What's Known So Far About Mystery Ad; READ: Mystery Ad Ignites War of Words Between GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Ducey, Smith

(Editor's note, 4/16, 2:40pm: This was originally published April 8, 2014. When adding tags, the program inadvertently deleted the previous article and re-published it as a "new article".  If you linked this article, please change to the new URL  The most recent article on this subject was published April 9, and is available here.)

The somewhat-unusual attack ad that calls Arizona gubernatorial candidate Scott Smith "Obama's Favorite Mayor"* may have already had its true intended purpose - to spark a debate on who is behind the ad.  Arizona's Politics has been digging around about the $173,000 ad buy, and can set out some data points without drawing a conclusion.

Background: the ad is from a group calling itself the Legacy Foundation Action Fund ("LFAF").  It attacks Smith's record - not as the Mayor of Mesa, but as the current President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  LFAF as audio of nearly-identical radio ads against Smith and the two Vice Presidents of the Conference - who happen to be Democrats.  Arizona's Politics has not confirmed whether those radio ads have actually aired in Sacramento (former Suns' star Kevin Johnson) and Baltimore; the true target of the LFAF may be Smith's gubernatorial run.

Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Scott Smith sent out an email to his list titled "The political games have begun.  He claimed that "On Friday, the political games began when an out-of-state special interest group tied to one of my opponents – Doug Ducey – began running negative ads against me.  Actually, describing them as negative would be generous since they contained a series of lies so distasteful that they do not deserve to be repeated."  (The full email is reproduced below the jump.)

Arizona Treasurer Doug Ducey wasted no time in responding.  His email hit inboxes at 7:46 this morning, titled "False accusations that have no merit."  He leads with "Amazingly, Mayor Smith’s campaign has reacted…by blaming me! For the record, I want you to hear it from me directly: no one involved in my campaign had anything to do with that ad. Period. The charge is false, and there are no facts to back it up."  (His full email is also below the jump.)

Of course, both of their statements can be true at the same time - and very well might be.  Smith claims that LFAF has ties to Ducey, and Ducey retorts that "no one involved in (his) campaign" was responsible.  (If someone in the campaign was involved, that would evidence "coordination", which could result in trouble under Arizona campaign law.

Here is what we have been able to learn of the new LFAF:

--LFAF is relatively new.  It has not filed a statement of organization with either the Federal Election Commission ("FEC") or the Arizona Secretary of State.  However, it has filed a couple of independent expenditure reports with the FEC, indicating that it has spent $350,000 in the last few months supporting a conservative candidate (Ben Sasse) for Nebraska's open U.S. Senate seat.
--Those FEC reports link LFAF with the Legacy Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that does not disclose its donors.
2) A somewhat-anonymous tipster says that it points back to Noble, and supporting Ducey. Only evidence he's given me so far, though, is that the ad buyer is Noble's. He also passed on a rumor that Noble is not on Ducey's campaign so that he can orchestrate IE's/etc (presumably like this one).


3) My research on Legacy turns up two tangential points of interest - one of its 1st big things, in 2010-12, was funneling about $1M to the Rose Law Group to pay for Sheriff Dever/Babeu's legal efforts in supporting SB1070. And, second, it granted $80K to Center for Arizona Policy in '12 (with Herrod on Ducey's team, hmmm) and $200K to American Family Association.


4) Legacy Foundation's 990's reflect from $770K in '10, to $4.8M in '11, to $6.6M in '12!


5) My article in 11/13 re: Ducey's Noble connection in the Prop 204 situation: http://bit.ly/AZp690

* Preview of Fact Check: it is highly unlikely that the President prefers Smith to Obama's former Chief of Staff and current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel!

Unraveling Some of the Mystery Behind Governor Campaign Ad; READ: Mystery Ad Ignites War of Words Between GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Ducey, Smith

The somewhat-unusual attack ad that calls Arizona gubernatorial candidate Scott Smith "Obama's Favorite Mayor"* may have already had its true intended purpose - to spark a debate on who is behind the ad.  Arizona's Politics has been digging around about the $173,000 ad buy, and can set out some data points without drawing a conclusion.

Background: the ad is from a group calling itself the Legacy Foundation Action Fund ("LFAF").  It attacks Smith's record - not as the Mayor of Mesa, but as the current President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  LFAF as audio of nearly-identical radio ads against Smith and the two Vice Presidents of the Conference - who happen to be Democrats.  Arizona's Politics has not confirmed whether those radio ads have actually aired in Sacramento (former Suns' star Kevin Johnson) and Baltimore; the true target of the LFAF may be Smith's gubernatorial run.

(Review Arizona's Politics' previous articles on this ad here, here and here.  The ad is here.)

Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Scott Smith sent out an email to his list titled "The political games have begun.  He claimed that "On Friday, the political games began when an out-of-state special interest group tied to one of my opponents – Doug Ducey – began running negative ads against me.  Actually, describing them as negative would be generous since they contained a series of lies so distasteful that they do not deserve to be repeated."  (The full email is reproduced below the jump.)

Arizona Treasurer Doug Ducey wasted no time in responding.  His email hit inboxes at 7:46 this morning, titled "False accusations that have no merit."  He leads with "Amazingly, Mayor Smith’s campaign has reacted…by blaming me! For the record, I want you to hear it from me directly: no one involved in my campaign had anything to do with that ad. Period. The charge is false, and there are no facts to back it up."  (His full email is also below the jump.)

Of course, both of their statements can be true at the same time - and very well might be.  Smith claims that LFAF has ties to Ducey, and Ducey retorts that "no one involved in (his) campaign" was responsible.  (If someone in the campaign was involved, that would evidence "coordination", which could result in trouble under Arizona campaign law.

Here is what we have been able to learn of the new LFAF:

--LFAF is relatively new.  It has not filed a statement of organization with either the Federal Election Commission ("FEC") or the Arizona Secretary of State.  However, it has filed a couple of independent expenditure reports with the FEC, indicating that it has spent $350,000 in the last few months supporting a conservative candidate (Ben Sasse) for Nebraska's open U.S. Senate seat.
--Those FEC reports link LFAF with the Legacy Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that does not disclose its donors.  Former Iowa lawmaker Christopher Rants heads it up.
--The Legacy Foundation dates back to 2008, and has had some pretty close ties with Arizona in the last five years.  One of its first major projects, in 2010, was supporting Arizona Sheriffs Larry Dever and Paul Babeu in their BorderSheriffs.com organization.
            That first year, Legacy Foundation collected more than half-a-million dollars ($570,677) for the Border Sheriffs, and sent nearly half of it ($242,000) to the Scottsdale-based Rose Law Firm to represent the Sheriffs in defending anti-illegal immigration law SB1070 in the case that eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court.  In 2011, they sent $538,229 to Rose Law Firm and in 2012 - when the Supreme Court decided the case - they paid Rose $403,502.  Total = $1,183,731.  (The 2010 and 2011 IRS filings are below the jump, the 2012 filing can be found here.)  (Here is the amicus brief funded through the Legacy Foundation.)
--In those years, the Legacy Foundation also sent more than $1.5M to the Phoenix-based Direct Response company for printing and mailing services.  Direct Response has also been a vendor for Ducey's gubernatorial campaign, and owner Jack Padavano contributed to Ducey.
--Finally,  it granted $80,000 to Center for Arizona Policy in 2012 and $200,000 to the like-minded American Family Association.  There has already been news coverage about CAP's President being an adviser on Ducey's campaign team.
--Legacy Foundation's 990 filings show that its revenues have climbed steeply, from $770K in '10, to $4.8M in '11, to $6.6M in '12.  In that last year, $2.1M came from direct mail contributions, with the rest coming from anonymized donors.  In 2011, one (anonymous) person gave $1,625,000 to Legacy Foundation.
--The ad firm behind Legacy Foundation's pro-Sasse ad in March, and presumably the anti-Smith/U.S. Conference of Mayors' spot is the well-known attack ad guru Larry McCarthy.  McCarthy has not done any work for Ducey's campaign (no ads yet), but Ducey hired him to produce spots for the No On Prop 204 (sales tax continuation) campaign (which Ducey headed).  (Direct Response Group also worked for Ducey on the No On Prop 204 effort.)

While it is not uncommon for different campaigns to have vendors in common, the data points can be very informative when attempting to ascertain where anonymized, "dark money" may be coming from and why it is flowing in certain directions.

Certainly, Smith's email alleging ties between Ducey and LFAF has some amount of truth.  And, while the above-described ties were discovered by Arizona's Politics - and, were not received from any tipster - the Smith campaign might be aware of even more connections.  On the other hand, Ducey's email denying involvement by any in his campaign on the ad is correct - although his charge that Smith's allegation is false with no facts to back it up is incorrect.

The true intent - and victory - of this ad may not have been to make voters think that Smith is really "Obama's Favorite Mayor", but to draw Smith into battle with Ducey.  The most recent polling showed the men in 3rd and 5th place, respectively, for the GOP nomination.


5) My article in 11/13 re: Ducey's Noble connection in the Prop 204 situation: http://bit.ly/AZp690

Legacy Foundation assisting BorderSheriffs.com: http://borderlinesblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/last-best-chance-to-defend-arizona.html
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-legacy-foundation-and-bordersheriffs-com

Legacy's/Dever's amicus on SB1070: http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/supreme_court_preview/briefs/11-182_petitioneramcusheriffldever.authcheckdam.pdf

Legacy's 2012 990: https://bulk.resource.org/irs.gov/eo/2013_08_EO/26-3853831_990_201212.pdf

kpnx nab:

* Preview of Fact Check: it is highly unlikely that the President prefers Smith to Obama's former Chief of Staff and current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel!

READ: Gov. Brewer's Speech In Place of State of the State

Here is Gov. Jan Brewer's speech before the state legislature (and on national cable).  She shelved the State of the State speech, instead delivering a short, moving eulogy of those killed - particularly Judge John Roll and 9-year old Christina-Taylor Green in the Saturday assasination attempt in Tucson.

Here is the text:

"Good afternoon.


Speaker Adams, President Pearce, Honorable Senators and Representatives of the Centennial Legislature, Chief Justice Berch and Justices of the Supreme Court, constitutional officers, tribal leaders, honored guests, and my fellow Arizonans:

I had intended to deliver a State of the State address to you today -- remarks that outline an exciting and solid plan for job creation, education, and tax reform .....

.... and I WILL deliver that plan to you.

But, not now.

Not today.

Tragedy and terror sometimes come from the shadows – and steal our joy and take away our peace.

That happened on Saturday when a gunman took away people we love, innocent people, and outstanding public servants – like U.S. District Judge John M. Roll.

Judge Roll had just come from the light of a Catholic Mass – and confronted the darkness of a madman.

The gunman gravely wounded others -- people we love and respect -- like Gabby Giffords, my good friend.

This past weekend's events have caused me – caused all of us -- to reflect on many things, including how we respond to those terrible events.

2

First, our response to this tragedy must be led by prayer and comfort for the victims and their families.

So, please -- join me in a moment of silence as we pray for all those we've lost -- for the injured -- and for the suffering.

Thank you.

With our faith and our courage tightly in place, we will step forward from this Chamber, dedicated to the Lord's work -- continuing our service to the public.

One year ago, from this very place, I told you I would serve beside you -- proud to serve the people of Arizona.

I said then, that public service is acting NOT in self-interest -- but on behalf of others.

And, I asked people to join me in the field.

Gabby Giffords DID join me in the field.

And, we worked together, knowing that when our public service ended, we would be judged LESS by what we achieved than what we over-came.

In addition to Judge Roll -- Arizona also lost -- Dorothy Morris, Dorwan Stoddard, Phyllis Schneck, and Gabriel Zimmerman.

Let me take a moment to recognize the acts of extraordinary Arizonans -- who responded with professionalism --and saved lives -- law enforcement, emergency responders, the Tucson medical community, and the staff at the University Medical Center.

Daniel Hernandez, a University of Arizona junior showed no fear in the face of gunfire.

His quick action in going to Gabby Giffords' aid -- likely saved her life.

Daniel is here today and I'm going to ask him to stand and receive the thanks of a grateful state.

It was a sunny Saturday at the supermarket in Northwest Tucson.

It was a picture of what our country is all about: Public servants doing their duty, citizens, old and young coming to hear -- coming to participate -- in the beauty of our government in action.

We lost someone else on Saturday ... nine-year-old, Christina Green.

3

She was just elected to her student council.

She was hoping to be a positive part of the future of America.

And, she has become just that.

She loved baseball -- she was the only girl on her Little League baseball team; and she loved to wear red, white and blue.

I should tell you, Christina was born on September 11th, 2001.

She thought of her birthday as a day of hope -- a time to find goodness in America.

As her mother said, "Her light shines on all of us today."

Saturday's events were not just an attack on those individuals we loved and lost, but an assault on our Constitutional Republic -- on our democracy -- on all we treasure and hold dear -- as citizens and public servants.

Arizona is in pain, yes.

Our grief is profound.

We are yet in the first hours of our sorrow -- but, we have not been brought down.

We will never be brought down!

In fact -- we've been lifted up by America's thoughts and prayers – and we're deeply grateful for them.

Arizona, like all of America -- has been through difficult times before.

But, those times have united us, and made us stronger -- more enduring.

Let those of us who serve our state and country do so in a way that honors those we have lost.

Our meetings on sunny days will not end.

Like the words from Isaiah, I believe Arizona will rise on wings like eagles -- we will run, and not get weary -- we will walk, and not grow weak

So -- I ask for your help -- and your continued prayers, as we step from here, and guide this Great State with courage and devotion.

4

May God bless all the victims and their families and those suffering from Saturday's tragedy.

May God bless those who serve us in the cause of freedom and justice.

May He bless you and your families and our Great State of Arizona.

And may God always bless and protect the United States of America.

Thank you."
We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com. Thanks.

WATCH: Terry Goddard's Election Day Ad; How Feds Can Learn

Here is the positive ad that Goddard has been running - and is running today.  It focuses on what he has done as Attorney General to fight illegal immigration.

WATCH: Jan Brewer's Ad Running On Election Day

WATCH: Day Before Election, Goddard "Mad As Hell"

Not sure if this is web-only or up on the air.  Nevertheless, we are posting it here because it is fascinating to see Democratic gubernatorial nominee (and current AG) Terry Goddard "mad as hell" on the day before the election. (If Gov. Jan Brewer is "mad as hell" after the oral arguments on SB1070 this a.m., we will post those, as well!)

NO COMMENT: Arizona Governor Refuses To Answer Question On Radio - Did You Have A Biopsy?; Brewer Will Not Be Turned Into A Shell

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer was asked on live radio whether she had had a biopsy taken last month.  She refused to answer.

She wrapped up her interview on KJZZ's Here and Now program by saying that she fears being turned into "a shell" if layers of her private life are peeled away.

The audio of the approximately 17-minute interview will be posted on KJZZ's (91.5FM and around the state on translators) website later today, where it will join similar interviews with Democratic nominee Terry Goddard (last month) and Libertarian Barry Hess (today, immediately following Brewer).  Brewer gave long answers to several questions asked by host Steve Goldstein, who was only able to get one listener's question in before the interview ended.

That caller expressed dismay at how the governor and her advisors had handled the questions surrounding her health.  He asked her if she had had a biopsy and whether she was okay.  Brewer recapped her previous statements about feeling fine and said she would not run for governor if she was not feeling fine. Goldstein then asked her about the line between public and private information, and Brewer bemoaned the efforts to peel away private layers.  (She also did not address the caller's apparent reference to her advisor Chuck Coughlin's initial response raising rumors of Goddard's sexual orientation 20 years ago.)


We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com. Thanks.

BEYOND HYPER-PARTISANSHIP: Two Well-Known Republicans Form Committee Supporting Goddard For Governor

One of the things that ArizonasPolitics.com intends to highlight during the last few weeks of the campaign is efforts to get beyond hyper-partisanship. We believe that most Arizonans are tired of every issue being framed in an Us vs. Them, Republican vs. Democrat, black vs. white partisan way.


The Terry Goddard campaign announced the formation of "Republicans for Governor" committee this afternoon.  Statements from committee co-chairs Paul Charlton - former U.S. Attorney for Arizona - and Sam Campana - former mayor of Scottsdale - were included in the news release.  More GOP'ers are invited to climb aboard.

Charlton's quote: “While I was the US Attorney, I had a first hand look at Terry’s work as an Attorney General for a number of years. Terry is a smart and hard working prosecutor who successfully pursued drug cartels, and attacked illegal immigration by going after the ringleaders and their money. As a Republican, I want a Governor who will use that same good judgment and leadership to aggressively take on our State’s budget problems. I’ve always known Terry to do what is right as AG. I want to see him do the same as Governor.


Campana's quote: “I have been a Republican for a long time, but I also believe in choosing the best person for the job at hand. Jan Brewer has squandered her opportunity to take solid action. Terry Goddard has the intellect and the expertise to bring new investment to our state, encourage entrepreneurs to achieve success, and put the people of Arizona back to work.”


Here is the entire news release.





We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com. Thanks.

WATCH: Goddard Challenges Brewer To Fire Coughlin Over Goddard-Is-Gay Rumor-Mongering

Gov. Jan Brewer commended herself for telling her political adviser Chuck Coughlin to "move on" and for her ability to stay "above the fray."  Opponent Terry Goddard is not settling for that and challenged Brewer to fire Coughlin, calling him a "despicable human being."

The exchange came during yesterday's editorial board meeting at the Arizona Star.  Video has been released, and here is a package (embedded below) airing on Channel 3 tonight.  Arizona's Politics previously posted about Coughlin's sleazy effort to inject 20-year old rumors about Goddard's sexual preference, and today's somewhat subtle e-mail from the Goddard campaign highlighting his wife and son.

A Star reporter asked Brewer if she condemned Coughlin's actions.  That is when she noted that she "thought that it was totally irrelevant and absolutely ridiculous and move on."  Later, she patted herself on the back: "I will commend myself by saying that I have been above the fray."

Goddard was not commending Brewer, however.  With Libertarian candidate Barry Hess sitting in between the Republican and the Democrat, Goddard said: "Chuck Coughlin is a despicable human being, and I think that anybody who has the kind of leadership style she just described to you (about herself) should not be tolerating somebody (like Coughlin) as her top person."

Later, Goddard spoke directly to Brewer: "Are you going to fire Chuck Coughlin?"  At the word "fire", Brewer quickly got up to leave.  Goddard repeated "Are you, Governor," and Brewer turned and said "Terry, your hands are not clean and you don't want to go there with me."

Goddard fired back, "Nobody working for me in my campaign - they would be gone in 30 seconds if they tried something like Chuck Coughlin just tried."  Brewer shook others' hands, made her way back toward Hess and Goddard, and said "Want to shake my hand?"  To which Goddard made one last remark "As a person, yes.  But, you've got to get rid of Chuck."

Methinks this issue is not going to go away as quickly as it previously seemed it would.

 


We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com. Thanks.

Brewer's Veteran Political Consultant Coughlin Gets A Subtlety Lesson From Goddard Campaign

I did not get a chance yestereday to follow up on the oh-not-so-subtle attempt by Gov. Brewer political consultant Chuck Coughlin's to raise ancient Goddard-is-gay rumors, and his subsequent non-apology apology.  By the time I would have had a chance to post about the "apology", Montini, the New Times, and just about everyone else had already well-expressed my initial reaction.

But, I got a good belly laugh a few minutes ago when an e-mail* hit my inbox (info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com) from the Goddard campaign.  It is from Terry's wife, Monica, and she reference's their son.  She makes ZERO mention of the rumor-mongering, but it can be no accident that the message went out when it did, and with a nice family photo to boot!  Now, that's subtle!

Of course, Coughlin is not necessarily known for his subtlety and may not have wanted to try to be subtle this week.  And, of course, perhaps the Goddard campaign could pick up some lessons in NON-subtlety!

* Body of e-mail with subject line "A message from Monica Goddard":

Kevin and I are so proud of the work Terry has done as your Attorney General. Just this week, Terry announced that Arizona Attorney General's Office has joined a multi-state home foreclosure investigation with 49 other states who are now joining him in this effort. This is just one example of the commitment, leadership and energy I know Terry will bring to the Governor's office. We need your continued help to get the word out to friends who still might be undecided. Our website is a great place to get details on Terry's plans to get Arizona working again with his emergency job recovery plan, a plan to improve education, help women and children and protect our resources: www.terrygoddard.com


November 2nd will determine Arizona's future-your family's and mine. We deserve better than the partisan bickering and lack of vision that we have been handed by Jan Brewer. You can make a difference in this election. Tell 10 friends, pass this on, sign up some more friends on our web site and call your local Goddard for Governor office to join us any time for phone banks. Thank you. Our family is very grateful for your support.
-Monica Goddard
P.S. For those of you who have received your early ballot, don't forget to vote and mail it in!

We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com. Thanks.

Brewer Campaign Getting Hot and Sweaty? Starts Re-raising Ancient "Goddard Is Gay" Rumors, Posts 20-Year Old AZScam Transcript

Maybe the Rocky Mountain Poll showing incumbent Gov. Jan Brewer under 50% (38% among all voters) is more worrisome than the Brewer campaign is letting on.  How else to explain trying to re-raise old "Goddard is gay" rumors?

Dennis Welch at the Arizona Guardian has posted a story (paid subscription required) noting that top Brewer political adviser Chuck Coughlin claimed that reporters should ask Democratic nominee Terry Goddard if he is gay if they are going to ask Brewer for her health records. 

After the story went up, Coughlin's political consulting firm posted and tweeted links trying to justify bringing that whisper campaign into the public arena through the back door.  They claim that it is justified because it shows that it is as irrelevant as the rumors that Governor Brewer has health issues that could effect her ability to serve out her term.

This is how Coughlin/Higher Ground points out the "lack of relevance".  Here is the Tweet: (@azhighground
HighGround, Inc.): The latest Brewer rumormongering is about as relevant as this 20 year old AZSCAM transcript."  That Tweet links to this post on Higher Ground's blog, posted earlier this hour (notwithstanding East Coast time showing):

The latest rumormongering about Governor Brewer is about as relevant as this 20 year old AZSCAM transcript. Questions are raised and the media pursuit legitimizes a topic no matter how irrelevant. In no way is anyone suggesting that there is a problem with being gay, but it has a common lack of relevance to this race for Governor as the unfounded rumors being perpetuated by Goddard and his democrat operatives.


It may not be sexy for Team Goddard to talk about running a state during a campaign – something the Governor has been excelling at since January of 2009. Terry Goddard has tried three times to be Governor and has failed. This time will be no different.

Wow! Besides getting in the catty "three times" comment (whoa, shades of late Gov. Mecham), they manage to send us to a 20-year old transcript of two anonymous guys speculating on Goddard's sexual preference.  Without context.

Limp protestations aside, what Higher Ground has done in trotting out - on behalf of their client, the Governor - is far different from what two persons not working for the Goddard campaign have done regarding the health rumors.

EDIT: Timeline on this:
1) John Dougherty brings up Brewer health rumor on his Facebook page.
2) Francine Hardaway posts on Huffington Post about it.
3) Brewer campaign denies health rumor.
4) Coughlin brings in gay rumor to Guardian.
5) Higher Ground posts the AZScam transcript.


We welcome your comments about this post. Or, if you have something unrelated on your mind, please e-mail to info-at-arizonaspolitics-dot-com. Thanks.

SIGN, SIGN, EVERYWHERE A SIGN: More Sign Shenanigans In East Valley

(Correction: The signs tampered with belonged to Goddard, Schapira and Arredondo.  NOT Mitchell, Schapira and Arredondo. Corrected below.  My apologies.)

Personally spotted several defaced signs over the weekend, along a Tempe road (at least one).  Someone(s) carefully stuck bumper-sticker-sized pieces of paper on signs belonging to Democratic candidates Terry Goddard (Gov.), David Schapira (Sen., LD17) and Ben Arredondo (House, LD17). 

The stick-ons attempted to label each of the three as "liberal".   While it is hard to imagine that label sticking to those candidates as well as it apparently sticks to the signs - Arredondo has been a Republican officeholder in Maricopa County for years, Schapira has been noted to be an effective lawmaker in the GOP-controlled legislature, and Goddard has led the AG's office and campaigned from the center of the street - the sign-defacer is taking a shot.

While the Schweikert wraparound signs trying to brand Mitchell in the CD5 rematch are legal because they do not touch someone else's property, these stick-ons are obviously illegal.

FACT CHECK (from New Times): Violent Crime Drops (Again) In 2009

The New Times (http://bit.ly/9gO7fx ) reports today on the newly-released FBI report, and notes that violent crime dropped 13.9% from 2008 to 2009 - the third consecutive decrease.  Although the report does not cite any specific statements from Gov. Jan Brewer about how it is necessary to scare away illegal immigrants because of the increase in crime that they bring with them, just about any of the interviews that she has done on Fox News this year will likely provide support for their follow-up that her claims are false (as well as for Attorney General Terry Goddard's claim that Brewer's comments are damaging to Arizona's tourism and image).

UPDATE:  Here is one of Gov. Brewer's appearances on Fox News' Greta Van Susteren show.  In it, Brewer states: "We're out here on the battlefield... with all the crime that comes with it."  And, "...the terror that our citizens live with day in and day out...."

UPDATE: Supreme Court Opinion On (First) "Card Check" Proposition

(very recent post relating to revised "card check" proposition)

Very coincidentally, within 15 minutes after we published the post on Republicans' attacks on Democrats and labor unions - in which we added Proposition 113 to the discussion - the Arizona Supreme Court sent out an e-mail indicating that they would be publishing the opinion on their decision to remove the first "card check" proposition/constitutional amendment (Proposition 108).  It will come out tomorrow morning. (Aug 4 report on court decision)

The opinion will not change anything about the previous post or the upcoming campaign;  however, it is relevant to how we got to Prop. 113 and will likely be relevant for future initiatives.

HONEST QUESTION: Is It Coincidence That Republicans Are Going After Democrats' Union Endorsements?

As many of you probably experienced, as well, my e-mail inbox and Twitter feed filled up with Republican candidates calling on their opponents to denounce "the boycott cartel".  (It sounds much more sinister to call it a "cartel", I am guessing.)  Sure, the coordination of the talking/Twittering points is interesting, but I found myself looking for the story behind the content of the attack.

As the Republic story notes, the political angle makes some sense from the Republicans' POV.  And, how the Democratic candidates respond will help determine voters' perceptions of the Democrats and whether it fires up the union members to kick it to another level in fighting for their candidates.

The pure political angle aside, is there a larger force pushing the Republicans to play this card so early on?  It is worth considering in that the Republicans pushed really hard to get the anti-labor union "card check"-related constitutional amendment (Proposition 113) on the ballot, and that the strongly anti-labor union Americans For Prosperity* is independent expendituring for Republicans in Arizona in a BIG way.  It thus becomes a reasonable assumption to anticipate a boisterous campaign on Prop. 113, and that Republican candidates will be participating at some level.

Prop. 113 AND the union participation in the reaction to S.B. 1070 - the responses from Democratic candidates (and the labor unions) tonight (in the gubernatorial debate) and the next several days will be - as they now say at the start of every sportscast - "one of the keys of the game".  Because it appears that the Republicans'/anti-labor's game plan may be coordinated in more ways than one.





*Americans For Prosperity trumpeted the card check issue last year in its National Save My Ballot tour with "Joe the Plumber."

Gov. Brewer Leads Arizona Into Group Of Only Seven States Approved For Healthcare Reform Monies While Suing To Overturn

Arizona was among the first states to (apply and) be approved for a federal program that will reimburse Arizona for medical claims for state employees (and spouses and dependents) who have retired but are not yet eligible for Medicare, according to a U.S. announcement today.  This distinction comes three weeks after Governor Jan Brewer issued a news release indicating that she is moving Arizona forward with the coalition of (19 or 20) states challenging the constitutionality of the same healthcare reform laws.

Seven states are in the ironic category of seeking and being approved for the funds while challenging what Brewer called "unconstitutional" and "an onerous federal mandate".  According to the Associated Press, joining Arizona are Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Nevada.

Here are the other 18 Arizona governmental bodies and companies who have also sought for and received approval to be reimbursed - out of a $5 billion pool - for uncovered medical costs for early retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare.  The program is a temporary "bridge" until other provisions of the healthcare reform bill become law.

FACT CHECK ANALYSIS: Gov. Brewer Judges U.S. State Dept. Report "Unconstitutional"; She Is Indignant, Offended, Misleading (links to Brewer letter, State Dept. report)

On Friday, Gov. Jan Brewer decided to attack a U.S. State Department overview on the United States' positions and progress on human rights.  She sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 

In doing so, she declared her "indignation" and stated that it is "downright offensive" that there was a brief mention of the not-so-secret legal action surrounding Arizona's SB1070 law.  Fine.  However, she incorrectly asserted that the federal government is "apparently... trying to make an international human rights case out of S.B. 1070" and that inclusion of Arizona in the report is "internationalism run amok and unconstitutional." 

The "Universal Periodic Review" is a process whereby each nation can submit a report, self-surveying the positives and negatives of efforts in the ever-developing area of human rights.  As the U.S. report indicates, the Declaration of Independence was a key step in furthering human rights and that the United States has been a leader in promoting human rights awareness elsewhere. (paragraphs 1-5)  The U.N., other nations or NGO's may submit reports on their own.  In November, the UPR Working Group will meet and make comments, recommendations, etc. on reports from the U.S.  - all of which can be accepted or rejected by the U.S. 

The United States (and 15 other nations) are part of the ninth group of the 192 member nations being reviewed - the 4-year cycle will be completed next year.  Examples of the reports of some of the other nations' reviews may be enlightening:  here are reports on the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Iran.  Safe to say that the report on the U.S. in November will look more like the U.K.'s than Iran's. 

It would be silly for anyone to think that simply because the U.S. self-review did not mention S.B. 1070, that noone else would bring it up.  So, the State Department politely tip-toed around the subject.  Here is what the report stated:  "95. A recent Arizona law, S.B. 1070, has generated significant attention and debate at home and around the world. The issue is being addressed in a court action that argues that the federal government has the authority to set and enforce immigration law. That action is ongoing; parts of the law are currently enjoined."  No braggadocio about the federal government filing an action and arguments which convinced Judge Bolton.  No asking that the international community issue a decision on the human rights aspects of the law.  Not even an insinuation that the law is offensive to human rights at all; simply a note that it is being included because it "has generated significant attention and debate at home and around the world," and that it is in the judicial process.  We have it under control, World, and our institutions are working.

Gov. Brewer insists that this is "downright offensive", that it is piling on and making "an international human rights case" on top of the federal lawsuit.  (Note, use of the word "already" conflating the UPR and federal suit.)  And, while she (barely) conditions her sentence by stating that "The idea of our own American government submitting...,"  she calls this report "UNCONSTITUTIONAL" (and "internationalism run amok").  

Such comments made with full knowledge that there is no sliver of an argument to be made that the UPR - and participation in the voluntary and non-binding UPR process - is against any provision of our beloved U.S. Constitution can only be seen as an effort to appeal to and motivate a segment of the electorate, to further endear herself to conservative media, and to foment misunderstanding and distrust of the federal government.

For her posturing, accusatory letter, Gov. Brewer earns a "COMPLETELY MISLEADING"