On Tuesday, NAC briefly considered the District 72 race, pitting longtime Democratic incumbent Bill Cochran against Republican challenger Ed Clere.
Courier confuses chronology in otherwise solid preview of the Cochran vs. Clere District 72 house race.
I’m getting a strong sense that several readers want to discuss this a bit further, so here’s the chance. My voting preference remains with Clere, but at the same time, I’m glad that El Bastard posted this comment last night.
I recently received a flier in my mailbox (one of many) from the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee which helped me decide to vote against Cochran's opponent. The flier depicts a filthy hand gripping a switchblade, and reads "Bill Cochran voted against increasing the penalty for cult and ritualistic child abusers." The flier purports this to be "HB 1335 (roll call 80) 1994." A quick search of the internet reveals only a marriage bill named HB 1335. However, this isn't the point. The point is that I'm pissed off by the GOP's fear-mongering in this case. This alleged bill is dated 14 years ago, and most educated people regard ritual abuse to be little more than a myth. Unless Clere speaks up and denounces these scare tactics, I'm voting for Cochran.
Larry Summers answered:
Ed did not know anything about the literature that was sent out by the party prior to being notified by people like me.
In fact, months ago he was told that the party was going to focus on other political races rather than his. It has been a surprise to me, someone that has followed his campaign very closely, that the state has even changed course.
Thanks, Larry, and I understand the propaganda’s off-premise source, but I’m with El Bastard on this point. Our household has received at least three different versions of the flier in question, and speaking personally, I find them abhorrent in the same appeal-to-utter-stupidity manner of the antique dealer’s casual racism. Surely there’s a higher plane of discussion as pertains to this interesting race, particularly from those who attended the face-to-face at S. Ellen Jones on Tuesday.
Experience vs. new ideas? Discussion, anyone?
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13 comments:
I don't think Ed has control over what the House Republicans send out on his behalf. The Ed I know wouldn't endorse the fliers I've received.
We are voting for Ed, but the fliers gave us pause about giving more caucus power to a party that campaigns in this way. It is shameful.
I believe the recent cult/ritualistic flier was off base, however I do believe Cochrans voting record and his behavior as a public official are fair game, for example, one of the fliers correctly pointed out that in his role as executive asst. to the Chancellor at IUS and as a state legislator with a significant ability to mold the state budget his ethics are compromised by voting on appropiation requests from IUS.
Let's not forget that he also attempted to pursuade the New Albany Sewer Board to exempt IUS from their legally required sewer tap fees for the new lodge dorms and did so by using his state representative clout.
mr. Cochran argues that a new comer like Ed Clere will have no ability to maneuver through the legislature and various state agencies as he does and that is the reason he should be re-elected. Personally, i would rather have a new comer who is ethically sound than a veteran politician like Mr. Cochran who abuses his power and position as a state representative. I'm voting for Ed Clere.
I have to admit that when the first flier came out, I was elated. In my mind, the first flier signaled that the calvary had arrived and that Ed was close in the polls. This first flier talked about gas prices and the addition of higher gas taxes.
Recently, however, the fliers seem to be coming in a perpetual stream, and have become dark and sinister. These ads are not something that my campaign, nor Ed's campaign would use.
Ed, his wife and I have spoken about this issue, and today we are announcing that we denounce the reprehensible scare campaign the HRCC is sending into all of our maybe boxes.
It is a shame that you are afraid to let your children come near a stack of mail because you are afraid of what their innocent eyes may see.
Ed and I realize that the Democratic Party and Independent voters in this area are won over with a positive campaign. We have both run positive campaigns, and quite frankly, are upset that a group that is not representative of our campaigns is sending literature on his behalf.
Ed will be contacting the HRCC to let them know that the campaign tactics that they are using are not a welcome addition to his campaign. We would rather speak about issues than spending exorbitant amounts of time discussing fliers that use scare tactics.
If there is denouncements coming from the individual candidates regarding the behavior of the HRCC, is that not indicative of a serious problem in the arena of political campaigning?
If a candidate REALLY wants to get to a meat and potato issue facing this country, they need to climb up on the soap box and call out for both sides to end these practices of "if you think I am bad, look what my opponent did".
The bald face lies, personal attacks, digging up ancient history, castigating candidates for who they know, who they have talked to, what kind of clothes they wear, what their families are like is disgusting.
Have we scraped so low in the barrel of potential leaders that not one of them can stand up on their own merits, but rely on smear campaigns against their adversaries to win the votes?
that all sounds dandy chris, but I believe an incumbent's voting record and how he or she uses his elected public office is fair game for discussion. Mr Cochran has abused his power as a state legislator and I do not feel Ed Clere would do so based on the lengthy conversations I have had with him. I dont agree with all of Ed's positions, but I trust his ethical judgement rather than the political character of Cochran.
I, too, have had substantive conversations with Ed, and I'll tell you right now that we disagree on a few matters and will disagree in the future.
However, from what I've seen of Ed in action, he possesses something approximating a platform -- a system, if you will -- whereas all we ever hear from Cochran's generation of political leadership (note I'm not singling him out as the only example) is that he's there to use his many years of experience to fix problems for constituents. That's all well and ggood, but it's not the only aspect of public service.
In terms of ideals, what does Bill Cochran really believe about politics and public service beyond the obvious imperative of re-election? I've watched Ed take a number of positions on matters of local significance. I've not heard Cochran do so, except to join the general rush to pander on the topic of property taxes.
Am I expecting too much here?
Voting records are one thing, and yes those are relevent, as long as the votes in question are not intentionally misconstrued to paint a picture of something completely out of context, something so shocking, and horrid that it will create such sensationalism based on basically lies.
People should be held accountable for such actions, no matter who they are....
Ed has consistently said that he respects the progress Mr. Cochran has made for this community; however, we need a new voice in Indianapolis to represent us.
With the current economic state, our state and local governments must assess what they can do to survive. Ed and I want to implement the local government reform that the bipartisan Kernan-Shepard Report suggests. It may take time to reform government but we must start the reform now.
Ed will work to simplify the tax system because you should not get three different results from three different CPAs. We need a system that is both fair and easy to understand.
Ed wants to increase the graduation rate in our state from 61% because that simply is not good enough. He wants to better compensate teachers that perform their jobs well and find a new line of work for teachers that are not meeting our high standards. Parents and children need choices in regards to their education which will promote excellence in education, in time.
In a time when our economy needs jobs, Ed is willing to stand up for new jobs and vote for business development measures. No wonder he has been endorsed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce--it only makes sense.
I just published Ed Clere's statement here, and I believe you will find it enlightening:
http://cityofnewalbany.blogspot.com/2008/10/clere-i-am-interested-in-substance-and.html
Please shift the discussion to the new posting. Thanks to Ed for participating!
Larry,
I appreciate your candor, and I also appreciate your consistancy in maintaining communications in the blogshere.
In these races, we have heard economy, change, and so on. But few have, if any have entered into the topic of affordable healthcare at the local level. Natioanl health care ideas are all well and good, but most are pipe dreams.
As the economy continues to slow and recess, the issue of affordable healthcare, and accessable healthcare will become more of an issue, it all ready has.
The Family Health Centers of Clark, Floyd and Harrison Counties are all ready stretched to nearly beyond our means. We are booked up out to December, and keep in mind that these are residents of Clark, Floyd, and Harrison county who are with out healthcare coverage and fall below 250% of federal poverty guidlines. The influx of newly eligible patients has been overwhelming, but we chug along and do the best we can do.
Thus far, we have not, at any location, recieved a visit (other than Baron Hill earlier in the year for a photo op), for any of the candidates to talk about, or talk to any of the THOUSANDS of hoosier families who are with out healthcare coverage, who fall between the cracks. (too young for medicare, waiting years and years for medicaid, too "wealthy" for H.I.P., not sick enough for SSI or disability), just your everyday working families whos companies have dropped health coverage, or can not offer it....
That would be something that could make a difference in the minds of a lot of voters....
(If I am lobbying, then so be it, I have sat here this morning and heard numerous patients turned away because we simply do not have the ability to take on more right now)
Chris,
I had a long and well written piece about how health care should be reformed and when I submitted it on here, the computer said something about the field being blank--I was rather upset.
To recap the longer version, I will be unemployed after October 31st, and therefore, I will no longer have insurance. I realize with the economy in the state that it is in, this is an all too common occurrence.
I will look into this issue to come up with a reasonable solution from my advisers that understand the issue more than myself. I think the best course of action would be to bring more jobs into the area that pay well and provide reasonable benefit packages.
Once I get a better grasp of what can be done and the feasibility of different solutions, I will work with state representatives to ensure we come up with something that works.
I cannot speak for Ed on this issue because I have not spoken to him directly about it; however, I am sure that he would understand the necessity of ensuring our citizens are insured.
I do not know, though, that socialized medicine is the best course of action.
Larry,
You, your advisors, Mr. Clere, Mr. Cochran, etc.. are all welcome to join our open house next wednesday between 11 am to 1pm at our main clinic in Jeffersonville (1319 Duncan Avenue), perhaps a first hand veiw of what our communities are facing right now, (of course you need no veiw as you are in that same boat now).
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