Tag Archives: Indiana

Trump campaign to Rokita: Take down your yard signs

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They say there are only two things we can be sure of in life: death and taxes. Well, we might as well add another to that list: political campaigns with yard signs.

Every candidate likes seeing their signs with their name, website and ill-conceived logo and color scheme in a voter’s yard. That has to be the case, because why else would campaigns spend valuable funds on signs.

Anyway, one campaign that isn’t too thrilled with another candidate’s signs is none other than President Donald Trump’s campaign. And the candidate’s signs they aren’t real thrilled with: Todd Rokita.

As you can see, the Rokita campaign is prominently displaying the fact that they are endorsed by Trump/Pence. Except, that’s not actually the case.

You see, Rokita was actually endorsed by the Trump campaign’s Indiana leaders. That distinction is emblazoned underneath the much bigger Trump/Pence.  But hey, who really cares, right? Well, apparently the Trump campaign.

The Trump campaign has ordered those signs be taken down, stating that it gives the false impression that Rokita has the support of the president in this contentious, increasingly negative race.

The Rokita campaign’s response to demand?

“We don’t comment on yard sign strategy.”  Huh? Really?

It’s actually fairly embarrassing, especially for a campaign and a candidate that spouts “pro-Trump” ad nauseam.

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Braun campaign labels Messer, Rokita ‘Swamp brothers’ in latest ad

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The May primary is less than three weeks away. And the biggest race to be decided on May 8 has become noticeably more negative as of late.

Exhibit A:  WISH-TV’s Republican debate.

Last Sunday, April 15, Mike Braun, Luke Messer and Todd Rokita took the stage in the race’s second debate.  All three candidates took nearly every question as an invitation to impugn their opponent’s record, integrity and loyalty to President Trump.

I’m not sure what we really learned from that debate, but the attacks were flying fast and furious.

In addition to using their well-honed and rehearsed attacks on one another on the debate stage, they are also becoming frequent in the television ads

Exhibit B: Braun campaign’s latest ad

In the ad, in which the Braun campaign labels both Rokita and Messer and the “swamp brothers,” they are tied to Obama, Planned Parenthood and amnesty.  You know, all things that aren’t likely to get candidates running in a Republican many votes.

Finally, for the big finish Rokita is called a “fraud” and Messer is called “liberal.”

Will the ad work? Who knows, but the Braun campaign continues to churn out the most visually and conceptually creative ads of the three campaigns, by far.

Braun campaign puts out a…rather weird ad

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What did I just watch?  Seriously, what in the world was that?

Campaign ads are done on a limited budget and extreme time constraints. While money is a valuable commodity, the candidate’s time is worth far, far more. That can lead to things being rushed and possibly not getting done, or at least not as well as they should.

Keep that reasoning in mind when viewing the latest Mike Braun ad.

The Braun campaign put out their latest ad Tuesday evening, premiering during an episode of the smash hit Roseanne, an extremely coveted position. A lot of potential Republican primary voters are sure to have tuned in, but….what?

It’s a “throwback ad.”  The ad goes back in time, when all of the candidates were children and theoretically in the same class, as well. The children portraying Messer and Rokita standing at the front of the class bicker back and forth and never get anything accomplished. While little Messer and miniature Rokita are worried about who is right and who’s in the wrong, little Mike Braun is seen in the back reading a book, an economics book.

The ad is negative, hitting Rokita and Messer for being career politicians. However, Braun is portrayed as a businessman looking for real-world solutions.

While it’s a different take on a negative ad and it attempts to be funny, it’s just plain weird.

The Braun campaign now has the bizarre distinction of having released both the best and worst ad of the campaign for senate.

‘Pro-Trump’ Rokita called then-candidate Trump ‘vulgar, profane’ in 2016

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Throughout the Indiana Republican race for U.S. Senate, there has been one overriding, dominant issue: Donald Trump.

All three candidates have gone out of their way saying how “pro-Trump” they are; stating it in interviews, in their lone debate up until this point, on TV and radio ads. Basically, wherever Mike Braun, Luke Messer or Todd Rokita appears, you can bet that the phrase “pro-Trump” will be coming out of their mouth early and often.

However, the one candidate who has essentially made cozying up to President Trump the focal point of his campaign has been Congressman Todd Rokita. He’s gone so far as prominently wearing a MAGA hat in two campaign ads, including his most recent one.

In the most recent ad, Rokita accuses Congressman Luke Messer of “plotting with the Never Trumpers to steal the nomination from President Trump. Wow.”

Needless to say, Rokita wants you to believe he was all Trump from the very beginning, never wavering for a second on his support for then-candidate Trump. But that’s not the case at all. In fact, Rokita referred to Trump as “vulgar, if not profane.” Instead, he was all in on Marco Rubio because, according to Rokita, “he’s the standard bearer for the mainstream Republican Party.” In an interview with Fox 59 in February 2016, Rokita is referred to as “one of the first in the Indiana delegation to back Marco Rubio.”

But…but I thought Rokita was always and forever Mr. Trump’s right hand man? Why would he change? Why would he tell us one thing and the fact be another? Political expediency, maybe? Easiest way to get elected?

Here’s why Rokita is now all about President Trump: Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by nearly 20 percent in the Hoosier state.  And in a red state like Indiana, President Trump is still extremely popular. So why not, if you have no original ideas, use President Trump’s popularity to get elected?

This display of utter hypocrisy from Rokita is exactly why people don’t like politicians. Say one thing and do another. Accuse someone of something that you yourself did.

Maybe Rokita should wear two MAGA hats in his next ad to show how “pro-Trump” he really is!  Well, at least now….you know because it could help him get elected.

-BZ

 

 

Ind. 8th District Congressman Bucshon skipping debate; cites ‘scheduling conflict’

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The Indiana May primary is just a little more than a month away.  Without a doubt the biggest race to be decided on May 8 will be what Republican will face Indiana Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly in the fall.

However, several other races will also be decided. One of those being the Republican primary in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District. Currently, Republican Larry Bucshon occupies the seat and has since 2011.

But while debates are generally apart of running for office, Bucshon doesn’t seem to want to do that time-honored campaign activity. Instead, Bucshon would rather go to dinner.

Bucshon has two challengers vying for the Republican nomination, Richard Moss and Rachel Covington. And on May 2 in Evansville, Indiana, at 7 p.m. the candidates – minus Bucshon – will take part in a debate.

But what will Indiana’s sitting 8th District congressman be doing instead of discussing topics that matter to voters in his district?  He’ll be at the Sullivan County Republican dinner.

But don’t worry. Apparently, he really wanted to be there.

A Bucshon spokesman said:

“Unfortunately, we’ve got a scheduling conflict that night. It’s the Sullivan County (GOP) Lincoln Day dinner. So he’s attending that. He’s been doing all of those throughout the district, so he’s going to have to go to that.”

From Bucshon’s perspective, a debate can only hurt him and help his challengers and Bucshon and his team obviously know this. It’s just infuriating that someone asking for your vote, especially the incumbent, can’t be bothered to attend a debate, to answer questions about topics important to his constituents.

Oh well, Larry enjoy the dinner!

-BZ

 

Controversial New Abortion Bill Signed into Law by Indiana Governor Holcomb

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Indiana governor Eric Holcomb signed a new bill that requires medical providers who treat women for complications arising from abortions to report detailed patient information to the state.

From the AP:

The Republican governor signed the measure without fanfare Sunday, shortly before leaving the country for a multi-day trade mission to Canada.

Supporters said the law, which takes full effect in July, will ensure abortions are provided safely in the state. But opponents argued that it’s overly burdensome and will further stigmatize abortion, which has lower complication rates than many other standard procedures.

The ACLU is reviewing the bill and will most likely sue the state as they have in the past over bills former governor Mike Pence signed into law.

This year’s measure will require doctors, hospitals and clinics to report to the State Department of Health about a wide range of complications. That includes serious medical conditions — like kidney failure, cardiac arrest, hemorrhaging and blood clots — as well as depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.

Other provisions in the measure will require annual inspections of abortion clinics and legalize the use of “baby boxes” in fire departments, which allow a parent to give up an infant anonymously and without fear of penalty.

Holcomb praised the measure for doing what the other states have been doing.

“This bill does what 27 other states have done to gather information on these procedures without restricting access to them,” the governor said in a statement.

As to be expected, people are losing their minds. One feminist even stated that women have more rights under Sharia law than women have in some states. Others are comparing Indiana to The Handmaid’s Tale.

 

 

Instead of issues, Rokita campaign sets up anti-Messer website…because?

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Indiana’s primary is set for May 8 and easily, the biggest race to be decided will the Republican U.S. Senate Primary.

Sitting Indiana Congressmen Todd Rokita and Luke Messer as well as businessman Mike Braun are all vying to become the Republican to take on Democrat Joe Donnelly in the fall.

So, far the race has been about who can tie themselves to Trump the most, as all three have emphatically said they are wholeheartedly “Pro-Trump” on multiple occasions. That’s fine and dandy, but voters want to hear original ideas. What are your solutions to problems? Why are you the best Republican to take on Donnelly? You know, talk about the issues.

Well, instead of talking about anything really substantive, the Rokita campaign found it necessary to set up a website dedicated entirely to “finding Luke Messer.” 

The site is in reference to Messer having a residence in Virginia and not keeping a house in Indiana, selling it in 2012 when elected to Congress. In addition to this coming out early in the campaign, Messer has since been reelected to Congress multiple times. Doesn’t really sound like his constituents have a problem with it, but it didn’t stop the Rokita campaign from throwing something at the wall and hope it sticks.

The website also says “Last seen in the Swamp,” referring to Messer with a form to fill out in order to get updates on “his whereabouts.”

It’s also funny coming from a guy who uses public money to fund his campaigns, when he screams about draining the swamp and whose slogan is “Defeat the Elite.” Oh, there’s also the multi-page dossier that came out this past summer which states everything Rokita “requires” and how he is to be treated when being driven around his district.

It’s because of that kind of stuff that people don’t like politics and politicians. Instead of talking about real substantive differences between the candidates, campaigns and candidates stoop to this level of nonsense.

Hey Todd,  if you want to talk about a candidate’s “whereabouts,” please let voters know where you’ll be instead of the statewide televised Republican debate on April 30.

Please, please get back to the real issues. Voters deserve it.

-BZ

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