I have to hand it to Krystal Ball, nominee for the Democrats running against my Congressman (Rob Wittman). It takes hard work to upset the Free Lance-Star as much as she did.
The FLS has an annoying habit of leaning ever so slightly right-of-center while ripping any local Republican within their field of vision (as a Republican nominee for Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors, I can speak from personal experience). So, one has to ask what led the editors of the Rappahannock River’s MSM wannabe to come to Wittman’s defense so strongly.
It turned out to be the nonsense Ball put on her first mailer.
First off, the editors are unhappy that ball put words in their mouths:
In her first political mailer of the race, Ms. Ball, a Democrat, didn’t resort to greasy deception–she started out that way. For one thing, the piece cites a Free Lance-Star link beneath the words “Wittman won’t go against the Republican establishment even when voters beg him to be aggressive in what’s going on in Washington.” Neither the words nor the sentiment ever surfaced in a Free Lance-Star editorial–surely a natural inference–nor does the cited link contain that verbiage–though an average reader would conclude that the mailer’s words are a direct quote.
The citation is of a news story chiefly about Mr. Wittman’s primary race, and reflects a view voiced by a supporter of Yosemite Sam acolyte Susan Crabill (sic), whom Mr. Wittman beat about 4-to-1.
In other words, Ball is attributing to the paper’s writers/editors a line actually said by a Crabillite (not that the paper did any favors by getting Cathy Crabill’s name wrong). Oops.
More to the point, the actual line is thoroughly off-base no matter who said it. In fact, in the biggest vote of his career, Rob Wittman opposed his party leaders in Congress – including neighbor Eric Cantor – and even opposed his own party’s President (George W. Bush) to vote against TARP (i.e., the bank bailout).
As none other that the editors of the FLS actually said: “Rob Wittman, meanwhile, should be every Washington-weary American’s cup of tea.”
What else upset that FLS crew? In their own words . . .
Ms. Ball’s mailbox gift to 1st District households also charges, “Wittman was ranked last in effectiveness of all Congressmen from Virginia.” Indeed, Mr. Wittman’s sole “power ranking” by KnowLegis, a lobbying information firm, places Mr. Wittman a pitiable 432nd among 435 House members for the year 2007. But, apparently to hold down typesetting fees, the mailer omits the crucial KnowLegis notations: “Too few terms or years in office in Congress to have significant clout” and “Member has reduced power due to Freshman status.”
That’s putting it mildly. Mr. Wittman joined Congress on Dec. 13, 2007–four days before it adjourned for the holidays. Of course he had no clout: The congressional year expired almost as soon as he found his office bathroom! Mr. Wittman was a late arriver because he had to win a special election following the tragic death of Rep. Jo Ann Davis from breast cancer. Upon such circumstances does Krystal Ball build her tower of legerdemain.
The editors next line is as follows:
Ms. Ball, in fact, has all but disqualified herself from this race. Whatever Washington needs, we’re pretty sure it’s not more clever deception, not more half- and quarter-truths, not more contempt for common decency.
Ouch!
How disastrous was Ball’s mailer? Put aside whatever biases you may have – one way or the other – and look at it this way: Ball’s mailer led to a perfect negative ad against her for which the Wittman campaign paid no money, exerted no energy, and therefore risks no blowback.
A number of people were initially impressed with Krystal Ball’s ability to raise money, but if she keeps shooting herself in the foot like this . . .
