Criticism Vs. Attacks Vs. Smears

In a letter appearing in today's Dispatch, Shamansky Campaign advisor Dale Butland takes on Tiberi's assertion that Bob or his campaign have in any way smeared Pat.

To date, Shamansky has run five different television commercials, only three of which mentioned Tiberi at all. The three criticized Tiberi for his role in piling up huge federal budget deficits and for being a rubber stamp for the Bush administration. Since Tiberi did, in fact, vote to cut taxes while fighting a war, as well as for the creation of a $700 billion Medicare prescriptiondrug entitlement program, and since the nonpartisan Congressional Quarterly says Tiberi has voted with President Bush 92 percent of the time, there is certainly evidence for Shamansky’s assertions. In any event, the charges unquestionably revolve around issues and Tiberi’s congressional voting record. How, exactly, is that a smear?

Tiberi’s ads, by contrast, invariably have been ad hominem character attacks. They characterize Shamansky as a tax-cheating carpetbagger who "can’t be believed." They childishly make fun of Shamansky’s name, asserting that he’s a "sham" and a fraud. And they attack Shamansky’s age with subtle filming techniques and thinly veiled suggestions that he is hard of hearing, senile or an Alzheimer’s victim. Since the dictionary defines smear as the defamation, sullying or soiling of a reputation, Tiberi’s ads appear to qualify on all counts.

There's no doubt that it's Tiberi that's been running the nastiest of nasty campaigns. Ever since Pat stopped "Ignoring [his] opponent" Pat's been on the attack. Some of Pat's little gems ...

Making fun of Bob's name. "SHAMansky". Bob "The Sham" Ansky. Sorry Pat, that kind of behavior isn't acceptable even on the playground anymore. When you're 8 years old, it'll earn you a detention - what makes you think it'll earn you a fourth term?
• All those pictures and footage of Bob walking that you took from Bob's own ads. Are you trying to make fun of the way Bob walks? He crushed both legs in the Army during the Korean War and spent a year in military hospitals. Is that really something you want to make fun of someone for Pat?
• Ads that imply Bob's an old coot, that he "doesn't even know where he lives." Well Pat. You've met Bob. You've been schooled by Bob. You know that's not true. As for "[not knowing] where he lives" - Bob knows. He knows where he's from, and who his friends and neighbors are, and what they need in Washington. You, Pat, seem only to care about what your Big money special interests want.
• Saying Bob was "Fired" from Congress. Just like you're about to Pat, Bob lost an election. That was 24 years ago - and unlike you - it wasn't because of incompetence and party toadyism. In fact, Bob stood up to one of his own party leaders, and refused to go back on his word to support Vern Riffe and his candidate for governor. For his honesty, Mr. Riffe redistricted the 12th, and Bob lost in the new district. He wasn't fired. He stood up for what he believed in, bucked his own party, and paid for it.
• Misrepresenting 24 year old votes to scare voters. From reading, hearing, or watching all Pat's nonsense, you would think Bob sat there raising taxes until last year. Bob served in congress from 1981-1983 - while Reagan was president. Pat's "conservative" hero signed those bills into law. And more than a few of the votes that Pat claims are the reasons Bob was "fired" happened after Bob lost his Bid for reelection - when he could just throw politics out the door and do what was right for the people of the 12th district.

Pat Tiberi is desperate. It's starting to show - but we can't get complacent. We need your help to get out the vote, and to make sure people know that Pat's lies JUST AREN'T TRUE.