 It's a hard time for the Republican Party - even here in Nebraska. They have been thoroughly rejected by voters in the last two elections because of their backwards vision and lack of any real solutions to the problems that face us as a country. Their usual mantra of "cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes" has lost all credibility after its shallowness was revealed by the failed leadership of an out of touch president and the right-wing ideologues he relied upon in Congress to help drive our economy to the brink of disaster while destroying our reputation around the world.
Of course, in Nebraska, we've been slow catching onto and seeing through their act. Because we've been insulated from the economic downturn? Because we're a traditionally conservative state? Because we're gluttons for punishment? It's probably a little bit of "all of the above." But, tomorrow's general election race for control of the Lincoln City Council has offered clear evidence that the low repute of the Republican Party has had an undeniable local effect.
Lincoln's city council election is officially nonpartisan, and some measure of cross-party appeal is generally required of any candidate who hopes to have a shot at victory. But, Lincoln Republicans have taken this cross-party appeal to a whole new level by shamelessly impersonating Democrats in an effort to deceive voters.
The most successful model for this style of campaigning was seen in last year's legislative race in District 27, where now-State Sen. Colby Coash used his total lack of a record to hide his right-wing views while pretending to be a progressive. Now, City Council candidate Adam Hornung is using a similar strategy.
It was one thing when Hornung used his profile in the Lincoln Journal-Star to emphasize that his mother is "a big Democrat" and that his boss, Earl Scudder, is "very involved in the Democratic Party and...a big supporter of mine." But, late last week, he followed that up with a mailing to Democratic voters touting the many "Democrats for Hornung" that even featured a blue donkey imposed over his campaign logo.
Having learned from the mistake of giving Coash a free pass, Lancaster County Democratic Party Chair Becki Gaston was quick with a response:
Today in your mailbox, you may have received a flier from Adam Hornung with a big blue donkey on it. As Chair of the Lancaster County Democratic Party, I was more than a little surprised. You see, Adam is not a Democrat. He is a Republican. More than that, he is a conservative Republican.
Adam presents himself as a proponent of Democratic values in an attempt to get your vote. Adam is not the first wolf in sheep's clothing but you should know what is really going on. His donors are a list of who's who of monied interests in Lincoln. They think he will be on their side. They believe he will vote as the conservative he is. They expect Adam to stall efforts to move Lincoln forward. And, so do I.
Beyond that, Adam would like for voters to believe that Democrats in Lincoln support his candidacy, but his mail piece is inaccurate and misleading. Of the names listed as Democratic supporters of Adam Hornung:
Two are not registered as Democrats.
Three are not residents of Lincoln and cannot vote in the Lincoln City Election.
Kristi Mulliner, who offers a glowing comment about Adam on the flier, has not voted since registering here in 2005. Mulliner did not cast a ballot last November for President though nearly 180,000 of her neighbors in Lancaster County did. Nor was she passionate enough in her convictions about Adam's capabilities as a leader to vote in the City Primary Election on April 7, 2009 -- just twenty-three days ago.
Adam lists his sister and brother-in-law on the flier as well. Though listed as Heidi and Joe Scherr, they use the last name Hornung-Scherr. This name is on both of their voter registrations. His sister uses Hornung-Scherr in her legal practice. Hornung's campaign even used it on their most recent report with Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure. The flier, however, deletes "Hornung" from their last name, listing them only as Scherr.
I believe Adam Hornung is intentionally misleading the voters of Lincoln. I thought you should know the truth before casting your ballot this Tuesday, May 5th.
This weekend, the Journal-Star gave some attention to this motley crew with its dubious Democratic credentials, but Hornung hasn't strayed from the same strategy. Earlier tonight, the night before the election, a robo-calll went out from Ben Harris - one of the infamous "Democrats for Hornung" on the original flyer who'd escaped earlier criticism. Harris claimed to be a "lifelong Democrat" supporting Hornung. But, like Kristi Mulliner, he didn't even vote in the city's primary election.
Will Hornung's strategy pay off on Tuesday? There's a very good chance since, so close to the election, many of those voters who received the mailing and the robo-call will never hear of Hornung's deception. Besides, these voters may be right in appreciating a rare candidate who speaks to them as Democrats - even it is to hoodwink them into believing he shares their values when that definitely isn't the case.
The big question might actually be whether this deception will affect the actual make up of Lincoln's city council. The only incumbent running for one of the three at-large seats up for grabs is Republican Ken Svoboda, who came in second in the primary but has since been subject to heavy criticism for bad business dealings and failure to pay his taxes. After being one of four candidates endorsed by the Journal-Star in the primary, it's telling that he was the one knocked out in the paper's general election endorsement of Hornung along with real Democrats Jayne Snyder and Gene Carroll.
Voters don't put a whole lot of stock in newspaper endorsements, but this one wouldn't make for a bad prediction. Such an outcome would have to send a powerful and disturbing message to the Republican Party if Lincoln voters should happen to elect two Democrats and another guy hiding his true colors behind a giant blue donkey on his campaign literature. Stay tuned. |
