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Wednesday, August 02, 2006

MO-Sen: No Shame

Posted by DavidNYC

I always thought that the only people who don't experience any shame are very little children and sociopaths. Well, you can add Republican operatives to the list. Check this out:

It began with a Missouri Republican Party press release accusing Democrat Claire McCaskill of failing to file a routine campaign finance report on time.

The release included an Internet link to a July 28 letter from the Federal Election Commission to McCaskill saying she "may have failed to file" the pre-primary finance report. Missouri GOP spokesman Paul Sloca said the FEC letter exposed McCaskill's "incompetence and her willful disregard for the law."

Sounds like a pretty typical political ploy. But, since we're dealing with the GOP here, it's no surprise that this is all bullshit:

Adrianne Marsh, spokeswoman for the McCaskill campaign, said Berridge's records show she sent the report on July 24, as required, and produced a certified receipt to prove it. Marsh said the filing may have been lost in the mail, but the campaign is working it out with FEC officials.

Of course, since the Post Office is obviously a liberal institution (socialist, even, what with that "universal service" requirement), certified receipts can't be trusted. But this story is actually a whole lot worse than typical Republican mendacity:

McCaskill's campaign denounced the Republican statement as inaccurate - and unprofessional, in light of the death Saturday of Melissa Berridge, the campaign's compliance director.

Berridge, 38, of St. Louis, was among six skydivers who died Saturday in the crash near the eastern Missouri town of Sullivan.

The GOP attacks a dead woman who of course cannot speak for herself. That is as base as it gets. And when called on it, what is their response?

Marsh called on the Republican Party and incumbent Sen. Jim Talent - McCaskill's opponent - to issue "an immediate apology to Melissa's family and retract their insensitive release."

Sloca declined.

"It's unfortunate that Claire McCaskill has turned this into an issue about the unfortunate death of a staffer to hide from her incompetence," he said.

Like I said, these people have no shame, none at all. Melissa's brother James writes in a comment at FiredUp Missouri that all his family is seeking is a simple apology, and yet the GOP can't even bring itself to offer one. I hope Claire McCaskill beats the stuffing out of Jim Talent, for all our sakes, and especially to honor the memory of Melissa Berridge.

(Hat tip: BriVT.)

Posted at 11:21 AM in 2006 Elections - Senate, Missouri | Technorati

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Comments

Considering also the death of Mel Carnahan,
I'd say we've got to persuade Democratic candidates and their staffs
not to get on airplanes during the campaign season!
Condolences to her family and friends.

This race will go down to the wire.
Please support McCaskill, either at the page below,
or at one of the many other ActBlue pages supporting her important campaign.

http://www.actblue.com/page/2006fund?refcode=sspsmear

Posted by: Christopher Walker at August 2, 2006 12:15 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Sounds like Talent has the same level of class as Burns.

Posted by: KCinDC at August 2, 2006 02:08 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

CQ Politics has changed its rating of this race from "Leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite":
http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/08/burns_edge_in_montana_senate_r.html

Posted by: Predictor at August 4, 2006 12:24 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Crap, wrong thread.. that CQ Rating change is for Montana.

Posted by: Predictor at August 4, 2006 12:26 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment