Posted on 10/22/2006 5:10:51 AM PDT by radar101
Duncan Hunter's cam- paign committee paid $26,000 to say deal was on up and up.
In a move rarely seen in politics, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter bought a full-page ad in yesterday's editions of The San Diego Union-Tribune to rebut what he said were false impressions created by the newspaper regarding his East County home.
Laced with bits of humor, the ad's overall tone was serious, with Hunter telling readers that his 1994 purchase of the property in Alpine was on the up and up. As for questions the newspaper raised about the residence's value on the tax rolls, the ad noted that it was assessed at 1.4 percent of the sales price, 40 percent higher than the Prop. 13 rate of 1 percent.
Hunter's one-day ad buy, which cost his Committee to Re-Elect Congressman Duncan Hunter $26,000, was spurred by a front-page article Oct. 8 that reported that county tax records listed the house at less than half its actual size. Though the house was reappraised to a value higher than the sales price, its assessed value was below market value, the article reported.
The story reported that the 2.7-acre site was among the properties sold by the Resolution Trust Corp. in 1993 as part of that federal agency's cleanup of the savings and loan scandal. The RTC sold the property at auction for $175,000 to a Boston-based bank, the story reported, and Hunter bought it for the same price two months later.
The story was headlined: Hunter got break on taxes for home. A Union-Tribune editorial, published Oct. 11, said the story had raised troubling questions about whether the 25-year congressman got breaks on his property taxes and whether he had possibly benefited from his public position in acquiring the home in the first place.
The article and editorial are not seen by political analysts as a threat to the Alpine Republican's re-election.
I think probably . . . he's trying to restore his credibility and reputation, said Allan Hoffenblum, publisher of California Target Book, a nonpartisan guide to state politics. He probably feels he hasn't done anything wrong and the only way to get his word out is to buy an ad and tell his side of the story.
Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, closely tracks congressional races and has not changed his view that the 52nd District is not competitive.
He is being ultra-cautious, as he should be in this environment, Sabato said, referring to a voting public souring on congressional Republicans and weary of scandals in Congress.
Despite the growing belief that Republicans may lose their majority in Congress in the Nov. 7 midterm elections, political analysts figure Hunter will cruise to another re-election in the heavily Republican 52nd Congressional District, which includes much of East County as well as the city of San Diego's Interstate 15 corridor.
He faces Democrat John Rinaldi, whose has an anti-war message but no financial backing from the national Democratic Party, and Libertarian Michael Benoit.
Hunter, chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, is seen by analysts as a neat fit with his solidly conservative district.
John Dadian, a San Diego Republican consultant and lobbyist, said the ad also fits Hunter's background, including Vietnam service as an elite Army Ranger.
If he sincerely believes in his heart that he's done no wrong . . . he's going to come out fighting, he's not simply going to look the other way, Dadian said.
In an interview yesterday, Hunter said his wife, Helynn, recently found old photographs of the home in its initial run-down state, which appear in the ad.
I figured a picture was worth a thousand words, and we put them out there, Hunter said.
I'm very willing to let the people of San Diego County compare those pictures with the article that was written and decide for themselves whether a false impression was given.
The article reported that the Hunters made $160,000 in repairs and improvements.
The home was destroyed in the 2003 Cedar fire, and Hunter is rebuilding on the property.
The article also reported that the year before the Hunters bought the property, it was seized by the Resolution Trust Corp., an agency formed to bail out failed savings and loan institutions. Hunter voted for the 1989 legislation creating the agency.
State Street Bank and Trust bought the property in December 1993 and was listed in county records as its purchaser. A bank spokeswoman said it was merely trustee for the RTC.
Hunter says he was not aware it had been an RTC property.
Hunter yesterday disputed the article because it said we underpaid our taxes that's the headline and when you turn the page, it compares the house to a $495,000 house in Alpine . . . and then it called ours an 'estate.'
Hunter's ad copy said:
. . . for the Union-Tribune to say that this house in the condition pictured above in 1994 and located on a dirt road, was an 'Estate,' which should have been taxed like a $495,000 custom home, is ludicrous.
The ad did not address the discrepancy between the recorded size of the house and its actual size.
Hunter threw in some humorous photo captions. One said: This was the 'Spa' room. Decorated in 'Early American Mildew.' Note the beautiful exposed 2 x 6s.
Hunter's ad closed: Thanks for letting me set the record straight. Now U-T, let's get back to the issues that concern San Diego and America.
It listed national defense, a border fence, saving the Mount Soledad cross as a memorial and preventing Miramar Marine Corps Air Station from becoming a civilian airport.
Barbara O'Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and the Media at Sacramento State University, said Hunter's move was highly unusual but likely to be effective.
You never pick your fights with people who buy their ink by the barrel. One way to deal with that is to get some of your own ink and pay for it, she said. He will get people to read it just because of its novelty.
This is a snide, sacastic, and snotty declaration. This paper HAS YET TO COMMENT ON HARRY REID's ENRICHMENT on a land deal, made valuable by REID's political dabbling.
Larry Sabato Undercover critic for MOveOn.Org and CREW.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Larry Sabato, liberal hack, hasn't been on Fox much lately, I'm happy to say. I guess that's why he's for hire now to all the Leftist groups when they need an academic shill.
sabato is a limp-wristed closet dweller. I find him to the left of Mao.
LLS
Duncan Hunter is a patriot and an honest man.
It is imperative that the GOP hold the House.
Duncan Hunter must remain chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
One wonders, did the original story bother to give his side of the issue?
Actually, there's a shrinking belief this disaster will happen. I really don't know but I know how I'm voting.
October 8 Union Tribune article here http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20061008-9999-1n8duncan.html
Thank you for the Patriot Ping.
Duncan Hunter's in their crosshairs ONLY because he's doing such a GOOD JOB.
Leave it to The Firm of Sully, Slam, B.Smirch, M.Pune, D.Stract, D.Grade & D.Stroy
to try and ruin him.
Isn't October wonderful?
ROTFLOL!
The Firm is growing!!!!
Oops ~ forgot to add D.Vide & Hugh Milliate
LOL! New partners! OMG! I am literally LOL here.
AMEN!
Duncan Hunter was my congressman until I moved back (after 40 years)to Arizona.
His father was a WWII Marine.
The Congressman served as a an Airborne Ranger in Vietnam, and put himself through law School after Vietnam.
His son is a deployed Marine.
I personally know some of the family. Nothing but old-time honesty and true American values.
The Democrats (I hear from one member of the family) have been investigating and researching the Congressman for over a YEAR!. This is all they could find--and imply.
UT with another failed hit piece on a nice guy.
You know some of his family? Well can you please tell them that he should run for President. We need a strong President. I have been impressed by him and with so many RINOs, he really stands out as a great conservative and I think he would make a strong leader and I really wish he would run. Not many good choices on the GOP side being named for the nominee for '08 but I'd like to have his name in there. I love that the Demonrats seem to be scared and trying to find some dirt. He would be the ultimate candidate and it's about time we get a Vietnam vet in there.
The full page ad Rep. Hunter put in the paper needed no words, just the photos alone proved his statement.
If the reporters are looking for dirt, start with their dem. party, plenty there.
Hunter shoved the reporters face in their own mess.
The newspaper of socalpol's and my youth, would have never gone after a good man like Duncan Hunter.
He was on FOX News on Friday. I forget which program he was on.
Larry Sabato is an a-hole. This story only came out because Duncan Hunter sent a letter to Rummy to tell CNN to get their reporters out of Iraq over the airing of a terrorist snuff film.
Decorated in 'Early American Mildew.'
***Duncan may have had to do this to prove to his wife that he wasn't going to put up with any of the normal vicious nonsense. Since she put so much of her effort into rebuilding their house, maybe she took it personally.
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