of what they call shortcomings in Landrieu's record. Landrieu is trying to portray herself as a victim, Terrell said, but she only has her liberal record to blame.
Terrell also is being aided by anti-Landrieu ads financed by groups that often back GOP candidates, including Americans for Job Security and the National Right to Work Committee.
Both denounce ads
Landrieu said the ads are dishonest. She lives in Washington with her family so she can be close to her children, she said, and almost every other senator with young children does the same.
"And then it just got worse from there, with baldfaced lies about my tax votes, when I supported the president's tax cut and do support additional tax cuts that would actually bring dollars to Louisiana," she said.
She said her vote on the so-called "morning-after" abortion pill wasn't, as a Republican ad suggests, to allow schools to distribute the pill, but rather to leave the option to local schools and states. She said Louisiana has banned distribution of the pill, a position she supports.
Terrell has criticized a Democratic ad that suggests her selection of a firm to provide voting machines to Louisiana was motivated by a political donation. She said she returned the contribution from the winning bidder and the selection was made by a panel of state officials, not by her.
Landrieu has tried to make the Republican ads an issue by holding Terrell responsible for "taking this campaign to a new low in Louisiana history."
Analysts said that strategy rarely works.
"Whining about negative ads never works," said Ken Goldstein, director of the advertising project at the University Wisconsin-Madison, a group that analyzes how candidates communicate with voters. "They need to either fight back with their own ads or directly answer each of the attacks."
. . . . . . .
Bruce Alpert can be reached at bruce.alpert@newhouse.com or (202) 383-7861.
12/05/02
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA! GREAT IDEA!!!!!!
Notice how the WWL report makes a point to include Landrieu's last-ditch charge of a secret sugar deal, but makes no mention of Terrell's rebuttal which she clearly stated today in Metairie. Terrell said that she had confirmed this morning with the trade delegation that there's no deal, secret or otherwise, and that she had spoken with the President twice about this. Then WWL continues:
The big issue there is sugar imports from Mexico and which candidate will be best equipped to halt those imports if elected.
If the last debate didn't reveal whose side channel 4 is on, this should.
There is something about Mary...
Landrieu is desperate, she has been running radio and TV ads all day about "A Secret Sugar Deal". Only problem is, it doesn't exist. She is simply trying to scare the farmers. I just got this email from the campaign's rapid response team.
WHEN MARY LANDRIEU ATTACKS…
Landrieu Again breaks pledge; Launches Two Last-Minute Desperate Negative Ads
Tim Russert: “Would You Agree To Run Only Positive [Commercials]?”
Mary Landrieu: “Yes.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” November 17, 2002)
Landrieu Rhetoric
One Of Landrieu’s False, Negative Ads Mentions A ‘Secret’ Sugar Deal: “Sugar, one of our state’s biggest industries, but just before our election, Mexican newspapers revealed a secret deal with Washington to flood America with Mexican sugar.” (Friends of Mary Landrieu, campaign ad, “Sugar,” December 5, 2002)
Louisiana Reality
LANDRIEU LIED -- THERE IS NO SECRET SUGAR DEAL WITH MEXICO.
U.S. Officials Say, Contrary To Landrieu Rhetoric, There Is No Sugar Deal. “Contrary to reports in a Mexican newspaper and claims by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., the Bush administration strongly denies that it has all but signed a trade deal that would increase the flow of Mexican sugar to the United States. Sugar-import discussions are continuing between Mexican and U.S. trade negotiators, but ‘There has been no decision made,’ White House spokesman Taylor Gross said Wednesday. A spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office and a senior Washington-based sugar lobbyist, both speaking on condition of anonymity, agreed.” (“White House Denies Sugar Deal With Mexico,” The [BatonRouge] Advocate, December 5, 2002)
II. Landrieu Lies About Lost Jobs
Landrieu Rhetoric
One Of Landrieu’s False, Negative Ads Scares Louisianians: “As Louisiana jobs were sold out…” (Friends of Mary Landrieu, campaign ad, “Sugar,” December 5, 2002)
Louisiana Reality
LANDRIEU LIED –NO JOBS WERE ‘SOLD OUT’ BECAUSE THERE IS NO DEAL!
“There is no agreement,” a spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office said. “Talks are continuing. … While we have made progress, we have not reached closure.” (“White House Denies Sugar Deal With Mexico,” The [BatonRouge] Advocate, December 5, 2002)
III. Landrieu Attacks Suzie Terrell’s Commitment To Louisiana Sugar
Landrieu Rhetoric
One Of Landrieu’s False, Negative Ads Attacks Suzie Terrell: “As Louisiana jobs were sold out, Suzie Terrell was silent. The president came to campaign for Terrell. She didn’t say a word. Terrell put her party and campaign ahead of our state.” (Friends of Mary Landrieu, campaign ad, “Sugar,” December 5, 2002)
Louisiana Reality
LANDRIEU LIED –TERRELL PROMISED TO FIGHT FOR LOUISIANA.
On NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Suzie Terrell Promised To Stand Up For Louisiana’s Sugar Industry.
MS. TERRELL: “I was with President Bush on Thursday, and we discussed the problems with the steel tariff and we discussed sugar. Now, I’m not sure exactly where that sugar number’s coming from, because when I spoke to him, he indicated that that was not his intention at this point to be moving forward with sugar tariffs, I’m very--I mean, sugar imports from Mexico. I’m very aware what’s going on here, but…”
MR. RUSSERT: “So, is that a firm commitment, the president will not …”
MS. TERRELL: “Oh, I can’t make a commitment for the president, but I can make a commitment for Suzie Terrell. And Suzie Terrell is going to stand up against the president on the things that hurt Louisiana, such as the steel tariff. He was in New Orleans shortly before that steel tariff was imposed. We were together at the Port of New Orleans. And I said, ‘Mr. President, this is not good.’” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” November 17, 2002) (emphasis added)
IV. Landrieu Attacks On Abortion
Landrieu Rhetoric
One Of Landrieu’s False, Negative Ads Attacks Suzie Terrell On Abortion:
Mary Landrieu: “The Terrell campaign has crossed the line, by attacking my faith and my values. I voted to stop partial birth abortions.” (Friends of Mary Landrieu, campaign ad, “Faith,” December 5, 2002)
Louisiana Reality
LANDRIEU MISLEADS LOUISIANIANS ABOUT HER ABORTION RECORD.
Five Of Seven Louisiana Dioceses Refuse To Distribute Landrieu’s False Statements On Abortion. “Catholic bishops in Louisiana recently sent out their standard candidate questionnaires to Landrieu and Terrell. Landrieu appeared to answer all the abortion questions as if she were totally pro-life… According to the National Catholic Register, five of seven dioceses in Louisiana concluded Landrieu’s survey responses were so inaccurate that they refused to distribute their own voter guides.” (ABC News’ “The Note,” December 4, 2002) (emphasis added)
Landrieu’s Answers On Abortion Were ‘Breathtakingly Brazen Deceptions.’ “[NRLCLegislativeDirectorDouglas] Johnson said the views are contrary to Landrieu’s votes as a senator and her statements during her first Senate campaign in 1996. … He called her answers to the Catholic group ‘breathtakingly brazen deceptions.’” (The [NewOrleans] Times-Picayune, December 4, 2002) (emphasis added)
Louisiana Catholic Conference: Landrieu’s ‘Voting Record Is Certainly Pro-Abortion.’ Danny Loar, executive director of the Louisiana Catholic Conference, said “I think it’s a critical election. Unfortunately, a lot of Catholics in southern Louisiana think Landrieu is pro-life. That is certainly not the case. Her voting record is certainly pro-abortion.” (National Catholic Register, Dec. 8-14, 2002) (emphasis added)
Former U.S. Ambassadors To The Vatican Flynn and Melady Endorsed Terrell. “Lifelong Democrat Raymond Flynn, former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican under President Bill Clinton and former mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, has endorsed Suzanne Terrell, candidate for U.S. Senate in Louisiana’s Saturday, December 7 runoff election. Flynn said Wednesday evening, ‘I especially urge pro-life Democrats to vote for Mrs. Terrell, the only pro-life candidate in the race.’ … Thomas P. Melady, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican under President George H.W. Bush from 1989-1993, also announced his endorsement of Terrell today. Melady said Terrell is ‘totally committed to the pro-life cause.’” (Terrell for Senate, Press Release, December 5, 2002)
V. Landrieu Attacks President Bush And Suzie Terrell
Landrieu Rhetoric
One Of Landrieu’s False, Negative Ads Attacks President Bush For Supporting Suzie Terrell: “Out of state interests supporting my opponent don’t care about Louisiana, they want a senator they can control. The truth is, I am an independent voice and always put Louisiana first.” (Friends of Mary Landrieu, campaign ad, “Faith,” December 5, 2002)
Louisiana Reality
LANDRIEU PUTS LOUISIANA’S INTERESTS FIRST?
Landrieu Fails To Mention That She Is The Largest Recipient Of Out-Of-State Money In Louisiana History.
Mary Landrieu Gets More Than Half Her Campaign Money From Outside Louisiana 2001-2002. Mary Landrieu has taken over $1.3 million dollars from individuals outside of Louisiana – which is 54% of her total. (“Friends Of Mary Landrieu, Inc.,” Federal Election Commission Reports, January 1, 2001-November 17, 2002)
In Fact, Mary Landrieu Has Taken More Out-Of-State Money Than Any Other Campaign In Louisiana History! (Mary Landrieu, Federal Election Commission filings, 1996-2002)
There Is No Sugar Deal. There Were No Jobs Lost. Mary Landrieu Wants To Scare Louisianians, Not Work To Solve Our Problems.
On NOW at RadioFR!
Doug from Upland interviews JAYNA DAVIS discussing the OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING
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