Now that Ford Bell has dropped out of the MN Senate race, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar has clear sailing to the nomination. She is considered the heavy favorite over Bush lap-dog Congressman Mark Kennedy (MN-6). She has a new ad out that her campaign is trying to raise cash to run. I got an email from her campaign manager, Ben Goldfarb, with a link to the ad and the proverbial request for cash. I just saw the ad on TV last night.
Here is a link to the ad:
http://amyklobuchar.com/...={542EA404-7E7E-46FD-AA41-F7F4D36ECD5D}&source=july_ads
As I said, Klobuchar is the Hennepin County (ie Minneapolis) attorney. If you watch the ad, there is a reference to a judge that was prosecuted by her office and sentenced for embezzelment. The judge in question was a Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge who stole over $400,000 from the trust account of an incapacitated elderly lady he had been named the trustee on and used the money for multiple personal expenses, including a new addition to his house. Not only was he convicted, but he was disbarred and generally disgraced.
The ad is trying to show that Amy is fair and tough. It says that she prosecuted all manners of low-lifes, including this judge. The ad then goes on to say that not only is the low-life judge a judge, but he is a Democrat, just like Amy Klobuchar, but his party affiliation didn't matter to her because she's tough.
I understand the point she is trying to make here. However, part of her campaign schtick has been that the Re-thugs are a bunch of dishonest thugs. The whole "culture of corruption" argument. This is a great argument to make. However, I don't think the way you want to start out framing it is that not only are Re-thugs corrupt, but Dems are too.
I realize that campaigns are pretty much a go it alone enterpise. You look out primarily for number one. However, why would you trash your own party in the process, plus shoot down your own argument that the Re-thugs are the corrupt party in the process.
Don't these commercials get tested before they run? Is it possible that middle of the road people in MN responded well to this ad and that is why they went with it?
Anyone else find this sort of ad to be a bit... concerning... or am I making too much of this?