Ellmore and Singh campaigns acknowledge errors and politics in flyer flap
By JR Hoeft | Monday, June 9th, 2008 | Politics
“Flyer-gate” continues.
In the 8th District, the GOP race for the congressional nomination blew-up this weekend when Amit Singh accused Mark Ellmore of using false statements from the Washington Post and Blacknell.net in one of Ellmore’s mailers. The “mini-saga” has both campaigns making phone calls and answering emails within the 72-hour window before the election when get-out-the-vote efforts are generally at their highest.
Responding to the accusations by Singh’s camp, Dan Tillson, campaign manager for the Ellmore campaign explained how misstatements made it into the flyer.
Tillson writes via email that the literature had at least five versions. The final one was changed on short notice for a next-day mailing; several of the quotes were changed, but errors were not discovered before deadline.
“I recognize that this was also my fault for not catching it,” Tillson wrote. “It was an honest mistake- but one that a Federal Campaign simply should never make.”
However, Tillson also acknowledged that the flyer itself is a reaction to what the Ellmore campaign feels are misrepresentations by Singh.
“He has tried to pin Ellmore as someone opposing a secured border when most Republicans have heard Mark Ellmore talking about securing the border for two years now,” Tillson wrote. “In general, Amit Singh has a record of opposing Republicans. His statement about Gilmore was written this past February and he also opposed George Allen- a race that decided the majority in the US Senate.”
One member of the Singh campaign, who asked to not be identified, did point out that some politics has indeed been played with their characterization of Ellmore’s border position.
“I do not support building a wall on the border, but I do believe in securing the border with a fence” is Ellmore’s entire quote on border security, whereas the Singh campaign has only used the first clause in their literature.
Also this weekend, Singh himself took steps to give his side of the issue via YouTube:
For more, check out Below the Beltway, Crystal Clear Conservative,
George Mason College Republicans, and Rick Sincere.
Also, if you are interested in where the campaigns stand on the issues, please see Blacknell’s review of the race from Friday, which includes two Bearing Drift podcasts with the candidates.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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7 Responses to "Ellmore and Singh campaigns acknowledge errors and politics in flyer flap"
Mark does believe there is a difference between a wall and a fence. Both on Blacknell.net and at the George Mason Debate he goes into painful detail to distinguish between the two:
George Mason Debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxT-AlKXgQs
Interview with Mark Blacknell (who Ellmore fabricated quotes from)
http://blacknell.net/dynamic/2008/05/29/interview-with-candidate-mark-ellmore-8th-cd-part-iii/
ME: So I say first, I did not support putting a Berlin Wall on the border with Mexico. I am absolutely against a concrete wall.
MB: But you’re in favor of a fence.
ME: Yes, a fence.
MB: A wall versus a fence?
ME: Right, because a wall [gives more of a sense of separation.]
MB: There’s a difference between the two?
ME: There’s a difference between bricks and mortar and a Berlin Wall with gun turrets on it – that image – as opposed to a border security fence. I see them as completely separate and distinct, and that’s what I’m pushing for. The reason why is because we have to say, it’s not just saying “well, there are more brown people coming from . . . ” it’s people from South and Central America, and other people, potentially, coming across – well, can you obey the rule of law?
MB: Mmkay.
What Id like to know about Ellmore’s campaign’s excuse, if it were just a mistake in changing up the copies and they miss attributed something, then shouldn’t that mean that the quotes come from somewhere else? Or the option is that it was the wrong quote but the sources still said something similar? The problem with their story is that those fabricated quotes dont come from anywhere, and they will not point to where they got them from. How does one “mistakenly” place multiple quotes that were never made? This looks quite obvious to me that this was a dirty smear campaign. And for that I thank the Ellmore campaign for making a mockery of the party and just reaffirming the general electorate’s view that republicans are unethical and hypocritical. Thanks guys. You did a great job! Thinks just seem to never change, and until they do, we will keep losing to the democrats.
[...] and source those statements to third parties such as myself. My Jeffersoniad sister blog Bearing Drift reports that Dan Tillson, Mr. Ellmore’s campaign manager, “writes via email that the [...]
Hey, I just want to stand up here and defend Mark Ellmore! The man is a true American hero!!!
Yes, he may have made up quotes and lied about Amit’s record in his flier. But Mark Ellmore is a recovering drug addict (as stated in his own book … “I’ve done enough drugs to choke a horse”). That takes tremendous courage. Fighting drug addiction (and possibly mental retardation) is one of the most courageous things I have ever seen a candidate do. And now he is being even more courageous by not admitting his lies! God Bless you Mark Ellmore… you are a true American Hero.
And for those of you waiting for for Mark Ellmore to apologize, I am sure he will do it when he gets to that step in his 12 step program.
Come on John,
That is a little overboard. We don’t need personal attacks.
For what it is worth, I personally don’t think he did it on purpose. I know it is easy to vilify, but the stress of a campaign is overwhelming and it is VERY easy for several details to slip through the cracks. And with fast approaching deadlines…
It should not have happened, but I still don’t think he did it on purpose. Just like he didn’t put http://www.MarkEllmore.com on purpose on his first mini flyer.
Now I will also say that I thought Amit’s campaign could have used a million other things against Mark. The border security one wasn’t strong. It actually makes the rest of the piece look weaker. Yes he “technically said that” but why not focus on the construction materials flop. Say something like “Mark is adamant that concrete not be used” or “Mark’s debate on border security is about material.”
But if we all take a step back and watch the process unfold, am I the only one that saw Mark completely revamp his issues and positions once Amit came in? He has been running for 2 years. Why change? The quote in his book about stealing every idea… that seems to still be true.
I even heard him once say in a speech that he and Amit were pretty much exactly the same person, with the exception of 1 issue, Iraq. Wow, that is a bold statement.
Anyhow, I hope the turn out is high. Only 4,000 people voted 2 years ago in the Republican primary
out of 600,000 possible voters.
Let the best man win.
Frank
Frank,
No need for personal attacks? Ellmore has constantly said that Amit is insulting our troops. Seem a little personal (and false to you).
And in fact Ellmore does fully admit in his OWN book that he is a former drug addict. Publish something be prepared to stand by it.
So… in yo face!!!
… oh and one more thing… you don’t think he did it on purpose??!?!?! Are you out of your mind? Wake up!
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