I'm sorry, but this one doesn't pass the laugh test:
Republican Rep. Richard Pombo, who has faced a wave of attack ads from national conservation groups, is an "enthusiastic steward" of the environment and a friend of wildlife, first lady Laura Bush told GOP supporters Friday.
I know the calendar says 2006, but it sure looks like 1984 to me when the Lodi News-Sentinel carries an AP story with the headline First lady defends Pombo's environmental record.
Cross posted to ePluribusMedia
Yeah, that's right. Pombo's in trouble, so Laura shows up to tout his
environmental record? Did Karl Rove think this one up? Attack your opponent's strength - he's been pretty effective with that one over the years. But this? Could it possibly help? (Rolling of eyes.) The sheer audacity seems to have surprised the McNerney campaign as well:
"It's astounding that she would mention the environment and Richard Pombo in the same sentence because Richard Pombo has made his living beating up on environmentalists and environmental laws," said Rob Caughlan, a McNerney campaign spokesman. "That's why we have the support of every environmental group in the country."
Well into the story, we get the following:
A staunch advocate for private property rights, he pushed an overhaul of the Endangered Species Act through the House last year that gave new rights to landowners and limited habitat protections. He also supported legislation that would have allowed the sale of public lands for mining and advocated for more domestic oil drilling, both offshore and in Alaska. Meanwhile Pombo has taken campaign money from oil, gas and timber companies that would benefit from his legislation.
Laura B. says that the are levees in the San Joaquin delta that need some work. She claims it hasn't been done because of burdensome environmental regulations.
"U.S. Rep. Pombo is an enthusiastic steward of our country's natural resources," Bush said in Pleasanton, about 40 miles east of San Francisco. "Because of his leadership, wildlife, property and people will be protected from dangerous flooding."
I'm guessing she got her talking points from the Pombo campaign. I'm thinking she should stick to the fiction section of the library, because this is pretty weak.
I've been writing for a year about Pombo, much of it about his environmental record, so I won't recap here.
TWEEDLEDUM TO POMBO'S TWEEDLEDEE
Laura B. also campaigned for John Doolittle (CA-04). This from the San Francisco Chronicle, also from the AP:
First lady says keeping Doolittle is crucial for nation's future
The first lady struck on the theme that Doolittle's campaign has focused on in recent days - playing up his support of us troops while questioning the patriotism of his opponent, Democrat Charlie Brown.
Crucial for our future? John Doolittle? In what universe? Aside from the fact that Brown performed military service, whereas Doolittle did not. And Brown arguably has more at stake in Iraq than Doolittle, since his son's deploying for his 4th tour of duty in Iraq soon.
I'm betting that Brown'll score better on veterans' issues with the Iran Afghanistan Veterans of America. Doolittle got a grade of C- from them. And no matter what race you're working on, I recommend knowing the rating for the relevant Republican incumbent. Pombo did marginally better than Doolittle, earning a C. Not exactly something to brag about either!
So she's supporting Pombo on the environment, and Doolittle on supporting the troops? Mama mia!! It brings to mind that scene in the (original) Stepford Wives, when the robo-wife gets stabbed and starts running in circles trying to pour too much coffee, right before springs start popping out of her head.
If this is the best Karl Rove can come up with, the Dems might just do all right next Tuesday, after all.