Posted on 10/16/2006 6:35:31 PM PDT by Maelstorm
At a Marshall University building dedication in August, Sen. Robert Byrd repeatedly called himself "Big Daddy" for his role in securing funds for a $48 million biotechnology center.
Now Byrd's "Big Daddy" description is being aired repeatedly on radio stations in a campaign commercial for John Raese.
"Sen. Byrd's remarks reflected a side of him people don't often see," said Raese consultant Gary Abernathy. "A lot of folks see him as a humble, modest man, when in fact, another part of his nature came forth in these remarks at Marshall."
The Raese campaign obtained the audio from Byrd's speech and blended it with remarks from the Republican challenger about West Virginia's economic failures during Byrd's tenure.
The ad begins with Byrd saying, "Yeah, man, you're looking at Big Daddy," before Raese says, "After 50 years of arrogance and failure, West Virginia ranks last in median household income."
Raese also talks about the state being 49th in population growth and third lowest in per capita income.
After Raese makes each point, a clip of Byrd saying, "Yeah, man" or "Yes, sir" is played.
The 60-second spot also features the 88-year-old Byrd jokingly saying, "I'm the oldest thing around here, huh? The oldest thing around here other than the building."
Abernathy said audio clips of the speech were available on the Internet and that the campaign did not record Byrd's comments themselves.
"Are we following him with a tape recorder and video camera?" Abernathy said. "No."
"But those remarks are going to be hard for him to top. He's said some outrageous things, like the PBS interview where he comments about John's father. His thought process is just very odd. Frankly, that's why his handlers won't let him stand up beside John and let him debate."
Byrd campaign spokesman Mark Ferrell defended the senator's record of improving West Virginia.
Ferrell also called Raese hypocritical because his companies have accepted federal funding for development projects in the past. Raese owns Greer Limestone near Morgantown, the state's largest limestone producer.
In 2000, a $25 million appropriation paid for crushed rock from Greer Limestone to help construct a dam in Ritchie County. Byrd helped secure that appropriation.
In recent years, Greer Limestone has also received thousands of dollars in government contracts to provide chemicals for water treatment plants.
"John Raese is his own biggest campaign contributor," Ferrell said. "He has larded up his campaign war chest with over $1.8 million of his own money. That is all you need to know if you're wondering who he really wants to represent in Washington. He's a constituency of one."
Abernathy said the campaign is considering producing "Big Daddy" TV spots.
For the newest ad, the campaign said it wanted to produce a humorous commercial that would also highlight what it contends is Byrd's arrogance.
The Byrd campaign has also produced a new TV ad called "People," which focuses on how the senator has helped build new roads, bridges, hospitals and schools. It also mentions that he's created new jobs.
Raese's ad is vastly opposite.
West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey said the state has benefited from Byrd's service over the years.
"Look at all of the millions of bucks in highway projects that have opened the state up to commerce and tourism," Casey said.
Casey cited the development of the interstate system, the FBI center in Clarksburg and various research facilities at West Virginia University and Marshall as some of Byrd's successes.
"I understand it's a political ad, but it's simply him trying to embarrass the senator," Casey said.
The crowd at Byrd's Marshall appearance can be heard laughing at the senator's "Big Daddy" remarks.
"It's nice to hear that the crowd in the background is very comfortable with Sen. Byrd," Casey said. "They don't seem to have a problem with it."
The senator was instrumental in establishing Marshall's new 144,000-square-foot, five-story Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Center. In 2000 and 2001, Byrd pushed the necessary grant monies through Congress to build the biotech center. The facility will include tissue culture rooms and DNA laboratories.
But the Raese campaign contends Byrd took too much credit for the center.
"During the speech, Byrd is so into bragging about himself and how to do anything here you have to start with a visit to his office," Abernathy said. "Let's look at where that philosophy has left us.
"There are two different sorts of philosophies of government at work here. First is that West Virginia is not capable of taking care of itself, so we have to funnel millions of dollars a year here from the federal government. The other philosophy is that West Virginians are talented and hardworking, and they do not have to be dependent on Big Brother or Big Daddy."
Contact writer Jake Stump at jakestump@dailymail.com or 348-4842.
If the people of WV cared about Byrd's quirky comments, he's have been gone long ago. All they care about is how much money he brings back to the state.
Wealthy KKK butt wiper. Reformed and became a windbag corrupt democrat.
REID MUST RESIGN!!!!!!!!
ROTFLMAO, I've heard this several times! "Big Daddy" lol. What a hoot!
What? I care! I'm trying to get the old fart out of office...AND, have been since I moved here from Texas in 1990. He's an embarrassment!
Yeh man ....
what a pompous dork
Government corruption is a sickening stench the media celebration of it even more offensive.
It is becoming more obvious that real american citizens
will have to take matters into their own hands.
We lived in Parkersburg for 3 years that felt like 10. Between Byrd and that carpetbagger Rockefeller, my goodness, what a pair.
I'd heard the comments but finding the video was just precious.
Jesco probably voted for this Byrd! Birds of a feather applies here.....
Gotta vote man or else people like Byrd hang around forever.
Isn't that the truth! Sheesh!
*** "After 50 years of arrogance and failure, West Virginia ranks last in median household income."***
Yeah , but they are close to the top when it comes to pork, and that my friend is why Byrd is still there and will be there until they bury Big Daddy.
Yes, but as you probably have discovered (I visit WV twice a year from Texas) there are more billboards for Workman's Comp, Food Stamps, WIC, and personal injury attorneys in WV than any other state. It's a state that loves its welfare.
For any of your Freepers that have never been to West Virginia.......it is Byrdland!! Everything nice has Robert Byrd's name on it...EVERYTHING!! Robert C. Byrd Hyway, Byway, Road, Lane, Bridge, Bowling Alley, Park, rest stop, etc....Honest...it's AWFUL...the rwest of the state is in POVERTY like you have nevre seen in America!!! The state has beautiful hills with nothing but shacks, SHACKS AND more SHACKS!! Sad!!
Yikes. Incredible arrogance...he's actually being serious. "ha, ha...I'm so powerful. Yeah man."
Let's get that ding bat out of office. He has been an embarrassment to WV for years. Who thinks WVians like seeing Byrd's name every where?
Rolled up my sleeves, took off my robe and declared that any stupid West Virginian was better off than before I came from the cross burnings and became a democrat.
Apologies to the West Virginians who are not stupid, including two of my sisters in law.
How long before the State itself has to change its name? Sen. Robert Byrd (D-Robert Byrd)
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