Vermont Democrats Initiate Smear Campaign Against Republican Incumbent Governor, James Douglas

Seven Days ^ | November 09, 2005 | PETER FREYNE

[Candor7]

DEMOCRATS BLOW THE CALL

BY PETER FREYNE

Seven Days

Democrats Blow the Call -- A political bomb blew up in the thrower's hand last week. We're referring to Jon Copans' sizzling press release accusing Republican Gov. Jim Douglas of "using taxpayer money" to "import a culture of corruption into Vermont."…

How could the state's longest-serving, best-liked, state-government career politician be so stupid?

He wasn't. Copans was.

The Douglas administration actually signed the contract with New York-based Development Counselors International (DCI) -- www.dc-intl.com. It's a reputable firm, apparently quite good at what it does, i.e., promote "places" for business to locate. Two decades ago, Democratic Gov. Madeleine Kunin also tapped DCI's talent. All the Democrat attack dog had to do was Google it!

Over at GOP headquarters, Mad Dog Jim Barnett thought Christmas had come early! He couldn't believe the gift Democratic HQ had just dropped in his lap.

The following morning at 11:24, Mad Dog issued a stinging response, charging the Dems had sunk to "an all-time political low" and were "spreading false information about Gov. Douglas."

He had a point.

Just 44 minutes later, Copans issued a retraction and apology. "It now turns out," wrote Jon, "that I had the wrong out-of-state consultants. In light of this new information, please retract yesterday's press release. I apologize to all members of Vermont's press corps for this mistake, as well as to the Douglas administration."

End of story?

Not quite. You see, Chairman Barnett seized upon the fact that Tuck Rainwater, campaign manager for gubernatorial wannabe Scudder Parker, admitted to the Asssociated Press he had tipped off both Copans and an unidentified reporter about a possible problem with the DCI contract. Meanwhile, Copans told the A.P. he learned of it from "unnamed Democratic legislators."

SNIP

For full column, click here: http://www.sevendaysvt.com/columns/inside_track_politics/2005/kerrys_new_tune/

[Candor7]

Seems like there is a coordinated national smear campaign.

[Mamzelle]

Or an uncoordinated smear campaign!

[NonValueAdded]

Creepy liars!

[zbigreddogz]

Hehe, that's funny! They actually think they can beat Douglas when he got 58% of the vote last time!

[CaptRon]

Tuck Rainwater and Scudder Parker? Sounds like characters out of Mark Twain!

[Candor7]

Vermont is full of Liberals with names like:

Tuck Rainwater
Scudder Parker
Tantoo Cardinal
Jay Craven
Rusty Dowees...

and the list goes on. Children of hippies mostly.And now they want us to elect some of them. I wish it was like Mark Twain, but knives are not permitted, although that may change soon.

Governor Scud? Well , lets not go there, at least not quite yet!

[bwilleyuvm]

OLD NEWS. i'm from and live in vermont. came out a month ago at least. we're a hevy dem state led by a very popular 'pub governor... dems are just a little upset.

[bwilleyuvm]

Rusty Dowees ain't no vermonter. though he thinks he is. he's one of the the flatlander liberals invading us up here.

[Candor7]

"Rusty Dowees ain't no vermonter. though he thinks he is. he's one of the the flatlander liberals invading us up here." You are right but his character "Logger" and his acting make everyone believe him to be a Vermonter. He is a caricature of one. As a Vermonter you also know that these flatlanders have seized the state and run it. I would love to see the Vermont Republican party run slates of native Vermonters. I'd vote them every time!