Politics, I'm rapidly learning, is fun. So let's have some fun with these people ...
OK, first the backstory: Viggo Mortensen, actor, artist, publisher, and great guy, enthusiastically offered to hold three rallies for Dr. Bob Johnson's campaign to rid Congress of the useless-to-odious GOP foot soldier John McHugh. Which naturally is getting a lot of attention ... and causing The Stupid to come out of the John McHugh campaign.
McHugh sends out a press release entitled "Dr. Bob Has to Go to Hollywood to Find a Supporter." What a typical, "Hollywood-liberal," brain-dead response from a thoroughly, um, unimaginative I guess is a nice word, GOPer. The only problem is ... John McHugh doesn't seem to realize that Viggo Mortensen's actually from this district, graduating from high school and college in the district. I mean, really, apart from putting a "Kick Me" sign on his back, what could John McHugh do that would be such an obvious invitation to slam him? Fun reigns! (and jump below the flip to join in ... )
Right off the bat here, let me mention how we can all have fun with this ... I must confess: I have a weakness for freeping polls. I've always thought it was fun to see the numbers move in our favor,
especially when the poll is worded in a way that's seemingly designed to dampen the Democratic side of things. And, I've always wanted to see what would happen if the power of the Orange Mothership here at dKos was turned on a small web-poll in some tiny local market ... it's always a wonder to behold the
Awesome Power of a Fully Operational Mothership.
So here's the situation, we've got a local news outlet running a poll that says, "Would Viggo Mortensen's support make you more likely to vote for Dr. Bob Johnson for Congress?" There's no way that's going to garner majority support ... hell, I'd answer no if I were answering honestly. Either deliberate or not (I'd guess "not"), they're screwing us. So, here's what we can do for a little fun on a Saturday morning, click on this link, vote "yes," and recommend this diary for a couple of hours to run up the numbers. This whole story so obviously tweaks John McHugh, I'd love to imagine his eyes bugging out when he sees the "Yes" number at 70% or more ... I just took a screen shot of the current number, and I'll take one later to see the difference. I've always wanted to see the power of dKos descend on an unsuspecting local news victim ...
But back to John McHugh and The Stupid Release from a Mindless Wingnut. He sends out his minion to deliver the message, "Congressional candidate Dr. Robert Johnson has to go all the way to Hollywood to find a supporter." We read that and our eyes bug out. This bad boy is a gift straight from the patron saint of challengers facing an incumbent.
And let's just say that folks in glass houses and all ... so let me just quote from our press release:
Democratic Congressional candidate Bob Johnson rebuked an attack today by John McHugh, calling attention to the fact that McHugh isn't familiar enough with his own district to know that actor Viggo Mortensen graduated from Watertown High School and St. Lawrence University in Canton.
"McHugh has been in Washington for so long, he seems to have lost complete touch with his district," Johnson said. Johnson went on to say that he is surprised McHugh chose to make an issue of district support, considering the very small amount of money McHugh raises in his own district. In fact, McHugh gets a whopping 95.9% of his individual contributions from outside the state of New York, let alone the district. This campaign cycle, his top five zip codes for fundraising are two in Virginia Beach, VA, and one each in Darien, CT; Fairfax, VA; and West Palm Beach, CA. (source: www.opensecrets.org)
"Who is John McHugh working for?" Johnson asked. "With those fundraising numbers, it certainly appears he isn't working for the people of northern and central New York. The sad reality of Washington today is that you work for the people who pay to get you elected. Is it any wonder he votes to give tax cuts to those in Fairfax, West Palm Beach and Darien while he throws the rest of us into insurmountable debt?" Johnson noted.
We've been looking for an opportunity to inject these facts into the race, and John McHugh practically sent us an e-mail inviting us to do it. And we get more publicity for our events with Viggo! It's like stealing.
"I'm frankly shocked that the John McHugh campaign would stoop so low as to question the support of a local man just because he later found success," Bob Johnson said. [...]
For him to take a break from raising money in Virginia to attack us for building support in northern and central New York ... well, it's just another indication that John McHugh has lost touch with his constituents and his district."
See the great thing about politics, you get to just trash someone who deserves it, and it's totally socially acceptable behavior. It's like a really good rip against a troll, only better because the "troll" is actually a US Congressman.
Seriously, if you've never volunteered for a campaign, run, don't walk, to the office or web-site of a candidate (Bob's is here). Although I hear some campaigns don't have much fun ... I truly can't imagine why. If you aren't having fun, you just ain't in the spirit of things ...
update: BWAHAHAHAHA! Started around 36% or so a half-hour ago at 10:37, now up to ... 67.4% 76.3! And check out the top story!
Like I said ... it's like stealing. I'd feel bad if ... nah, there's no way I'd feel bad.