Dear Richard
Submitted by James on Fri, 09/07/2007 - 9:22am
We've never talked, but I hear from friends in your department that you're a nice guy and a good administrator. But with all due respect, you need to find a new campaign manager. Because every time this guy opens his mouth, he's digging you into a hole that's going to be harder and harder to climb out of. You know what I'm talking about.
In a comment on a Dome post yesterday, the campaign manager for Perdue's rival in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, state Treasurer Richard Moore, brought up two cases overseen by the State Bureau of Investigations. "Richard Moore is not the candidate with a history of ethical problems," wrote Jay Reiff, adding that Perdue "has been under SBI investigation not once, but several times."
In both cases, however, prosecutors said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Perdue.
This latest stunt will backfire, just like the attack on your opponent's pro-choice credentials. It's a cheap shot worthy of Karl Rove, unseemly in an environment when Democrats in North Carolina have so much potential to build toward a progressive future. Instead of more attacks, how about more ideas so we can make an informed choice based on the merits of your vision?
And by the way, if you don't fire the guy, at least keep him and your other staffers off blogs. It's too easy to say stupid stuff in the heat of the moment, as I know full well from personal experience.
James
PS You know I'm a Perdue supporter, but I assure you, if her campaign starts pulling this kind of crap, you can count on me to be an equal opportunity critic.
- James's blog
- 869 reads
There are two ways to win elections.
One is to tell people who you are, what you stand for, what you believe is fair and good and right, what you've done for them, and how you intend to lead if you win their trust and their vote.
But if the people already know who you are and what you stand for, and they know there are differences between what you believe is fair and good and right and what they believe is so, and if they know what you've done and don't approve, so they're not likely to give you their trust or their vote, then the only way left for you to win is to run down your opponent.
And especially if your opponent does have something to say to people, something to offer them, and has earned the trust of them, then you have to do more than just run down that opponent -- you have to go and pick up whatever trash that past opponents have thrown at him or her, pick up that trash and sling it even harder, hoping that it might stick this time.
I read what is being said about Lt Gov Perdue -- have read it for months now -- and I don't give any credit whatseover to the hired help working for Richard Moore. A candidate is responsible for what his employees say, so Richard Moore is the one picking up and slinging trash in this campaign. If Richard Moore chooses to be a mudslinger, then Richard Moore ought to come out in the open and say for himself what he wants people to know about his Lt Gov Perdue and about himself.
And if he doesn't want to step up and throw this mud on his own, then he ought to consider what it says about him that he'll send his yardman to do it for him.
This is how a man runs for governor of North Carolina in 2007? It gives the rest of us a bad name.
Cuts with both campaigns
There has been a steady underground drumbeat from some of Purdue's campaign supporters over the past several months that Moore's contribution sources equal ethical lapses on his part. Yesterday, a campaign staffer stated it openly. Both campaigns need to stop it.
(Note: I am not referring to people who have, in good faith, questioned public policy on where campaign money comes from. That question is legitimate and legislation to publicly finance certain council of state positions is a good start toward a solution)
You're right, A.
Richard Moore has a record that is strong. He does not need to be sinking to this. It's such a spiral - a nasty, muddy pit. Bleh.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
I said it in December
and I will continue saying it.
"I am not touching this race with a 10 foot pole."
Good luck to both of them, and may the winner of our primary be a great governor for 8 years
"Keep the Faith"
"Keep the Faith"