On May 28, we reported on a push poll targeting Saqib Ali. No one claimed responsibility for it. But new campaign finance data points the finger in one clear direction: Senate President Mike "Big Daddy" Miller.
Back in January, Miller formed a slate account allowing members of his leadership team (including Senators Ed Kasemeyer, Brian Frosh, Rob Garagiola and Mac Middleton) to steer unlimited amounts of money to two Senators who were regarded as possibly vulnerable: Baltimore County's Kathy Klausmeier and Montgomery County's Nancy King. The GOP's efforts against Klausmeier collapsed, but King drew a primary challenge from Delegate Saqib Ali. Miller is eager to keep Ali out of the Senate because of Ali's grandstanding, trouble-making and general uncontrollability. The slate account is just one tool that Big Daddy will use in that endeavor.
The slate has now filed its financial report for the period ending August 10. The account reported receipts of $3,000 from Philip Morris USA Inc., $1,000 from Miller, $1,000 from Frosh, $4,000 from the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association PAC, $750 from the Allegheny Power PAC and $2,500 each from SEIU and the state teachers' PAC.
The slate made two expenditures of $6,200 (on 5/11/10) and $650 (on 5/24/10) to Momentum Analysis LLC of Washington, DC for "research."
The firm's services include "surveys," i.e., polls. The timing of these payments immediately precedes the push poll on Ali, which occurred during the week of May 24th. No member of the slate other than King had a competitive race at that time and therefore had need of a poll. At the time, a source close to Miller denied responsibility for the poll. The above evidence now suggests that source was not truthful with us.
If Mike Miller indeed used tobacco money to run a push poll against any Democratic candidate, that is a shameful act that stains the entire party.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Big Daddy Smokes Saqib Ali
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3 comments:
Adam,
Even though these expenditures and contributions raise lots of troubling questions, we have expected these tactics from the beginning of the race. And we have been prepared.
For the past 4 years, I have been talking about and figthing for issues that regular people care about instead of simply cozying up to lobbyists, special interests and political bosses. Some people call this "trouble-making". I call it grassroots democracy. Of course when someone like me seeks to displace an establishment insider it causes consternation and a heavy backlash backed by huge amounts of dirty money.
But as I said, we have been prepared for this from the start. How are we going to fight it? My campaign team is made up of a huge and growing army of regular citizens; young, old, black, white from all countries and all religions. This indomitable crew is knocking on doors and spreading our people-centric message as I write this. And I'm condfident it will resonate far more and overwhelm the wishes of the well-monied industry and their lobbyists.
If people want to join this audacious fight, now is the time to step up! They should visit http://www.AliForSenate.com. Together we will restore Power to the People!
- Saqib Ali
Gaithersburg, MD
This is an extremely disturbing action that's been taken by the Senate President, who seems more and more to be trying to run his own fiefdom than actually taking part in the legitimate political process in our fine state.
Not since Boss Tweed in New York City's Tammany Hall days has someone wielded so much power with so little oversight than Senator Miller does in Maryland currently.
Given Senate-Presidente-for-life Miller's connections, funding and power, I'm sure that this will all be ignored, swept under the rug, or otherwise made to go away, but I have to say that it makes me ill that this man is in the same party as I am.
This level of Rovian politics has no place in a Democratic primary in my district. I've never voted for Mike MIller...in fact, I've never had the opportunity to choose whether or not to vote for the man...but given his Machiavellian plotting, he's a monocle and a persian cat away from being a Bond villain during this primary season.
Interesting. Maybe I should make an endorsement in this race.
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