Thursday, 28 September 2006
Northup Continues to Dissect Amateur Yarmuth
The headline reads "Yarmuth: Northup dodges issues He says her ads are far-fetched". But when you delve into the details of the article, it reveals a story that is devastating to Yarmuth team.
First off, Yarmuth is trying to defend himself against the latest information advertisement from Northup. One that claims Yarmuth is for legalizing marijuana, lowering the drinking age, abolishing Social Security, and opposing an east end bridge. So what does he do?
He begins by denying the advertisements allegations. The only problem is that the Northup team has the ammo to back up their allegations. Making Yarmuth look like a complete fool.
He denied saying one of the quotes Northup's camp attributed to him from a primary debate: that by "doubling the employee payroll tax, and the employer contribution, that we can make Medicare solvent into the foreseeable future."
But Northup's campaign manager, Patrick Neely, produced a video yesterday showing Yarmuth making the statement, which was an issue in the Democratic primary campaign. And the congresswoman's campaign said it had accurately reflected Yarmuth's positions on that and other issues.
Ok, so denying is a bad idea. How about saying you don't remember saying what they claim?
Yarmuth also said he didn't recall advocating a tax on "large engines" in SUVs and pickup trucks, another claim in Northup's ad. But Neely produced another videotape from a March forum of the Coalition for the Advancement of Regional Transportation. Yarmuth said: "The single most significant thing I could do as a member of Congress would be to try to promote a tax on larger engines."
Hmm, ok that didn't work. How about saying your position has changed over the years.
Jason Burke, Yarmuth's campaign manager, said other statements made by Northup about Yarmuth's positions from his LEO columns are either out of context, draw inaccurate conclusions or are no longer relevant because they were made years ago.
By this point in the article I am laughing out loud. Who is running the Yarmuth campaign? The keystone cops? Yarmuth comes across as a complete slime. He is either denying things he said or "changing" his positions. Of course every time he denies something where evidence exists to suggest otherwise, he just confirms Northup's message about him.
The Northup team has totally out classed the Yarmuth team in every aspect of the campaign from fund raising to the execution of a coherent campaign strategy they have been superior. Northup's team is focused, prepared, and disciplined. I am not sure Yarmuth's bunch has any of those qualities. At this point, I don't see how Yarmuth gets more than 42% of the vote.
