Hoo boy: We may not get much of the harsh TV ads of the presidential campaign, since Obama pretty much has a lock on New York State, but it looks like the Maggie-and-Louise campaign will make up for it.
The Slaughter campaign has released a particularly harsh TV ad called “Scandal,” focusing on negative news involving the Brooks administration. Robutrad. The astonishing misdeeds of two successive airport directors. Patronage at the Water Authority. It’s all there.
And then there are the several state audits, which Democrats say show that the Brooks administration funnels contracts to friends and contributors. (To which the Republicans respond that the state audits, done by a Democratic official, were pure politics.)
Brooks responded this morning, saying that the “negative mud slinging” of Slaughter’s ad “says more about her failed 25-year record in Congress than anything else.”
So we’re off and running in this important Congressional race. And it won’t get any prettier.
We could wish – and I sure do – that these two experienced, intelligent women could conduct a campaign that focused on issues, that would help voters decide based on substance. And yet….
Isn’t Brooks’ administrative history relevant? Isn’t it fair for Brooks to focus on Slaughter’s record?
As my mother used to say, it’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it.
This article appears in Show Time: The Rochester Fringe Festival.
The sleazy activities of various appointees and members of the Brooks administration are many and varied and beyond question. What is questionable is why calling them to the public’s attention constitutes “negative mud slinging” (NOTE: is there such a thing as “positive mudslinging”?)
And Maggie, while you’re at it , please enlighten us as to the failures which make up Slaughter’s “failed 25-year record in Congress”.
I never understood why Maggie had any interest in running for Congress. she has a much more influential position as County Exec, and like her or not, her opinion counts for something in Monroe. In Washington, She will never have any influence in DC, as she is not part of the TP movement, and upstate NY is a marginal district. For me, better that she loses and stays as county exec.
As for Slaughter, she is simply a loser, but as the Dems are in the minority and are forecast to stay in that position after November, her ability to do more harm is very limited. she has no interest in the voters, barely can inconvenience herself to go and vote, and when she does, it is only to vote for higher spending and deficits.