More Lying Attack Ads; Boyda Sets the Reocrd Straight

Really, Republicans, enough already! A new ad on the airwaves now telling the world Congresswoman Nancy Boyda voted for "the largest tax increase in history" even though she never did any such thing.

Here's the ad from "Republicans Who Care" (gag, retch)

The awful, awful thing about this horrible, horrible claim is that IT ISN'T EVEN KIND OF TRUE. No truth. It's not that it's just partially true and we're quibbling about details, no, this claim is TOTALLY FALSE! Boyda hasn't voted to increase taxes on everyday, average Kansans even once. Gah! (We're nearing the Bounce Boyda freakout stage on this one, kids- watch out...)

If the claim even sounded remotely reasonable, the people of the district might respond to it, but the very idea Boyda voted for "the largest tax increase in history" sounds ludicrous, it sounds outlandish, and because of that, no one believes it. Doesn't stop the Republicans for repeating their favorite lie- Jenkins has now used the false claim in two of her four TV ads, it's the center piece of the NRCC's ad, and it's the basis of this new ad. So much money spent pushing a lie.

Anyway, Boyda responded today with a new radio ad:

"Hi, I'm Nancy Boyda. You know, I've heard it said there are only three sure things in this world: death, taxes, and attack ads.

"This campaign season, you're getting all three in one package: attack ads about taxes meant to scare you to death.

"These ads are paid for by D.C. attack groups, spending almost a half-million dollars to tell Kansans how to vote. And in case you were wondering, they're lying.

"Let's set the record straight. Congress has never voted for the so-called 'largest tax increase in history.' Check for yourself! The Journal-World reported these 'tax increase claims... are not true.'

"Here's the truth. I support renewing every single one of the middle-class Bush tax cuts – tax cuts for workers, for families, and yes, for extending the exemption on the death tax.

"These are tough economic times, and you'd better believe I'll keep fighting for middle-class tax relief.

"I'm Nancy Boyda, I'm running for Congress, and I approved this message because democracy requires a thoughtful and informed debate."

It's horrible the Republicans are willing to lie to steal a seat- but that's Karl Rove politics. It's too bad Lynn Jenkins thinks it's ok here.

DCCC Buys Another $165K in TV

Another $165,3335.56 purchased by the DCCC benefiting Congresswoman Nancy Boyda.

NRCC Tries to Save Jenkins: $335K of TV purchased

To anyone watching the race for Congress in the 2nd district of Kansas it's pretty obvious Lynn Jenkins is struggling to just hold on, with the whole "didn't do her job for months so she could campaign" thing, and then the "misallocating tens of millions of dollars all over the state that has caused tax increases in poor counties that might have been avoided had she been doing her job" thing. Oh, also, she's running against Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, who happens to be a pretty dang good fit for her district.

In the face of such hurdles, both of her own making and not, Jenkins has had to do the only thing trailing politicians can do: She has gone hard negative, out-and-out lying to voters about Boyda's record and trying desperately to distract them from the real positive work Boyda has done on their behalf.

The strategy is clear- if voters already think Jenkins negatively, just make them think of Boyda more negatively and, heck, you've got yourself an upset.

In that vain, the National Republican Campaign Committee, the NRCC, made a huge advertising buy in the district- almost $335,000.

Just like the Jenkins campaign, the NRCC buy is upsetting for one reason: It misrepresents Boyda's record by- again- claiming Boyda voted for the largest tax increase in American history. We all know that claim is bogus, and that the vote they're trying it to was for something non-binding that didn't increase taxes on anybody. Still, the Republicans push it, ignoring anything real that might help the people of Kansas, and what we should be talking about gets shoved off to the side.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already spent a couple hundred thousand dollars trumpeting Boyda's successes in her term (hmmm...someone else does that, too), and we expect they'll expand that buy- if there is any TV time left for them to purchase. Key difference between the DCCC ad and the NRCC ad- the DCCC is positive and record-oriented while the NRCC ad...isn't.

That brings us to a key indicator for what's really happening in this race: You dont' waste time on positive pieces if you think you're losing, folk, and you don't go hard negative if you think you're in the lead.

Five more days, folk, and we'll see what the district does. With both campaigns and the DCCC and the NRCC bashing each other about the head and neck, damage most certainly will be inflicted. We'll just have to see who's been hurt the worst.

DCCC Spends Another $200K

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent another $180,046.52 on ads supporting Congresswoman Nancy Boyda's re-election yesterday.

Just an FYI.

NRCC Does TV Ripping Boyda, Jenkins Up with New ad

Lots of waves on the airwaves today with two new ads ripping Congresswoman Nancy Boyda.

The first, from the NRCC isn't anything new or interesting, just more of the same "largest tax increase in history" nonsense that Boyda has long since dealt with. We don't have a buy size yet, but it's in all the media markets that cover the district, and buying Kansas City TV is awfully expensive.

The other ad, Lynn's new one, is called "Team" and talks about what we'll get from the "team" that is Barack Obama and Nancy Boyda if they're both in Washington.

This tactic isn't new- tying independent local Democrats to national Democrats- though when the Republicans tried it in special elections in the spring and summer in Louisiana and Mississippi it didn't work at all. Jenkins does take a slightly new path, though, by misrepresenting both of their records & proposals. Boyda hasn't voted in the largest tax increase in history (lie, lie, lie Lynn) and Obama's tax proposals will result in substantially lower taxes for almost everyone that lives in the Kansas 2nd.

Whatever, though- Jenkins is desperate at this point and has to distract and misdirect if she has any hope of pulling off an upset. Just look at the front page of today's Topeka Capital-Journal and you'll understand why pretty dang fast.

CULAC Spends Another $47K for Jenkins, NRCC Buys Radio

Another report from Credit Union Legislative Action Committee- another $47,837 on TV ads for Lynn Jenkins.

Also, listening to the radio this morning we heard a spot paid for by the NRCC. More on the buy when we have it.

DCCC Ad Buy: $104K

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's first round of ads in support of Congresswoman Nancy Boyda totaled $104,565

Interestingly, that buy actually appears to be two separate ads- one pro-Boyda and one anti-Lyn Jenkins, though no one has seen any evidence of any such anti-Jenkins ad.

It is possible, of course, that there isn't actually an anti-Jenkins ad out there, and that the same pro-Boyda spot fills both bills.

Boyda: "Please Stay Out of My Race"

Text of a letter written by Congresswoman Nancy Boyda today in regards to independent expenditures in the 2nd Kansas Congressional district race:

In late July, I made a public request in the pages of the Topeka Capital-Journal. I called on out-of-state political groups, Democratic and Republican alike, to keep their TV ads out of the race for the Kansas Second Congressional District.

To my knowledge, no such call had ever succeeded in American history. Because these groups are fully independent, they can buy television time in any district in the country, without asking permission from me or anyone else.

Even so, I believed that urging them to stay away was the right thing to do. Many out-of-state groups have a history of running negative, misleading ads aimed at advancing a political party rather than informing voters. I felt that Kansans should have the opportunity to decide our election without their interference.

Unfortunately, in the months since then, numerous Washington groups have disregarded this request. Freedom's Watch, the Credit Union Legislative Action Council, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have all reserved ad time in Kansas.

My sincere hope remains that all of these groups, on both sides of the aisle, will take their ads off the air. In particular, if anyone who is running ads in my support is reading this letter, here's my message to you: "Thanks, but no thanks." Please stay out of my race.

I continue to believe that I made the right decision in calling on out-of-state groups to keep out of our election, and you'd better believe I'll do the same thing when I run for re-election in 2010.

Sincerely,

Nancy Boyda

Member of Congress

(For what it's worth...we hope lots more independent groups spend on Boyda's behalf...but that's just another time we can prove we aren't in Boyda's pocket :-) )

DCCC Ad: "The Change Washington Desperately Needs"

Live from YouTube, the DCCC's ad in support of Congresswoman Nancy Boyda.

Something interesting- this is a positive ad, which isn't something the DCCC is known for. Their ads are almost always hard negative, so that they aren't attacking state Treasurer Lynn Jenkins might just mean these ads are nothing more than a little bit of icing for Boyda's cake- a little added window dressing for a candidate already on the way to victory.

At least, that's the spin this partisan is putting on it- the good folk of the Kansas GOP would probably spin it a different direction.

We'll know who was right in 13 days.

VFW Spends $14,000 on Radio in Support of Boyda

According to a report filed with the FEC today, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee has expended $14,316.30 on radio ads in support of Congresswoman Nancy Boyda.

The VFW PAC endorsed Boyda over Lynn Jenkins earlier this fall, citing Boyda's work on behalf of veterans during her term in Congress.

Also, Boyda today received a grade of "A+" from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Morgan Insinuates Illegal Coordination, Finds Britches Too Big Again

My God, Christian.

Just...good grief.

Read:

We shouldn't be suprised at this point that the DCCC and Nancy Boyda are teaming up again to run ads in the 2nd Congressional District race after they said they wouldn't.

Morgan, you pansy- if you're going to actually say Boyda's doing something illegal, say she's going something illegal, don't lie to your tiny little readership. You know "the DCCC and Nancy Boyda" aren't "teaming up" to do anything at all, because you know that would violate federal law. Unless you're going to come out and actually attack her for breaking the law, don't lie about what Congresswoman Nancy Boyda is doing.

Just to be clear, cats, it isn't legal for campaigns to talk, discuss, coordinate, meet in back alleys or send smoke signals to groups who do independent expenditures. To do so would break federal law.

Paint it even clearer, you say? Boyda has NOTHING to do with these ads.

Boyda has been very, very clear that she doesn't want outside ads run on either side of the contest, and remains exactly as clear:

Boyda's campaign said they still haven't seen the ad, but that "Rep. Boyda believes this race should be run without the interference of out-of-state groups. That includes the DCCC, and it includes the out-of-state groups that have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on her opponent's campaign," according to Boyda spokesman Thomas Seay.

Morgan, however, is either implying something much more sinister than he intends, or he's stupid. Or, perhaps, it's just that he enjoys lying to his party faithful. Regardless, he ought not.

He continues, saying:

I don't know if it says more about Nancy Boyda going back on another promise or that Washington thinks Boyda is in BIG trouble in 14 days.

Now hold on one bright blue minute- why is it that, regardless of what happens with money from the DCCC, it means Boyda's losing? When the original ad buy first went up, it was because Boyda was flailing. When the ad buy was canceled, the GOP said it was because she was a lost cause. Now that the ad buy is back- so it again means Boyda's GOT to be losing. Do you play like that because you think no one is paying attention, or because you're that intellectually lazy?

One last note:

It does beg the question: If Nancy Boyda kept the DCCC out of Kansas before, why isn't she telling them to get out now? Shouldn't she put down the ads? I think so - but I won't hold my breath.

See above, Christian- she already had, even before you'd written your silly little post. Again, don't lie to your voters- perhaps the Republican brand wouldn't be so damanged if you'd learn that lesson.

Jenkins Says DCCC Running Ads in KS-02

According to an email from the Jenkins campaign today:

What is Nancy's latest broken promise? Boyda vowed to run an "independent" campaign and told the people of Kansas she wouldn't accept help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Well, today, the DCCC has begun running ads to help Boyda win another term and continue her support of Nancy Pelosi's liberal agenda.

Outside of the fairly boring partisan bit (Lynn, you know perfectly well the Boyda campaign doesn't want the national party in this race but that they can't legally have anything to do with the DCCC...you know that), Jenkins does give us something breaking: The DCCC has is running ads in the KS-02.

Are the positive pieces? Negative ones? We don't know, but we'll have details as soon as we can find any details.

Credit Union PAC Spends Another $66K for Jenkins

The only independent expenditure in the general election race thus far- pro-Jenkins pieces from the Credit Union Legislative Action Committee- has been extened by another $66,000.

That brings CULAC's spending propping up Jenkins at more than $145,000.

Credit Union PAC Spends $80K for Jenkins

The Credit Union Legislative Action Committee reported on Friday that they had forked out almost $80,000 ($78,880 to be exact) for TV and radio spots in support of Lynn Jenkins.

We haven't yet seen the CULAC ad, so we don't know if it's a positive piece for Lynn or a hit job on Boyda, but the minute it's available online we'll make sure to post it here for all of you.

It's a little sad Jenkins won't encourage outside groups to stay out of her race, but, in the end, she knows she needs ever last dime she can get in order to beat Congresswoman Nancy Boyda.

Just Let the Voters Sort the Lies Out Themselves

Sometimes, in politics, people take firm, principled stands that cost them dearly.

The general election race is only a week old in the 2nd Congressional District of Kansas, and both women running have already taken such stands: Congresswoman Nancy Boyda by rejecting independent expenditures on her behalf, and Lynn Jenkins for not.

Think whatever you want about Boyda's push to prevent outside groups from spending on her race- Lord knows her war chest is in pretty fantastic form, but every last dollar spent on her behalf makes her even more safe than she already is. But her desire to keep this campaign in Kansas Kansas-centered is noble- it's about making politics what it's supposed to be, a reflection of the will of the people being represented, not of some DC-based action group.

Lynn's position is similar to most of the positions she's taken so far: Lock-step compliance with the national GOP platform & and an identical disconnect from the voters we saw from Jim Ryun- exactly the kind of messaging she needs if she plans to get crushed in November.

In this particular instance, Lynn brings us the best of Karl Rove politics: Stand idly by as her big money cronies shove as many lies and as much distortion down the throats of voters that they can't tell up from down and then reap the benefits. Most people running for elective office have the good sense to never admit to anything that cynical- or out-and-out un-American- it is true no one on this blog has ever accused Lynn Jenkins of having good sense:

“It’s free speech,” Jenkins said. “Let anybody come tell their story and let the voters sort it out.”

Of course it's free speech, and, yes, anyone can say anything they want. But, as someone hoping to be a representative of the people of the Kansas 2nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, one would hope you would have the common decency to stand up for those would-be constituents and say, "Enough of the lies, enough big money influence, let's talk about the issues important to Kansans and not the issues important to Washington, DC special interests." No, the mind-numbing ambition of our little state treasurer certainly won't allow that. Instead, Lynn, you're doing what the man you beat did- you're just going to sit back and let Washington dictate to you what needs done, and heaven help the people of the Second District start hearing real-live lies about Nancy Boyda, because you sure as Hell aren't going to do a damn thing about it.

Lynn, it's this kind of cavalier "just let the voters sort out the lies themselves" attitude coming from the Republican Party that put this country in the miserable mess we're in today. How do you expect the people of the district to trust you to represent them in Congress if you won't even make sure the election your running in is fair & honest?

This kind of rhetoric is old and tired- the same song and dance we had for 10 years that voters rejected in 2006.

"People are so tired of that kind of partisanship that they're looking for a change," Boyda said. "They've had enough of the infighting, and that's why I'm running for re-election: because Congress needs the right kind of change."

Lynn Jenkins, ladies and gentlemen- just more of the same.

National Democrats Drop Ad Buy

Again, from the Topeka Capital-Journal, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has dropped plans for a $1.2 million ad by in the Kansas 2nd District.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Bodya, D-Kan., said today the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee complied with her request to withdraw plans for $1.2 million in campaign commercials in her district.

She expressed concern recently the influx of independent advertising in her 2nd District campaign against Republican Lynn Jenkins might too heavily influence the outcome.

"This is terrific news for anyone who believes that Kansas voters should control Kansas campaigns," Boyda said. "By canceling their ads, the DCCC has given Kansas the chance to run our election without Washington interference."

We're proud of Boyda for standing by her guns on this issue- and we'll echo the challenge she laid down for Lynn Jenkins:

"I hope my opponent will join me to demand that these out-of-state groups keep out of Kansas," Boyda said. "Together, we can make this a different kind of campaign: a Kansas campaign, free of the Washington special interests."

Who wants to beat Lynn Jenkins doesn't have the balls to stand up to conservative outside groups and tell them "no meddling" in this election?

Oh, and on another note- the DCCC wouldn't have ever agreed to drop the buy unless they were confident the money wasn't needed- either because they decided Boyda had enough of her own cash, or that her opponent wasn't strong enough to muster a real challenge. Either way, the DCCC's decision is a positve one for Boyda. However, don't be surprised if they go up on air with ads later on- particularly if Jenkins doesn't reign in right wing wacko groups on her side.

What Christian Morgan Really Means: He's Scared to Death

The Kansas Republican Party is falling all over itself, clamoring to tell the world the fact the DCCC purchased ad time for Congresswoman Nancy Boyda means both that Boyda's on the brink of defeat and that it's just proof (proof, I tell you, proof!) that Boyda's beholden to House Democrats.

In the end, Christian Morgan and the KS GOP are trying desperately to get voters to ignore their real motivation behind attacking the ads: They know that, if the DCCC does indeed spend $1.2 million in the Kansas 2nd lauding Nancy Boyda's first 2 years in Congress, whoever ends up winning the primary won't stand a chance in Hell come November.

They want- and who could blame them, really?- to keep the good news about Boyda's record from the eyes and ears of the voting public. They want to do anything they can to make the ads toxic because they're not so dumb that they don't realize what 16,000 media points would do to this district.

So, what is Morgan doing? Painting this as evidence Boyda's in league with the devil herself, Nancy Pelosi, he's alluding Boyda & the House Leadership coordinated the whole thing. That's a mighty significant claim- and in making it Morgan's insinuating Boyda has broken the law, because, just like Washburn political science professor Bob Beatty said last week:

"There's nothing she can do about it. She can't even call and say, 'I don't want it.' Any involvement with third-party independent expenditures would be illegal."

Even though a candidate disavows a third party's actions or asks the group not to be involved in his or her race through a public statement, that doesn't mean the group will comply, Beatty said.

Morgan's not dumb enough to actually say what he's insinuating, because he knows it's not true: he knows Boyda isn't coordinating the ads because he knows she's not breaking the law. He's just trying to manage perceptions...a good trick that we're hoping he doesn't get away with.

Why is he so afraid of the ads the DCCC has bought? Because that much message about all the good things Boyda has done while in office will be impossible for him to cut through. The DCCC might talk about Boyda's efforts to end the Solider Tax (and lowering taxes on 150,000 of our fighting men and women). The ads could talk about Boyda's efforts to secure $80 million in federal investments into Kansas- including money for highways, police departments, and our military bases. And the ads might touch on the fact Boyda's office has helped 2,600 Kansans solve problems with federal agencies ranging from Social Security to Veterans Affairs. And they could talk about so much more...and he's scared to death they will.

Boyda has publicly said she'd rather the DCCC not invest in her race- that's certainly her prerogative. She'll, of course, run her campaign exactly as she always has, independently and free of outside influence. But, as everyone involved knows, the DCCC will run ads if they so chose, no matter how much Boyda or Christian Morgan scream- because it's illegal to coordinate the purchase- or cancellation- of a third party ad buy. The DCCC would have to decide independently to pull out- and we just dont' see that happenin'.

In the end, the straw man Morgan is trying to create here isn't the story- the story is his abject fear someone will knock down his straw man and see the ads for what they really are: An independent buy Boyda legally couldn't have anything to do with- and an independent ad buy with which the Kansas Republican Party cannot even begin to respond. It's nothing more than a ham-fisted attempt on his part pull a bait and switch on the voting public. And it just ain't gonna fly.

Good try though, Christian. Maybe next time.

Ryun's Media Buy Expands into New Markets

We still aren't sure if Frm. Congressman Jim Ryun is keeping his same "introduction" ad up or if this buy is going to be something new, but he has expanded his TV ad buy into the Joplin, MO market (which covers the southern portion of the district including Pittsburg), and also onto the Topeka ABC affiliate. That puts him up on the big three in Topeka (still not on FOX). Nothin' in the St. Joseph market still.

Buy for this week totals $28,300.

Still nothing from Jenkins- if you do see an ad for Jenkins, or any kind of independent expenditure, e-mail us at boydabloc@gmail.com