But reports of question-planting didn't surprise two local campaign-event watchers.
"My reaction when I saw that story was just sort of a chuckle that someone got caught with their hand in the cookie jar," said Steve Varnum, campaign director for PrioritiesNH, which highlights the use of federal tax dollars. "A lot of candidates have their hand in that particular cookie jar. She just happened to get caught." PrioritiesNH has sent staff members or volunteers to 436 candidate events so far this election cycle; they've managed to ask 190 questions.
"Not only I personally but our staff and volunteer bird dogs have come back many times and said something along the lines of 'Wow, they only took questions from their own people,' " Varnum added. Questions that are too well-framed are a tip-off, he said. "Most members of the public who go - the questions are not that smooth and they're not framed that well."
More (including the other local observer) at the link.
Another reason the industry might have been so active in Oregon could be that, through their longstanding relationship with Mark Nelson and his experience and track record defeating public health measures in Oregon, the "infrastructure" already existed to defeat the tax. All the cigarette makers had to do was make a money injection into Public Affairs Counsel and turn Nelson loose.
One more reason why the industry failed to fight a very similar measure in Colorado in 2004 could have been that three months prior to the election, in June 2004, the American Lung Association of Colorado published and widely circulated a report titled <em>Tobacco Industry Involvement in Colorado</em>(available at http://repositories.cdlib.org/tc/reports/CO2004/) that analyzed tobacco industry documents to describe tactics the industry had used for decades in Colorado to successfully scuttle previous cigarette tax ballot initiatives. The report was circulated to health groups, legislators and the media, and received media attention, particularly in rural areas of Colorado (since the report described industry involvement in smaller towns in Colorado). This official "outing" of tobacco industry strategies to defeat ballot measures could have had a protective effect.
Anne Landman
...from the [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-money13nov13,1,3814081.story Los Angeles Times] predicts growing campaign involvement from nonprofits:
By law, nonprofits can keep donors confidential. Although their tax returns are public documents, they contain much less information than campaign finance reports. And because tax returns are filed once a year, money spent in the 2008 election year won't become public until long after votes are counted. ...
New nonprofit groups that are raising millions include [[Americans United for Change]]. Largely funded by unions, it has aired ads attacking congressional Republicans who voted against recent healthcare legislation.
Another is [[Freedom's Watch]]. Created by former aides to President Bush, it focuses on the war, terrorism and the "emerging threat in Iran," said its president, Bradley Blakeman, a former White House aide. The group opened with a $15-million campaign supporting Bush's Iraq war strategy.
I am a christian myself, of a more moderate persuasion, and i have no use for TV preachers. They seem to be a lot of phonies, with the possible exception of Billy Graham. The problem I have with prosperity theology is that the Lord certainly didn't see fit to enrich Jesus in that way, or any of the apostles for that matter. Where did they get this idea? I've read all thru the gospels, and I can't figure out where they got it. Maybe they're worshipping a different god--like, can we say, Mammon?
http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/OPINION/711140415/1028/OPINION02
More (including the other local observer) at the link.
...from the [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-money13nov13,1,3814081.story Los Angeles Times] predicts growing campaign involvement from nonprofits:
I am a christian myself, of a more moderate persuasion, and i have no use for TV preachers. They seem to be a lot of phonies, with the possible exception of Billy Graham. The problem I have with prosperity theology is that the Lord certainly didn't see fit to enrich Jesus in that way, or any of the apostles for that matter. Where did they get this idea? I've read all thru the gospels, and I can't figure out where they got it. Maybe they're worshipping a different god--like, can we say, Mammon?
Sounds like those kids are getting an early start in the PR business. Or maybe Ambinder meant to say "prompting."
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