Wow. Just wow:
http://www.politico.com/...
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is using footage of President Richard Nixon and recently testifying IRS officials to bash President Barack Obama in a new Web video.
The two-and-a-half minute video, titled “Demand Answers,” uses a clip from Nixon’s famous interview with David Frost where the disgraced president declares: “If the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” The ad draws parallels between the scandal engulfing today’s IRS and Nixon’s use of the same agency to target his political opponents.
“I think that the leader of the free world and his advisers have better things to do than to dig through other people’s tax returns,” McConnell says in the ad.
In the final seconds of the ad, the words, “Intimidation. Retaliation. Secretive.” appear on screen and Obama is heard declaring: “We’re going to punish our enemies and reward our friends.”
No evidence has emerged linking Obama to the IRS targeting of conservative groups. - Politico, 5/29/13
As stupid as this ad is, McConnell plans on making the IRS "scandal" a key issue in hopes of securing his re-election:
http://abcnews.go.com/...
Jesse Benton, the campaign manager for McConnell, said the IRS controversy speaks to anxieties and concerns voters have about the government.
“He’s going to keep pushing on it,” Benton said in an interview. “There are a great majority of Americans that would agree, regardless of political party, that we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Americans of good conscience across the ideological spectrum are going to band together and say this is enough.”
The online ad called “Demand Answers” was produced by Lucas Baiano, a videographer who is known for making iconic video images for Republican candidates. It is the third ad he has made for McConnell. - ABC News, 5/29/13
I really hope Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D. KY) gets in this race and takes out the Turtle Man:
http://tv.msnbc.com/...
A new poll released Tuesday found Grimes, 34, tied with McConnell in a hypothetical match-up, with both earning 45% of the vote, according to the left-leaning firm Public Policy Polling.
McConnell’s popularity has been low for weeks—in the latest survey, just 44% of voters said they approve of McConnell, while 47% disapprove—and the survey said he’s becoming increasingly more vulnerable to a challenge. McConnell is in “the weakest position PPP has found him in yet,” firm Director Tom Jensen wrote. PPP had found McConnell leading Grimes in two previous polls, but his lead is dissipating despite early advertising.
Grimes, an attorney, was elected to be Kentucky’s Secretary of State in 2011.
She’s well-connected and popular: in 2011, she defeated a candidate hand-picked by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear in the primary, and her father, Jerry Lundergan, is the former Democratic party chairman and a big player in union politics in the state.
Lundergan helped former President Bill Clinton carry the state in two presidential elections, according to Politico, and the two have remained close: Clinton reportedly met with Grimes in March, promising his support and encouraging her to run.
In April, Grimes met with Beshear about a potential run, but has remained publicly undecided. A political consultant close to Grimes told local radio network WFPL that a decision could come as early as the end of May. “We know McConnell is vulnerable, but is he beatable? And what people who have run for this race have suggested is she get everything in line. And if Alison’s going to get in she’s going to make sure she has the support it takes,” the unnamed source told the station.
Grimes has pushed back against constant questions on her candidacy, saying she “won’t be bullied into any decision.” - MSNBC, 5/28/13
I understand that Grimes really needs to think this decision through very deeply because McConnell has not only ran dirty campaigns to defeat his past opponents but also ruined their political careers. Grimes has a very promising political career so I can understand the hesitation about wanting to risk that by entering this race. But if Grimes were to run against McConnell and defeat him, she would be the Democratic Party's biggest star. High risk can come with a high reward. Stay tuned.