Friday, November 07, 2008

Amy Clere: "When, at the 11th hour, Indianapolis jumped in to help us, we were not informed of what they were going to do."

A few moments ago, I received the following note from Amy Clere, Ed's wife.

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Yes, folks, Mrs. Clere DID write the letter and Ed WAS baking a soccer-shaped cake while it was written. The letter was written in an attempt to do something on a positive note to help the campaign. Because I used to be a journalist who has worked in the U.S. and abroad, I decided to put my writing talents to use. However it was very hard to write something that would appeal to older women as well as, hopefully, younger ones. Everything I said in it was true. Period.

We embarked on the campaign as everyone does, looking for backing, and running into nay-sayers and thwarters of all sorts. So, with very little money, we went about getting the word out the best we could, running a positive campaign and hoping that enough people who really know Ed would volunteer to help the campaign in any way they could. We had a lot of help in a grass roots campaign that was always positive and I am very impressed with every one of our volunteers, from both the Democratic and Republican parties.

Yes, it's true that Ed invited his opponent to three debates. Invitations were sent to him and to the Floyd County Democratic Party chair and the Republican Party chair. All could vouch for this. And, yes, Mr. Cochran refused.

We ran out of money fairly quickly. Running a campaign is expensive. So we kept asking around for contributions and we continued our quest to get help from Indianapolis. When, at the 11th hour, Indianapolis jumped in to help us, we were not informed of what they were going to do. They said they'd be polling our race. I'm sure that, as has been mentioned in this blog, they were legally bound to secrecy because of regulations regarding campaign contributions. They looked up Mr. Cochran's voting record (for real) and came up with ads that were not what we would have chosen, but which were based on sound research.

Was I mortified to see the knife-in-hand ad? You bet! I'm a mother and a school teacher. In fact, I briefly wondered if Indianapolis was trying to help or hurt the campaign. It was a trying time because, in addition to being pummeled by mailing after mailing, many contributors to the blog were accusing Ed and the campaign of dishonesty, outright meanness and of duping the public. We were swamped with trying to get things done for the campaign and had neither the time nor the frame of mind to stop and figure out how to explain (IS there an explanation really?), so you have had silence from DePauw Avenue.

We're glad Indianpolis helped out because they did do some positive things behind the scenes to make things go smoothly. We hoped they'd send out some information that would tell more about Ed, but they said that they cannot make positive ads about Ed until he's the incumbent. Hmmmm...I don't understand that. But I do know that, in the end, enough people were willing to recognize that behind a campaign gone out of control remained a man of integrity who will work very hard to see that New Albanians get the most bang for their buck--a representative that WILL be in touch with the people and will remain involved with local efforts. He certainly deserves a chance.

Now it remains for ALL of us to roll up our sleeves and get involved with helping keep things going that work and get a move on to improve things that need improving. The people have spoken, both with our chosen State Representative and our chosen President. I think it's exciting, and, really, it's incumbent upon ALL of us to be supportive of our elected officials as much as we can.

Thanks to everyone for remaining interested in all these issues and special thanks to all who took the time to write supportive comments during a trying time.

5 comments:

Daniel Short said...

Well said...now let the man go to work.

Iamhoosier said...

I believe Mrs. Clere about the letter. I will not bring it up again. Thanks, Mrs. Clere, if you are reading this.

Now if Mr. Clere would just answer about the TV ad that was "tagged" by his OWN campaign. It makes giving him the benefit of the doubt on the postcards, difficult.

Daniel,
I understand your sentiment but Mr. Clere came to this blog and plead innocent. There is still a question or two out there about that innocence.

Christopher D said...

A very nice letter indeed.
What would replace more gaurded optimism with optimism would be an open letter, or some public statement denouncing the the negative ads against Mr. Cochran, a man that has dedicated a large portion of his life to public service.
I had the occassion to meet Mr. Clere in person and have an open and frank dialog with him, and I was impressed.
To be bluntly honest, the only thing that kept me from voting for Mr. Clere, and being completely optimistic is the lingering bitter aftertaste of the ads.
Credit owed where credit is due, of all the politicians who were running in this passed election, who were all invited, Mr. Clere was the only one who showed up to the open house and dedication of the Family Health Center of Clark County's new facility, which also serves as the "headquarters" for the centers in Clark, Floyd, and Harrison Counties.
If this is in fact a symbol of his dedication to the entities in the community that serves those who are most often forgotten, overlooked, etc, then I look forward to working with Mr. Clere on a State level to ensure continued support of Community Health Centers through out Indiana.

tboof said...

Whatever helps you sleep at night, Mrs. Clere.

I read on Ed's campaign web site that he "intends to make Indiana a better place for our children". Do you think your deplorable campaign tactics accomplished this?

We in Floyd County have seen several mayoral races turn relatively nasty, and we have been exposed to seemingly endless rhetoric from the bi-annual 9th district U.S. Congressional contests. We watch helplessly, election after election, as our neighbors in Kentucky fill our television and radio airwaves with personal attacks and smear campaigns against their rivals.

But Floyd County has always been above this fray. Politicians here, Democratic and Republican alike, have, until now, been able to hold their heads high, proud of their political integrity. After any given election, Democrats and Republicans have been able to put aside their differences and reach across party lines to work together for the greater good of this fine community. Apparently, this is no longer the case.

YOU brought the political slime to a new level for THIS community.

Thanks. A lot. A better place for our children, indeed. I'll work harder in 2010 to make sure you serve only one term.

maury k goldberg said...

Do the ends justify the means?

Maury