Trish Beck and ACTBlue

"Political Civility" had the following last weekend:

Did anyone else pick up that nearly 22% of Trish Beck’s support came from outside the state of Utah?

[...]

Bottom line I have to wonder: Why would outside the state interests be so invested in a little ol’ district in Sandy Utah? Maybe I should ask ActBlue.

Whenever I make a claim like this, I always like to at least back up my wild info. At the very least, I try not to sound like a complete idiot by giving people a link where they can find out more.

Like, what this "Act Blue" thing is.

One click past the link provided by Political Civility:

Who We Are

ActBlue is the nation's largest source of funds for Democrats. Launched in 2004, ActBlue created and deployed the next generation of online fundraising tools, enabling individuals and groups to raise money for the Democratic candidates and committees of their choice at www.actblue.com. In four years, ActBlue has sent more than $83 million to some 3200 candidates and committees from more than 420,000 donors, with a median contribution of only fifty dollars, doing as much to ensure a sustainable Democratic future as any other player in the field.

Want to join in? Learn how to ActBlue.

100% of the money from ACT blue came from people who said "I want my money to go to Trish Beck!"

Most candidates who use ACT Blue use them to process credit cards. Because of how ACT Blue is organized and Utah's reporting laws, these donations need to be reported as coming from Act Blue, not from the person who actually donated the money. I'd like to see the law changed, myself.

However, what should have thrown a large flag is the fact that 17 separate contributions came from ACT Blue. That should have told you this wasn't simply an out-of-state organization donating to her race.

-Bob

Jesse, stop whining about negative attacks that aren't negative

Jesse, over at Coolest Family Ever, has already decided to not support Trisha Beck for her State Legislative race based on what he thinks were negative ads from 2006, and that she started the negative ads.

I'm here today to call BS on both these subjects.

First, let's read what he said about the negative ads in 2006.

This week marked an unpleasant turn in the race for Senate District 9: negative campaigning. It kicked off with a flier from Trisha Beck blasting her opponent, Wayne Niederhauser, for outspending her by a margin of almost 7-to-1. She fails to mention, however, that Niederhauser is spending about what's average for a seat in the legislature these days.

Actually, Niederhauser spent more than any other Senate Candidate in 2006. In fact, if you take the person in the #2 spot, add to it the actual average of about $59,000, you still won't top Niederhauser's number.

$282,392.83 is hardly average. But, we'll move on...

It was then followed up with a reprint of an endorsement from the Tribune with negative comments about Niederhauser highlighted

From the Tribune Editorial, the comments I'm sure Jesse referred to:

But, despite being a certified public accountant, Niederhauser's number-crunching ability seems to desert him when he says he would be open to vouchers or tuition tax credits to put public money into private schools, something Beck strongly opposes. And it takes total flight when Niederhauser argues that cutting taxes gives government more money with which to meet the very needs he promises to address.

That's the only negative that can be found about Niederhauser in the editorial.

But, Jesse wasn't done:

The grand finale was a flier pushing Beck's record on increasing education spending while insinuating that Niederhauser cuts education funding.

Actually, it didn't insinuate anything. It stated it plain as day. And, it told the truth. And, it wasn't negative. It's like me sending out a flier stating that Joe Crockett hates onions and you saying that's negative. (And Joe really does hate onions, that's a fact.)

Niederhauser has, thankfully, not resorted to these low-ball tactics, even if his party did send out a flier tying Beck to Al Gore and his 2000 run for president.

Which I'm sure Niederhauser came right out and rebuked his party for, right?

Probably not. I'm sure he probably had a say in the ad.

One thing that Jesse doesn't mention is the mailer that was sent out that stated that Trisha supports legalizing pot, and insinuating that she probably smokes it, which is false. Not to mention the guys in black suits walking the neighborhood telling lies about her.

So, I'd like my friend Jesse to please start looking at facts and not fiction. It will help a lot.

-Bob