Assassination by Association
- Thursday, January 7, 2010, 10:03
- Krusty Konservative
- 1,259 views
- 8 comments
There’s an old saying that says you can learn a lot about somebody by looking at who they hang out with. Bob Vander Plaats has used that old adage as the foundation of his attacks on his GOP primary opponent Terry Branstad. Vander Plaats has attacked Branstad for the actions of his former Lt. Governor and for the healthcare vote cast by Nebraska Democratic Senator Ben Nelson, whom Branstad endorsed in 2000.
So if people’s past associations are fair game, couldn’t one of Vander Plaats’ opponents make a deal out of Eric Woolson having worked for Joe Biden? I mean what’s worse, having worked for the Vice President who is part of the most liberal administration ever, or endorsing a guy who a decade later makes a bad vote?
I’ll be really honest, I don’t like the assassination by association game. In Iowa we have people who think Mitt Romney is the anti-Christ. While he is not my favorite dude, there were a lot of good who supported his campaign like Vander Plaats campaign co-chair Jodi Tymeson. Do I think less of Jodi for supporting Romney? Of course not, but I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that had she endorsed Branstad some people would be playing the Romney card.
We need these campaigns to be about the issues. That’s what really matters. Unfortunately, the issues have been on the back burner and that is the candidates fault.
About the Author
Krusty Konservative has written 284 stories on this site.
Herschel Krustofski is the pseudonym for the anonymous author of Krusty Konservative, a blog which focuses on Iowa Politics. Created in February of 2006, Krusty Konservative is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Iowa blogosphere. Since its conception, Krusty Konservative has never shied from tackling controversial issues, and providing insight to the inner workings of Republican politics in Iowa.
8 Comments on “Assassination by Association”
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When did Woolson work for Biden?
Just “googled”. It was over 20 years ago. Give the guy a pass.
DVO,
I only bring this up because Woolson is the guy writing the press release calling out Branstad for picking Joy Corning 20 years ago, and a $250 contribution to Ben Nelson 10 years ago.
If we are going to blow people up for their past associations, its only fair game to apply it equally.
Fair enough. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Kinda like VP being hailed as the candidate who cares the most about the homosexual marriage issue when he attends a church that is extremely soft on the issue and even has fellowship exchange with the totally apostate ELCA who ordains homosexuals. His position lacks clarity.
My apologies if he’s left his Reformed church.
Krusty~ Fact check: Terry Branstad gave $250 to Nelson 8 years ago and $1000 in 2000 http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/terry-branstad.asp?cycle=00 You are not camparing apples with apples either. BVP has hired Woolsen who works in the field as an operative and a very good one at that. Branstad endorsed, donated $1,250 to, campaigned for, Nelson who was one of the last ones to sell our soul to the health insurance bill. Joy Corning was his right hand (wo)man for his Governorship and has just came out and blasted the republican party platform on social issues. Take a fair and balanced approach.
Bob Vander Plaats and Branstad are both traitors. The current difference is that VP is in the process of betraying Iowa Republicans right now.
Just today the VP campaign sent out a press release with an endorsement by Kent Sorensen. There’s nothing unusual about that but what is unusual is that in great big type face, Sorenson is bragging that “under no circumstances would he vote for Branstad or Culver.”
This is twice now that BVP has betrayed the Republican party. First he endorses Tom Shaw in the 8th District who is running for that House seat currently occupied by Delores Mertz.
The problem is Shaw has decided he’s too good to run as a Republican and is going to run as an independent.
This seat should be a Republican pick up but with Shaw and the Republican splitting the vote, the seat will remain Democrat.
BVP either did not think about the long-term consequences of his endorsing an independent or he just plain does not care if the Republicans take the House.
Now, he is proud of the fact that someone who endorses him for governor claims that person will not vote for Branstad if Branstad is the nominee.
This can only mean they would rather see Culver remain as governor than Branstad to be elected.
Bob Vander Plaats and Kent Sorensen and Tom Shaw have betrayed their own political party and those who work so hard for Republicans. They arrogantly believe they can ask Republicans to vote for them when they won’t remain loyal to other Republicans.
I’m not happy with Branstad’s actions either but he did his betrayal a long time ago and Vander Plaats is doing his NOW. Bob Vander Plaats is my least favorite of the Republicans running for the nomination for governor but I pledge that if he is the nominee he will have my vote. Vander Plaats is still far superior to Culver and it is also likely that if VP is the party nominee, Branstad will be a better team player than VP and also vote Republican.
Hey dvfO, too much melodrama!
Working for Biden wouldn’t mean much if Woolson was just a mercenary PA group like Lincoln Strategies or Victory Enterprises, but Woolson is BVP’s and Huckleberry’s main man.
It also wouldn’t be a big deal if that was the only time, but this happens repeatedly, most recently Woolson sought out and worked for a registered Democrat with OFA members and Culver’s Campaign manager in the mayor’s race in Waukee against a Republican Central Committee member.
It also wouldn’t mean anything if BVP attack on TB wasn’t instrumented by Woolson.