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Thursday, July 28, 2005

Joel Connelly’s Mistake within a Mistake

Posted by on July 28 at 14:55 PM

So, did everybody catch PI Columnist Joel Connelly’s hilarious screw up yesterday? He mistook an anti-Mike McGavick web-sitethe McGavick-spoof site blared, “It’s time for a man to represent Washington”for a real Mike McGavick web site. Then, when the confused Connelly visited the “McGavick” web site a second time, he found that the site was “currently under construction…” Connelly, thinking this was all real, took that to be a positive step, and wrote: “The soon-to-be-ex-Safeco CEO has taken charge of his political fortunes, exiling sexism.”
So, Connelly compounded his error. Rather than trashing what appeared to be McGavick’s initial overt sexism, Connellywhose column was called “McGavick Web Site cleans up; foes ought to do the same”went on to use “McGavick’s decision” to re-think “his” web-site (or cover up his apparent sexism!!!) as evidence that McGavick was taking the moral high ground over the Dems. NextPac, a Democratic PAC, had sent out e-mails with red Xes drawn over McGavick’s face (green checks over Cantwell’s)and Connelly’s column implied that NextPAC should follow McGavick’s example and rethink their tactics. (Connelly eventually discovered his goof up, and changed his column on-line to acknowledge the mistake.)

But my question is this: If Connelly actually thought McGavick would have ever truly considered campaigning on the slogan “It is time for a man to represent Washington,” and if Connelly thought that McGavickeven for an ill-advised momentactaully posted that slogan on a web site, why didn’t Connelly trash McGavick (rather than bending over backwards to turn the column into a slam on the Dems)? After all, NextPac’s e-mail was hardly offensive. Red X for McGavick, Green Check for Cantwell. Big deal.) Bottom line: If Connelly actually thought the “McGavick site” was real, he should have immediately called McGavick and asked him what the hell was going on. Had Connelly done that, the whole embarrassing episode would’ve never happened.

I’ve included the NextPac e-mail below. I don’t think the Xes and Checks come through, but you’ll get the idea.

WHO IS MIKE MCGAVICK?

The Karl Rove Recruitment Team has picked the wrong contender again. At a press conference yesterday, Mike McGavick, champion of insurance companies everywhere, announced he will step down as CEO of Safeco to explore a possible run against Senator Maria Cantwell next year. But who is this advocate of the insurance industry?

MCGAVICK: TOP INSURANCE LOBBYIST/EXECUTIVE

Mike McGavick is trying to become the first-ever insurance industry lobbyist elected to the United States Senate. He has made tens of millions of dollars as an insurance lobbyist. While his company fired 1200 employees and continued to raise insurance rates on the backs of the middle and low income families, Mike was able to take in a 250%, $2 million bonus.

MCGAVICK: ENVIRONMENTAL FOE

As a champion lobbyist for insurance companies, McGavick fought to stop the clean-up of Superfund sites.

MCGAVICK: SON OF SLADE

Senator Cantwell defeated Slade Gorton in 2000. Now the Karl Rove Recruitment Team has signed up Slade Gorton's old aide and insurance lobbyist, Mike McGavick to avenge her 2000 election victory.

TOP INSURANCE LOBBYIST/EXECUTIVE
$$$
ENVIRONMENTAL FOE & FRIEND OF POLLUTERS
$$$
SON OF SLADE AND KARL ROVE SELECTION
$$$

DEFENDING THE ENVIRONMENT, WOMEN & CIVIL LIBERTIES
BOOSTING OUR NW ECONOMY & CREATING JOBS
FIGHTING FOR OUR PRIORITIES & ALL OF WASHINGTON STATE

CANTWELL STRONG IN FUNDRAISING

With over 25,000 donors (more than half from Washington state) Cantwell has a strong financial base. Maria Cantwell has reported raising over $3.6 million in the first half of 2005 with $3 million in the bank currently. This puts her at the top of her Democratic class who face competitive races next year, and well ahead of the pace Patty Murray set in her successful re-election bid (Maria Cantwell's 2nd quarter total was more than Murray's total for the entire 1st half of 2003).

CANTWELL STRONG IN THE POLLS

Recent polls have shown Sen. Cantwell with a job approval rating in the mid-to-high 50s, which has risen steadily over the last few years. (Elway and SurveyUSA). A recent Elway poll also shows more voters (especially independents) say they are more likely to vote to re-elect her than replace her, with a stronger position on this measure than Sen. Murray had at this point last election cycle.

CANTWELL FIGHTS FOR ALL OF WASHINGTON

Senator Maria Cantwell has fought for the values and character of the Northwest. She has fought and won against Enron, big oil and gas and Bush's plans to raise NW power rates. She is a fighter with results.

CANTWELL THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR WASHINGTON STATE

Maria Cantwell is focused on the needs of the people of Washington State and the pressing issues affecting their lives. She continues to work hard on important issues like jobs, homeland security, affordable energy, health care and corporate responsibility. Recent days have seen her leading the fight to keep Enron from collecting millions for power they never delivered while they were swindling consumers and investors, and working to keep the Pacific Northwest air defenses in place.

Please forward this email to your friends and family. We need to get the message out that the Karl Rove Recruitment Team has picked the wrong contender again and that Mike McGavick is out of sync with Washington state.

Sincerely,


Jason Bennett
NEXT PAC

email: info@nextpac.org
phone: 206-222-9665
web: http://www.nextpac.org