AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Republican Party is alleging that Angus King’s first television advertisement in the campaign for Maine’s open U.S. Senate seat violates a provision in federal election law requiring candidates to state orally and in writing that they approve their TV spots.
In a two-page complaint the party filed with the Federal Election Commission, Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster notes that the federal “stand by your ad” provision requires candidate television ads to carry both oral and written statements from the candidate that he or she approves the content of their advertising.
An FEC spokesman confirmed Wednesday that the commission had received the complaint.
King’s ad, which he launched Friday, features the former governor saying, “I’m Angus King, and I approve this message,” but carries no approval message in writing. An ad launched earlier last week by Republican Charlie Summers carries both verbal and written statements stating Summers approves his television spot.
“Angus King should promptly take down this ad, correct it, and apologize to the people of Maine for neglecting the very laws he says are so important for clean and fair elections,” Maine GOP spokesman David Sorensen said in a statement.
King spokeswoman Crystal Canney said in a statement that the GOP complaint is part of a pattern in which “political partisans make things up and send out a press release.”
“We believe we have complied with the spirit of the law. If Charlie Webster is confused, we can’t help that,” Canney said. “Our legal team has looked and we believe we have complied.”
The campaign plans to change future ads to adhere more closely to the “stand by your ad” provision, she said. An ad the campaign begins airing Thursday, called “Godzilla and the Real Angus,” carries the written disclaimer “Paid for and authorized by Angus King for U.S. Senate campaign.”
Canney also noted that the Maine GOP had used images from the King ad and posted them on YouTube as a rebuttal video after questioning in a press release the King campaign’s right to use Google Earth images in its ad. The King campaign produced the contract proving it had permission to use the Google images, and the GOP rebuttal video is no longer viewable on YouTube due to a copyright claim.
The “stand by your ad” provision came into effect as part of the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that aimed to more closely regulate campaign financing and spending.
FEC complaints and allegations of election law violations are a common tactic political campaigns use against their opponents. In August, for example, Hawaii Senate candidate Mazie Hirono said her Republican rival, Linda Lingle, violated the “stand by your ad” provision in an ad.
With Webster’s complaint, an FEC lawyer will first review it to determine if it falls within the commission’s jurisdiction, then allow the King campaign 15 days to respond, according to complaint filing guidelines on the FEC’s website. If the FEC finds a campaign violated election law, the campaign could be subject to fines or the commission could use its alternative dispute resolution process.
If the FEC takes up the complaint, the matter is unlikely to be settled before this fall’s Nov. 6 election. In fiscal year 2011, the FEC says it handled 145 enforcement cases in an average of 10 months. Those cases led to a total of $527,000 in civil penalties.
On Wednesday, Politico cited the Maine Senate race among three that “lurk as potential sleepers” where an upset is possible “because of slip-ups or better-than-expected performances by candidates.” The other races are in Connecticut and Indiana.
As for Maine, Politico said: “Judging by sheer polling, Maine ranks pretty far down the list of states where Republicans might pull an upset. By all appearances, the race is former Gov. Angus King’s to lose.”
But, it called the National Republican Senatorial Committee spending $500,000 on ads for Summers “the latest indication Republicans see a potential opening in the three-way race.”
Politico also reports that Karl Rove is pushing GOP donors to ask Snowe to return money they gave to her in order to help Summers.
Wow, Charlie must have a lot of time on his hands. This accusation is really going to change how people vote now, way to go Charlie, quick go get a poll count, a ton of people must no longer be interested in voting for King
Well, he’s not managing the Maine GOP, so he must have free time!
said perfectly!
Yes, between Rockland’s Republican candidate not being a legal resident of Rockland and then this I wouldn’t vote for a Republican for outhouse cleaner. Have always split my vote; after what they did to Senator Snowe and how they hate centrists like myself that time is OVER!
I don’t think there’s a centrist in either party, and that’s the pity.
Actually Larry, I believe there are plenty of centrists in our country. They just don’t happen to spend their lives babbling horrible obscenities about the other party online
The posts we read online are from a few people. And should NEVER be confused with the millions that think both sides have their share of far leaning whackos.
There is the problem with the no compromise extremists.
With the evidence in front of them they still invoke the faith based alternative reality that exists only in their own minds.
Should people like that ever get a vote even for outhouse cleaner ?
I guess so, Mitt, as we currently have one in the White House.
Love that we’re rubber but you are glue argument from those I spoke of, above.
Sorry, but the King is not above the law. I hope he doesn’t need any more reminders about breaking the law.
Of course not, but it seems that Mr. Webster is making a big deal out of this issue.
The law was broken. What approach do you think should be used in dealing with a violation of law? Keep in mind, simply ignoring a violation is not the answer regardless of who is responsible, Democrat or Republican. Mr. King needs to explain the reasons for the violation in clear and uncertain terms, and apologize for it as well to the public.
This scenario all reminds me of LePage’s handling of the mural in a government owned building. LePage didn’t even violate the law by ordering it to be taken down, yet his political opponents – including most posters in this venue – insisted on keeping the issue alive for months and months. Before the governor’s action, I dare say not even one in one thousand Mainers even knew about the existence of the mural. And quite frankly most Mainers once made aware of it weren’t even concerned about the fate of the mural. Now we have a candidate for the US Senate adored by liberals who is responsible for the violation of a campaign law strongly supported by liberals, and guess what? We hear groaning about too much ado being made about this newly revealed violation. Tell me, what gives? It sounds to me like double standards are being applied where one set, the more lenient one, applies to a favored group, but not the other. Where’s the balanced and reasonable approach in all of this?
Neither is Paul Lepage and they still let him in Augusta every day…..
Hey like it or not Governor LePage may be very out spoken but he is making good things happen for Maine. He is working hard for us but because he has an R next to his name people don’t want to see it.
Name one thing…..extra credit if you can name more then one thing
Since you mentioned LePage, I’m curious to know what law you have in mind that he has clearly violated. Surely, anytime any politician violates the law, he or she needs to be held accountable.
King IS in violation here, but hey, I guess the rules should not apply to the former governor, self-proclaimed Independent and political hack.
and the Republicans are perfect law abiding citizens too?
how about do what i’m gonna do and NOT VOTE this year
If you don’t vote, then don’t complain.
As a convicted felon living in Mexico, that is probably a good idea.
As well as being on the lam.
Zihuatanejo
If you don’t vote, then you have no right to gripe about either party or the disasters ALL politicians create.
How pathetic. People fought so you’d have that right and you throw it away.
I’m one of those people that served my country so that others could vote. At least that’s what the official story is anyway. both parties in Maine are so beholden to special interests that it doesn’t matter anyway. In reality, I served in the military because those in power needed a fist to go along with the political jargon they were mouthing at the time.
i won’t have a gripe…and i know people fought…my father, grandather great grandfather, and beyond all did. we’ve been here since the 1600s…
i just don’t like obama or romney and a third party vote is pretty much throwing your vote away anyway
King is looking really old. Isn’t it time for him to settle down and maybe spend time with family? He was born during WW II. It’s time for a little fresh blood in DC, not a dinosaur.
I really don’t think this kind of blatant ageism by his supporters is going to help out Summers.
He’s only 3 years older than Romney, I think Romney should drop out of the race, too old.
He may look old but as an Old Repub he will get my vote.
Don’t the Republicans have anything better to do with their time?
The law is the law. Unlike Obama-the-selective-enforcer, King has to abide by it. Just fix the ad and be done with it.
When Republicans violate the law they do it on a grander scale, like Bush’s illegal war in Iraq, or LePage’s illegal reduction of MaineCare eligibility standards. They are like the alcohol-sodden driver going 100 mph who looks with scorn upon the mere jay-walker.
Oh geez, here we go again with the “illegal war bluh bluh bluh”.
Per the Constitution, the treaty we signed joining the UN is the law of the land. The UN charter made this war illegal since it was neither in self-defense nor authorized by the Security Council.
The war was also criminally stupid.
You said something funny. UN? “Per the Constitution” bluh bluh bluh. Pssssssssst! You forgot about the cease-fire that was in effect from when we went in there in the 90’s. THAT was still in effect (UN Security Council Resolutions 66O and 678) authorized the use of force on March 20th, 2003. Oh and by the way you scholar you, Article 39 of the UN charter has the ability to rule on the legality of war, but it NEVER did so with respect to the Iraq War. History lesson over for now Chenard. Know your audience.
Article 39 simply authorizes a finding and references Articles 41 and 42 for implementing non-military action or military action, respectively. Article 39 grants no express power to rule on the legality of a war initiated by a member state. The structure of the UN Charter, as confirmed by Kofi Annan and many others, is that, absent a Security Council authorization, a non-defensive act of war is a breach of the Charter and illegal.
Reaching back to Security Council Resolution 678 is a bridge to nowhere for you. That dealt with demands by the UN that Iraq withdraw from Kuwait and authorized the use of force to effect that withdrawal if Iraq refused. To say that, with Iraq out of Kuwait for almost 13 years, the US now had authority to invade Iraq is laughable.
Your suggestion that the Constitution is simply “bluh bluh bluh” is sad. Article VI makes all treaties part of the supreme law of the land.
I know my international law. It is sad that you do not.
Again Chenard, knowing how to copy and paste from wikipedia does not make you an international law scholar. Furthermore, at no time was I suggesting the Constitution is simply “bluh bluh bluh”. Your words following the word “constitution” was and still is bluh bluh bluh.
Now Chenard, try to keep up.
A. Resolution 678 has not been rescinded or nullified by succeeding resolutions.
B. Iraq failed to fully disarm and submit to U.N. weapons inspections. Therefore was in violation of Resolution 660 & 678 and the U.S. could legally compel them to do so. Still with me smart arse?
C. Lead Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo – International Criminal Court, well he couldn’t find anything to prosecute. I know, it must be some sort of conspiracy.
D. Finally and most important since you are so focused on trying to tie our Constitution in with the U.N., The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was passed by both the House and Senate in a joint resolution. What did it say? Well it asserts the authorization of the Constitution of the United States (not the U.N. Chenard) and the Congress for the President (our President, not Annan) to fight anti-United Stated terrorism.
E. Wait! There’s more and yeah, I am reaching here, the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 reiterated that it should be the policy of the United States to remove the a-hole, otherwise known as Saddam Hussein’s regime from power and promote a democratic government.
F. Wait! Wait!! I almost forgot about that dastardly cease-fire I mentioned earlier. You do know what one of those is don’t you? Yeah, I think that means we were still in a state of war with Iraq from the Gulf War. So we’ll say August 1990 for arguments sake, and March 2003 are for all that matters in the U.N., one and the same. Have a nice night.
As a matter of grammar, the third sentence of your first paragraph should use “were” and “are.” Your failure to understand basic grammar makes you suspect in the eyes of your readers when you try to address more difficult topics.
A decision not to prosecute does not condone the conduct.
I now realize you have never read any of these Resolutions. If you claim to understand them, cite the language in each that authorizes military action. Otherwise, your readers will judge you a fraud.
As a matter of law, the most recent Resolution (1441), directed to the problem at issue, controls. Resolutions 660 and 678 dealt primarily with the occupation of Kuwait and explicitly authorized the use of force only to end that occupation.
The 2002 Congressional Resolution specifically referenced the need to work with the Security Council.
By December 2002, the casus belli you cite, noncooperation with weapons inspectors, had ended. Inspectors had been let back in and were finding no WMD. This is not surprising: there were no weapons.
The Iraq Liberation Act has no language authorizing the use of force and only a fool would claim that it authorized the war.
You start your attack with grammar? You need to get over that little character flaw.
Maybe he just couldn’t let that one pass. lol You must have repaired your character flaw.
If you read the entire exchange, I started my response with a succinct legal analysis. When a poster professes his superior knowledge it is fair game to suggest that he doesn’t even have command of his native language.
Actually, you specifically paraphrased the Constitution as “bluh bluh bluh.”Where do you stand on the issue of Reagan selling missiles to Iran and diverting the procedes to fund war in Nicaragua? Pretty illegal.
GOP claims King’s first TV ad violates election law
What does your comment have to do with this headline?
YOU represent the people I mentioned in a previous post.
A small percentage of posters that can’t bring themselves to do anything beyond trash the other party. And i’m referring to BOTH parties. You represent that small but VERY VOCAL percentage that lead everyone else to believe the other party is unreasonable. I don’t think either party is unreasonable. I think they have different ideas as to what works.
You aren’t capable of the adult conversation.
You aren’t capable of saying, “Okay, we disagree on how to solve our problems”
With people like you the other guy is always EVIL or a SOCIALIST, or a FACIST. Or somehow INTENTIONALLY out to destroy the country.
YOU have become a media creation.
If you peruse the discussion thread, you will note that I responded to a poster who referenced “Obama-the-selective-enforcer.” I am not going to let such an assertion go unchallenged, and will use irony to make an effective point.
I have challenged liberal posters who use the word “fascist” and conservative posters who use the word “socialist.” Were you to read more of my posts, you would see serious comments on serious issues, as well as ironic responses to posted nonsense.
I will say that this is not my father’s Republican Party. Serious studies show that it has moved farther to the right while the Democratic Party has stayed where it has been on the political spectrum. Consider that no Republican member of Congress has voted for any tax increase since 1991 despite a yawning deficit.
The Democratic Party has stayed where it has been on the political spectrum? Oh my God. Oh, I’m sorry, I used the work God. What flavor was the koolaid?
You might educate yourself by looking at the Poole/Rosenthal study covered on NPR’s website on April 13 of this year. It contains a graph of shifts in party ideology based on a thorough statistical analysis of votes. Democrats have not moved further leftward since the mid-90s, while Republicans have marched steadily rightward since 1975.
You might also read the op-ed piece in the Washington Post this April by Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann. Ornstein is a resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, while Mann works at the Brookings Institute. They lament the extent of Republican extremism. If actual studies by respected scholars don’t impress you, then you can always drink your own Kool-aid.
Your’re right, Someone made the mistake of saying, “Obama the selective enforcer” to which you went in depth and name called
When Republicans violate the law they do it on a grander scale, like Bush’s illegal war in Iraq, or LePage’s illegal reduction of MaineCare eligibility standards. They are like the alcohol-sodden driver going 100 mph who looks with scorn upon the mere jay-walker.
Going off in SEVERAL directions not related..
You’re not special, trust me.
I don’t claim to be special.
Saying that LePage violated the Affordable Care Act by reducing MaineCare eligibility standards is hardly name-calling: it is a legal conclusion that the courts will ultimately agree with. Saying that the Iraq War was illegal is not name-calling: it is a legal conclusion with which most international law experts agree.
Comparing these rather large breaches of the law with the drunk driver is an effective use of simile.
Just don’t get it……..
“The other guy is EVIL, MY guys a SAINT”
Black and white.. no grey areas. Just you’re right and everyone else is wrong.
Must be a lot of fun actually talking to someone who knows for certain EVERYTHING.
Have a GREAT DAY.
Where have I posted that the Democrats are saints? The Republicans are owned by Wall Street. The Democrats occasionally lease themselves out to Wall Street. Given the choice, I will take the Democrats, but they are hardly my ideal party.
If you think the Democrats are less owned by moneyed interests I would refer you to http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php
Please explain Dodd-Frank if the parties are equally owned by Wall Street.
But he is right, bl,blah
UN Security Council Resolutions 66O and 678. Nothing illegal about it unless you believe what you read in the Washington Post. Look it up Larry. I’m tired of repeating myself to people who just feel like going off without checking their facts.
As those resolutions authorized the use of force if Iraq did not leave Kuwait, you have obviously not checked your facts. Are you suggesting that Iraq was still occupying Kuwait in March of 2003? If so, you are delusional.
You just don’t feel like reading do you Chenard. There was a second part to those resolutions. Try reading those then get back to me. Do your homework you international law student.
I now doubt you have read any of this material. I cannot prove a negative as a matter of logic. Had you read and understood the Resolutions you would be able to quote the language in Resolutions 660 and 678 that authorized military action in 2003.
Know that, as a matter of law, the more recent Resolution, directed to the problem at issue, is the controlling Resolution.
Prove your contention by citing language in the Resolutions or be recognized as a fraud.
Sure, you didn’t have to go risk your life for Haliburton!
Where where you?
In Paris on a Missionary Quest for Grey Poupon?
Right on you tell them for I like to know where is the money that this governor LePage claim he is saving going. I would never vote for a Republican for they promise you this and that but never keep their promise only do a lot of cuts that hurts a lot of people in Maine or any state. But for this so call ad is a laugh to me for it is nothing compare to what the Republican’s get away with.
The dems were all for that one as well. what do they care? They don’t. only if it would cost them votes and power.
On the Iraq War Resolution, the combined votes of Democratic Senators and Representatives was 147 against and 111 for.
I don’t believe a single Democratic state representative or senator voted for LePage’s elimination of people from MaineCare eligibility, but I can’t quickly locate the information on the web. Most Democratic representatives and senators clearly opposed it. To paraphrase Dylan, know your song well before you start singing.
Are you suggesting that the Democrats would not be saying the exact same thing if the shoe were on the other foot?
So you are claiming that the only Democrat in this race, Dill, has also filed a complaint?
.
Got a link to show that?
I made no claims. I asked a question. Surely you understand the difference between the two.
But you were clearing implying that Democrats ” would not be saying the exact same thing if the shoe were on the other foot” and there is only ONE Democrat in this race … Ergo you strongly implied that Dill would say the exact same thing.
.
btw: she hasn’t.
My point is that no matter which party has committed a transgression you would find the same reaction from whichever side was called out. Either party is as childish as the other. You know as well as I that if Charlie Summers or Cynthia Dill had omitted the fine print from an ad, they would have been called out by the opposing party(ies).
Sounds like you don’t know the difference. King is not a Democrat
Everyone is trying their best to take cheap shots at the other guy. Tis the season.
Yes it is the season and thank goodness it will be over soon.
Just be glad that they aren’t cooking up another scheme to destroy the country!
Mr. Charley is authoritarian stain on the State of Maine.
King standing in the middle of the ad saying “My AD” meets intent of the law a whole lot more than the GOP phoney ad saying “Vote for Dill…no really!”
And this is how government is now run… looking for loopholes and minor infractions. What a wonderful way to live life…. contrived, redundant, and f’ing stupid.
I’m so glad we have our elected leaders looking out for us.
Webster what the hell are you doing? LOL hey no fair he isn’t playing correctly with his crayons WAH! Isn’t there something more important to discuss during this election? Oh I forgot you have no clue so you try to find something stupid. Imagine him TVOing Kings commercials and saying wait wait look right there he said he approves this message but its not in writing. Let me rewind it and play this back again…yep see there it is again. Foolish waste of time.
there is no laws for lefty’s campaigns or voting.Only GOP candidates have to follow rules.
It may seem petty, but the law is the law, what if Charlie Summers had done this instead of Angus King?
It’s likely no one would have picked up on it…
… because no one sane could watch a Charlie Summers ad all the way to the end.
I can’t watch ANY political ad all the way to the end.
Am I confused? Isn’t the GOP the party of “get rid of nitpicking laws and regulations”?
they only want to get rid of regulations they don’t like; if a regulation helps them, they want it.
only the ones they don’t like
“Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster” ……………………………… You’re a disgrace to the Maine Republican Party …………………………. If you really want to do something constructive ………….. step down and leave the State of Maine.
Take LePage with you…!!!
you’re, not your
You know, what really gets me is “I’s,” as in “Joey and I’s report is almost done.” How did we get to a point in this country where people actually say and WRITE it?? THAT is what we should be addressing!!!!
Thanks ………. good catch
Don’t you just love Maine Politics…..Thankfully I do not belong to any party and am proud of it
Yeah, thats what King says too….
Seems like a stupid mistake — if you’re running for Senate, you should be able to cross your t’s and dot your i’s. That said, it’s not a harmful mistake, half the ad is literally King talking directly to the camera. The intent behind the campaign law was to maintain transparency in campaign funding and this ad, though it should be fixed, doesn’t really work against that intent.
Charles Webster is an embarrassment to the state of Maine and especially to his own party.
This guy is the Don Quixote of Maine politics, continually jousting against petty, or nonexistent, causes. Every time he opens his mouth and whines about something insignificant like this he does further damage to Maine Republicans – which is absolutely fine by me. I hope his fellow Republicans look at him after the ass-whipping they’re about to get at the polls next month.
Nitpicking!
Republicans are desperate, and when the pressure is on their way to respond is to deflect and redirect and obfuscate. They know King is going to trounce their candidate.
Just another democrat that is why there seems little or no support for dill from the Dems. Though I would not want to see either King or Dill get in.
Boy we are surprised by your comment and not the first negative one today.
Why not? Are you afraid something just might get through Congress?
Give me a break.
Yes, Republicans, be afraid. Be very afraid…
we should all be afraid.
Afraid of what? King’s experience and common sense?
Not to over-generalize, but we should be afraid of shipping our jobs overseas.
We need to get a strong middle class back, or start learning Chinese.
Common sense, yea right.
Looks like the counter attack machine is working full speed today, they must have just gotten paid by Karl Rove.
It has nothing to do with Karl Rove. It has to do with the short memories of voters. To be quite honest, the whole ballot is pretty unacceptable. Steve Woods seems promising but he’s getting little publicity which means few votes. So that leaves the decision to which candidate do you least want in office.
Afraid of a candidate who has spent the last several years eating from the federal trough to fund his wind farm. What common sense is there in an operation that is capable of producing a maximum of 20% of its production capacity? The only reason these wind farms are being pursued is because of the massive government subsidy. If King were interested in wind power because it is a so-called “green” energy, why did he not invest in it before the feds were paying for the investment?
Or perhaps afraid of a candidate who committed us to spending slightly under $1 billion dollars in a time when revenues were decreasing and our taxes were rising? The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has a bit of a paper on that if you’re interested. http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/neei/articles/fisccond/fiscal03.pdf
Or perhaps afraid of yet another political opportunist. If King was so sure he was the answer to the problems of Congress, why did he not enter the race before Snowe dropped out? Perhaps because he didn’t want to actually have a real race?
King was governor in a time of prosperity in this country and around the world. Yet even with things on the upswing, were our taxes lowered? They were not and that is because King was and is a spender.
Thank you, clarafire, for taking the time to do some research and presenting facts instead of sound bites stolen from radio hosts. I appreciate that and am not being sarcastic. I can’t stand debating people who just spew things for the sake of disagreeing with the other side.
I like what he did with the (unpopular) program for laptops in schools. We need to have our children familiar with technology so they can be competitive and succeed in the future.
He did raise the sales tax, but people need to realize that we have to pay the bills. I think we should put our sales tax back up to 6%.
As far as the wind farms, though, I hate them. It’s an out-of-state company taking advantage of under-educated rural communities, my hometown being one of them.
And you know that many of our successful politicians in this country have questionable deals. I wish I was that smart.
Also, he stayed at my cousin’s B and B in Bar Harbor and was a nice guy. My cousin made a joke over the phone when he was booking his room about the total with “the Governor’s share” and Mr.King thought it was funny.
I guess I just like the guy and am voting for him. I like George Bush and Paul LePage (his life story and mettle impress me) but didn’t vote for them.
Thank you again for the valid and well worded retort. Too bad everyone can’t do this.
Civil discourse is not dead. Cheers!
You need to brush up on your history. Have you ever lived anywhere other than Maine? Do you realize how much more we pay for electricity here? Do you even receive an electric bill? You can thank Angus for that. Oh yeah, and you can thank him and his other Virginia lawyer friend living in Maine, Brownie Carson for getting rid of all the dams in Maine. Angus is a lawyer from Virginia whom all the uneducated people in Maine want to vote for. Know your history!! How do you think Angus became so wealthy?
Yes I do receive an electric bill, I just didn’t realize it was Angus King’s fault. Wow.
Thank you for opening my eyes.
I don’t get your reply. Are you for or against the wind farm? From what I have read most of the electricity produced goes out of the state so how does that affect our bills?
Lots of things are more expensive here in Maine (like gas and groceries) because of our geographic location and other factors beyond any candidate’s control. Gas where I am in Aroostook county is $4.15.
The “system” has become so complex that the finger cannot be pointed at any one person anymore.
Yea we should be afraid if King gets in there.
Now that the GOP is done breaking the law and disenfranchsing Ron Paul supporters, this is what they are going to focus their efforts on? Seriously, how about focusing on issues and running a clean campaign? Guess that would be too hard for Emperor Charlie Webster.
Come on Zombie, really? Disenfranchsing Ron Paul supporters? That whole fiasco was an embarrassment not to the GOP, but possibly to a lot of people in Maine. The leader of the pack stomping around down there like a child who had his favorite toy taken away from him? Really? Standing in front of the national news cameras stating they were from the Great State of Maine (true statement) and they were lied to and mistreated by the GOP? Really? I appreciate what the message Ron Paul tried to carry and what he continues to do for our country. He knew and has known he did not have a chance at the nomination, but he did have a chance to shape each party’s platform to help our country. (cue the music) Well done Ron, but enough of the people then and now boo hooing about the embarassment caused at the GOP convention. When is election day? Fifty-five days and counting before this nonsense ends. Rant out.
You really must want the Republican candidates in Maine to lose.
The GOP is correct. I hope King will comply with the law this afternoon, right after he fires the staff members that put him in this spot. That said, is this the “gotcha moment” you were hoping for, State GOP? Puh-leez.
Pot meet kettle….
I can’t wait to see what Angus has to say about the $135 million Solyndra style kickback he got in order for his support of Obama.
King is not likely to comment about something that only lives in your imagination.
Not in anyone’s imagination:
http://www.themainewire.com/2012/09/breitbart-king-wind-project-worse-solyndra/
The Maine Wire brought to you by the very partisan, very conservative, very right leaning Maine Heritage Policy Center. No bias there. I’d actually rather watch Fox News it’s more liberal than MHPC.
No matter who reports the story. The real question is whether the story is true or not.
I like to see 2 sources before I make up my mind. Got another one besides Maine Wire? Thanks in advance, I look forward to debating this issue with you.
Your link (to an opinion piece by a right wing nut no less) debunks your own claim.
.
A company in which King was a part owner got an amount that totaled to LESS than you claim King himself got. Then it goes on to say the company, in which King was no longer a part owner, has applied for (but not received) some additional money.
.
So the only open question is: Is it math, logic or reading comprehension that is your biggest issue with understanding things?
I don’t want to get into a tit for tat. But haven’t you at some point questioned when Romney’s association with Bain ended?
Can’t have it both ways.
I agree absolutely that King was out. Are you capable of saying the same of Romney?
Romney continued to chair high level meetings at Bain and to sign legal paperwork for the company after he claims he had “retired”. I was not aware that King had done anything like that. Are you? I’m open to learning he did – but I honestly have never seen any claim like that.
There’s were we disagree. There is no record of Romney chairing anything at that time.. Just his name on docs. I can’t say for sure but neither can you. And THAT”S my point. We read some piece with accusations and no facts and decide because we don’t like someone that they are facts
You may be correct about evidence that he CHAIRED the meetings. but Mitt Romney himself testified that he attended board meetings and was the sole owner of the company well after the retroactivee retirement” date he later claimed. This is strong evidence he stayed very much involved, unless you are now claimimg that Romney lied under oath.
.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/romney-testified-in-2002-that-he-sat-on-boards-of-bain-investments-20120713
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2012/07/11/government-documents-indicate-mitt-romney-continued-bain-after-date-when-says-left/IpfKYWjnrsel4pvCFbsUTI/story.html?s_campaign=sm_tw
How about the role Karl Rove played in the outing of Valerie Plame, does that come under Treason?
apparently this is the only way they think they can get Summers elected, rather than on his record…
At least he admits what party he’s in…..
lol, so what? That’s supposed to make me vote for him? LMAO….
I sure wouldn’t vote for someone who hides it….
Democrats are still angry at King’s vetoes of some of their key bills.
.
Does that make him a Republican?
If all votes could be multiplied by the voter’s weight and divided by the voter’s intelligence, Republicans would win this election. Webster’s vote alone would increase fourfold!
well that should clinch it for summers…..
Please leave Charlie Webster alone – He’s GREAT – Got to Love Him – He’s the Greatest thing going for us.
But, with that said Angus will win by 30 points over the other Charlie, Summers, 50 points over Dill. Every dollar they sink down this hole is a dollar they won’t being trying to misinform the voters elsewhere.
Just another Democrat, and the people will be fooled by him. Here goes more solar power, sure he will make even more money. Dollar down the hole, look at the deficit in the last 4 years. Like they say, have to blame the man at the top.
Are you blaming Bush again?
Solar power? You sure?
Some folks are absolutely CERTAIN of their own little made up “realities”.
Let’s deal with a few facts. Both sides have been bad for the deficits, so neither can really blame the other, but at least the Dem’s are less hypocritical about it. And, while the deficits has increased under Obama, a fair, if not most, of it came from the previous Administration passing everything, with a lot with Democratic voting for future Congresses (and Administrations) to pay for, i.e. two wars that were kept off the books, big tax cuts without off-setting identification of funds (or reduced expenditures to balance the books, and an expansive Part D drug program for seniors, also pasted on to this Administration.
But, let’s throw away any partisan bias and offer solutions and resolutions to the current state of affairs. First and foremost I want efficiency and effectiveness in spending of my tax dollars, an identifiable purpose and effect of that expenditure. Our largest expenditure is our military, and it should be, but we are spending almost as much as EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Close to 90% of our military spending go to contractors who make money on a cost plus basis, thus if you have an over run in cost, you make more money. Let an international force, which we would proportional participate in handle Inter-national events (Liberia, Syria and such) We’ll handle attacks on us and our allies (proportionally.
Let’s stop Americans from hiding their wealth overseas – America – Love It or Leave It – Leave your money here and participate in the American economy. Take it overseas, pay an extraction fee for removing American currency. Let’s ban pay-day-lending and credit-card scams draining billions and billions of dollars from the economy in what use to be prohibited as illegal Usury businesses with high interest costs, some known to charge 400%.
Limit tax credits or loop holes towards advancing the American economy, not the personal wealth of a few. Protect the American worker, protect the American consumer, reward American businesses who are in business for the growth of the American economy.
Demand individual responsibility to a greater American society and an informed participatory citizenry.
Now, we may disagree on how some of these things are achieved, but I like to think we can agree too many are always just asking; “What’s in for me?” My business always did better when everyone was doing well, when the country was doing well. When one party say’s their only purpose is to make sure the other one fails – the country loses. When they advocate a different approach to solving a problem – fair minds can find a way to agree – but if you say your only purpose is to not let any resolution or solution to occur — you are an enemy to the country.
I see nothing here to argue about, great post.
Has free will been lost somehow? Does a payday lender FORCE anyone to take a loan with them? What would you suggest those people do? OHH, I see, you would force payday lenders to offer VERY, VERY HIGH RISK people loans at competitive rates. Is that your solution? There is a reason these people go there . Because They are a BAD RISK and no one else will lend to them.
MayI ask, what is your take on the current situation in Chicago?
Forget the high wages these teacher’s are making and demanding.
They don’t want means tests. They don’t want any way for we as a society to determine if they’re doing a good job.
I understand the hesitance to have test determine their fate. I really do.
But can you give me ANY MANNER IN WHICH TO DETERMINE WHO THE GOOD AND POOR TEACHERS ARE?
Feel good legislation helps NO ONE. We need real solutions to REAL PROBLEMS.
Almost 60 percent of the jobs created since President Obama took office pay less the 9 dollars an hour. That’s according to CNN not a far right leaning source. Is that good enough? Is another couple million minimum wage jobs going to improve the economy?
Your diatribe was full of idealism. We need to look at reality.
Romney hasn’t given enough specifics. NO doubt about it. But president Obama’s ideas entail nothing more then small feel good legislation that won’t do diddly in the big picture.
So, are you saying let’s battle to the bottom?
I’m saying that’s the direction we’re headed in NOW..
One more time. Almost 60 percent of these wonderful NEW JOBS the President takes credit for are less then 9 dollars an hour. That, is headed in the wrong direction. Wouldn’t you agree?
Name me ONE BIG IDEA that President Obama has had to improve the economy.
I keep saying it and i’ll say it again. I’m all for ending the Bush tax cuts. That will bring in a measly 80 billion dollars a year and will have NO IMPACT on the economy whatsoever.
Demonizing banks and payday loans and corporations won’t change a thing. Sounds great in a speech but means nothing.
What is President Obama’s plan to improve the economy?
You won’t see me calling anyone names or accusing them of far left or right silliness. Contrary to many I read online I don’t think anyone is evil or a fascist or a socialist. I just happen to think the two disagree on how to move forward. I point to the President’s record because he’s the one in office. His policies are what I have to work with at this time.
I just want answers. Not platitudes. Don’t you?
What is President Obama’s Plan to improve the economy?
Answer, —-Keeping the Republicans from further destroying it!
Still blaming Bush for much of our current problems and not Obama. So much for “demanding individual responsibility”. Just not for Obama?
Of course Republicans are willing to assign blame, but not accept putting two wars, a major tax cut, and an expansion of a senior drug program on the credit card (off-budget), which this President put on the books, thus a larger debt…, and, yes Democrats voted for many of those things so there’s enough blame to go around.
Of course to solve a problem one needs to understand what caused the problem – and, you can’t do that if you head is up your, er, in the sand.
Typical Democrat. Talk around the question. No real answer. Blame others again. Then make a personal attack. We know where your heads at.
GOP = rudeness, no compromise, no kindness, dirty tricks, and everything else that sheer irrational anger can pull out of the muck
Democrats, what a mess. and too, no compromise, and everything else you stated. They seem to be all alike.
Which is why parties should be done away with, people should start acting like adults and work together instead of finger pointing or digging in their heels because the other person is in the “wrong party.”
Republicans find the most ridiculous things to make a fuss about.
Karl Rove made them do it:)
I expected to read about some major violation of the law. What a let down. I guess the Republicans are upset because King seems to be in the lead with voters.
Wow…how ’bout arguing about something that really matters? Like jobs or some dumb thing like that?????
That’s in case the deaf see the ad. Check closed captioning, may be written there.
You are applying logic. That is an unfair tactic against Webster and his enablers who comment here.
Why are the Republicans afraid of Angus King?
Cause he’s winning and running away with it.
“Angus King should promptly take down this ad, correct it, and apologize to the people of Maine for neglecting the very laws he says are so important for clean and fair elections,” Maine GOP spokesman David Sorensen said in a statement.
Lol what? Why not call him and just tell him he needs to sign a paper for the ad? This is as petty as tearing the tag of a mattress, why is this even news? Might as well have him apologize for those streets he crossed while not at a crosswalk.
What’s the next article going to be? Old man in woods smokes pot and doesn’t bother his neighbors, more of the story at 7.
When you are on the side that you know can not win…..pick at anything…… you are still backing the wrong candidate.
What I’ve learned from politics:
Opinions are like left hands.. Everybody has one, but none of them are right.
I heard that in a rather cruder form — opinions are like *deleted* — everybody has one, and most of them stink.
Sounds like the GOP doesn’t even have any rubber bullets left.
Really? Seriously, stop the BS. I’m Republican and even I see nothing wrong with this. He states he approves the message and at the bottom of the ad it states who it is paid for by. Geez louise, I’m embarrassed.
Who pays for this irrelevant investigation?
I think I saw him doing 58 in a 55 zone.
Next they’ll be asking us how anyone could vote for a person named after a pickle or a cow.
The humble Farmer
I’d vote for a pickle with my angus hamburger! A good strong Kosher dill. And dark beer.
unlike the republican ad for Dill which has some made up PAC!! It doesn’t say bought and paid for by desperate folks for Summer. As a lifelong R, I’m feeling like Snowe, my party if leaving me. I’m voting for King
Smart man, I did that 8 years ago. Left the party that is.
Text should read:
“I’m Angus King, and I don’t really approve this message, but there’s somebody standing behind me with a gun making me say stuff.”(Duh!)
Yes those pesky Federal Election Laws. The King should not have to abide by the same laws as the peasants…………..do you know who he is? the King…………and on fact checking this ad claim ………………………
https://www.mainegop.com/2012/08/king-admits-to-deceiving-mainers-time-for-him-to-come-clean-about-his-record-as-governor/
You know what is truly hilarius about this latest Keystone Kop move by the two inept Charlies, Summers and Webster?
.
Every news story about their whining has an attached video of King’s ad. King is getting enormous free publicity because of this!
I suspect that was the intent all along. Bait the opposition, get the free press, and make the opposition look like sniveling whiners. Nice!
One thing is for sure, the GOP does look like sniveling whiners!
and they don’t need King to help them look that way…
… and obviously much smarter than the sniveling whiners who took the bait.
Time to send Angus another check. I’ll do that today.
Is that the same Charlie that wouldn’t prosecute that Treasurer for violating the State Constitution?
It will be a sorry day if Augus gets in W.ashington DC.. Look what he did in Maine nothing.
This only proves how desperate the GOP apologists are.
Charlie Webster, I hope your Republican Party candidates lose every seat in November! We can’t trust any of you!
Clearly, the GOP feels that King is the one to beat, given that they are throwing everything at him that they can.
That looks like the only thing they have right.
G O P = Grumpy Old Pinheads!
Ask the GOP what they think of election laws, when applied to their own candidates . . .
Mr. Webster is a desperate bullying buffoon, bless his heart.
LePage is just scared the People of Maine will finally wake up and get rid of him..after all he sure wasn’t for the middle class or poor!
Is this all the GOP has to complain about? The ad speaks for itself. Like King or not, the ad clearly states that he approves the ad. Unless you are also claiming that wasn’t King in the video? I could give a damn if it was followed up in writing or not! At most this deserves an “I’m sorry but we forgot to follow up with a note to confirm that was King speaking” and that yes he did say what you heard! Find something REAL to discuss!! Such as taxes, national security, social security, health care costs, etc, etc.!! Is the GOP trying to shoot itself and its local candidates in the foot with this ridiculous crap? I’m considering the party as a negitive for all of the Republican local candidates and lower my opinion of them if they try to tell me that they believe and support the dribble that is coming out of GOP headquarters.
CW is the “pot calling the kettle black,” when calling for an apology–
Lance Dutson – you’ve got to be kidding. Pot say hello to the kettle. Republicans spent like drunken sailors when there was no money…and then the bottom fell out.
Yep, King is in violation of the law. Rules are rules and apply to everyone equally. Fire the staff member who made the oversight, pay the fine, and if the production company had political ad experience before this ad, fire them as well.
I remember when he left as governor he left the state in a mess .voting for him is just more trouble and windmills at tax payer expense
The republicans are a bunch of whiny losers.
Get real Charlie, you are going to lose and crawl back into Lepages lap.
The GOP has no good ideas, only technicalities and maneuvers.
I don’t think that’s the issue we have here. Yeah, he’s in violation. Pay the fines, take care of it, move on. Mr. Webster has enough in his own house he needs to clean up before he should start worrying about fine print in a political ad that few people can read in the small print and short time it’s displayed.
OMG…That is what I just said!
Vote for Colleen Quint, and dump the rubber stamp for Lepage, Garrett Mason.
This guy is odd and needs move out of his parents house. Send him packing in November!
Slap his wrist and get on with the important stuff…..perhaps running the country?
I promise not to watch this ad again until it gets fixed.
Check out these articles on King: http://www.asmainegoes.com/content/angus-kings-almost-legal-private-investors-club
http://www.pressherald.com/news/statement-on-kings-budget-woes-true-but-missing-context_2012-06-21.html
Politics as usual.
Not putting a redundant written statement is an election issue? How about purposefully jamming phone lines and preventing vans from taking voters to the polls? Do the GOP leaders realize how stupid this makes them look? By the way, Angus, the next Senator from Maine, thanks the GOP for the added air time for his ad at no cost to him! Good move Charlie.
I think King is a snake, .. Charlie RNC Convention???
Who are the GOP to question any campaign illegal behavior!!?? After all they wrote the book!
Charlie Summers 2012 !!!
For dog catcher! Summers is strange and not very smart.
Maybe, but he is very handsome!
Fill out form. Sign it. Mail it. Done.
Newsflash: Horse dead. Move on.
“GOP claims King’s first TV ad violates election law”
Since When has the GOP Been Concerned about breaking the law?
LOL
“Tears of a clown” Charlie Webster!
After all the things you have done in the past year to “help” your buddies in the” Potty” (or at least the things the public knows about), messing up your own “Potty’s” primary, messing up your own “Potty’s” convention, messing with voters rights (even if you didn’t get away with it) and costing the taxpayers money to investigate your “non-evidence” of voter fraud, now you come up with yet another blip out of left field…someone needs to follow you around for a few months and investigate everything you do- I am sure it would be verrry interesting to see the report that comes out…
Really? THIS is an issue for the GOP? Glad to see that they have their priorities straight.
But he has no problem with anonymous republicans buying ads
for a Democrat to try to steer votes from King, or with encouraging college
Republicans to park common use vans so other students can’t use them to bring
voters to the polls. What a hypocrite.
Waaa. LOL OMG Elections really bring out the best in the candidates.
this is petty a simple note to the party would have surficed for the correction.
With all the issues that are facing voters today, this was the most trivial of matters and if this is all Charlie Summers can come up with he is in trouble!!!!
It’s hard to know who to despise more — manipulative nitpicking snakes like typical Republican Charlie Webster or above-the-law holier-than-thou creeps like Angus King. A pox on both these nasty little men.
Of all the issues that are facing voters today, this has got to be one of the most trivial complaints yet. Get a grip, Charlie.