Maryland Politics Watch: Ali Video Accuses King of "Karl Rove-Style Politics"

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ali Video Accuses King of "Karl Rove-Style Politics"

7 comments:

jsmdlawyer said...: Good: using an actual voter in a video. Shows that you have community support.

Bad: "Karl Rove-Style Politics"? Best you could come up with? Really? This was a tired, worn-out phrase in 2007, and that's like two centuries ago in Internet years. You need some better catch-phrase styling, Delegate Ali.

Good: turning the subject back to the issues. Better that than the sleeping.

Bottom line: a solid effort, with an unfortunate tag line.

Pass the popcorn, folks. This show is just getting STARTED. 20 days to go and each one looking like a fun-filled lollapalooza (to use another term from the last decade).

Jonathan Shurberg; 3:14 PM
Tom said...: I think her definition of "personal attack" must be ridiculously broad. The information presented on the website and the blog has nothing to do with Del. Ali's personal life.

Tom Steele; 5:45 PM
Don Mewha said...: Tom,

The "information" on the website isn't substantive. It's a series of unsubstantiated attacks, a list of facebook statuses and twitter posts, and some good old fashioned mudslinging.

You know what I DON'T see on there? Any mention of issues. Criticism of Delegate Ali's stance on a single plank of his platform.

Nothing.

In fact, I haven't ever heard a criticism of the substance of Delegate Ali's campaign from the King campaign or its supporters...only personal attacks.

"He's unhinged"..."crazed"..."not a team player".

I worked as a member of the Montgomery County Council of PTA's the past 2 years, and I know that Senator King was frequently chased by us to back up the PTA's legislative priorities. Members of the Board were in frequent contact with her and felt the need to continue to remind her and pressure her on issues that impacted our schools and children.

We didn't feel the need to do this with Delegate Ali. He was going to vote the way we needed him to from the beginning.; 9:30 AM
Tom said...: I'm not sure how one could characterize publically-available records on votes and attendance as being insubstantial. Del. Ali has cited the same data sources in his examination of Sen. King's record.

These cries of victimization and "Rovian" tactics are beyond tiresome, and indicative of a candidacy in search of a purpose.

Tom Steele; 9:54 AM
Tom said...: If you're looking for Sen. King's position on issues, it seems self-evident that you would go to her website, and not a site dedicated to calling out the inconsistencies in Del. Ali's record.

Tom Steele; 9:56 AM
Don Mewha said...: Tom,

How would you describe a hit site?

I suppose I could go a bit further back and site Ken Starr and the "Politics of Personal Destruction", but I'm guessing that Nancy calling up tactics used by GOP Goons of Christmas past isn't really something you'd prefer to talk about.

Instead let's talk about the Issues page on the King for Senate website:

She lists Education as a top priority (as does just about every other Legislator in MD). I worked with MCCPTA last year as the Legislative Committee Chair, and I can say without a doubt that Nancy's vote worried us on any number of occasions. Her previous support of the BOAST Bill, and her tendency to walk in lockstep with Senate President Miller made paying attention to her and pressuring her a high priority.

Public Safety - she went against a recommendation from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and voted to keep a product targeting teens and children available in our state.

Government Accountability and Transparency - She's part of a slate that includes Miller, is funded in part by tobacco money, and took out a push poll on her opponent. Accountable? Don't make me laugh.

If you care to respond to any of THOSE issues, feel free...but I suspect you'll just say that I'm asking you to stop being mean.

The fact of the matter is that Delegate Ali is to the left of Senator King on most issues, and, I feel, more accurately reflects the political leanings of the area that District 39 covers. Delegate Ali ruffles some feathers, this is very true...but sometimes it's important to have someone that's willing to do that...willing to ask the tough questions...willing to make an unpopular stand in order to bring the debate to the light of day.

I'll say again: I think Senator King has been an able legislator for District 39. I'm very disappointed in what I see as boorish behavior coming from her campaign, and I can only guess that she isn't responsible for it...but I also don't think that she'll push those questions in Annapolis.

Sometimes NOT being highly connected to the entrenched establishment is a good thing.; 9:27 AM
Tom said...: Don -

You and I have a very different definition of boorish behavior. The site in question cites Del. Ali's public record as a point of contention. Del. Ali has done the same with regards to Sen. King's record, but apparently he's the only one who can ask such questions without risking the "boorish" label.

Prior to seeing how this race developed, I was of the opinion that Del. Ali's candidacy was the answer to a question no one was asking. Sen. King has proven to be an effective advocate for D39 on a wide range of topics, not only in the Senate but during her time in the House as well. Del. Ali, on the other hand, has promised much but delivered little in his first term. I also found it distasteful (and what's more, politically naive) that he threw his name in for the Senate seat when PJ Hogan retired, before Ali had even served a complete session. The campaign he has run has done nothing to lessen my impression of him as an opportunist.

Tom Steele; 1:34 PM

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