MURTHA: Art of the Payoff

In 2004, John Murtha faced no opposition whatsoever for his congressional seat. He got 100% of the vote.

That same year, Murtha’s fundraising for his “campaign” added up to $2.3 million. His “expenditures” on the “campaign” totaled $1.56 million.

So, he spent more than a million-and-a-half dollars to vanquish a non-existent opposition. Huh?

It wasn’t as if he was expecting a well-financed contender to raise lots of money and contest vigorously for the seat. In 2002, Murtha raised $2.4 million and got 74% of the vote. His opponent, Republican Dr. Bill Choby, raised only $17,000 and got just 25% of the vote.

Let’s focus on the $1.56 that Murtha “spent” in the uncontested year of 2004. As you’ve noticed, I’ve been putting lots of words in quotes, including “campaign,” “expenditures,” and “spent.”

The reason I’ve done so is that such concepts don’t apply to Murtha.

In this century, Murtha has raised (and most spent) nearly $10 million. Although he comes from one of the poorer districts in the Mid-Atlantic region, he’s one of the biggest fundraisers in Congress. He raises about twice as much as the average U.S. congressional representative.

To hold his seat, given the huge Democratic edge in registration, he didn’t have to raise $10 million. In fact, he probably didn’t need to raise anything.

The $1.56 million he spent in 2004 is a giant red flag. How does someone spend such a huge amount of money in a race that’s already decided before the election season even begins? How does an unopposed candidate in a safe district spend more than candidates locked in tight races?

I mean: WHERE DID ALL THE MONEY GO?

To understand, you need to know how Murtha conceives of being a federal representative. It’s merely a matter, as he’s said, “of making deals.” Campaign funding? He gets large earmarks, federal dollars, for companies that really don’t need them, and they reward him with giant contributions. They’re so grateful for all your federal dollars that they name buildings after him.

And what campaign expenditures – all those millions that never had to be raised or spent? Those are also payoffs to various people – printers, writers, photographers, billboard companies, private investigators, and others – who are financially dependent on Murtha.

The monies are basically payments for votes by various companies and their employees. “You scratch my back, and I scratch your back.”

It doesn’t really cost great piles of cash to campaign against nobody, as happened in 2004. The expenditures are really reminders to people of whom they’re dependent on: that is, Murtha.

In short, you give to Jack Murtha, and he returns the favors. The “expenditures” are a form of vote-buying. It's like a big recycling project, with dollars going back-and-forth.

What I’m telling you here is something that’s well-known in the 12th congressional district. Increasingly, the people in that area think it stinks, which it does. What does isn't exactly what The Founding Fathers had in mind.

Like Diana Irey before him, William Russell is a breath of fresh air. He needs and deserves your support.

POLITICS: THE FUNDAMENTALS AND VICTORY

In the generally wonderful OpenSecrets.org, you'll read that, in federal races, the candidate who spends the most money wins 90%-plus of the time. That statistic is somewhat misleading.

William T. Russell is not going to spend nearly as much money as John Murtha, who may end up forking out $4 million. I don't know how much money Russell will raise, but it won't be anywhere near Murtha's financial numbers.

If Russell does everything right, he should win anyway. One thing he definitely needs is to try to shake every hand in the district.

The best way to get someone's vote is to ask for it. Ask enough people -- say, 100,000 of them -- and you will do well. The key is to convince enough Independents and, especially, Democrats that Lt. Col Russell is an outstanding person, a good man.

He's a Republican, a fact he won't emphasize in this Democrat-intensive area. He needs to share the other positive aspects of his story -- that he's a husband a father, that he's basically spent a lifetime in the military (born on an Army base), that he has defended American interests in Desert Storm, the Balkans, and Iraqi Freedom. Also, he's firmly asserted that he doesn't want any buildings named after him, unlike his narcissistic opponent.

John Murtha is an angry guy who's not aging well. He's widely known as a bully, especially in his dealings with younger congressmen and congresswomen. His major accomplishment is getting large handouts of federal money for companies that don't need the assistance. He's been a major supporter of people like Pelosi and Waxman, who have nothing in common with the people of Murtha's district. He's sold out to every lobbyist with a bagful of cash.

If Russell can get these points across, this could be real horserace.

Bill Russell Needs YOU

If you're a blogger supporting Russell, please re-post the following on your blog. If you don't have a blog, please forward it as an e-mail to your friends and associates. Thanks so much for your help!

WILLIAM RUSSELL
FOR CONGRESS

“Embrace the Future”

Friends:

The holidays are in full swing, and we're all making lists and shopping for gifts for our friends and family. Add Bill to your list and make sure that he has a Merry Christmas and a happy election season! We are counting down the 7 days leading to Christmas with a variety of important items the campaign needs to roll full steam ahead into the 2008 election season.

Your gift will be the difference in how the 2008 election season starts for Bill. His campaign needs the resources to travel, run ads on TV, host rallies and contact voters directly. The contribution you make to Bill's campaign will buy tangible things that will go a long way towards making Bill's bid for Congress successful.

Your gift of $1000 will make a day on the bus possible. $500 today will allow the campaign to run four television ads in the 12th Congressional District. Even your gift of $50 or $25 can make a big difference in what we're doing. These are things that Bill's campaign needs and this is your opportunity to give Bill a gift that will really help him in his bid for Congress.

Bill has a vision for a secure, unified and prosperous 12th Congressional District and America, but we can only make it real if his campaign has the funds to win. Making a contribution to Bill's campaign in the 7 days leading to Christmas will ensure that. Give his campaign a Christmas present that will help carry Bill to victory!

“You know, I am a strong consistent common sense conservative, but the most important issue facing our country and will be for a long time, is national security, and the safety of our people. I've spent a lot of time both in and out of the 12th Congressional District traveling, and talking to leaders. I know the country and the community we live in and I know what we need to do. I know that it's going to require strong leadership.”

Thanks for your help.

Bill Russell

PS: Give Bill a Christmas gift of $1000; $500; $100 or even $50 or $25 to help him beat Mr. Murtha.

Larry Stiles, USMC-Vietnam Veteran
Campaign Manager
William Russell for Congress
P.O. Box 630
Johnstown, PA 15907
http://williamrussellforcongress.com
Phone: 814.243.8662

Please volunteer for William Russell for Congress at http://williamrussellforcongress.com

PAID FOR BY WILLIAM RUSSELL FOR CONGRESS

BLOGGERS FOR RUSSELL: "THREE Ms"

BLOGGERS FOR RUSSELL AND THE "THREE Ms"

Here's how the Bloggers 4 Russell will work: When we get to approximately 100 Bloggers 4 Russell, they'll all be asked to make modest contributions to the Russell Campaign -- and to ask their thousands of blog visitors to do the same. Such requests for donations will be made in January, March, and May, times when it's essential that Russell store up enough monetary "acorns" to get his message across and mobilize supporters (the Three "Ms," message, mobilization, and money). As we get above 200 Bloggers 4 Russell, they'll be asked to contact bloggers and friends in PA and -- especially -- in the 12th congressional district. As the campaign goes into the spring and summer, there will be a heavy emphasis on the state and district. My personal goal is to play a role in soliciting 1,000 volunteers for Russell who will work in the district, making calls, registering and canvassing voters, stuffing envelopes, answering phones, and the like. If Russell can get 1,000 active volunteers -- people who collectively influence tens of thousands of votes -- he will win, much to Murtha's amazement.

Note: Be sure to read the column below on "President Hillary Clinton."

YOUR Thoughts on Russell's Campaign

Here's what I wrote to the National Republican Congressional Committee web site Tuesday night. A new column ("Politics and 'the Wave'") will be up noon on Wednesday;

There will be several fierce races in PA this year, including my own district (the 4th) with Melissa Hart versus Jason Altmire and in the 12th, with Lt. Col. William Russell running a very imaginative and effective campaign against John Murtha. In many cases, Republicans will NOT be able to outspend Democrats, so we need to come up with other ways to win. Those other ways include effective use of the Internet (electrons are basically free, unlike TV ads) and heavy reliance on volunteers, especially young people attracted to a campaign like Russells. Can the blogs really make a difference? Check out the Huckabee Campaign, which has been largely blog driven. And check out the almost unbelievable accomplishments of Brad Marston on behalf of Senator McCain. We all know about "The Wave" at atheltic events. I'm going to write tomorrow about how we can create the political equivalent of "The Wave" to support Republican candidates. Come visit me at http://stevemaloneygop.blogspot.com or http://camp2008victorya.blogspot.com and give me your own thoughts on creative ways to win elections. "The Wave" begins with just a few people and ends up including tens of thousands of people. -- steve maloney, 4th District PA


Note: This blog is different from most others. They generally offer tidbits of political gossip (gleaned from CNN) -- or poll data that will be out-of-date within a week. The emphasis here is on HOW -- on how candidates in tough races can raise enough money and build enough support to win. Politics is not about idelogical preening. It's about taking practical elections that lead to celebrations on Election Eve. If you don't win elections, your complaints and suggestions will fall on deaf ears.

One of the great things about the campaign of Lt. Col. William Russell against John Murtha is Russell’s willingness to be creative – to “think outside of the boss.” Also, the campaign is very willing to consider ideas from voters, both those in the 12th Congressional District and outside it.
All the campaigns I’ve endorsed (see the names above) will be uphill battles. It will be difficult to prevail in them, but at the same time, all of them could be winnable with excellent political tactics.

I’m asking all bloggers and their visitors to put on their thinking caps. When I get ideas from you I’ll pass them along to the candidates. I’m starting with the Russell Campaign, and these are the questions I’d like you to reflect on. You can leave the comments on this site or e-mail me at TalkTop65@aol.com. Here are some key questions:

• First, how would you suggest Russell go about raising significant amounts of money given Murtha’s penchant for seeking revenge against those in his District who support his opponents?
• Second, Since most people don’t contribute to campaigns is there an approach that will change that fact?
• Third, what issues – three at the most – would you suggest Russell emphasize in his campaign?
  Fourth, how would you go about attracting conservative Democrats, a huge group in the 12th District, to vote for Russell? (There are twice as many registered Democrats in the District as Republicans.)
• Fifth, what are the best ways for Russell to communicate with voters: face-to-face (hard because of the size of the district)? Television? Radio? Bumper stickers? Buttons and Tee-shirts? Yard signs? If all of them, which would you stress?
• Sixth, to what degree would you emphasize by name the lobbyists and other special interests currently pouring money into the Murtha campaign?
• Seventh, would you discuss Murtha’s close links with Nancy Pelosi and other far-left Democrats?
• Eighth, are either Murtha’s advanced age (75) or his 34-year-reign in Congress significant issues?
• Ninth, what’s the best use Russell can make of the many bloggers from around the country who are advocating his candidacy?
• Tenth, how much should Russell make of the fact that Murtha will refuse to debate (almost a certainty).
  

I hope everyone who visits this site – or for that matter, your own site – will speak out on one, two, or more of these questions. They’re all very real for William Russell and his supporters, and the answers are not always completely clear. Please help out. It doesn’t matter where you’re located. Remember, my e-mail address is: TalkTop65@aol.com. I'll tell you the results soon.