[Mpls] Ryback Campaign Calls for Halt to Distortions

[Greg Abbott]

There are several problems with Mr. Blackshaw's letter:

1.  Protocol.

The protocol is that candidates should address candidates, and =20
campaign officials should address campaign officials.  Blackshaw's =20
letter should have been addressed to his counterpart at the =20
McLaughlin campaign.  It's actually quite an insult to McLaughlin for =20=

the opposing campaign manager to address him directly in the letter =20
as if he should respond.

It is curious, actually, that R.T. didn't sign the letter himself.  =20
Other than insulting McLaughlin, there's no reason R.T. couldn't have =20=

signed it.

2.  The Law.

By law, the McLaughlin campaign cannot be involved in any independent =20=

expenditure.  Blackshaw's letter is an invitation for McLaughlin =20
campaign to violate the law by coordinating the message of an =20
independent expenditure.

3.  Efficacy.

The Police Federation is going to do what the Police Federation is =20
going to do.  Even if McLaughlin took R.T.'s request seriously, in my =20=

opinion it would make no difference whatsoever.

4.  Hypocrisy.

Why is the letter addressed to McLaughlin, and not to the Police =20
Federation itself?  Because the Rybak campaign is more interesting in =20=

creating a political issue than stopping the mailings.  The letter is =20=

intended to achieve an objective other than the one it states on the =20
surface.

That about covers it, IMHO

Greg Abbott
Linden Hills




On Oct 26, 2005, at 9:22 PM, BLACKSHAWJ at aol.com wrote:
>
> Rybak Campaign Calls on Commissioner McLaughlin to  Halt Negative =20
> Attacks
> In a letter hand delivered today to Commissioner McLaughlin=92s =
campaign
> office, Mayor Rybak=92s campaign manager John Blackshaw called on Mr. =20=

> McLaughlin  to
> publicly request his top supporter, the Police Federation, to =20
> curtail its
> expected distorted attack campaign directed at Mayor Rybak.

. . .