Talk about failing upward. Remember this, one of the ugliest campaign attacks of the 2010 election?:
Female voice: This is an urgent alert for all Christian families. Before you vote you should know that state representative candidate Courtney Cole has taken hundreds in campaign donations from a representative of the hard core pornography industry, including gay pornography. By allowing her Democratic campaign to be funded by those who are involved with and support hard core pornography Courtney Cole clearly does not share our Christian family values. On election day stand up for what's right and decent by voting no on Courtney Cole. Paid for by House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc.
....The folks in the HRCC who paid for this robocall were walking with Denny Hoskins (r-noun, verb, CPA) and wearing his campaign t-shirt in last weekend's homecoming parade in Warrensburg:
Dave Hageman, Missouri Executive Director of Victory Enterprises (left) and
Robert Knodell, Executive Director of the House Republican Campaign Committee (right)
That makes it difficult for Denny Hoskins (r-noun, verb, CPA) to distance himself from the HRCC, don't you think?....
....The message says it's paid for by the House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc. That is not the Missouri Republican Party. I called the campaign committee and left messages, and didn't hear anything back. KHQA did get a statement from the Missouri Republican Party. It says it did not authorize, approve, or pay for this campaign activity....
[emphasis added]
Ooh. The Missouri republican Party was so upset that they disavowed any knowledge of the robocall. Wink, wink.
Today we find out that maybe the Missouri republican Party does approve (via Randy Turner at The Turner Report) because they gave Robert Knodell a new job:
...Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party, announced today that Robert Knodell will join the MOGOP as Political Director. Knodell will be in charge of legislative outreach and grassroots organization throughout the state as we build upon our 2010 victories at the federal, state, and local levels and move forward into the 2012 election cycle.
Knodell, a Poplar Bluff native and graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, has spent the last four years as Executive Director of the House Republican Campaign Committee. During his time at the HRCC, Republicans have made historic gains in the State House. Thanks to strong candidate recruitment and outstanding campaigns, the GOP now holds an unprecedented 106-57 majority in that chamber...
[emphasis added]
They left out the stuff about dog whistle homophobic and "family values" attack robocalls. I wonder why. They said they didn't approve.
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES McNEIL (Sponsor), STILL, SCHUPP, CARLSON, ELLINGER, PACE, KANDER, WEBBER, WEBB, ATKINS, SCHIEFFER, MEADOWS AND OXFORD (Co-sponsors).
0436L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 570, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to caller identification spoofing, with a penalty provision.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 570, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 570.195, to read as follows:
570.195. 1. As used in this section the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Caller", a person who places a call by a telephone or over a telephone line, even if the person begins the call on a computer;
(2) "Caller identification system", a listing of a caller's name, telephone number, or name and telephone number that is shown to a recipient of a call when the recipient answers;
(3) "False information", data that misrepresents the identity of the caller to the recipient of a call; except that when a person making an authorized call on behalf of another person inserts the name, telephone number, or name and telephone number of the person on whose behalf the call is being made, such information shall not be deemed false information;
(4) "Insert", the insertion of data by voice communication, by written communication or by otherwise entering into a computer.
2. Any caller who knowingly inserts false information into a caller identification system with the intent to mislead, defraud, or deceive the recipient of a telephone call shall be guilty of caller identification spoofing.
3. Caller identification spoofing shall be a class D felony.
4. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1) Any blocking of caller identification information;
(2) Any law enforcement agencies of the federal government, state government, a county or municipality; or
(3) Any intelligence or security agencies of the federal government.
The "30 Day After General Election" reports were due in at the Missouri Ethics Commission today. At this point we usually start wading through final campaign reports by race (and we are) and post as many stories as we can on the interesting minutiae and connections we find in our research. In starting that research today we ran into another blatant connection to the robocalls in the 121st Legislative District race. Yes, we were very interested in this race - it had a hardworking and hard charging newcomer in Courtney Cole (D) challenging a republican incumbent who managed to keep shooting himself in the foot. Alas, Denny Hoskins (r) was reelected.
Right at the end of the campaign the Missouri House republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) loosed homophobic robocalls against a number of Democratic candidates across the state, including Courtney Cole, on October 27th. You might want to remember that date.
Of course, the republican candidates disavowed any knowledge of those calls. Wink, wink.
We followed the story and tracked the source of those robocalls:
....The Missouri House republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) filed a "no name" report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on October 29th. There are some enlightening expenditures:
Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made
Committe: HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE INC
ReportDate: 10/29/2010
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/28/2010 IE GOTV Call-Hoskins $1,288.54
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/28/2010 IE GOTV Call-Brattin $1,141.13...
That's for Denny Hoskins (r-noun, verb, CPA) in the 121st Legislative District and Rick Brattin (r) in the 124th Legislative District....
On October 29, 2010 Denny Hoskins (r) publicly disavowed any knowledge of the robocalls in the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:
Warrensburg - Rep. Denny Hoskins sought to distance himself Thursday from a robocall barrage targeting his Nov. 2 Democratic opponent....
....Hoskins said in a prepared statement. "I did not pay for, approve or have any knowledge of the robocall, nor do I condone its message...."
You might want to remember that date.
Denny Hoskins (r) filed his "30 Day After General Election" report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on December 1st. There was an interesting entry in the expenditures:
Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made
Committe: CITIZENS FOR HOSKINS
ReportDate: 12/2/2010
B. ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES ALL OVER $100 AND ALL PAYMENTS TO CAMPAIGN WORKERS
SURVEY ST. LOUIS PO BOX 432 ST. CHARLES, MO 63302 10/29/2010 PUSH CARDS $1,712.15
[emphasis added]
That's right, on the same day that he disavowed the robocalls, and two days after those calls were made, Denny Hoskins (r) paid the perpetrator of those calls, Survey St. Louis, for campaign paraphernalia. How nice.
The right hand doesn't know what the far right hand is doing? Yeah, right.
So, we thought we do a little searching on Survey St. Louis via the Missouri Secretary of State:
....St. Luke's sued the company hired by the HRCC to make the calls, Survey Saint Louis, which just happens to be owned by Speaker Ron Richard's legislative director, Tom Smith. Last week, the AP reported that Smith claimed no knowledge of the bogus caller IDs until he learned about them in the media, but was nevertheless paying St. Luke's legal bills in their lawsuit against him.
Wagman reports today that Smith still isn't interested in explaining why his company lied to voters. And incredibly, HRCC Chairman and Speaker-elect Steve Tilley (R-Perryville) claims that he hasn't even talked about issue with Smith. Even though he's in charge of the caucus and professes to dismayed by the calls, he says he hasn't actually talked to the government/campaign staffer in charge of the calls. (Maybe he's been too busy moving into his new Las Vegas mansion?) In fact, Tilley hasn't even pretended that he's taken any action to stop this sort of garbage in the future, except to condemn it in the media after the fact.
Impressive stuff from the Party of Personal Responsibility.
The Missouri House republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) filed a "no name" report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on October 29th. There are some enlightening expenditures:
Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made
Committe: HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE INC
ReportDate: 10/29/2010
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/28/2010 IE GOTV Call-Hoskins $1,288.54
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/28/2010 IE GOTV Call-Brattin $1,141.13...
That's for Denny Hoskins (r-noun, verb, CPA) in the 121st Legislative District and Rick Brattin (r) in the 124th Legislative District.
A photo taken on Thursday in Harrisonville, Missouri in the 124th Legislative District:
Warrensburg - Rep. Denny Hoskins sought to distance himself Thursday from a robocall barrage targeting his Nov. 2 Democratic opponent....
....Hoskins said in a prepared statement. "I did not pay for, approve or have any knowledge of the robocall, nor do I condone its message...."
A photo taken today in Warrensburg, Missouri in the 121st Legislative District:
Why, that's just across the street from Denny Hoskins' place of business, complete with a campaign sign!
So, who is the representative from the 146th Legislative District?:
Representative Darrell Pollock, a Republican, represents part of Laclede and Camden County (District 146) in the Missouri House of Representatives. Rep. Pollock is a small business owner in Lebanon....
...He has two children, Stephen....
Where have we seen that name before? Oh, wait...someone is in the employ of the HRCC:
MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE
Stephen Pollock Bolivar, MO
9/15/2010
Payroll
$10,330.80 [aggregate]
$750.00
Stephen Pollock Bolivar, MO
9/2/2010
Travel Expense
10,330.80 [aggregate]
$1,098.42
HRCC? What HRCC?
Is someone working for the HRCC driving dad's car around the 121st and 124th Legislative Districts? Around the same time as those robocalls? Just asking.
We received yet another mailer from Denny Hoskins (r-noun, verb, CPA) today and noticed a little detail that belies this assertion in yesterday's Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:
...Rep. Denny Hoskins sought to distance himself Thursday from a robocall barrage targeting his Nov. 2 Democratic opponent....
....Hoskins said in a prepared statement. "I did not pay for, approve or have any knowledge of the robocall, nor do I condone its message...."
It's kind of hard to distance yourself from the House republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) when you're wearing their swag in one of the few mail pieces paid for by your own campaign:
Nice shirt. Where'd you get it?
Uh, the HRCC?
Or when the Executive Director of the HRCC walks in the UCM homecoming parade with you, wearing your campaign t-shirt:
Dave Hageman, Missouri Executive Director of Victory Enterprises (left) and
Robert Knodell, Executive Director of the House Republican Campaign Committee (right)
I hope you got out and got some sunshine. I spent my day trying to get in touch with a couple of republican fellows who are up to their armpits in robocall bilge. --BG
I managed, through a source that was promised anonymity, to locate the cell phone numbers of the Executive Director of the HRCC and the Executive Director of Victory Strategies, a political strategy firm that is closely associated with the HRCC.
They are also pretty closely associated with Denny (Noun, Verb, CPA) Hoskins in Warrensburg, as you can see in this photo:
Dave Hageman, Missouri Executive Director of Victory Enterprises (left) and
Robert Knodell, Executive Director of the House Republican Campaign Committee (right)
Marching together in the CMSU UCM homecoming parade kinda makes the whole 'recoil in horror and deny everything' approach Denny has chosen not merely unbelievable, but, frankly, laughable mockworthy.
I first left a message for Mr. Knodell, but I didn't expect a callback. He doesn't even say his name on his voicemail greeting, just his number, but I gave it the old Mizzou try...Keep in mind I hate talking to machines...
"Hi, ah, my name is Tammy Booth and I am a reporter with "They Gave Us a Republic" that's a national web, ah, national news website...they gave us a republic dot com, if you want to look at it...Ah, I was wondering...I'm looking for a man named Robert Knodell, and I'm wondering if I can get a comment on the HRCC decision to pull the robocalls that went out attacking schoolteachers and, and other Democrats, um...at the end of the, ah, that have now been pulled...and if you had a comment on the decision to launch them, and the decision to pull them. Thank you."
I wasn't too pushy...I waited a bit before sending him the following text message:
Hello, I am looking for Robert Knodell and a comment on the robocalls that went out and were quickly pulled. Thank You. Tammy Booth theygaveusarepublic.com
I didn't call Mr. Hageman. He wasn't going to answer for me, and we both knew it, so I just cut to the chase and sent the following message:
Hello Mr. Hageman. My name is Tammy Booth and I am a reporter with the national news site theygaveusarepublic.com I am looking for comments on the decision to first launch, then pull the robocall campaign that accused Democratic candidates of taking money from the gay porn industry? Thank you.
It is now 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and neither of these fellows has seen fit to "man up" as Sharron Angle would say.
I can only assume then that they know they have no excuses, realize that they have done more harm than good (or as my father used to say "stepped on their dicks") and they are bravely laying low 'til Tuesday.
They don't just have "no comment," they have the double-secret "no comment" that no one has to say.
....The message says it's paid for by the House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc. That is not the Missouri Republican Party. I called the campaign committee and left messages, and didn't hear anything back. KHQA did get a statement from the Missouri Republican Party. It says it did not authorize, approve, or pay for this campaign activity....
[emphasis added]
Really?
Yeah, that $100,000.00 went the other way on the same day. As if they don't know each other? With that kind of money moving around they all must be good friends, eh?
The negative fallout from the House republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) attack robocalls continues locally.
The text of the calls:
Female voice: This is an urgent alert for all Christian families. Before you vote you should know that state representative candidate Courtney Cole has taken hundreds in campaign donations from a representative of the hard core pornography industry, including gay pornography. By allowing her Democratic campaign to be funded by those who are involved with and support hard core pornography Courtney Cole clearly does not share our Christian family values. On election day stand up for what's right and decent by voting no on Courtney Cole. Paid for by House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc.
Warrensburg - Rep. Denny Hoskins sought to distance himself Thursday from a robocall barrage targeting his Nov. 2 Democratic opponent....
....Hoskins said in a prepared statement. "I did not pay for, approve or have any knowledge of the robocall, nor do I condone its message...."
....The Star-Journal received phone calls and e-mails, and a visit from former House Rep. Deleta Williams, all denouncing the House Republican Campaign Committee's robocall content.
"These robocalls that are being made against Courtney Cole and in support of Denny Hoskins, paid for the HRCC, are despicable," Williams said Thursday. "They cross the line of campaign decency. I believe it's a threat to our democracy because more and more good, qualified people will become increasingly reluctant to serve in public office when they know that they or their families may be targeted by these types of tactics."
That distancing thing is really quite interesting.
The Executive Director of Missouri's HRCC, Robert Knodell and Missouri Executive Director of Victory Enterprises, Dave Hageman walked with Denny Hoskins (r) in the UCM homecoming parade on October 23rd wearing Hoskins' campaign t-shirts:
Dave Hageman, Missouri Executive Director of Victory Enterprises (left) and
Robert Knodell, Executive Director of the House Republican Campaign Committee (right)
"...I did not pay for, approve or have any knowledge of the robocall, nor do I condone its message..."
As we previously wrote about those folks walking in the parade:
That makes it difficult for Denny Hoskins (r-noun, verb, CPA) to distance himself from the HRCC, don't you think?
....The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
...that no person shall, on account of his religious persuasion or belief, be rendered ineligible to any public office or trust or profit in this state...
[emphasis added]
In the aftermath of the offensive robocalls presented across the state by the House republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) which were directed at Democratic Party candidates for the Missouri General Assembly no one in the old media appears to be asking Steve Tilley (r) and the HRCC how the message of the robocalls...
This is an urgent alert for all Christian families....clearly does not share our Christian family values....Paid for by House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc.
...a candidate meeting someone's definition of "Christian family values" - coincides with those constitutional clauses.
....Tilley, the 2011 House speaker-elect, also criticized House Democrats, saying they have run worse ads.
"These calls pale in comparison to the misleading and malicious attacks by the Missouri Democratic Party against Republican candidates across the state," he said. "I call on my Democrat colleagues to apologize and to do as we have done by ending the negative personal attacks against Republicans contained in ads, calls and mailers in the closing days."
Yeah, running those bogus robocalls about pornography and religious "family values" is equivalent to pointing out that republicans didn't pay over $20,000.00 in taxes on time or that they happen to own a plane with a lobbyist. That seems to work really well for old media, you know, all things being equal.
Not enough people read these expense reports (heck, not enough people know how ridiculous the campaign finance laws are in Missouri), so i'll try my best to make up for it.
As you read this stuff, remember one thing.. these are the people who want your vote because they claim to be fiscally responsible.
We're gonna start with HRCC spending for Wednesday October 27th, the day the Republican robocalls invaded many Missouri homes.
Victory Enterprises 5200 30th St SW Davenport, IA 52802-3039 10/27/2010 Media Buy-Hampton $907.50
Victory Enterprises 5200 30th St SW Davenport, IA 52802-3039 10/27/2010 Media Buy-Shumake $15,092.00
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/27/2010 IE Advocacy Call-Shumake $2,603.65
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/27/2010 IE Advocacy Call-Houghton $2,410.40
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/27/2010 IE Advocacy Call-Wyatt $2,135.25
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/27/2010 IE Advocacy Call-Redmon $2,334.65
Survey St. Louis, LLC PO Box 432 Saint Charles, MO 63302-0432 10/27/2010 IE Advocacy Call-Cauthorn $2,021.25
Cauthorn's opponent (Kelly Schultz) was hit by robocalls similar to what happened to Courtney Cole in the 121st. As was Redmon's opponent (Keri Cottrell), as was Wyatt's opponent (Rebecca McClanahan). McClanahan's call was a CIA Black Propaganda call about electing her to help Obama. Cottrell was hit by the "porno" call and i've heard Schultz was hit by the same call as well. No reports on if that happened to Carl Thompson or Linda Witte on Wednesday as well. But having 3 of 5 focuses of "advocacy calls" wind up in the same cloud of calls is.. interesting. Right now, Survey St. Louis is my #1 suspect in regards to who put these calls out there.
...I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. it wasn't my fault, I swear to God....
Roseanne Mooring (Springfield News Leader) via Twitter:
Robo call update: Rep. @TeamTilley pulled calls, apologized, criticized Dem ad tactics. Read about it in tomorrow's @springfieldNL. 33 minutes ago via web
The irony impaired opponent of the Missouri Court Plan, Better Courts for Missouri, doesn't disclose on their web site who has been funding their opposition to the current appellate judicial selection plan in Missouri. They have been paying for robocalls to get people to pressure the Missouri Senate to change the judicial selection process that has been in effect since 1940. This phone call arrived yesterday:
The transcript:
It's political manipulation of the Missouri court system. Hand picking judges behind closed doors in almost absolute secrecy. Big city trial lawyers who contribute millions of dollars to politicians are trying to buy power and hand pick our judges. It's time to stop the trial lawyers' back room deals. Call XXX-XXX-XXXX and tell your senators to support selecting our judges out in the open, not behind closed doors. Call XXX-XXX-XXXX today. Paid for by Better Courts for Missouri.
Irony of ironies. They criticize alleged non-transparency while being non-transparent.
They would rather pressure the judicial selection process by ginning up astroturf (fake grassroots) opposition to candidates under consideration by the commission. If you like the current way we select United States Supreme Court justices, you'll love their hopes for the process in Missouri.
The enablers of Peter Kinder (r - "mr. personality"), the incumbent in the Lieutenant Governor race, are certainly relentless when it comes to producing robocalls attacking Sam Page (D).
We've previously covered the robocalls and other attacks:
Sam Page has a secret. He's accepted a large contribution from a Canadian company, breaking a Federal law in the process. In fact, Sam Page admitted it came from a Canadian address. Now, after having been caught Sam Page has all kinds of excuses. The bottom line? Sam Page doesn't want you to know that he broke the law. Sam Page's choices are risky for Missouri. On November 4th say "No" to Sam Page. Paid for by Citizens Taking Charge, Patrick Wilson, treasurer.
Typical old school style republican campaign tactics. I figure their "...was found to have voted with Vito Marcantonio" robocall will be out any day now.
Two postings at Kos focus on Missouri, specifically on the difference in the two presidential campaigns here.
The first explains the difference in robocall strategies. Yeah, I've gotten that McCain robocall--twice--informing me that Obama consorts with William Ayers ... blah de dee blah blah blah. But Devilstower tells us that the media says Obama has been playing dirty too:
Of course, NPR points out that the Obama campaign is also using robocalls. Except it's not the national campaign, it's the the Democratic Party. Except it's not the national party, it's the Missouri state party making calls only in Missouri.
"I'm calling to make sure you received something in the mail recently describing John McCain's plans to give tax cuts for companies that ship jobs overseas."
Ah ha! A message from a state party attacking McCain's tax policy. That's completely equivalent to the McCain campaign running a massive national program to say that Obama is a terrorist dupe. At least it is for the media, who uses examples like this to say that Obama is also running "negative ads."
Obama drew 100,000 and 75,000 while McCain drew "dozens of supporters"--3,000 in St. Charles and 15 whole people in Columbia. In the interest of fairness, did the McCain campaign require that people get tickets in advance? Surely that would lower the attendance--though ... not by 97,000.
Dr. Sam Page has the wrong prescription for Missouri's children. Sam Page says he's concerned about Missouri's children, but it doesn't show. Sam Page voted against background checks for foster parents, putting thousands of Missouri children at risk. Sam Page also voted to allow an investigation of child abuse to close if the child dies during the investigation. Sam Page's choices are risky for Missouri. On November 4th say "No" to Sam Page. Paid for by Citizens Taking Charge, Patrick Wilson, treasurer.
The beginning of the next phone call was cut of by the answering machine:
...[sup]ports public education, but it doesn't show. Sam Page voted against funding Missouri's education budget eleven times. Sam Page voted against three hundred and twenty five million dollars in new funding for Missouri's public schools. Sam Page's choices are risky for Missouri. On November 4th say "No" to Sam Page. Paid for by Citizens Taking Charge, Patrick Wilson, treasurer.
Why, that's enough to make you want you to take Sam Page out back and beat the crap out of him. At least that's what they want voters to think.
We'll have this kind of negative campaign tactics for as long as they work. We can do our part to make sure these tactics don't work this election cycle. Get out and vote a straight Democratic Party ballot on November 4th (remember, you've got to mark the Democrat for each race since the republican controlled General Assembly got rid of the straight party check off on the ballot).
Sam Page's campaign is answering Peter Kinder's direct (non-surrogate) attacks in an e-mail to supporters:
"No" to seat belts on school buses? The Lt. Governor's race between incumbent Peter Kinder (r) and Sam Page (D) has reached a point of absurdity.
On Thursday (at some point) I received a robocall. It left a message on my answering machine.
[male voice - recorded] Doctor Same Page has the wrong prescription for Missouri's children. Sam Page supports forcing our children to wear seat belts on school buses. Despite study after study that proves school buses are safer without seat belts, Sam Page thinks he has the better answer. Sam Page wants to take another decision out of the hands of parents and local school districts and put it into the hands of state government. Sam Page's choices are risky for Missouri. On November 4th say "No" to Sam Page. Paid for by Citizens Taking Charge, Patrick Wilson, treasurer.
In the hierarchy of wedge issues I'm wondering where this fits in. Are they telling us they've run out of gas on God, gays, and guns? Wow.
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