Oops - Charlie Bass Campaign In Trouble

It gets better (0.00 / 0)

Or worst, depending on your perspective.

Bass's 2010 campaign manager was David Kanevsky, who in the October 2011 issue of Campaigns and Elections said,I think my polling background has really helped me in managing races.

This story reminds me of 2006, when the NRCC ran those nasty robocalls against Paul Hodes the weekend before the election. On that Sunday,  Bass said he called the NRCC and asked them to stop making the calls.

And then there was that Tad Furtado sock puppet incident, where a Bass congressional staffer was using his government computer to post on line.

That is three incidents onvolving Bass campaigns.



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 20:51:08 PM UTC

If I worked for Bass, (4.00 / 1)

I wouldn't want to tell anyone about it, either.

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by: Tim C. @ Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 23:54:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hmm. Maybe these cases really DO take that (4.00 / 6)

long to vet, before bringing them forward.

Maybe I will owe the AG's office an apology, and maybe James O'Keefe won't sleep so well.

A fella can dream...

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by: elwood @ Tue Apr 03, 2012 at 21:58:57 PM UTC

This makes my day! (4.00 / 7)

Now if the FEC would only investigate Guinta.

Oh well, I'll take what I can get. So few watchdog agencies do their jobs these days.

Thank you to a NH institution for doing what's right.

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by: Chaz Proulx @ Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 01:33:49 AM UTC

I agree with Kathy (4.00 / 1)

The real scandal here is the cover-up. Perhaps they'll use the Steve Martin "I forgot..." defense.

But the state's definition of a "push poll" really confuses the discussion. It is very different from the generally accepted definition.

Push polls, according to AAPOR, are "telephone calls disguised as research that aim to persuade large numbers of voters and affect election outcomes, rather than measure opinions." There is very specific criteria to differentiate between a push poll and a legitimate message poll.

NH law defines a push poll much more broadly:

(a) Calling voters on behalf of, in support of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office by telephone; and

(b) Asking questions related to opposing candidates for public office which state, imply, or convey information about the candidates character, status, or political stance or record; and

(c) Conducting such calling in a manner which is likely to be construed by the voter to be a survey or poll to gather statistical data for entities or organizations which are acting independent of any particular political party, candidate, or interest group.

It's a badly written law. But that shouldn't obscure the fact that the Bass campaign illegally avoided disclosure and then attempted to cover it up.

"Politics ain't beanbag" - Finley Peter Dunne

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by: William Tucker @ Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 10:15:30 AM UTC

Exactly (0.00 / 0)

In the UnionLeader today, Bass's spokesperson pushed at the push poll law, ignoring the real issue: that the Bass caaign did not turn over 500 pages of emails despite a subpoena requesting copies of communications. John DiStaso focused on this aspect in addition to the push poll violation, quoting Associate AG Anne Edwards as saying they have not received a clear answer on why the documents were not provided.

Here's some questions: who said, after the first subpoena, that there were no communications? What did Bass know - and oh, yes, when did he know it? Who was calling the shots in not turning the emails over after the subpoena was issued?



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 11:27:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

the spokesperson (0.00 / 0)

Scott Tranchemontagne is certainly practiced in the art of deception. He was the spokesliar for Club Motorsports, the group still trying to build a racetrack on Mt. Whittier in Tamworth.  

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by: susanthe @ Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 15:13:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tranchemontagne (0.00 / 0)

is following this thread. He's just ordered me to give him my phone number.  

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by: susanthe @ Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 17:57:27 PM UTC

not exactly an order (0.00 / 0)

to be fair, it was a terse request. :)

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by: susanthe @ Wed Apr 04, 2012 at 20:52:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Ahh, little Scotty. (0.00 / 0)

The old Saruman/Grima relationship, only with their heights reversed.

"Worm! Worm!" Saruman Bass called; and out of a nearby hut came Wormtongue Tranchemontagne, crawling, almost like a dog. "To the road again, Worm!" said Saruman. "These fine fellows and lordlings are turning us adrift again just like they did in 2006. Come along!"

Saruman turned to go, and Wormtongue shuffled after him.

...

"Wormtongue!" called Frodo. "You need not follow him. I know of no evil you have done to me. You can have rest and food here for a while, until you are stronger and can go your own ways."

Wormtongue halted and looked back at him, half prepared to stay. Saruman turned. "No evil?" he cackled. "Oh no! Even when he sneaks out at night it is only to look at the stars. But did I hear someone ask where poor Lotho is hiding? You know, don't you, Worm? Will you tell them?"

Wormtongue cowered down and whimpered: "No, no!"

"Then I will," said Saruman. "Worm killed your Chief, poor little fellow, your nice little Boss. Didn't you, Worm? Stabbed him in his sleep, I believe. Buried him, I hope; though Worm has been very hungry lately. No, Worm is not really nice. You had better leave him to me."

A look of wild hatred came into Wormtongue's red eyes. "You told me to; you made me do it," he hissed.

Saruman laughed. "You do what Sharkey says, always, don't you, Worm? Well, now he says: follow!" He kicked Wormtongue in the face as he grovelled, and turned and made off.

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by: Tim C. @ Thu Apr 05, 2012 at 02:18:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Go Bill Go (0.00 / 0)

Rumors swirl that Bully Buffoon O'Brien may run for CD 2.  

No'm Sayn?

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by: BurtCohen @ Fri Apr 06, 2012 at 17:20:14 PM UTC