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John McCain gets serious about primary (McCain fights J.D. harder than he fought Obama)
Politico ^ | 2010-05-19 | Shira Toeplitz

Posted on 05/19/2010 6:01:14 AM PDT by rabscuttle385

Arizona Republicans say GOP Sen. John McCain’s recent staff shake-up is an acknowledgment of the seriousness of his Aug. 24 primary challenge — a contest in which he remains a clear — but nervous — front-runner.

While recent polls have shown McCain with a double-digit lead over former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, in an election year in which one Senate incumbent has already been taken down and several others are facing stiff primary opposition, the departure of two top campaign officials — campaign manager Shiree Verdone and deputy manager Mike Hellon — is being viewed as proof that McCain recognizes that he faces the most serious threat of his 30-year Senate career.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: arizonasayno2mccain; az2010; conservative; dumpjuangojd; dumpmcstain; gojdgo; hayworth; hunting4rinos; jd; jdhayworth; juanmccain; manchurianmccain; mcbailout; mcbama; mccain; mccain4mccain; mccainantigop; mccainantiteaparty; mcinsane; mckook; mcliberal; mcloon; mcnuts; mcqueeg; mcrino; mcstain; mcvain; noamnesty4mccain; obama4mccain; rino; rinomccain; soros; soros4mccain; vichy; vichyrinomccain
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To: AFPhys; Hildy; AuntB
The Old Media has been laying in wait, hoping Hayworth would win the primary, after which time they would bring out the big guns to sink his campaign for the general election.

You and the "old media" seem to be discounting the grass roots activism going on in Arizona right now. McCain obviously isn't, or he wouldn't be so worried.

Here is an article laying out the situation that got Mitchell elected, and the complicit "old media's" actions. I doubt this will work again.

You state " the new campaign team is going to rapidly remind Arizonans and the rest of the country about the reasons for Hayworth’s demise." If you lived here, you would know that McCain has been down and dirty for months.

Rough Justice

The fall of Elliot Spitzer has brought the tactics of prosecutors and their media enablers into sharp focus. 

Mr. Spitzer's main offense as a prosecutor is that he violated the basic rules of fairness and due process: Innocent until proven guilty; the right to your day in court. The Spitzer method was to target public companies and officials, leak allegations and out-of-context emails to a compliant press, watch the stock price fall, threaten a corporate indictment (a death sentence), and then move in for a quick settlement kill. There was rarely a trial, fair or unfair, involved.

The cost of prosecutors ignoring the "basic rules of fairness" is even higher when the target is an elected official and his opponents suddenly perceive him a vulnerable.  The classic example is JD Hayworth

For an example of how it works, lets start with this March 2006 Republic article.

The national Democratic Party is shopping for a big name to oppose Rep. J.D. Hayworth in Arizona's 5th Congressional District this fall, suggesting that the six-term Republican is vulnerable in the wake of a Capitol Hill lobbying scandal to which he has been linked.

"Linked" is such a great word.  The word allows the media to claim a connection without actually saying that the elected official is being "investigated" or being "charged."  As Kevin Bacon will tell you, there is no way to claim that you are not "linked" to something. 

The article makes it clear that the Democratic Party recruited Mitchell because of the "linkage" and the subsequent story. 

Hayworth's Chief of Staff was adamant from the beginning that there was no truth to the story.

Eule said Hayworth never has been contacted by investigators, and Eule dismissed the Times story as "totally wrong."

He also had a prediction.

"By the time the election comes around, it will be proved that what Mr. Hayworth said is correct, that he did nothing wrong, that the charges are bogus," Eule said.

Democrats were quick to pounce on Hayworth's vulnerability and their vitriol was unbounded.

This still shot is part of this Mitchell commercial.  I argued at the time that this was a sniper scope and that it was totally inappropriate for Mitchell literally to put Hayworth in the crosshairs.  The local media ignored my story, but it went national and the sniper scope image was on Fox News the following day.

But that was only part of the coverage.  The local TV Stations were all JD, all the time.  Here's a montage of all the local television coverage of the Hayworth/Abramoff "linkage."

Hayworth, of course, lost to Mitchell by about 8,000 votes.  The Republic's Dan Nowicki offered the post mortem.

During the recently completed campaign, Democrat Harry Mitchell relentlessly pummeled incumbent Republican Rep. J.D. Hayworth over his links to corrupt Capitol Hill lobbyist Jack Abramoff .

What about Joe Eule's prediction that "By the time the election comes around, it will be proved that what Mr. Hayworth said is correct, that he did nothing wrong, that the charges are bogus,"

Well, he was half right.  The Justice Department confirmed that Hayworth wasn't the target of an investigation, but it was well after the election.  Here's a copy of the letter that the DOJ sent to Hayworth's attorneys.  Here's the most interesting part. (funny, I can't find any mention of the exoneration in the Republic archives.)

Letter_highlight_2

So where does that leave Hayworth?  Out of office and paying off nearly $700,000 in legal bills. 

Hayworth recounts the ordeal here and is accepting contributions to help pay his legal bills. 

Checks can be issued to "The Freedom In Truth Trust," and mailed to:

The FIT Trust
P.O. Box 984
Willows, California 95988

Reporter Robbie Sherwood wrote this rather scathing epilogue of Hayworth's career.  (Sherwood is no longer with the Republic...he now works for Congressman Mitchell.)

In his years as a Valley sportscaster, J.D. Hayworth 's booming catchphrase for a home run was "Vapor!"
Now, that seems like the most apt description for the six-term congressman's once-invulnerable political career.

Hayworth , 48, was swept into office as part of the 1994 "Gingrich Revolution," and with Democratic President Clinton as a target, he quickly established himself as one of the most media-hungry barking dogs of the GOP Caucus.

So that's how the process of political destruction works: whispers of "linkage" and "scrutiny" followed by blaring headlines and endless B Roll,  recruiting of a high-profile opponent, commercials and mailers that refer to the headlines and news clips, an election defeat, exoneration that goes unprinted and unnoticed followed by unemployment and legal bills that the candidate can't possibly pay.

Ain't that America.

I'll leave you with a sentence from Sherwood's epilogue.

Love him or loathe him, Hayworth is a larger-than-life presence who is unlikely to stay out of the spotlight for long.


81 posted on 05/19/2010 8:35:32 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (I have discovered Campbell's Senior alphabet soup....it comes in large type.!)
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To: greyfoxx39; All

“The national Democratic Party is shopping for a big name to oppose Rep. J.D. Hayworth in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District this fall, suggesting that the six-term Republican is vulnerable in the wake of a Capitol Hill lobbying scandal to which he has been linked. “

The irony of this silly charge is that McCain was much more wrapped in Abramoff $$...and is still getting donations from his firm he was lobbying for. McCain abused Indians and their $$$ like no one else.

It’s all here:
Indians, Lobbyists and Arizona Politics...OH MY!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2440173/posts


82 posted on 05/19/2010 8:58:30 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: VictoryGal; hennie pennie

“> Anyone else notice that his cute little daughter Meggans hasn’t been heard from in MONTHS?”

Actually, she’s still spouting her liberal talking points against the Tea Party and Arizona’s law. And if anyone thinks she isn’t doing Daddy’s bidding, please think again.

Why I Hate the Politics of Hate (More Meghan McCain Stupidity)
Monday, May 10
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2510510/posts

AZ-Sen. 2010: Hate the Law, Not Arizonans (Meghan McCain attacks conservatives as “wingnuts”)
Monday, April 26
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2500502/posts

View’: Meghan McCain Blasts Tea Parties
Sen. John McCain’s daughter says the movement is filled with “innate racism.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/meghan-mccain-blasts-tea-parties-9777706

Get rid of McCain, and we get rid of Meghan AND a bunch of other problems!

Listen Up! Great New Tune!

Flush the John! McCain’s Got to Go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJobkdeho88


83 posted on 05/19/2010 9:13:28 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: Theodore R.; Mouton; All

“Don’t you think that the big problem is that the Republican primary voters of AZ are especially uninformed and just “think” McPain is “conservative”?”

That’s a lot of the problem..he pulls his usual conservative conversion with every election and lies longs enough to get another term. He must be exposed.

Poll: Voters Unaware of Candidates’ Immigration Positions; McCain Supporters Farthest Off the Mark March 2008

[snip]
Among the findings:

* Only 34 percent of McCain voters, 42 percent of Clinton voters, and 52 percent of Obama voters correctly identified their candidate as favoring eventual citizenship for illegal immigrants who meet certain requirements.
* Of McCain voters, 35 percent mistakenly thought he favored enforcement that would cause illegals to return home, another 10 percent thought he wanted mass deportations, and 21 percent didn’t know his position.
* Voters often held different positions from the candidate they supported. Only 31 percent of McCain voters had the same immigration position as he does. For Clinton voters, 45 percent shared her position; 61 percent of Obama voters shared his position
* This lack of knowledge, coupled with disagreements with their candidates’ positions, makes it very difficult to draw any conclusions about the fact that all three remaining candidates favor legalization for illegal immigrants
* Whoever wins the presidency will face significant opposition to giving eventual citizenship to illegal immigrants. Just 25 percent of Republican and 50 percent of Democratic primary/caucus voters said they would support such an effort.
* Pro-enforcement voters have a greater intensity of views than supporters of legalization. Among Republicans, almost nine out of ten who favored causing illegals to return home said they strongly supported that view; on the other hand, fewer than half of Republicans who backed legalization strongly supported that view.

http://www.cis.org/node/13


84 posted on 05/19/2010 9:18:06 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: TigerLikesRooster
He and his girl Megan can go home. They have mansions. Why bother to annoy people?

I can't say for sure, but it looks like because they enjoy it so much.

85 posted on 05/19/2010 9:24:13 AM PDT by BelegStrongbow (Ey, Paolo! uh-Clem just broke the Presideng...)
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To: rabscuttle385

Yeah a POS....kid gloves for Obama. And such an easy target to. I would’ve gone after that lying bastard with the kitchen sink.


86 posted on 05/19/2010 9:25:04 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat
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To: Apparatchik

Too thin, it is not her.


87 posted on 05/19/2010 9:28:05 AM PDT by bmwcyle (Thank You God for Freeing the Navy Seals)
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To: rabscuttle385

fighting harder than he fought Obama?
That would not be hard to do. He threw the friggin’ election.
Ugh! I am so mad at McCain....


88 posted on 05/19/2010 9:36:52 AM PDT by ronniesgal ( I miss George Bush. Hell, I miss Bill Clinton!!)
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To: AuntB; CondoleezzaProtege
Thank you much for the informative posting, AuntB.

Megan McCain has been VERY busy lately, and I hadn't noticed.

LOL

89 posted on 05/19/2010 9:40:55 AM PDT by hennie pennie
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To: altair

I agree. I just stated a brief version. Yet you did not see this brought up much in ‘08. When I mentioned it, the response was too often “it happened a long time ago” as if that made it right.


90 posted on 05/19/2010 9:44:04 AM PDT by Dante3
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To: AuntB

blarf. Thanks for the info, maybe I had hoped too much for the little McVainette to be more subdued.


91 posted on 05/19/2010 9:54:40 AM PDT by VictoryGal (Never give up, never surrender! REMEMBER NEDA)
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To: rabscuttle385
The Arizona Tea Party folks need to be on this case like white on rice. Juan McPain has got to go.
92 posted on 05/19/2010 10:03:42 AM PDT by Desron13
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To: kempster

Don’t get your hopes up, Arizonans believe Sarah:

“Everybody here today supporting John McCain, we’re all part of that tea party movement.”
- Sarah Palin, Mar. 26, 2010


93 posted on 05/19/2010 10:15:25 AM PDT by donna (AZ Maricopa County 2008: Illegal aliens down 30%. Total felonies down 18.5%. Thx Sheriff Arpaio!)
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To: Scythian

He changed and I rarely watch him anymore. Watching the Hannity Beckel love fest is sickening.


94 posted on 05/19/2010 10:37:53 AM PDT by mojitojoe (banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Theodore R.

I HATE that term “reaching out”. A conservative republican does that, he comes back with a bloody stub.


95 posted on 05/19/2010 10:49:52 AM PDT by jslade (People that are easily offended OFFEND ME!)
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To: rabscuttle385

“Build the danged fence!!!!”

ROTFLOL!!!!!!!

What a fool.


96 posted on 05/19/2010 11:06:20 AM PDT by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears (Pray for our leaders: Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin.)
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To: rabscuttle385
Why doesn't he just say "you've got nothing to fear from JD Hayworth as Senator"
97 posted on 05/19/2010 11:39:39 AM PDT by chuck_the_tv_out ( <<< click my name: now featuring Freeper classifieds)
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To: chuck_the_tv_out

Time for that rhino McCain to go.Just retire McCain, you are liked a washed up football player hanging on too long.

We need real leaders like Rand Paul, Peter Schiff and other tea partiers. They have what it takes and the knowledge to do it. Mccain is utterly clueless when it comes to today’s economy.


98 posted on 05/19/2010 11:43:21 AM PDT by ground_fog
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To: rabscuttle385
McCain fights J.D. harder than he fought Obama

That is for sure!

Shortly before the Presidential elections, McCain threw in the towel and didn't even try to win.

He made it clear he was stumping for Obama with his statements

Three weeks before the election:

McCain appears to concede he could lose by telling voters: We have nothing to fear with Barack Obama in the White House

Totally a sign that he was stumping for Obama

And then there was this:

After a particularly fired-up rally in Minnesota, Mr McCain was booed when he tried to sooth the crowd, defending Mr Obama as ‘a decent person and a person you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States.’

Gee, I wonder if he will use those quotes changing President, White House and Obama with Hayworth and Senate?

He really wants to keep this seat, but gave the presidentcy to Obama.

Perhaps this McCain quote means somthing:

But that doesn't mean that I'm sure that someone who's Muslim wouldn't make a good president.

Well, you usured in the Muslim symphysizer, but you were way off. He is a horrible President!

Obama Quote:
In Obama’s book THE AUDACITY Of HOPE
    * He wrote “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”

Plus:

“To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists.”

* While in college, Obama wrote(he) disapproved of what he called other “half-breeds” who gravitated toward whites instead of blacks.

99 posted on 05/19/2010 11:43:53 AM PDT by Syncro (November is hunting season. No bag limit-Ted Nugent)
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To: chuck_the_tv_out
Hay check out my Post #99!
100 posted on 05/19/2010 11:45:06 AM PDT by Syncro (November is hunting season. No bag limit-Ted Nugent)
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