Getting it Done? Simmons' Hypocrisy Knows No Limits
Simmons' Message Thanks Joe for Putting Politics Aside to Save Base from BRAC
COLCHESTER, CT – Rob Simmons paid to unleash his very first TV ad of the 2006 campaign -- a personal and negative attack on accomplished former State Legislator Joe Courtney -- claiming personal success in saving the submarine base from base realignment and closure (BRAC), politicizing a sensitive issue for eastern Connecticut.
Simmons obviously forgot that just a few short months ago, he personally called Joe Courtney to thank Joe for helping him to save the base and for not politicizing the issue. In his own words excerpted from the message, "And I just wanted to say to you how much I respect your decision back on May 13 not to take political advantage of the process, uh, uh, I think that was the, the high road. I think that without the support of, of everybody involved we wouldn't have been successful." [sic]
In last night's candidate debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London, Rob Simmons asked if Joe Courtney would have been able to save the base. Well, according to Rob Simmons' own words, Joe did just that – along with everyone in eastern Connecticut.
"Rob Simmons' hypocrisy is astounding and Simmons has been caught in what's become typical of desperate Republican Members of Congress across the nation clinging to their incumbency by their fingernails," stated Brian Farber, Communications Director, Joe Courtney for Congress. "Simmons will stop at nothing to revise history to his own benefit and contradict even himself for political gain. Joe Courtney will change the direction of this country while restoring obviously needed integrity to Congress."
Click here to listen to Rob Simmons' message thanking Joe Courtney for not politicizing the BRAC process.
"I[...]look forward to seeing you or hearing from you any time in the future."
- Rob Simmons, voice mail to Joe Courtney
In all fairness, Courtney has held his fire. This isn't politics as usual from Rep. Simmons, who sounded sincere in his voice mail. Does it suggest that Simmons is getting desperate late in the campaign?
Here is the CTLP post on the BRAC announcement last August.
Source:
Courtney campaign press release, 19 September 2006
13 comments:
From when Chris Mc was added earlier this month....
"Also, we are adding Chris MC as a nonpartisan "issues" blogger. He will be exploring many vital issues in-depth in his postings, and we are glad to have his expertise."
This is a political post plain & simple. I am a republican so you now see that both sides are questioning his addition...is it issue facing the state or as a liberal blogger?
Please clarify GC.
A fair post, though I would delete Brian Farber's (or anyone's) cell # as not for public consumption.
I'm also confused about the "issues" blogger designation. However, there are plenty of liberals who would contest Chris MC's classification as one.
This seems like a perfectly reasonable issue to me...
Here you have one candidate who didn't make it an issue, was thanked by the other candidate for not making it an issue, and then you have that same candidate make it an issue on the same candidate who didn't make it an issue.
It seems to me that Chris Mc is doing his job quite well in bringing these issues to our attention.
Where did this audio come from? Actually recorded from Courtney's answering machine. Seems kind of irresponsible to not attribute the source on this one.
Whether he is designated as a conservative, liberal, issues, or whatever kind of blogger, I really appreciate Chris MC being a frontpager. He's a bright guy who's talking from the center. We could use plenty more.
ChrisMC:
you'd show more "balance" in your posting if you actually focused on the bigger issue here: Simmons' TV ad.
The ad can easily be found on youtube.
the issue isn't Simmons' voicemail to Joe Courtney; it's the content of his ad which basically says, "I'm Rob Simmons, I've saved jobs in Connecticut; my opponent has done nothing to on jobs."
Farber completely ignores that charge and instead focuses on the voicemail.
Avoiding the jobs issue is smart politics on Farber's part. It's perceived bias on your part.
Let me get this straight: Joe Lieberman, Jodi Rell and a host of state legislators can campaign on their role in saving the sub base, but Rob Simmons can't? That is absolutely ridiculous.
There is nothing wrong with what Simmons is doing.
He was right that DURING the BRAC process, politicians trying to tak epolitical advantage could/would have hurt CT's fight to keep the base open. Imagine Courtney or Dodd or DeLauro or other Ds blasting Bush for the proposal to close the base and then blaming Simmons because he is Bush's guy. That is the type of partisanship that would have hurt us. It is the type of partisanship that all avoided in CT, not just Joe Courtney. I actually commend Simmons for his gracious call to Courtney, who basically did nothing to save the base anyways.
Courtney can do better than this.
BTW, I'm sure if Dodd were running he would be using the sub base in his ads too.
Simmons saying during the debate that "all Congress can do is withhold money" when speaking about the Iraq War makes him unfit to sit in Congress.
Simmons,and the entire Republican majority,have failed in their duty to keep the Congress an equal of the Executive barnch of Government.
I haven't seen the Democrats doing much either, except blowing a lot of hot air.
Courtney really made a fool of himself for this press release. It shows that he doesn't care about all of the jobs that Congressman Simmons saved when he got the base off the BRAC list...And Yes, it was Simmons, and Simmons alone, who saved the base. Rell and Lieberman were there for eye candy. It was Simmons' connections in the Pentagon and his relationship with the BRAC chairman that saved the base. Simmons proved to the committee that the base needed to stay open, and he has every right to use this victory to his advantage.
Joe Courtney is just plain jealous that he hasn't done anything to help the people of Eastern Connecticut. Rob Simmons has done so much for Eastern CT that it boggles the mind anyone could be so ridiculous as Joe Courtney.
I don't see in that quote in the news release where Rob Simmons acknowledges any role by Joe Courtney in helping to save the base.
of course, had the Subase closed, Joe Courtney and the Democrats would have NEVER made it an issue in the campaign.....
Man I wish we could all be as smart as you bluecoat. I mean, we have a written report that says nothing about the environmental issue, yet only you know that this is why the base was saved. I applaud you genius.
BTW, this is the same AG who was going to bring the Big East to its knees right?
It is time for a new hobby there bluecoat.
The layoffs at EB have nothing to do with the submarine base. EB is a private company that is having financial difficulties, and so must layoff workers to survive. The submarine base can't just give it business. You're ignorant if you think the two are connected like that.
To counter layoffs, Congressman Simmons has tirelessly worked to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds for Electric Boat. He has stood up against the Navy, the Pentagon, and the administration in trying to do what is right for the people of eastern Connecticut.
And no, bluecoat, there is no ways that base was removed from the BRAC list because of environmental issues. That's just an ignorant, straw-grabbing statement.
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