Buffalo News Endorses Massa, Kuhl Hires Sleaze
From the Buffalo News (hat tip to The Rural Patriot):
Vice President Cheney and first lady Laura Bush have stumped for incumbent freshman Rep. John R. “Randy†Kuhl of Hammondsport, who has pretty much marched in lock step with the White House. Kuhl served for 24 years as a state legislator and nine years as assistant majority leader in the dysfunctional State Senate before replacing retired Rep. Amo Houghton in this district, which stretches into Western New York’s Southern Tier.
Eric Massa of Corning is the better candidate. He is a retired career naval officer who served as congressional liaison assistant to Gen. Wesley Clark when Clark was Allied commander in Europe and later beat a cancer linked to depleted uranium ammunition exposure while serving on a destroyer during Operation Desert Storm. Massa, a converted Republican running as a Democrat, offers a full range of forcefully articulated positions on issues, a passion to reform health care, concern for his district’s tax-linked dairy problems and valuable perspective on Iraq.
The Buffalo News, if I recall correctly, is the paper of record for the southwest portion of the 29th district. How much of a help it’ll be is anyone’s guess, but it sure can’t hurt.
Meanwhile, Kuhl and the NRCC must really be getting desperate.   A vigilant reader (thanks Bill– you do rock!) pointed out this little tidbit from the latest NRCC filing:
FEATHER LARSON & SYNHORST DCI
2401 W. BEHREND DRIVE SUITE 7
PHOENIX, Arizona 85027Purpose of Expenditure: Phone Banks
This Committee OPPOSES The Following Candidate: MASSA FOR CONGRESS
Office Sought: House of Representatives
State is New York in District 29
Date Expended = 11/01/2006
Person Completing Form: CHRISTOPHER J. WARD
Date Signed = 11/01/2006Amount Expended = $5410.38
Calendar YTD Per Election for Office Sought = $215861.38
So, who are these guys, and what do they do? SourceWatch gives a good overview of what they’re all about:
Feather, Larson & Synhorst DCI (FLS-DCI) are “Specialists in Telephone Contact Business.” The telemarketing company used to be known as Feather Hodges Larson & Synhorst DCI. In 2000, the Washington DC-based DCI Group was spun off from FLS-DCI.
FLS-DCI has been one of the largest corporate receipents of funds from the Republican National Committee in 2004. FLS-DCI has close ties to key White House advisor Karl Rove and others in the GOP.
FLS-DCI specializes in creating phony front groups to make it appear as if there’s a groundswell of support for its clients’ issues.
One of its most prominent front groups is Voices for Choices. This fake coalition of conservative groups is runing ads nationwide in support of AT&T’s key issues. AT&T, which has donated millions to the Republican Party and the Bush Campaign in 2004 - and whose general counsel served on Bush’s transition team, is one of FLS-DCI’s largest and most important clients.
Close ties to Karl Rove. Phony “grassroots” front groups (aka “astroturf”). I guess I expected more from Kuhl and the Republican machine, at least in upstate NY.Â
Related posts:
In a semi-related story….Reynolds and the “cover up” are bake in the news…
http://mydd.com/story/2006/11/2/155145/595
You know, I’ve heard reports that folks in the district are getting annoying robocalls late at night from supposed Massa supporters. And then I read on dailykos that other campaigns have experienced similar issues.
Does this firm show up in the reports of other campaigns?
[...] In response to our report on a sleazy firm helping Kuhl, observant reader Gringo (hola, Gringo!) reports: You know, I’ve heard reports that folks in the district are getting annoying robocalls late at night from supposed Massa supporters. And then I read on dailykos that other campaigns have experienced similar issues. [...]