Suzio Derails Democratic Accusations, Opposition Party Backpedals

Republished with permission from author/columnist Dan Lovallo, originally published on his website here:
http://www.danlovallo.com/1940/suzio-derails-democratic-accusations-opposition-party-backpedals/

     Connecticut Democrats have gone wild in the CT-13th District Senate race, doing anything possible to smear incumbent Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden.  The 13th District has been a Democrat stranglehold for years, until longtime Sen. Tom Gaffey ran afoul of the law, pleaded guilty to  misdemeanor charges and resigned from office two years ago.  That opened the door for Suzio, a fiscally-responsible conservative Republican, to win a special election.  Suzio’s victory, combined with his overall knowledge of finances and Connecticut’s slight-of-hand state budget, has left the Democrats sore ever since.
     Suzio A Budget Expert
Suzio has forgotten more about the state budget than most Democrats know.  Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget chief, Benjamin Barnes, does everything possible to avoid Suzio’s questions at hearings on budget matters.  It was Suzio who predicted one month into Malloy’s first budget – which increased spending and imposed the largest tax hike in Connecticut history –  that it would be out of balance.  Suzio was correct and the administration used every trick in the book to balance the budget, as mandated by the state constitution.  It was Suzio, who led the charge against key components of the Democratic platform, such as increased taxes and fees and early prison release.  It was Suzio who successfully fought Democrats and the administration on using  taxpayers’ money to renovate Connecticut’s Communist Party headquarters.
Democrats Up To Tricks Again
     So it came as no surprise that Democrats were up to their old tricks again, calling a news conference on the steps of Meriden’s city hall Tuesday.  All the usual Democrat participants were there, Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde, Middletown Mayor Dan Drew, and of course, Suzio’s opponent in the election,  Dante Bartolomeo.  Except the Democrats did not plan on one attendee, Suzio himself.
Then the Democrats did, what they always do, when they lose on the issues, started throwing mud against the wall.  Suzio was accused of underhanded tactics.  He was involved in “push polls” and “dirty tricks.”  Before it was over, you would have thought it was Suzio who cost the Yankees a trip to the World Series.
However, when Suzio asked the Democrats to prove the charges, they couldn’t.  Then Suzio delivered what this pathetic trio on the steps of City Hall could not: proof.  “My financial report from the state Elections Commission shows that we haven’t paid for a poll to be conducted,” Suzio was quoted as saying in the Middletown Press.
     “It’s a manufactured scandal to distract from the outrageous taxes, this outrageous early release law, the outrageous, out-of-control spending that my opponent doesn’t want to talk about. That’s what this is about…I can win this campaign on the issues. I don’t need to resort to dirty tactics” he said.
The Democrats were left to wilt behind their own microphones.   Drew offered some lame comment, admitting Suzio was not a participant but that he didn’t denounce the practice.
Pathetic.  Just pathetic.
     Suzio won the day, because he challenged these three wind bags, who tried to divert attention from the fact the blueprint they support has left the state, essentially bankrupt.  My only regret is that

Sen. Suzio

     Suzio doesn’t live in my district, so I could vote for him.  Voters of the 13th District should reject these tactics and send Bartolomeo and her likes a clarion call by re-electing Sen. Suzio.

Mudslinging Drew Condemns Suzio, Ignores Presence of Lesser & Bartolomeo

Mayor Drew and Mayor Rohde sling mud campaigning on the taxpayer's dime during work hours.

     Today Democratic Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde, Middletown Mayor Dan Drew, and Candidate & Town Councilwoman for Meriden Dante Bartolomeo held a joint press conference  to denounce state Sen. Len Suzio's campaign for re-election to the 13th District state senate seat as "dirty."
Rohde went on record at the press conference to accuse the Suzio campaign of using push polls as a campaign technique, but admitted he had no proof to tie the calls to the Suzio campaign. Suzio stated the calls did not come from his campaign and he does not condone such calls. Rohde asked Suzio to in some way make it stop, however had no suggestions as to where the calls originated from. Mayor Drew joined in in the false accusations.
It seems Drew has taken to slinging mud  along side candidates even when he himself is not up for election, all at the expense of tax payers who pay his salary. Why Drew has so much time on his hands to campaign for others during the work day, when he should be devoting it to his job, is unclear. While speaking to residents last night at the Westfield Residents Association's candidate forum, Drew ,who was asked to explain upcoming referendum items only, managed to name drop & thank Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D) 3x during his explanation of the Mattabasset Sewer district referendum.

At 1:30 pm today Drew and Governor Malloy will campaign with DeLauro during an appearance at a re-dedication ceremony for the Arrigoni Bridge in Portland. This was not announced until this morning, and only state Democrats were invited.

     Bartolomeo issued a campaign press release stating the conference was a joint effort (text copied below).  At the press conference today, Drew made no mention of the fact that Lesser was caught on video at the $1.84 a gallon gas rally held by American's for Prosperity last week. The State Democratic Committee chair filed a complaint against Suzio for alleged vote buying with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. Suzio's challenger for the 13th District Dante Bartolomeo gave a video interview to the New Haven Register at the gas event as well, yet was not named in the complaint.
 ________________________________________________________________________

Suzio Launches inaccurate Push Poll in Effort to Deceive Voters 

WHO:     Middletown Mayor Dan Drew

   Meriden Mayor Michael Rohde

   Dante´ Bartolomeo, City Councilor and State Senate Candidate  

WHAT:    State Senator Len Suzio has stooped to dirty tricks as he attempts to hold onto his Senate seat. The Mayors of Meriden and Middletown will condemn Senator Suzio's tactics, which most recently include resorting to misleading push polling in an attempt to deceive the voters of the 13^th Senate District.

WHERE:   Steps of Meriden City Hall

      142 East Main Street, Meriden, CT 06450

 WHEN:    Tuesday, October 23^rd; 11:30 A.M.

--

Jared D. Savas

Campaign Director

Dante for State Senate

(339) 237-0635

Paid for by "Danté For State Senate"    Kieren M. Moore, Treasurer      Approved by Danté Bartolomeo

It's ok to Hate & Persecute Conservatives

We can all agree racial and religious discrimination is wrong,
but how are we taught to treat others with differing political views?

A few months ago, the Insider published some right wing  and left wing propaganda that had been circulating around facebook to generate discussion. As a result- one of our anti-fans published a essay in the local Patch blog telling the world the Insider advocated hate  in an exaggerated essay titled "Local Blog Advocates Ignorance & Hate". At the Insider, we are in fact fans of the Middletown Patch and Editor Cassandra Day. Day does a fairly good job of covering both sides of the local political spectrum; a lesson the local print papers won't ever seem to learn. The fore mentioned piece pretty much didn't phase us one bit- after all its free speech (albeit nonsensical); in fact it helped spike our readership! The issue continues in the media. When right-leaning folks offer a critical view point of opposing views in a analytical comparison or comical way, as done on this blog for example, it's almost always considered mean spirited & mud slinging. On the contrary,  a piece slamming a GOP politician or believe system it is accepted as fact so much so that readers rarely raise an eye brow- a double standard clearly exists that most readers aren't even aware of.  Read the piece below. After you are done substitute in the names of President Obama and VP Biden. Now what is the tone and your general reaction? If doing this exercise you are disturbed you may be prejudice towards conservatives and not even be aware. 

http://middletown-ct.patch.com/blog_posts/how-empathic-is-your-psychiatrist-is-the-republican-party-the-anti-empathy-party

After the primary the Insider made a joke (ok, not a great joke) about losing Democratic candidate Susan Bysiewicz's platform  which was based on the "every woman" tactic to liken herself to the middle class. The reaction to this comment on our facebook page from friends was astounding.From the reaction one would think  we attacked a patron saint or tripped Mother Teresa, clubbed a baby seal or something. In actuality, a intelligent discussion thread resulted. The above article makes a MASS generalization about conservative citizens as inferior HUMAN beings. Most comments thus far listed below it condone this. Cue the crickets. In grade school, American students are all taught racial, religious, gender, cultural etc etc discrimination is wrong. But what about discrimination based on how one perceives authority and government - how one believes society should function- ie political beliefs. What does this say about what we are teaching our children about tolerance of others with different thought processes? Should we all behave and not be critical?  Or, should be all grow a thicker skin? Many conclusions can be drawn.

On August 17, 2012 cartoonist Bob Englehart of Middletown published a cartoon in the Hartford Courant calling  GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan "Mitt & Twitt." He also writes: "The great thing about moderates and liberals is that they can change their minds after learning new information, or understanding justice and fairness.Conservatives cannot, under any circumstance, change their minds. The old way is the best way, every man for himself, I got mine and nobody helped me, now you get yours the same way;  you failed, it's your own damn fault. What a wonderful world it would be."

Englehart  is a talented, clever guy and we would never deny him his right to free speech. Maybe he will do a guest cartoon for the Insider some day? Doubtful . But there is a point: Englehart basically eludes to, and says with out saying that the reader should conclude Conservative minded people are stupid and inferior-  conservatives  cannot process simple thoughts such as drawing different conclusions- ie changing of ones mind. If the Insider say, said this about liberals would there be no reaction? Would a cartoon of a parody of the Obama name with a certain like sounding middle-eastern name be as funny and acceptable?

Though D's and R's have different view points as far as government structure- and really when you get down to it the driving force behind this is how money should be spent-( it is what makes the world go round) are we that different to be so divided? The Insider concludes that both groups love their families, value community, and are charitable- just in different ways. We checked to find research done by a credible academic group on whether 'mud slinging' campaign tactics used by candidates has produced any relevant general conclusions  The only conclusion we could find was that  it is a case by case situation without any general rules being discovered. There is a phrase "mud slinging is as American as apple pie." There is also the phrase "two wrongs don't make a right." Most voters have said they do not like candidates who mud slinging, however, the average person, we think can't tell the difference when facts are skewed in subtle ways by the main stream media; especially when in local media a clear practice of prejudice against conservatives in Middletown has been a common practice for years.

The question is - should we all behave or is there room for the mud to fly?