Why wasn't News 5 Cincinnati making an issue over this?
Posted on 06/02/2005 5:58:27 PM PDT by bizzyblog
Title Precedes Candidate's Name 7 Times In Flier
POSTED: 5:42 pm EDT June 1, 2005
UPDATED: 7:01 pm EDT June 1, 2005
CINCINNATI -- Now that Rep. Rob Portman of Cincinnati has assumed the Cabinet post of U.S. trade representative, the list of candidates for his Second District congressional seat is growing. But there is concern that one of the better-known contenders may have gone too far in reminding voters of his accomplishments.
The problem isn't just with TV and radio advertisements. In a flier, Bob McEwen calls himself "congressman" seven times. McEwen was a congressman at one time, so is the flier misleading? In ads, McEwen doesn't introduce himself as a congressman, but in one TV ad, the title of congressman precedes his name twice, News 5's Bina Roy reported.
Video: Watch This Report at the web link
"I've listened to the ad ... (and) it certainly implies that he's the current congressman and, obviously, he's not," said Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Tim Burke.
McEwen hasn't been a congressman for 12 years, but some wonder if a person is once a congressman, is he always a congressman? News 5 wanted to know. According to officials at the Ohio Elections Commission, the law says no candidate:
"Shall knowingly and with intent to affect the outcome of a campaign ... use the title of an office not currently held by a candidate in a manner that implies that the candidate does currently hold the office."
While no one has filed a complaint, Burke said there are rules for a reason, Roy reported.
"It ought to be a level playing field. That's what these rules are intended to establish. Giving the voters a chance to fairly evaluate each candidate," Burke said.
Wes Farno, McEwen's campaign manager, issued a written statement Wednesday that said, in part, "We're not misrepresenting anybody because it's common knowledge that he served in the United States Congress."
So, until someone files a complaint, voters can only expect to hear a lot more from Congressman McEwen.
The special election to replace Portman will be held Aug. 2 and the primary elections will be held June 14.
http://www.bobmcewenforcongress.com/
More perspective on this here:
http://www.bizzyblog.com/?p=191
I guess no other Republican candidate wanted to go on the record about this (Burke is a Democrat) because of The GOP’s 11th commandment (”Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican”). Guys and gals–If you’re interested in your party’s long-term viability and the short-term results of this election, I suggest a 12th commandment: “Thou shalt suspend The 11th Commandment when your fellow Republican commits illegal acts in an attempt to gain electoral advantage.”
Why wasn't News 5 Cincinnati making an issue over this?
Interesting use of "your" party?
Will I guess Dean better tell people to stop calling him Governor, because he isn't one anymore. It's always been my understanding that you get to keep the highest title you've obtained.
Who is the Reagan-Republican in this race. Is there a self made man, religious, conservative, etc. The type of guy who'd side with Duncan Hunter over women in combat or homosexualizing the military
It's common courtesy to call people by their former titles.
If I'm not mistaken, I think a person holds the title "Congressman" as long as they don't go into a higher office (Senate, President, Governor, Ambassador, etc.).
While I do respect "self made" men, I don't think that is necessarily a requirement. There have been many cases of people that grew up either in wealthy or politically strong families who made good public servants themselves.
Additionally, I wouldn't tout the "self made man" description too much either. We have MANY strong conservative leaders who are missing the "Y" on their chromosomes.
I always thought McEwen was more of the enthusiastic "Reagan Conservatives" in the House. But then came the check bouncing scandal.....
from The Club for Growth Blog:
Jean Schmidt is running in a Republican primary for the seat.... Other strong contenders in this field include Pat DeWine, Tom Brinkman, and Bob McEwen.
"Jean Schmidt is a proven supporter of higher taxes. Her record in the Ohio State Legislature shows that she voted to raise the state sales tax and opposed efforts to keep property taxes down,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “Pat DeWine, Tom Brinkman, and Bob McEwen all have much better records and positions on the issues of taxes and spending. Any one of them would be highly preferable to Jean Schmidt.”
The addressees were the candidates.
The use of "your party" was in the context of "the party you belong to."
If I said "your" church or "your" parish, I wouldn't be implying that you own it.
Where's the beef?
Perhaps, but election law says otherwise.
If you've got an etiquette-related link on this, I would be interested in seeing it.
See 12. Ohio election law makes it illegal to do so in campaign ads and literature.
If I see McEwen on the street, it might be etiquette-appropriate for me to call him Congressman. It is not appropriate OR LEGAL for the McEwen campaign to call him Congressman in campaign ads. It implies incumbency and gives a sense of some kind of entitled superiority, which is one of the things I find very troubling about McEwen anyway.
So are you saying if you're the encumbent that entitles you to some "sense of superiority" but if you're a former congressman your not. I can't understand why he shouldn't be allowed to have people call him congressmen in his ad. I don't care what he calls himself. People should learn to vote on a person not whether he's an incumbent.
McEwen was a Reagan Repubican, when Reagan was in office.
The Club for Growth is giving McEwen way too much of a pass:
- McEwen voted for several tax hikes after the initial tax cut.
- He had a well-earned reputation as a "no pork for thee, but plenty for me" kind of guy.
- It has been 12 years since he's been in office, so in a way all we can go by is his past record, which is mixed, and not his current pronouncements, which are just words (vs. Brinkman, Schmidt, and certain others).
McEwen lost his bearings when he got caught up in the House Bank Scandal, and IMHO has never really recovered. Once out of office, he has played the Washington insider game for 12 years, has rarely been in this district, certainly hasn't lived here, and has instead done the lobbying, consulting, speechmaking, and some kind of "investment" thing. Why he should be able to waltz in and scarf up this seat with the approval of national GOP and so-called "moral" leaders when there are perfectly acceptable candidates who are from this area and know this area is totally beyond me.
I didn't take offense -- just asked what you meant by it. Now, I know.
When I talk of my church, I don't refer to it as "your" church.
Thanks for the response.
You raise a fair point.
As to a former congressman, there are two types: one who has moved on to other higher office or some other assignment, and one who was voted out. Someone who has moved on and was never defeated and wants to come back (an example is Dan Lundgren in CA) is IMO in a sense entitled to a bit of a benefit of the doubt because he was never rejected by voters. McEwen, OTOH, was rejected twice, when running as an incumbent in the 6th district in Nov. 1992 and when he parachuted into the 2nd District and tried to nab it in March 1993. Again it is my opinion, but I think that someone who has been rejected, especially twice, has to prove himself all over again, and shouldn't be allowed to coast on his past.
It's sort of like how boxing matches work in reality. The challenger has to take the crown away from the champ, he can't just fight him to a draw and hope the judges cut him a break. They won't; the champ is the champ. Similarly, an incumbent who has been elected in his district is the champ, and as a challenger you have to knock him off (give clear and convincing reason why you are better), not just say "I'm as good as him."
McEwen is not the incumbent who deserves a little bit of the benefit of the doubt, but he and his campaign act like he is. It's very offputting to me. It remains to be seen when the rest of the district thinks, but Channel 5 was right on target to call him on it and to call it to the attention of the voters.
Sorry I got a bit snippy.
Assuming your handle is based on your service, thanks for your service to our country.
The good thing is that's as close as he'll ever get.
The sense of entitlement inherent in how that plane was painted partially explains Kerry's loss.
As explained in another reply, Kerry didn't appreciate that as a challenger you have to take the title away from the champ, you can't just walk around like you are entitled to it. He criticized Bush relentlessly (and inconsistently, but that's another matter), but he never told us why he would be better.
Not even John Kerry would have tried to have a narrator call him president in a campaign ad, though Hillary might. :->
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