Anonymous Mailings Targeting PCs?

I wasn't going to give the cowards behind two recent anonymous hit mailers the satisfaction of spreading their disease for them, but since other local bloggers have already broached the subject, I decided to put in my two cents. I'm not going to itemize or debunk the charges, Ted has done that quite sufficiently at R3.

First, let me be clear that I think these anonymous letters are most likely breaking the law. Whoever is behind this had better hope that no one complains to the Attorney General (hint, hint!) about these letters. They are not personal letters; they are being very clearly targeted at Democratic PCs in a blanket manner. Every person I've spoken to who has received one of these letters is a PC. These letters are clearly campaign advocacy, and if they are in any way connected with any campaign, that campaign is officially %100 fucked.

I don't know if all or any of the allegations made in these letters agaist council member Ibarra and Senator Giffords are true. I don't much care, frankly. The allegations strike me as the sort which would be made by either a very small, and far too insulated, clique of paranoiacs, or the sort of bombs calculated to sow discord and conflict within the Democratic party by those outside of it.

I think the latter is more likely: my personal opinion is that this is Republican ratfucking, not a intramural hit.

What benefit is gained by attacking Ibarra? Well, his term is up next year and he's likely to face a stiff Republican challenge once again. Softened support for Ibarra in his base due to corruption rumours couldn't help but benefit the challenger.

What benefit is gained by attacking Giffords? Obviously, she will be facing a close race if she wins the nomination. Softening support on the left of her party might keep enough folks home in a snit to let Graf or Huffman squeak into office.

In short, I don't see much benefit to ANY Democrat, no matter their section of the big tent, in attacking BOTH Ibarra AND Giffords in this anonymous fashion (and the likelihood of two independent hits with the exact same M.O. seems absurdly low). The only common interest I can imagine lies on the other side of the aisle. And Democrats simply aren't corrupt and slimy enough to stoop to such obviously unethical and somewhat inept ratfucking - there are some in the AZ GOP, on the other hand, whom I don't put anything past.

The authors of these cheap shots want southern Arizona's Democrats at each other's throats. They want us to forget how much we have in common and fail to present a united front in the upcoming battles. Well, folks, don't let these ratfucking bastards get their dearest wish. Next time you get one of these illegal mailings, contact the AG's office, and don't even bother reading it.

Comments

[Francine Shacter]

I received the letter on Thursday and immediately wrote the following to the Pima County Democratic headquarters:

TO: Whom it may concern at Pima County Democratic Headquarters

SUBJECT: Anonymous letters about CD 8 candidate

I take very serious exception to the anonymous letter I received today concerning the candidacy of Gabrielle Giffords. Anonymous letters, by their very nature, are scurrilous and this one is really worse than many I have received. Whoever “Real Democrats for Real Democrats” is (are?), they should have the courage to identify themselves. Otherwise, they are a spineless, sniveling bunch.

I am sending the copy of the letter I received which had no return address and is only signed by the unidentified group noted above in the hope that someone at the Democratic Headquarters can find out who these people (or maybe even only one person) are/is so we can respond openly to their charges.

Gabrielle Giffords is my opponent – she is not my enemy. The day after the primary, I am pledged to support the Democrat who wins the primary. Only Gabrielle and I have signed a pledge to support the Democrat who wins the primary. I call on the other candidates to make the same pledge and to disown the sending of anonymous letters that make accusations against any of the candidates who are running for office.

Respectfully,

Francine Shacter

[Geo]

Thank you, Francine, for articulating that principled stance.

I wish we had election officials that took seriously their responsibility to safeguard the election integrity. Anonymous hit pieces like this really ought to be a matter of the checkered past of scurrilous politics.

These kinds of hatchet-job mailers from people skulking in the shadows are the least common denominator of rodent-fornicating electioneering. They have no place in an honest, open debate on the issues and merits of each candidate.

[jeneiene]

With all due respect to this issue, what I'd like to know is this: where was all the hair pulling, teeth-knashing righteous indignation from those who supported RTA 1 and 2 towards the CAVE spewage mailing? That piece of trash was right on par with this, folks.

[Francine Shacter]

I never received as much as one piece of the RTA mail so I haven't got a clue what was said.

[kralmajales]

Unfortunately, Francine...it happened...and unfortunately too many Democrats...good Democrats...looked the other way. I know you are a supporter of Steve Farley and you know him. This was not his finest hour. I will remember...and I remember I have three other choices in the race for LD 28 Representative.

[John Smith]

Who else is running for LD-28?

[John Smith]

Who else is running for LD-28?

[kralmajales]

So far, Ted Prezelski (not Tom...his brother who runs "Rum, Romanism, Rebellion"), a guy named Matt Heinz (a young doctor I hear good things about), and incumbent David Bradley I think.