You are viewing an old revision of this post, from February 26, 2013 @ 23:45:53. See below for differences between this version and the current revision.
Robin Kelly, a Democratic candidate in the Illinois special election to replace Jesse Jackson, Jr. in Congress, just won her primary today — and is now a shoe-in to win the seat. The Times explains part of how this happened:
Riding a wave of “super PAC” spending that helped catapult her to the front of a crowded Democratic field, Robin Kelly, whose campaign called for tougher national gun laws, clinched her party’s nomination Tuesday in a special primary election for the House seat vacated by Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
The outcome of the contest, which had been unexpectedly cast into the center of the national gun debate, was welcome news for Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York and a staunch gun-control advocate. He poured more than $2.2 million into attacking Ms. Kelly’s chief opponent, Debbie Halvorson, this month.
Flooding Chicago airwaves, Mr. Bloomberg’s super PAC, Independence USA, ran a series of advertisements criticizing Ms. Halvorson for opposing certain gun control measures and endorsing Ms. Kelly as the alternative candidate.
The advertising campaign, a huge amount for a single House race, set up Ms. Halvorson’s defeat on Tuesday as a shot across the bow to other Democrats supporting gun rights, a sign of what could await future candidates who do not align with Mr. Bloomberg’s quest to change firearm laws across the country.
Last October, I examined Bloomberg’s strategy and came away disappointed:
In the face of this frontal assault on our democratic ideal of “one person, one vote,” Mayor Bloomberg’s attempt to launch political moderates back into the halls of power amounts to little more than a bandage. And it is the worst kind, because it confuses the symptom for the underlying illness: by using the very same funding tactics that helped drive the fringe into the mainstream American political landscape in the first place, Bloomberg’s efforts constitute an implicit endorsement of the post-Citizens United world. But accelerating the funding arms race is not the right long-term approach.
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Post Revisions:
- February 26, 2013 @ 23:46:31 [Current Revision] by Jay Pinho
- February 26, 2013 @ 23:45:53 by Jay Pinho
- February 26, 2013 @ 23:45:16 by Jay Pinho
- February 26, 2013 @ 23:43:40 by Jay Pinho
Changes:
| February 26, 2013 @ 23:45:53 | Current Revision | ||
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| Content | |||
| Unchanged: Robin Kelly, a Democratic candidate in the Illinois special election to replace Jesse Jackson, Jr. in Congress, just won her primary today -- and is now a shoe-in to win the seat. The <em>Times</em> <a href="http:// www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/ us/voting-primary- jesse-jackson- jr-house-seat.html" target="_blank">explains part of how this happened</a>: | Unchanged: Robin Kelly, a Democratic candidate in the Illinois special election to replace Jesse Jackson, Jr. in Congress, just won her primary today -- and is now a shoe-in to win the seat. The <em>Times</em> <a href="http:// www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/ us/voting-primary- jesse-jackson- jr-house-seat.html" target="_blank">explains part of how this happened</a>: | ||
| Unchanged: <blockquote>Riding a wave of “super PAC” spending that helped catapult her to the front of a crowded Democratic field, Robin Kelly, whose campaign called for tougher national gun laws, clinched her party’s nomination Tuesday in a special primary election for the House seat vacated by Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr. | Unchanged: <blockquote>Riding a wave of “super PAC” spending that helped catapult her to the front of a crowded Democratic field, Robin Kelly, whose campaign called for tougher national gun laws, clinched her party’s nomination Tuesday in a special primary election for the House seat vacated by Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr. | ||
| Unchanged: <p itemprop="articleBody">The outcome of the contest, which had been unexpectedly cast into the center of the national gun debate, was welcome news for Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York and a staunch gun-control advocate. He poured more than $2.2 million into attacking Ms. Kelly’s chief opponent, Debbie Halvorson, this month.</p> | Unchanged: <p itemprop="articleBody">The outcome of the contest, which had been unexpectedly cast into the center of the national gun debate, was welcome news for Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York and a staunch gun-control advocate. He poured more than $2.2 million into attacking Ms. Kelly’s chief opponent, Debbie Halvorson, this month.</p> | ||
| Unchanged: <p itemprop="articleBody">Flooding Chicago airwaves, Mr. Bloomberg’s super PAC, Independence USA, ran a series of advertisements criticizing Ms. Halvorson for opposing certain gun control measures and endorsing Ms. Kelly as the alternative candidate.</p> | Unchanged: <p itemprop="articleBody">Flooding Chicago airwaves, Mr. Bloomberg’s super PAC, Independence USA, ran a series of advertisements criticizing Ms. Halvorson for opposing certain gun control measures and endorsing Ms. Kelly as the alternative candidate.</p> | ||
| Unchanged: <p itemprop="articleBody">The advertising campaign, a huge amount for a single House race, set up Ms. Halvorson’s defeat on Tuesday as a shot across the bow to other Democrats supporting gun rights, a sign of what could await future candidates who do not align with Mr. Bloomberg’s quest to change firearm laws across the country.</p> | Unchanged: <p itemprop="articleBody">The advertising campaign, a huge amount for a single House race, set up Ms. Halvorson’s defeat on Tuesday as a shot across the bow to other Democrats supporting gun rights, a sign of what could await future candidates who do not align with Mr. Bloomberg’s quest to change firearm laws across the country.</p> | ||
| Unchanged: </blockquote> | Unchanged: </blockquote> | ||
| Deleted: <p itemprop="articleBody">Last October, I <a href="http:// www.themorningsidepost.com/ 2012/10/24/bloombergs-not- so-super-pac/">examined Bloomberg's strategy</a> and came away disappointed:</p> | Added: <p itemprop="articleBody">Last October, I <a href="http:// www.themorningsidepost.com/ 2012/10/24/bloombergs-not- so-super-pac/" target="_blank">examined Bloomberg's strategy</a> and came away disappointed:</p> | ||
| Unchanged: <blockquote> | Unchanged: <blockquote> | ||
| Unchanged: <p itemprop="articleBody">In the face of this frontal assault on our democratic ideal of “one person, one vote,” Mayor Bloomberg’s attempt to launch political moderates back into the halls of power amounts to little more than a bandage. And it is the worst kind, because it confuses the symptom for the underlying illness: by using the very same funding tactics that helped drive the fringe into the mainstream American political landscape in the first place, Bloomberg’s efforts constitute an implicit endorsement of the post-<em>Citizens United</em> world. But accelerating the funding arms race is not the right long-term approach.</p> | Unchanged: <p itemprop="articleBody">In the face of this frontal assault on our democratic ideal of “one person, one vote,” Mayor Bloomberg’s attempt to launch political moderates back into the halls of power amounts to little more than a bandage. And it is the worst kind, because it confuses the symptom for the underlying illness: by using the very same funding tactics that helped drive the fringe into the mainstream American political landscape in the first place, Bloomberg’s efforts constitute an implicit endorsement of the post-<em>Citizens United</em> world. But accelerating the funding arms race is not the right long-term approach.</p> | ||
| Unchanged: </blockquote> | Unchanged: </blockquote> | ||
| Unchanged: <h6 class="zemanta- related-title" style="font-size: 1em;">Related articles</h6> | Unchanged: <h6 class="zemanta- related-title" style="font-size: 1em;">Related articles</h6> | ||
| Unchanged: <ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; overflow: hidden;"> | Unchanged: <ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; padding: 0; overflow: hidden;"> | ||
| Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// blogs.suntimes.com/politics/ 2013/02/halvorson_we_cannot_ allow_bloomberg_ to_buy_this_ district_from_ new_york.html" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ 146284828_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// blogs.suntimes.com/politics/ 2013/02/halvorson_we_cannot_ allow_bloomberg_ to_buy_this_ district_from_ new_york.html" target="_blank">Halvorson: "We cannot allow Bloomberg to buy this district from New York."</a></li> | Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// blogs.suntimes.com/politics/ 2013/02/halvorson_we_cannot_ allow_bloomberg_ to_buy_this_ district_from_ new_york.html" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ 146284828_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// blogs.suntimes.com/politics/ 2013/02/halvorson_we_cannot_ allow_bloomberg_ to_buy_this_ district_from_ new_york.html" target="_blank">Halvorson: "We cannot allow Bloomberg to buy this district from New York."</a></li> | ||
| Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_ 162-57571488/ kelly-wins-dem- nod-for-ex-rep- jackson-jr.s-seat/" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_101_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_ 162-57571488/ kelly-wins-dem- nod-for-ex-rep- jackson-jr.s-seat/" target="_blank">Kelly wins Dem. nod for ex-Rep. Jackson Jr.'s seat</a></li> | Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_ 162-57571488/ kelly-wins-dem- nod-for-ex-rep- jackson-jr.s-seat/" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_101_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_ 162-57571488/ kelly-wins-dem- nod-for-ex-rep- jackson-jr.s-seat/" target="_blank">Kelly wins Dem. nod for ex-Rep. Jackson Jr.'s seat</a></li> | ||
| Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// www.reuters.com/ article/2013/ 02/26/us-usa- politics-illinois- idUSBRE91P0BI20130226?feedType= RSS&feedName= politicsNews" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_88_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// www.reuters.com/ article/2013/ 02/26/us-usa- politics-illinois- idUSBRE91P0BI20130226?feedType= RSS&feedName= politicsNews" target="_blank">Chicago votes in House race dominated by gun control issue</a></li> | Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// www.reuters.com/ article/2013/ 02/26/us-usa- politics-illinois- idUSBRE91P0BI20130226?feedType= RSS&feedName= politicsNews" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_88_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// www.reuters.com/ article/2013/ 02/26/us-usa- politics-illinois- idUSBRE91P0BI20130226?feedType= RSS&feedName= politicsNews" target="_blank">Chicago votes in House race dominated by gun control issue</a></li> | ||
| Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A/ /abcnews.go.com/ blogs/politics/ 2013/02/bloombergs-super- pac-anti-gun- ad-makes-waves- in-election/& a=148275506& rid=a123a399- 0003-4f9b-9c57- 509d398bf2af& e=b27291be3551565fc88cc977ea579f21" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_106_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A/ /abcnews.go.com/ blogs/politics/ 2013/02/bloombergs-super- pac-anti-gun- ad-makes-waves- in-election/& a=148275506& rid=a123a399- 0003-4f9b-9c57- 509d398bf2af& e=b27291be3551565fc88cc977ea579f21" target="_blank" >Bloomberg's Super PAC Anti-Gun Ad Makes Waves in Election</a></li> | Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A/ /abcnews.go.com/ blogs/politics/ 2013/02/bloombergs-super- pac-anti-gun- ad-makes-waves- in-election/& a=148275506& rid=a123a399- 0003-4f9b-9c57- 509d398bf2af& e=b27291be3551565fc88cc977ea579f21" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_106_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A/ /abcnews.go.com/ blogs/politics/ 2013/02/bloombergs-super- pac-anti-gun- ad-makes-waves- in-election/& a=148275506& rid=a123a399- 0003-4f9b-9c57- 509d398bf2af& e=b27291be3551565fc88cc977ea579f21" target="_blank" >Bloomberg's Super PAC Anti-Gun Ad Makes Waves in Election</a></li> | ||
| Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ 2013/02/26/candidate-backed- by-bloomberg- wins-democratic- primary-in-chicago/" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_54_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ 2013/02/26/candidate-backed- by-bloomberg- wins-democratic- primary-in-chicago/" target="_blank">Candidate backed by Bloomberg wins Democratic primary in Chicago</a></li> | Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ 2013/02/26/candidate-backed- by-bloomberg- wins-democratic- primary-in-chicago/" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_54_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ 2013/02/26/candidate-backed- by-bloomberg- wins-democratic- primary-in-chicago/" target="_blank">Candidate backed by Bloomberg wins Democratic primary in Chicago</a></li> | ||
| Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// world.time.com/2013/02/26/ kelly-wins-dem-nod-for-ex- rep-jackson-jr-s-seat/" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_28_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// world.time.com/2013/02/26/ kelly-wins-dem-nod-for-ex- rep-jackson-jr-s-seat/" target="_blank">Kelly Wins Dem. Nod for Ex-Rep. Jackson Jr.'s Seat</a></li> | Unchanged: <li class="zemanta- article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="padding: 0; background: none; list-style: none; display: block; float: left; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; width: 84px; font-size: 11px; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px;"><a style="box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; padding: 2px; display: block; border-radius: 2px; text-decoration: none;" href="http:// world.time.com/2013/02/26/ kelly-wins-dem-nod-for-ex- rep-jackson-jr-s-seat/" target="_blank"><img style="padding: 0; margin: 0; border: 0; display: block; width: 80px; max-width: 100%;" alt="" src="http://i.zemanta.com/ noimg_28_80_80.jpg" /></a><a style="display: block; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; line-height: 12pt; height: 80px; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px;" href="http:// world.time.com/2013/02/26/ kelly-wins-dem-nod-for-ex- rep-jackson-jr-s-seat/" target="_blank">Kelly Wins Dem. Nod for Ex-Rep. Jackson Jr.'s Seat</a></li> | ||
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