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Indiana Smears Cause Voter Backlash
The Indiana State Republican Party has started sending out anti-Obama smear mailers to homes throughout Indiana. I've photographed the first one and included an Obama campaign mailer I got the same day as a comparison of focus.
Click here to see photos of the smear mailer
My wife, Sharon, called the Indiana State Republican Party office and spoke with the Communications Director, Jay Kenworthy. She told him to remove our address from their smear mail list. She followed up at his request with an email, as follows:
As I mentioned on the phone to you, I was one of the first group of 18-year-olds to be given the right to vote. So, since 1972, I have been a loyal Republican. The type of misleading, propaganda-filled flyer that I received in the mail yesterday is just one of many reasons that I am now ashamed of the Party I so vigorously defended my entire life, especially during the 2000 and 2004 elections. The Party I believed in is NOT divisive; NOT hate-filled; NOT racist; and, NOT reduced to downright lying in order to possibly win an election. "There is no truth in Pravda". I am sure you know the quote. Well, there is no country in the Republican Party's "Country First" national slogan.
I thought she did an excellent job. It then occurred to me that others in Indiana probably received the same mailer. So, I sent an email to the Indiana and Central Indiana Obama groups for their comments. They follow, with the names removed to protect from possible threats and attacks:
I received it also. I was seriously considering voting for Mitch Daniels, but not after receiving that mailer. I also emailed the Republican Party and voiced my outrage and withdrew my potential vote for any Republican on the ticket.
Note: Mitch Daniels is Indiana's Republican Governor running for reelection.
I was also going to vote for Mitch Daniels. Unless he retracts this aggressively, I am pulling my vote for him as well.
To Republican Party: "I am outraged that the Republican Party sent this kind of smut to my home (William Ayers flyer). While I am an Obama supporter, there were other Republicans on the ticket I was poised to vote for, including Mitch Daniels. This mailer did not sway me to change my vote to McCain, but it did convince me that I need to withdraw my support for any Republican on the ballot. There is no place in this election this garbage. It will not work; not this time. We need a leader with integrity."
I received the same smear flyer in the mail today and immediately scanned it and submitted it to the "fight the smears" portion of the Obama website. I then marked "return to sender" on it and placed it back in our mailbox for pick up on Monday. I don't even know if the mail will take it back but I just know I don't want that trash coming to our home. I am promptly going to email the communications director and ask them why they are sending this smear mailer to our address.
I sent this to our local newspaper The Republic. I then called a person I know in Mitch's office and told them what I did. I also sent my copies of my mailers to http://radar.barackobama.com/. We have received one "live call" and 4 mailers from McSame in the last week.
"I am a Hoosier in Northwest Indiana. I have so had enough of this type of campaigning and would appreciate a cease and desist on this mailer. Attempting to dumb down Hoosiers and playing to the baser instincts of human nature is despicable. I don't like it when it comes from any campaign.
Stop the madness!
The only result I can see from this type of mailer is to further divide our state and divide our nation. I do not like it when it comes from a Democrat or a Republican.
Stop.
Enough."
I took my 3 mailers (that I received in the previous two days) to the Republican Headquarters in Fishers IN PERSON. Told them (nicely) that I appreciated the motivation it gave my Republican husband of 38 years to get up early Saturday morning and wait in line for 2 hours to vote for Obama. Then I ripped them in two and told them I didn't even want them in my recyle box. In fairness, I did acknowledge that they were probably just volunteers and not responsible for the the content of the mailers. Also mentioned that if that was the type of thinking that gets their guy elected, then God help us all. I did not make a "scene"...just a statement, and they did not say a word.
I got one email from a McCain supporter, Beth Essex, who either is on one of the Obama supporter email lists, or saw my comments on someone's blog post.
You asked for copies of emails we sent to kenworthy at the GOP and here is mine: "On the "Crime and Punishment" mailer. I'd like to see one about the "cling to guns, religion and antipathy and anti-immigrant sentiments" myself, and think that would hit home with a LOT more people! Far too many people weren't watching when that was in the news! Ignore the whiny liberals being directed to complain to you from blogs and keep up the good work."
Beth's email only further enhances the negativity of the mailer, by showing that some rank-and-file McCain supporters are enjoying the smears. I'm sure she thought she was making a point or being clever, but, just like the sarcasm, lies and smears the campaign is producing, it only motivates Obama supporters to vote straight-ticket Democratic on November 4th.
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Yes this might tip in the democratic favor, The ugly side is coming out and will turn offf a lot of voters who may have voted for them till they turned to this ugly horrible thing they call campaigning. America is tired of these smoke and mirror views that try to keep our minds off the real issues facing this country, Attacking your rival is conterproductive and shows how the Mcain campaign is really sinking to new lows. Stand up and fight your rival fair over the issues not over personal matters that have no effect on the promblems we have to deal with as a country. Young people go vote and help end this era of dirty politics practiced by the republicans for so long in our country. Obama is the clear choice for America.
Yes I recieved one also and its laying in the bottom of my trash can. Its rightful place! To bad its more litter for our landfill as if we need more trash!!!
Folks keep wondering why Mitch Daniels keeps "avoiding" McCain/Palin rallies as much as possible. I think you see the reasoning, but now his own party might start hurting him here in the home stretch.
It's time to break the silence. Too long, people have avoided saying something about this kind of divisiveness for fear of starting something that would get out of hand. We're at the point where we can't afford NOT to say anything anymore. When good people stay silent, bad things will continue to happen.
I am very impressed with these people who
spoke up. They have a lot of backbone, that's
for sure. Good for you guys!!! I want the country
to start uniting. We all have enough problems.
Neighbors losing jobs, houses, etc. Enough!
Sticks and stones breaks up a democracy. Kudo to you who have said, "no more' , with your vote. A particular party does not get it but the American people have gotten it and after Nov. 4, I think a particular party will too.
This age of division, partisanship Red & Blue has drawn to a close.
Those runing for office should give a disclosure going back 10 years and they should be vetted with thre results posted for public consumption.
This is the second excellent report I've read today that leaves me wondering: If elected, how could McCain hope to govern, after all this? The savagely degenerate genius of Karl Rove has morphed into new forms to meet the '08 election challenges. Probably the people behind these mailings figure that voters will forget these vicious lies after Election Day. Nope!
HOPE.
See Chuck Lasker's Profile
Thanks for all the comments!! Here's my latest article about the Republican Party being dead:
The Republican Party is dead. Yes, I'm saying this before the election. Even if McCain wins, which could happen if Obama supporters stay home thinking the election is in the bag, the GOP still has lost its way along with a substantial number of members. While high-profile Republicans like Susan Eisenhower and Frank Schaeffer have made the headlines, the real exodus is on Main Street....
Continued at http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=35856
I had to immediately log in after reading your story. So vivid that I felt your outrage, like anything else I agree I don't like lies, falsehoods and smears to be given legs to run on. I am never ceased to be amazed at how many just are adamant to believe and spread lies knowing they are simply that. I am for a clean campaign which does not offend my intellect, play on perceived fears and simply hateful in nature as that speaks to the candidate's integrity which oftentimes is more important that what they say on any stump speech. I want a GOOD person first, that opens one up to be receptive to a message. Positive or Negative at that point is where you make a decision and one thing that I loved about your experience, you chose to think it through rationally. Not like some out here, get the mailers and are content to stay ignorant. Like the fact you said you were willing to split/vote the candidates. They don't understand smears are a turn off this election year. Just too much of that hatred and divisiveness for the past 8 years. And I have had enough! Inspiring story and I am hopeful that many more out there are like you! Bravo!
It certainly does encourage some to vote straight down for Dems. I'm an independent, and am so fed up with the garbage that this is exactly what I intend to do.
I hope that on November 5th, Republicans across the country will receive our message, loud and clear: ENOUGH!
The only good thing that can come out of the Republican tactics is that the party will -- finally -- be forced to retool and find its inner Goldwater. It has run the most despicable campaign in my lifetime, but I'm confident there are (barely) enough intelligent people left in the country to put Obama in the White House. McCain will go down as the ultimate loser. He'll not only lose the election, he'll have sold his soul. And for what?
From Elizabeth Dole's outrageous campaign claims about her opponnent, Jean Hagen, to the stories of large numbers of votes being illegitimately purged in swing states, fliers aimed at Democrats/minorities that give a phony date to vote, and states like Colorado that has offered useless "provisional ballots" to pacify voters, wrongly removed from voter rolls.(303-8662471--Governor Bill Ritter, D-Colo.)The people wrongfully removed from the rolls need to have their right to vote reinstated before the election--not after, when it is too late! How many other states are having the same "problems"?
Well I can testify that my wife, a Republican leaning independent who voted for Bush - voted absentee for Barack Obama.
She was looking and hoping for a reason to vote McCain, because she does agree with some of the Republican agenda, but in the end she told me that the negative campaign decided it for her.
Thanks for sharing this. I believe we are all responsible to try to shift what has become and acceptance horribly negative attacks on political candidates. How horrible for our country that this is becoming a cornerstone to selecting a President. I appreciate Norm Coleman's decision in Minnesota, Republican Senate candidate, who pulled his negative ads and decided to stop using such tactics. I see far less of these negative attacks by Democrats.
It is time for change! Time for integrity! Time for hope and an building the ability to envision a future that inspires the best in all of us!
I am in Clearwater, FL...My husband is registered as a Republican...I'm a Democrat. I have been a political hawk since January 2008...so I know the truth from lies that are spreading...and I talk to my husband, relatives and friends about the campaigns. I can prove everything that I tell them...so when the Republican smear ads started coming through the mail...even my husband knew that they were lies. I worry that there are a lot of low information voters in this country...that buy into the smear calls, TV ads, emails and mail flyers.
My husband believes that the Republican Party is just abusing the party members...with these dirty smears and cheap shots. My husband told me that he understands the world of politics...and he will not go along with McCain's Palin choice and the dirty lies about Obama. My husband likes to win fair and square...he does not believe in anything goes to win the election.
During Oct. 20, 2008 we attended a Barack Obama Rally in Tampa, FL. During Oct. 21, 2008 we voted for Barack Obama and Joe Biden...
Truth to Power...we as American have to reject this kind of politicing. If you have policy issues fine but character shreading etc has got to stop
My son lives in Indiana. He was undecided until he heard about ACORN organizaion being more honest than the Republican party. He decided to vote for Obama. I can't wait to hear what he says about this mailer. ALSO, my oldest son is a Republican who is voting for Obama.
Love it!!!
I hope other voters across the country say, "No" to the negative, distorted, fear and smear ads, and vote Obama and the Democratic ticket.
It would send a strong message to the Republican ticket, that the phony disgustiing ads Do Not Work!
Obama/Biden '08
My husband has been a republican all his life. He voted for Obama today in early voting in IL. Enough is enough. The lies have gone too far.
I can not vote as I am not a citizen yet but I stood in line for 1.5 hours with my husband to make sure that he voted.
This is the effect that these despicable tactics have had. We have had enough of it.
And Beth - have YOU been watching lately? If you can condone all the hate and the racial divisions the McCain campaign is spewing - then I think you are beyond us all.
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