santorum running scared; GOP wants probe into Casey &newspaper ad

[dajoki]

original post by Penndems in PA forum http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=175x6907
article"GOP seeks probe of ad campaign" http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15063729&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6
rebuttal:"happy together:GOP and bogus conspiracy
theory" http://scrantontimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15070113&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6

The state Republican Party has asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether The Times-Tribune and state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr.’s campaign for U.S. Senate violated federal election law through an advertising campaign that promoted the newspaper’s consolidation.

Party officials alleged in a complaint Thursday that the newspaper’s “Better Together” campaign and its use of the headline, “Casey to run for Senate,” violates prohibitions against corporate expenditures meant to influence federal political campaigns and corporate contributions to political campaigns.

<snip>

Times-Tribune publisher George V. Lynett and managing editor Lawrence K. Beaupre declined to comment on the complaint.

Both deny the newspaper coordinated with the Senate campaign or advocated Mr. Casey’s candidacy. Mr. Lynett said the Republican reaction was a case of “too many people with too little to do” and called the troublesome headline “factual” and “benign.” He declined to disclose the newspaper’s spending on the promotional campaign to the GOP, saying it was “none of their business.”

[KingFlorez]

1. This is funny

Santorum is grasping at straws! These people are crashing and burning fast.

[dajoki]

2. scared shitless...

this and trying to arrest two teenage girls at his book signing. http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005508140325

[Coastie for Truth]

9. Sounds like the "Coal and Iron" Police

- just like the "Coal and Iron" police---

"When I got there about 6 o'clock, a group of young people had congregated," Shaffer said. The handful of Garnet Valley students and the girls from Newark started talking about the event, and someone joked about having Santorum sign a book by a gay author.

That drew the attention of someone on Santorum's advance team.

According to Shaffer, the woman "called them shameful and said she was disgusted by the reasons they were there, that they should be there to support ."

"Rick Santorum's security team felt they were going to be a security threat and asked them to leave," said Amanda Winnington, the community relations manager for the Barnes & Noble store.

The security, however, wasn't provided by a private guard, but by off-duty Delaware State Police Sgt. Michael DiJiacomo, who was hired for the occasion through a private security service. No official report of the incident was filed because no arrests were made, but state police spokesman Lt. Joe Aviola said, "As I understand it, they actually were being disorderly within the store. Someone overheard them saying they were going to cause a disruption."

That's not quite the version the teens related. "I heard ask the woman, 'Do you want me to get rid of them,?' " Galperin said. "I went to tell the kids the cop was going to kick them out, and he was very pushy. He came up to us and said, 'If you don't leave you'll be arrested, and if you can't post bail you'll be put in prison.' He said it was private property and we would be arrested for trespassing."

When the girls protested that they hadn't done anything, DiJiacomo told them they were under arrest. After taking them from the store, Galperin said, "He told Miriam to put her hands on the car and kept telling us, 'You're going to embarrass your family, you won't get into college with this on your record.' "

Take it from an expat Western Pennsylvania Dem - that's "Coal and Iron Police" tactics.

[dajoki]

11. we had the same thing...

here in the NE PA anthracite region.

[Cocoa]

3. am I reading this correctly?

can the GOP possibly be this ridiculously paranoid?

Aside from challenging the headline’s purpose, the GOP also takes issue with the way the campaign’s slogan, “Better Together,” was used. The slogan refers to the consolidation of the afternoon newspaper, The Scranton Times, and the morning paper, The Tribune. The GOP says the intent was different.

“The slogan, placed near the phony headline advocating Bob Casey Jr.’s candidacy, visually promotes the idea that Casey and the office of United States senator are better together,” the complaint says. “This visual constitutes express advocacy for Bob Casey Jr.’s candidacy.”

[dajoki]

4. that seems to be their complaint

i can't figure it out either. only explanation is they're nuts.

[blondeatlast]

16. No, it's just a tool to get publicity--when the papers endorse Casey,

Santorum's people will loudly cry "foul" to the devoted following and they will mobilize against the papers.

They are sneaky bastards and they know EXACTLY what they are doing--and for whom they are doing it.

[Ian David]

5. Someone should sue Ricky for all the "Spreading Santorum" advertising n/t

[FreeStateDemocrat]

6. Same old repukes - attack attack and attack harder then dems rollover.

[dajoki]

7. casey will not rollover...

i know that is the usual outcome when we're attacked, but so far ricky boy is burying himself with his own stupidity.

[safi0]

8. The riddiculousness

Of this reminds me of when Fox tried to sue Franken fr the title of his book

[Zenlitened]

15. Hahahaha!! An oldie, but a goodie!

I'd forgotten about that little episode. :rofl:

[Coastie for Truth]

10. Any state that would defeat Harris Wofford and Elect Rickie

:sarcasm: deserves massive job losses. :sarcasm:

(I am a Western Pennsylvania expat Dem)

[dajoki]

13. check this link...

to see when PA's last ELECTED dem senator served. Joseph S. Clark 1957-1969. wofford was appointed by casey sr. after heinz was killed. http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/one_item_and_teasers/pennsylvania.htm and we are supposed to be a blue state?

[kodi]

12. GOP modus operandi, keep throwing shit until something sticks

by virtue of accumulation of constant smears, the idea is set in the minds of the people that something is fishy about casey.

the democratic party in pa. should begin to do likewise EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY WITH SANTORUM. this is not tiddlie winks here

[dajoki]

14. we must fight back...

but santorum's doing a pretty good job of making an ass of himself.

[blondeatlast]

18. To rational people he is, to the faithful, he's being persecuted.

Read upthread what I think is behind this little trick (and trick it most certainly is).

It's a call to the base yet again.

[dajoki]

19. you're right...

we must keep up the fight and answer all their allegations and turn them back on santorum. there are too many ignorant voters that will stick with that little weasel no matter how stupid he acts.

[blondeatlast]

17. PA's a big state for the Dems; they need the best and brightest

monitoring everything Santorum is doing.

It's an incredible moral victory and if they know we know what they are up to, it'll curtail some of the dirtiest sneaks they pull elsewhere, I bet.

[dajoki]

20. what a victory it would be!!

knocking off the 4th ranking pub in the senate. looks good now but a long way to go, that is why you are correct, we can't let up on him.