http://www.mogop.org/wp Conservative values from the heart of America. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:56:42 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 Offensive Rendell believes U.S. Senators “don’t do [redacted].” Less than two weeks after Robin Carnahan reached into her rolodex [1] and made a last-minute call to liberal firebrand Jim Hightower to secure his appearance at Democrat Days in Hannibal, her campaign is now promoting the visit of another controversial liberal.  On March 15, Carnahan’s campaign sent out a text message promoting the keynote speech of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell—who once belittled the job of U.S. Senator, saying “It’s an incredibly easy job. They don’t do [redacted].” (The New Republic, June 25, 2008)—at the Missouri Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Like Carnahan, Rendell is a reliable liberal and wholehearted supporter of Barack Obama’s agenda.  He is one of the few Governors who have publicly announced his support for the government takeover of our health care system (MSNBC, 3/ 8/2010). Rendell also signed a letter in support of the failed stimulus bill.  Carnahan, too, supports the health care bill and the so-called stimulus bill, and she would go back to Washington to rubberstamp the rest of the Obama agenda. Rendell has long been a controversial figure in Pennsylvania politics, repeatedly forced to apologize for his coarse and vulgar statements.  The Philadelphia Inquirer (12/4/2008) called him “a serial offender of the verbal blunder” for his constant barrage offensive statements. Highlights from an article in the left-leaning The New Republic [2] (Warning: language): After a public meeting where he encountered upset Pennsylvanian’s, Rendell remarked “This country is really [redacted] up.” Talking about his frustration with racial politics, Rendell said “I could just take a machine gun and shoot 'em all.” Describing his time as Philadelphia mayor, Rendell made a crude sexual reference that cannot be printed in this space. “While Ed Rendell’s vulgarity may play well in Pennsylvania, it certainly does not in Missouri.  Robin Carnahan should be embarrassed to share the stage with someone who has such a lengthy record of offensive statements, but instead, she is actively promoting his speech,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “We already know that Carnahan stands with liberals like Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and ACORN—and now we can add Ed Rendell to the list.” [1] http://www.hannibal.net/features/x2102343602/Columnist-to-deliver-address-at-Demo-Days-banquet [2] https://www.tnr.com/article/politics/the-mouth?page=0,1 http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1804/ Obama-Carnahan photo emerges as Carnahan silently defends Obama’s health care dirty tricks Robin Carnahan’s attempt to avoid being seen with Barack Obama just got even more difficult.  After the media first speculated [1] that Carnahan might be trying to avoid being photographed with Obama, the Missouri Republican Party received photos (see below) showing that Carnahan standing with Obama during a 2004 fundraiser—visual evidence of their longstanding relationship that Carnahan has tried to avoid. Since that photo was taken, Carnahan has remained a staunch supporter of Obama’s liberal agenda—donating money to his 2004 campaign for U.S. Senate, campaigning for him in 2008, attending an event with him to mark his first 100 days in office, and benefiting from fundraisers headlined by Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and Vice President Joe Biden.  And she continues standing with him, announcing over the past year that she would rubber stamp the Democrats’ government takeover of health care, the public option, the so-called stimulus bill, the job-killing cap-and-tax bill, card-check, and the closure of Guantanamo Bay. “Over the past several months, Robin Carnahan has embarked on a shameless attempt to fool Missourians into forgetting her history of support for Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their liberal agenda—topped off by her conspicuous absence from Obama’s visit to St. Louis,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “This photograph, taken in 2004, dispels any doubts that Carnahan’s history of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Obama would continue if she returns to Washington.” This particular Obama-Carnahan photograph emerged as Carnahan silently condones the Washington Democrats’ underhanded and probably-unconstitutional [2] strategy to ram an expensive and burdensome health care bill that she supports through Congress.  By refusing to speak out against these dirty tricks, Carnahan has once again demonstrated that she supports Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid and is unwilling to stand up to them. THE PHOTO: Barack Obama and Robin Carnahan: [1] http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34156.html [2] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/17/critics-challenge-legitimacy-plan-avoid-direct-vote-health-care/ http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1801/ While U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan and Gov. Jay Nixon silently condone the underhanded tactics their party is using to ram an expensive, unpopular, and burdensome health care bill through Congress, the GOP-led General Assembly refuses to stand by and allow our Democrat elected officials to ignore the voices of Missourians.  House Republicans, joined by 25 Democrats, endorsed a constitutional amendment [1] that would block mandatory participation in a government-run health care program. In January, the GOP-led House sent a message to Washington by passing a resolution—HCR 18, sponsored by Rep John Diehl [2]—urging Congress to oppose the Democrats’ health care proposal, citing the new taxes, unfunded mandates, publicly-funded abortions, and lack of transparency included in the bill.  Yesterday, this same resolution was debated on the floor of the State Senate, where Democrats blocked it by filibustering. Today, on the same day that more than one hundred Missourians rallied at the Capitol in support of Missouri’s sovereignty, the Senate passed a resolution—SCR 34, sponsored by Sen. Jim Lembke [3]—asserting the state’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. “Republicans in the General Assembly have given Missourians a voice in the national debate at a time when many people feel that Democrats in Washington simply don’t care what they think,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “Barack Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi have shown that they will stop at nothing to impose their agenda on the American people, and our Republican representatives are standing up and saying ‘enough is enough.’” The most recent Rasmussen Reports survey [4], released March 10, shows that an overwhelming number of Missourians—60%—oppose the Democrats’ health care plan. [1] http://www.missourinet.com/2010/03/16/missouri-house-passes-rebuke-of-federal-health-care-plan/ [2] http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills101/biltxt/commit/HCR0018C.HTM [3] http://www.senate.mo.gov/10info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=3163940 [4] http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/missouri/election_2010_missouri_senate http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1798/ “It's all politics. Don't let anybody fool you.” –Ray Salva, Democrat State Rep One year ago today, the first license offices were awarded [1] under Jay Nixon’s new bidding process.  Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party, released the following statement regarding the anniversary: “Jay Nixon has bragged about changing the system for awarding license offices, but while the bidding process is different, the outcome is the same—wealthy donors and political insiders continue to be rewarded with the state’s most lucrative with fee offices.  Despite Nixon’s assurances that politics would be removed from the system, his method of awarding fee offices has been marred by controversial decisions, irregularities in the bidding process, a lawsuit, and a rumored FBI investigation.” Background: Eight of the nine most lucrative license offices in the state have been awarded to major donors linked to more than $150,000 in donations to prominent Democrats—Columbia, Springfield‐South Fremont, Lee’s Summit, St Charles, Liberty, Raytown, Joplin, and Deer Creek. To date, Alternative Opportunities has been awarded 15 offices with revenue totaling $4,347,841 (according to 2008 figures from the Department of Revenue). Nixon’s actions are so egregious that Democrats and the media have taken notice. Kansas City Star, June 30, 2009: “Even before Gov. Jay Nixon took office in January, he had declared that the ‘era of license office patronage in Missouri is over.’ But the debate over fee offices apparently isn't. A fellow Democrat, state Rep. Ray Salva of Sugar Creek, contends that Nixon misled voters. ‘It's all politics,’ Salva said. ‘Don't let anybody fool you.’” St. Joe News‐Press editorial, June 11, 2009: “Ending political patronage in awarding contracts for driver’s license fee offices needs to account for both reality and perceptions… And to say that appearances do not count in this process is to miss much of the point about patronage. Detractors — virtually all of them Republicans — have ample ammunition in criticizing the selection of St. Joseph attorney James Montee to run the Lee’s Summit office with a partner.” Independence Examiner editorial, July 23, 2009: “Didn’t Gov. Jay Nixon follow through on his pledge to remove politics once and for all from the practice of awarding bids to run state license offices? He might have – but it sure doesn’t look like it.” By the media’s own benchmarks, the system appears rigged. St Louis Post‐Dispatch, January 15, 2009: “There are some, of course, who believe this is all a smoke screen and the bidding process will be rigged to simply benefit Democratic supporters of Nixon. For instance, St. Charles‐area Democratic activist Ken Kielty said he might bid on the office that he formerly ran, and Kielty is a frequent political donor to Nixon… The transparency will allow reporters and the public to examine the process and determine if there are any political shenanigans being played. Will there be? We’ll find out.” June 26, 2009: Kielty was awarded the St Charles fee office. Some local organizations have questioned the process or seen sources of revenue disappear: Lake Sun Leader, August 25, 2009: “Members of the Camdenton Rotary Club are questioning the state’s motives after being notified that another organization was slated to take over the local license office… The move cost the club $40,000, which is what the organization handed out during the last school year to students from Stoutland, Macks Creek, Climax Springs and Camdenton high schools. The organization has been operating the license bureau office under a contract with the state since the mid 1980s. Over that period of time, Rotary members estimated more than $700,000 has been given to local students to pursue a higher education. Without the revenue from the license bureau, the club will not be able to continue to provide financial assistance to students.” Despite the fact the Nixon removed the revenue stream that the Camdenton Rotary Club used to fund local scholarships, the state responded: “The (Lake Area Civic Association) is not precluded from continuing to provide scholarships to local citizens in the area if the organization chooses.” (Springfield News Leader, March 16, 2010) St Louis Post‐Dispatch blog, July 9, 2009: “In 2005, Dolan had said Fila planned to distribute some of the office’s profits to benefit Howell schools and to other schools. Fila said the office indeed had donated to charities, including the Howell Foundation, but that would stop in the future. Instead, he said, he would return some of the office profits to the state above what the state normally gets from the license sales.” The FBI may be investigating the possibility that the bid process is rigged in favor of Nixon’s friends and donors. AP, October 31, 2009: “A friend and the ex‐husband of Missouri Auditor Susan Montee have amassed millions of dollars of contracts from Gov. Jay Nixon's administration under a new competitive bidding system that was supposed to eliminate political favoritism in awarding state license offices… But some losing bidders and former license office operators claim the bid process was fixed so Williams and [Susan’s ex‐husband James] Montee could prevail…An FBI spokeswoman in Kansas City said the agency could neither confirm nor deny whether it is investigating this year's license office contracts.” In December, the state was forced to rebid 10 offices awarded to a Southwest Missouri non‐profit with close connections to Nixon after a reporter discovered major errors in their bids. Springfield News Leader, December 10, 2009: “Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration has decided to rebid 10 motor vehicle license office contracts awarded to Alternative Opportunities after the Springfield-based non-profit failed to disclose its financial ties to an Arizona corporation… One of the stipulations in the contract bidding process is fee office agents could not use subcontractors to provide main services to the license bureaus. The managers of Alternative Opportunities contract their management services to W.D. Management, a company initially set up by the executives of AO but later sold to Tucson, Ariz.-based Providence Service Corp., a publicly traded company. In its application, AO listed Tom Goss as the contract manager. But Goss works directly for W.D. Management, not AO, a violation of the contract stipulations, according to the Department of Revenue.” Since the offices were rebid, Alternative Opportunities has been awarded 5 more fee offices. A Cole County judge recently issued a restraining order preventing Alternative Opportunities from taking control of the Deer Creek license office after the current operator sued citing inconsistencies in the bidding process: Springfield News Leader, March 2, 2010: “A Cole County judge has blocked Springfield-based Alternative Opportunities from immediately taking over a motor vehicle license fee office in St. Louis County pending the outcome of a lawsuit by the current contractor…But Judge Patricia Joyce on Friday granted a temporary restraining order to Michael Becker of Deer Creek Building Management, Inc… Becker's lawsuit alleges the state gave AO ‘a substantial and unlawful advantage’ by changing the points system in the middle of the bidding process.” St Louis Post-Dispatch Political Fix, March 1, 2010: “Becker’s lawsuit alleges ‘multiple violations of law’ in the competitive bidding process… Becker’s lawsuit contends that awarding extra points to nonprofit agencies goes against standard bidding practices in the state of Missouri. Also, the lawsuit contends that once the state entered into what is called the ‘best and final offer’ negotiations with bidders, it substantially changed the rules and tilted the process in favor of Alternative Opportunities…During the negotiation process, the lawsuit contends, the state increased the amount of points that would be given to a nonprofit’s bid, making it even more difficult for Becker’s for-profit company to contend with Alternative Opportunity’s bid. Becker’s lawsuit contends that under state bidding practices, his company would have been the lowest and best bid, and that the allegedly skewed process gave Alternative Opportunities ‘a substantial and unlawful advantage over other bidders.’” Legislation has been filed to address problems in the bidding process that have allowed Alternative Opportunities to be so successful at the expense of other local organizations. Springfield News-Leader, March 16, 2010: “State Sen. Gary Nodler has introduced a bill that would limit the preference only to nonprofit organizations whose primary administrative office is located in the county, House or Senate district where the fee office is based. Nodler said the bill is in direct response to AO winning license fee office contracts in communities outside of Springfield, including his hometown of Joplin. ‘Nobody envisioned a single, giant not-for-profit gobbling these things up across the state,’ Nodler said.” [1] http://dor.mo.gov/news/2009/031609-01 http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1793/ Late last year, Robin Carnahan put her stamp of approval [1] on the Senate health care bill and the underhanded tactics Democrats used to pass it—including closed door meetings, middle-of-the-night votes, and political pay-offs like the Louisiana Purchase and Cornhusker Kickback. Now, President Obama and Senate Democrats are embarking on a new and unprecedented use of their majority power.  Despite the overwhelming opposition from people across the state and around the nation, they are planning to circumvent the will of the people and ram their unpopular program through Congress using reconciliation—also called the “nuclear option.” Missourians deserve to know: does Robin Carnahan support her party’s use of such a controversial tactic to finally pass a bill that she supports but Missourians’ overwhelmingly oppose? “These are exactly the types of decisions that Robin Carnahan will have to make if she returns to Washington, and Missourians deserve to know if she supports her party’s attempt to use procedural gimmicks to circumvent the will of the people and pass government-run health care at any cost,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “Robin Carnahan has tried to hide her rubberstamp support for Barack Obama’s agenda by hiding when he comes to Missouri and refusing to take a position on reconciliation.  But Missourians understand that Carnahan stands with Obama on ever major issue, even if she’s too afraid to stand next to him.” The most recent Rasmussen Reports survey [2], released March 10, shows that an overwhelming number of Missourians—60%—oppose the Democrats’ health care plan. [1] http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2009/12/31/politics_and_elections/news/nt007pol41split09.txt [2] http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/missouri/election_2010_missouri_senate http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1790/ Robin Carnahan can run from Barack Obama, but she can’t hide her wholehearted support for his liberal agenda.  She may not stand on the platform next to President Obama in St. Louis on Wednesday, but Missourians will not soon forget that she stood with him on every major plank of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid platform—from the takeover of our health care system, to the job-killing cap-and-tax, to the failed stimulus bill, and more.  As hard as she tries, Robin Carnahan cannot hide the fact that she would serve as another one of Barack Obama’s rubber stamps in the U.S. Senate. Background: Despite her absence from the event with President Obama in St Louis, Robin Carnahan cannot hide the fact that she has stood with Barack Obama for the past 6 years: Carnahan donated money to his 2004 campaign for U.S. Senate (FEC Records) Carnahan threw her “complete support” behind Obama’s presidential campaign in June 2008 AP, June 4, 2008: [Carnahan said] Obama has her “complete support” and will receive her vote as a super delegate at the Democratic National Convention. Carnahan campaigned with Obama in Rolla, MO in July 2008 (The Daily Guide, July 31, 2008) Carnahan campaigned with Obama in St Louis in August 2008 (Post-Dispatch, August 19, 2008) Carnahan attended an event with Obama marking his first 100 days in office. Obama: Carnahan is “somebody I think may turn out to be pretty good in Washington.” (Video [1]) Carnahan benefited from a fundraiser headlined by Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel in June 2009 (Post-Dispatch, June 15, 2009) Carnahan benefited from a fundraiser with Vice President Joe Biden in October 2009 (Post-Dispatch, October 13, 2009) Despite her absence from the event with President Obama in St Louis, Robin Carnahan cannot hide the fact that she would rubber stamp every major component of the Obama agenda: Carnahan would rubber stamp the health care bill Carnahan: “this legislation takes important steps…” (Carnahan statement, December 24, 2009) Carnahan would rubber stamp the public option St Louis Beacon, November 11, 2009: Robin Carnahan reaffirmed her support Wednesday for some sort of a public option when it comes to health-care coverage.  "I'm less concerned about what we call it, than what it does," said Carnahan during a brief interview Carnahan would rubber stamp the so-called stimulus bill Carnahan: “I don’t think it was an option to do nothing… People who kept saying no to everything … don’t have a lot of credibility on this stuff.” (Post-Dispatch, March 7, 2009) Carnahan would rubber stamp cap-and-tax Columbia Missourian, July 21, 2009: Carnahan said she could "support some kind of cap-and-trade" energy policy Carnahan would rubber stamp card-check St Louis Beacon, April 21, 2009: "Robin is supportive'' of the Employee Free Choice Act,'' said campaign spokesman Tony Wyche. Carnahan would rubber stamp the closure of Guantanamo Bay Carnahan: “The Guantanamo Bay issue is one that we really need to get past. It has been used according to military experts, as a recruiting tool to get more terrorists to attack us, and so we need to do things that reflect our values. One of those is not to have these kind of off-shore prisons.”  (Springfield News-Leader, February 7, 2010) [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIielGFcFmg http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1788/ On Wednesday, President Barack Obama will travel to St. Louis in an attempt to resurrect his takeover of our health care system, revive his sagging political fortunes, and fill Claire McCaskill’s campaign war chest.  But several questions linger about Robin Carnahan’s role in the event. Press reports indicate that the money raised at the Obama fundraisers will benefit Claire McCaskill’s 2012 campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee—but it is unclear if this money will benefit Robin Carnahan. Has the White House written off the Carnahan campaign or have they found a way to secretly funnel these donations to her? “Barack Obama should be campaigning his heart out for Robin Carnahan—after all, Carnahan has pledged to rubberstamp his agenda of a government takeover of healthcare, job-killing cap-and-tax, and the failed stimulus bill, and much more.  But maybe Obama sees the writing on the wall and realizes that Carnahan is way too liberal for Missouri,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “It appears that the White House has written off the Carnahan campaign.  We are not aware of another example of the President ignoring a U.S. Senate candidate on the ballot in less than 8 months and instead raising money for someone who is not up for reelection until 2012.” When Carnahan appeared with Obama in St. Louis in April to celebrate his first 100 days in office, he described her as [1] “somebody I think may turn out to be pretty good in Washington.”  That’s because Carnahan, if elected, would be one of Obama’s staunchest allies in the U.S. Senate. Already, Carnahan has announced (but refused to explain) her support for much of the national Democrats’ agenda on health care, energy, the ‘stimulus,’ the economy, and terrorist detention.  Missourians know this, and they are overwhelmingly rejecting the Obama-Carnahan agenda.  The latest poll of the U.S. Senate race shows Carnahan down by 7 points [2] with nearly 60 percent of Missourians disapproving of the job President Obama is doing. [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIielGFcFmg [2] http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/missouri/election_2010_missouri_senate http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1786/ Robin Carnahan announced on Friday evening (via video rather than in person) that liberal firebrand Jim Hightower would deliver the keynote speech at Democrat Days in Hannibal. The Hannibal Courier-Post [1] reported that Carnahan arranged his last-minute appearance:  [Democrat Days organizer John] Yancey credits Robin Carnahan, Missouri’s secretary of state, with helping land Hightower. “I think Robin Carnahan had an inside track to his organization and put the state committee next to him. I believe that’s how the accommodation was made,” he said. It is ironic that Carnahan would request Hightower’s appearance and agree to introduce him considering his history of criticisms that seem to be aimed directly at Carnahan’s candidacy for U.S. Senate. Hightower blasted beneficiaries of political dynasties, even coining the famous phrase “he was born on third base and thought he hit a triple.”  On Saturday evening, Hightower will be introduced by Robin Carnahan whose grandfather, father, mother, and brother have all held statewide or federal offices. The Washington Post, December 16, 2000:  “It was Texas Democrat Jim Hightower who coined the classic line about George H.: ‘He was born on third base and thought he hit a triple.’  The quote was oft repeated during this year's campaign: As much as he might have tried, it was impossible for George Walker Bush to run on his own merits... Without the connections, critics say, he would never have been given a second glance for political office.” Earlier this week, Hightower criticized Barack Obama and the Democrats for being “incapable of taking firm stands [2];” yet he has come to Missouri at the behest of Robin Carnahan, who has gone more than one year without holding a single campaign press conference and who has refused to debate or discuss the most important issues of the day. Perhaps Hightower is holding his nose while campaigning in Missouri.  Maybe he believes that Carnahan, like John Kerry who he campaigned for in 2004, is a “sack of cement” who will have to be replaced in the next election.  “There are those who say that John Kerry is not liberal enough. I don't care if John Kerry is a sack of cement, we're going to carry him to victory… First, we get rid of Bush, and then, if necessary, we get rid of Kerry.” (P-D, June 4, 2004) “Jim Hightower is a far-left firebrand.  It’s no surprise that these are the kinds of people who Robin Carnahan has in her rolodex,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “What is surprising is that Carnahan would stand on the stage with someone who has a history of criticism that directly undermines her candidacy.  Hightower abhors political dynasties and criticized national Democrats for not having a backbone, but he has come to Missouri at the request of Robin Carnahan, who is the product of a political dynasty and who has refused to take or explain her positions on the most important issues of our time.” [1] http://www.hannibal.net/features/x2102343602/Columnist-to-deliver-address-at-Demo-Days-banquet [2] http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=%22He+was+born+on+third+base+and+thought+he+hit+a+triple%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&fp=3d121c88310e67e3 http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1783/ JEFFERSON CITY— After days of speculation [1] over whether 2010 Democrat Days had a keynote speaker, Robin Carnahan finally announced that liberal firebrand and ACORN apologist Jim Hightower would we featured at the Saturday evening banquet. Despite revelations of coordinated efforts to commit voter fraud across the country and undercover videotapes showing ACORN worker turning a blind eye to illegal behavior like underage prostitution, Hightower has vociferously defended the group, claiming that ACORN is just a “grassroots group” and their efforts amount to “civic education.” (Hightower column “ACORN’s Real Crime: Empowering Poor” January 27, 2010) Carnahan’s extensive relationship with ACORN has been documented on the website www.acorncarnahan.com [2].  The highlights: More than 1,400 pages of emails between Carnahan’s office and representatives of ACORN.  These emails tell the real story about what ACORN calls a ‘great team effort,’ detailing meetings in her office, events, research requests, and more. High-level Carnahan aides—Mindy Mazur and Paula Hodges—have been shuffled between Carnahan’s official office, her campaign, and America Votes, a liberal organization with deep ties to ACORN. In 2006, Carnahan ordered the St. Louis Board of Elections to approve more than 5,000 questionable registrations submitted by ACORN. In 2009, Carnahan issued a report on the 2008 elections, yet she failed to mention ACORN’s organized effort to commit voter fraud across the state by submitting thousands of fraudulent voter registrations to county election boards in Missouri. ACORN even claimed that Carnahan had been “helpful” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 24, 2008) in its lawsuit against the state of Missouri—a lawsuit that ended after the state agreed to pay ACORN $450,000. Carnahan downplayed her relationship with ACORN, instead claiming [3] that the group was no different than the Chamber of Commerce. “Despite more than a dozen convictions in Missouri, the submission of tens of thousands of questionable or false voter registration forms, and shocking videos that show the group promoting criminal activities, Robin Carnahan has passed up every opportunity to distance herself from ACORN.  It is appropriate that Carnahan would introduce fellow ACORN apologist Jim Hightower to speak to the liberal activists gathered in Hannibal,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “Like Hightower, Carnahan has buried her head in the sand and pretended that ACORN is nothing more than a ‘grassroots group’ that provides ‘civic education.’” [1] http://www.stlbeacon.org/content/view/100731/314/ [2] http://www.acorncarnahan.com/ [3] http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2009/10/republicans-focus-on-acorn-theme-in-new-web-site/ http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1778/ JEFFERSON CITY—After a year of broken promises and failed policies at the state and federal levels, Missouri Democrats are meeting in Hannibal for a somber election year gathering.  U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan, who is down in the polls and facing a primary challenge, will be among those in attendance. Since last year’s Democrat Days in Hannibal, nothing much has changed: Robin Carnahan continues to avoid the media and remains silent about the most pressing issues facing our nation.  But she could tell Missourians a lot about her values by simply assigning a letter grade to the job performance of Washington Democrats. Asked to grade her job performance, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi recently gave herself [1] an ‘A.’  In December, President Obama claimed he deserved [2] a ‘B+,’ despite his plummeting approval ratings in Missouri and across the nation. “An overwhelming majority of Missourians would certainly disagree that Nancy Pelosi deserves and ‘A’ and Barack Obama earned a ‘B+’ for attempting to force a radical agenda on the American people,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “Robin Carnahan agrees with their liberal agenda and wants to go to Washington to rubber stamp it, so Missourians deserve to know what letter grade Carnahan would give to Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid. Rating Washington Democrats’ job performance would not take a lengthy explanation; instead, Robin Carnahan can sum up her thoughts in just one letter.” For more than a year, Robin Carnahan has refused to explain her support for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda, including their attempts to takeover our health care system, their job-killing cap-and-tax proposal, their failed stimulus, and their treating of terrorists like common criminals. [1] http://mobile.politico.com/story.cfm?id=33670&cat=topnews [2] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/13/obama-gives-b-plus-grade/ http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1780/ Democrats dismiss frivolous complaint filed to benefit Carnahan’s campaign JEFFERSON CITY—Down in the polls, behind in fundraising, burdened by an unpopular president, and facing a primary challenge, Robin Carnahan’s campaign today was issued its latest setback when the Democrat-led Congressional franking commission soundly rejected [1] a Democrat complaint about her opponent’s official mailer. Late last year, the Nancy Pelosi-led bipartisan Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards approved a mailer sent to the residents of the 7th District outlining Roy Blunt’s opposition to job-destroying cap-and-trade legislation.  Missouri Democrats attempted to distract from Blunt’s position, which a majority of Missourians agree with, by filing a complaint over the mailer with the same commission that approved it. “Robin Carnahan’s campaign keeps getting more and more desperate.  Now, even her fellow Democrats have delivered her a decisive blow—moving quickly to dismiss a complaint against her opponent,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “Missourians deserve to know the truth about Roy Blunt’s opposition to cap-and-tax legislation, but Democrats are trying to distract from their job-killing policies with frivolous complaints that are thrown out almost immediately.” Roy Blunt and the rest of the Missouri Republican delegation oppose the devastating energy tax.  Robin Carnahan told The Associated Press she supports cap and tax, and she recently traveled to Seattle for a fundraiser with pro-cap-and-tax environmental extremists who are pouring money into Missouri to benefit her campaign. [1] http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2010/03/commission-finds-blunts-mailer-frankable-dismisses-complaint/ http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/03/1774/ Missouri Republicans invested a tremendous amount of resources into making the 2010 Missouri Lincoln Days celebration the most exciting and successful in its 111 year history—and thanks to you, we succeeded. With high-profile speakers, live entertainment, and training sessions, the event was both fun and informative. A record number of conservatives attended Lincoln Days to hear Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee), former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, and U.S. Senator Kit Bond share their visions for the future of the Republican Party. Read more: St Louis Post-Dispatch: Upbeat mood marks Missouri GOP event in St. Charles [1] St Louis Beacon: Bond, Pawlenty, Blunt ignite enthusiastic crowd at Missouri GOP's Lincoln Days [2] St Louis Post-Dispatch: Gov. Tim Pawlenty energizes record Lincoln Day crowd [3] Missouri Record: Republicans Pay Tribute to Kit Bond [4] [1] http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2010/02/upbeat-mood-marks-missouri-gop-event-in-st-charles/ [2] http://www.stlbeacon.org/content/view/100625/314/ [3] http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2010/02/gov-tim-pawlenty-energizes-record-missouri-lincoln-days-crowd/ [4] http://www.mogop.org/wpRepublicans%20Pay%20Tribute%20to%20Kit%20Bond http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/02/1757/ Top Carnahan aides shuffled between official office, campaign, & ACORN-linked organizations JEFFERSON CITY—The Missouri Republican Party today launched a new web video highlighting the revolving door that exists between Robin Carnahan’s office and the ACORN-linked organizations that are bankrolling a massive television ad campaign to benefit her campaign for U.S. Senate. The Missouri GOP’s video, available at www.acorncarnahan.com [1], draws attention to the high-level Carnahan aides—Mindy Mazur and Paula Hodges—who have been shuffled between Carnahan’s official office, her campaign, and America Votes, a liberal organization with deep ties to ACORN. The latest revelations, first reported by 24thstate.com, and the 1,400 pages of email communications between Carnahan’s office and ACORN exposed by the Missouri GOP last year fly in the face of Carnahan’s bizarre claim [2] that she “[doesn’t] have any ties to ACORN.” Last year, the Missouri Republican Party released email communications between Carnahan’s office and ACORN exposing her friendly relationship with the embattled liberal organization.  The documents, also available at www.acorncarnahan.com [1], detail meetings in her office, events, research requests, and more. Mazur, who served as Carnahan’s Chief of Staff from 2005-2008, was a major player in many of the inappropriate email communications with ACORN.  In April 2008, Mazur left her position as Carnahan’s top aide to work as the Missouri State Director for America Votes. Mazur remained with America Votes until March 2009, when she was named Campaign Manager for Carnahan’s US Senate campaign. Now, another former top aide to Carnahan, Paula Hodges, is America Votes’ Missouri Political Director [4]. “Robin Carnahan has said that she has no ties to ACORN, but this outlandish claim is contradicted by the fact that her top staff members have been shuffled between her official office, her campaign, and the special interest groups bankrolling the ads running on her behalf” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “These revelations come only a few months after more than 1,400 pages of emails between Carnahan’s office and ACORN shed a light on just how cozy her relationship with the embattled liberal organization really is.  It is, as ACORN called it, a ‘team effort.’  Despite Carnahan’s attempts to re-write history, the evidence is as incriminating as it is clear: Robin Carnahan and these radical Washington special interest groups are still too close for comfort.” America Votes was created to coordinate the efforts [5] of liberal advocacy groups—many of the same groups that are now spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on Robin Carnahan’s behalf.   Both VoteVets and the League of Conservation Voters, which combined have spent more than $1.3 million on attack ads in Missouri, are members of the America Votes coalition [6].  In addition, America Votes has maintained close ties with ACORN: America Votes lists ACORN as part of its national coalition. (America Votes Website [7]) Until October 2008, America Votes-Missouri listed ACORN as part of its Missouri State Coalition.  The reference has since been scrubbed from the website. (Copy of cached version of the website is available upon request) In 2008, America Votes’ Board included two members of ACORN: Maude Hurd, President of ACORN, and Zach Polett, National Political Director of ACORN. (America Votes IRS Form 8871 [8]) House Committee on Oversight and Government reform calls America Votes an “ACORN affiliate.” ACORN maintains a list of 59,995 campaign contributors to President Barack Obama’s election efforts The Obama campaign made a substantial contribution to Citizens Services Inc. (“CSI”), a nonprofit corporation. However, in notes dated April 6, 2006 about ACORN affiliate America Votes, the document stated: We prefer that political money go to us in the form of a vendor, which would be CSI, our for-profit business, which doesn’t have to report the cash because it’s a business, like the phone company. (Report, July 23, 2009 [9]) # # # [1] http://www.acorncarnahan.com/ [2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKNmzBatoTQ [3] http://www.acorncarnahan.com/ [4] http://www.americavotes.org/site/state/missouri/ [5] http://amvotes.bluestatedigital.com/site/content/what_we_do/ [6] http://www.americavotes.org/page/content/about_us/ [7] http://www.americavotes.org/page/content/about_us/ [8] http://forms.irs.gov/politicalOrgsSearch/search/Print.action?formId=28315&formType=E71 [9] http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/images/stories/Reports/20090923ACORNreportrevised.pdf http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/02/1753/ http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/02/1677/ MOGOP Chairman: ‘Shocking and offensive… Carnahan must immediately condemn this ad.’ JEFFERSON CITY— The latest special interest attack ad launched by allies of Robin Carnahan targeting Roy Blunt uses footage from the bombing of the USS Cole to smear his record of opposition to cap-and-tax.  VoteVets.org, a Move-On.org style liberal Washington special interest group, is spending $600,000 to air the attack ad to benefit Robin Carnahan's campaign for U.S. Senate. The ad, which can be viewed here [1], superimposes an image of Congressman Roy Blunt over footage of the aftermath of the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, an attack which killed seventeen American servicemen and women. David Cole, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, criticized Robin Carnahan and her allies for using the footage and called on Carnahan to denounce the ad. “It is shocking and offensive that this group would use footage of a heinous attack that killed 17 Americans to smear Roy Blunt’s record and link opposition to cap-and-trade legislation to support for terrorism,” said Cole.  “Missourians are tired of the kind of disgusting attack politics that Robin Carnahan and her allies are engaging in. Carnahan should immediately condemn this ad and demand its removal from television.” [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSf48Za5ccQ http://www.mogop.org/wp/2010/02/1743/