Simon's attack on Davis backfires 'Evidence' photo isn't clear proof of illegal donation

SF Chronicle ^ | 10/9/02 | Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

[randita]

GOP candidate for governor Bill Simon admitted Tuesday that "he may or may not" have evidence that Gov. Gray Davis accepted an illegal campaign contribution, backpedaling furiously just a day after leveling the explosive charge against the Democratic incumbent.

In yet another curious twist to the election, Simon and the police advocacy group making the accusation produced a photo Tuesday that they said showed Davis receiving a campaign check in his state office, which would be illegal.

[randita]

Note - Davis is not saying that the picture is a fake, just that wasn't taken in his office.

[Dixie republican]

Dump Simon! Draft Arnold!

[homeschool mama]

ping

[TheSpottedOwl]

Should of added a barf alert ; )

Garry South says it's the scummiest thing he's seen in 30 years??? He isn't paying too much attention to his own party, is he?

[Callahan]

I say we pull the old "Jersey Switcheroo" and replace Simon with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Terminator would win in a walk.

[Lurking Libertarian]

Note - Davis is not saying that the picture is a fake, just that wasn't taken in his office.

So what? Taking a campaign contribution isn't illegal, unless it was in a state office building.

The Simon campaign somehow never misses an opportunity to shoot itself in the foot.

[sharktrager]

Except that, if it wasn't taken in his office, it probably isn't illegal.

[skeeter]

Contrast this headline to the Chronicle's treatment of the overturning of Simon's fraud verdict that Davis made the cornerstone of his campaign...

[skeeter]

Also there's nothing in this article which disproves Simon's charge. A charge reinforced by the group that alledgedly made the donation...

[William McKinley]

Simon Says, Make a Free Republic Donation!
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

GO SIMON

[eureka!]

Not to worry. They next thing out is the Nathanson Letter about a "High Political Figure" a la Toricelli. Hehehehehe...

[homeschool mama]

Simon bump.

[Congressman Billybob]

Now let's see. The reporters for the Chronicle visited the Lt. Governor's office in 2002 to see whether the furniture and artwork matched a photo taken in 1998. Somebody else is Lt. Gov. now. He has, no doubt, changed the office to suit himself. Duh.

The key is, I think, the 6-foot by 2-foot modern art painting on the wall behind Angele. That puppy probably cost about $6,000 and is one-of-a-kind. There have to be PR photos of Girl Scouts and such with then-Lt. Gov. (and Gov. candidate) Davis in his office AS IT WAS THEN, which are still available.

If those photos, taken in 1998, show that artwork, then the photo is real. That artwork is not the sort of thing that any politician is likely to remove from the 24-hour security of his official office, and put up on the wall of his downtown campaign office in L.A., which is where Davis and Angele (who now holds a Davis appointment) claim the photo was taken.

And if the photo holds up, Davis not only lied in person and lied through his press spokeman, he is also lying through his official logs of where he was.

To demonstrate the incompetence of the Chronicle's reporters, one should ask them if their own offices look the same now as they did when the previous person was working there -- same pictures, same furniture, etc.

Congressman Billybob

Click for "Oedipus and the Democrats"

Click for "Til Death Do Us Part."

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[GraniteStateConservative]

The Simon campaign is in full retreat mode, Congressman. There's no "there" there with this. Otherwise, the Simon campaign would make a big deal about this issue. They obviously lept before looking. The Simon campaign is run by incompetents, and this is par for the course.

David did nothing illegal in this photo.

[Jimbaugh]

Most people will never read anything about this photo. Simon did the damage in the debate. Simon is learning how to play good old hard ball politics.

If the truth don't work make something up. I think we need to take a page from the Davis political handbook and make something up about Davis and spread it around ASAP.

[dalereed]

"Either they didn't vet the information, or they were set up."

I havve a horible gut feeling that COPS from the onset used their endorsement for a setup.

I don't know how many "cops" belong today but in 1980 when I ran for the Assembly there were 6 members statewide.

The organization was started by a liberal socialist Senator to make the public think that the police organizations were behind socialist candidates and their entire purpose is the endorsing of candidates.

Knowing who and what they were I wouldn't answer their questionaire and certainly wouldn't have accepted their endorsement.

I wouldn't put it past them to be in bed with Davis and everything from their endorsement to this "evidence of illegal accivity", which was witheld until after Simon had made a statement was used from the onset for the purpose of generating support for Davis and discrediting Simon.

[Jimbaugh]

San Francisco Chronicle

It is working ! ! !

Remember you can't unring a bell.

[Lurking Libertarian]

Now let's see. The reporters for the Chronicle visited the Lt. Governor's office in 2002 to see whether the furniture and artwork matched a photo taken in 1998. Somebody else is Lt. Gov. now. He has, no doubt, changed the office to suit himself. Duh.

One of the other articles posted on FR today says that the Lt. Governor's office has floor-to-ceiling windows, which the office in this photo doesn't. Sad to say, this looks like more incompetence from the Simon campaign.

[BJungNan]

Most people will never read anything about this photo. Simon did the damage in the debate. Simon is learning how to play good old hard ball politics. If the truth don't work make something up. I think we need to take a page from the (Democrats) Davis political handbook ...

And now Simon must jump to the next assault, leaving this one behind. And when they respond to that, be ready with another. That is the play book.