Prez4Life

Independent Presidential candidate Sen. Thomas Lincoln welcomed the entry of Ralph Nader in the Presidential race. Nader announced his intention to run again on a Sunday news program last weekend. Nader ran in 2000, and many observers credit his candidacy with drawing enough votes away from Al Gore to deny him the victory.

Asked about Nader after a speech at the University of Dayton, Lincoln said, “I’ll be nice to have company in the independent lane of this race. Maybe we can share a cab now and then.”He added, “Nader’s entry may also mean that he’ll deflect some of the potshots I’ve been taking from Democrats. After all, they blame him—as did I—for giving us George Bush in 2000. What they’re neglecting in both of our cases is the level of discontent with parts of the Party platform that the support we receive represents. It helped defeat a candidate already, and there’s plenty of discontent on my side too.”

The questions surrounding the television ads supporting Sen. Thomas Lincoln’s Presidential campaign have swept up a political organization with ties to Lincoln. Briefly, about a dozen TV stations across the country aired the commercials, all of which appear to have been purchased by people with no ties to the campaign. The ads were found on a now-closed website, which was online briefly in the few days between Lincoln’s announcement and the formation of his campaign organization. While the Federal Election Commission continues to stress that no charges are planned at this time, the situation remains curious, if not controversial, so far.

At first, the individuals who purchased the airtime didn’t know why they’d received an anonymous email inviting them to run the ad. Further investigation has established that all of the ad buyers who have been identified had loose affiliations with some prolife liberal groups. The affiliations were no more involved than subscriptions to email discussion groups or newsletters or memberships in organizations. They weren’t all connected to the same organization, but Prolife Progress appeared in the profiles of most of the ad buyers.

Prolife Progress is a national organization made up mostly of prolife Democrats. Their goal, according to executive director Linda Smart, “is to raise awareness of the significant number of prolife people within the Party and support prolife Democrats running for office.” Sen. Lincoln was a board member of the organization during his Congressional career, and it was at a Prolife Progress rally in January that he announced his candidacy.

Smart has indicated that the organization was surprised by his announcement. Nonetheless, the connection to the ad buyers has raised questions about whether the organization may have provided help behind the scenes. Smart denied the suggestions.

“We have no connection at all with the Lincoln campaign,” she said. “We’ve done nothing to provide names or email contacts to the campaign.” Reminded that the campaign has also denied involvement with the ads, she added, “We haven’t given or sold our list to anyone, for this or any purpose.”

Asked to speculate on who might have done it, if not the campaign, Smart said, “We can’t explain how this might have happened, but, despite public perceptions, we’re not the only prolife progressive organization out there. There are some email discussion groups that have no connection to us. Maybe someone got hold of their list. Or maybe someone simply bought a mailing list. We didn’t have anything to do with it.”

So what is the stand of Prolife Progress on the Lincoln candidacy? “At this point, we have no plans to endorse any candidate for President,” Smart said. “We all respect and admire Sen. Lincoln. He’s a friend of our organization, but we’re not prepared to jump outside the Party.” She added that the organization’s primary interest is in prolife Democrats who are running for Congress and state offices. “We want to rebuild the prolife part of the Party, and to do that we focus more on the Congressional level, not the top, where the odds aren’t so good.”

On that issue, some supporters have criticized the organization’s priorities. One Prolife Progress member, who asked not to be identified, said, “I support the organization, but sometimes I think it focuses more on the Party and less on the issues we all care about. I understand the importance of the Party, and I think Prolife Progress needs to raise the profile of prolife Democrats, who are more numerous than most people think, but this is a special case and a special opportunity.”

Another supporter said he shared the first commenter’s thoughts but noted, “We have to be realistic. If we came out for a non-Democratic candidate, we’d lose the credibility we’ve gained with parts of the Party. It’s a long-term project to win the hearts and minds of the country back to our side. We all know that Tom Lincoln isn’t going to win. While his campaign may help our position in the public perception, we have to be practical and continue to work within the Party.” He added, somewhat ruefully, “I know it’s frustrating to some, but it’s the world we live in.”

From Left Is Right Now blog

Now we hear that Sen. Lincoln is campaigning in Wisconsin. Coincidentall, there’s a primary in that state. But it’s a primary to choose a party nominee. Lincoln didn’t bother to take his campaign to the people; he decided to nominate himself. And no wonder. His platform won’t fly. People won’t buy it. Good for him that he’s right–generally–on the war, the economy, and the environment, but when he’s so wrong on a fundamental right, he’s not going to get the support one would need to win a party nomination.

So it’s no wonder  he nominated himself. But it’s irritating that he keep showing up in primary state. Let me be clear. He’s not going to affect the election–I’m not worried about that. But I don’t want him drawing media or voter attention away from the important issues. His vanity candidacy is wasting our time.

From RightReligionRightPolitics blog (check)

So now we hear again from old Mr. Lincoln, the so-called prolife liberal, an oxymoron if I ever heard one. If we look back through his record, we’ll find plenty of examples of the anti-life, anti-family, anti-morality that makes up the basic liberal agenda. You can’t be both, Mr. Lincoln. You have to be one or the other, and I’m not sure we want you!

But that’s not the reason I’m writing about him today. The Mister and Missus Lincoln got themselves a picture taken outside a Catholic church last week. We’re to assume they’d been inside the church because they had ashes on their foreheads. It would probably be a bit too conspiracy-minded to suggest that the ashes were simply makeup and that the photo was staged—they probably did go to Ash Wednesday Mass. But do we think that’s the part that was staged? Isn’t it convenient that a photographer just happened to be there to snap a pic of the happy couple?

I can’t help but think this is more than convenient—it’s called politics. Look at how many Democrats this year claim to have got religion (and some may claim one and practice another…). But how can they expect us to believe they believe when their politics is so anti-religion?

But it’s the Lincolns that get to me. What place do they have in the Catholic Church? By virtue (ha, there’s an ironic word), of their Party, they stand with a host of things that are the antithesis of the Truth. I worry that the whole purpose of this candidacy is to peel away faithful Catholics from the party that practices what we preach and to lead them like a pied piper to ruin.

I promise to keep an eye on them.

Two weeks ago, it was Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Last week, Louisiana. This week, Wisconsin. Is Texas in Sen. Thomas Lincoln’s future?

In recent weeks, Sen. Lincoln’s independent Presidential campaign has happened to visit several primary and caucus states. Is this a coincidence?

“Of course, it’s not a coincidence,” said Kevin Rich, Lincoln’s media spokesman. “You don’t rob outhouses. There’s no money there. That’s why you rob banks. The primary states are where the attention is, where the media is. That’s why we’re going there.”

“Of course, it’s not a coincidence,” complained Wisconsin Democratic consultant Connie Turner. “They’re like parasites on the body politic. He’s not running for the Democratic or Republican nomination. He’s just trying to hijack some of the process. These are party primaries, not general elections. They’re party events, and these guys aren’t part of the party.”

Rich disputes the notion that the Lincoln campaign is crashing the party. “I’m sorry that our fellow Democrats don’t like the fact that we’re out there, but isn’t that a sign of concern about a weakness in the party? If they’re worried about the presence of a prolife progressive out there, maybe they should look at what they’re offering America.”

Rich went on, “On the topic of primary states and this issue of interest in our message, as you noted, we were in Louisiana last week. Remember that Louisiana has had a prolife Democratic governor, and state Democrats led an aggressive charge to reduce abortions there. Of course, we would go to talk to voters there while they’re paying close attention to the Presidential race. And Louisiana isn’t the only place where you’ll find interest in our campaign.”

Maybe in Texas in two weeks?

Tom and Katherine Lincoln stood outside church, momentarily unsure where they were supposed to be. They had just left Ash Wednesday mass, ashes still smudged on their foreheads, and the car that was supposed to meet them hadn’t arrived yet.

“Fortunately, our adoring fans have decided to leave us alone right now,” Katherine quipped. “Normally, we’d be mobbed with supporters, you know.”

Those supporters are would-be voters for Tom Lincoln’s independent Presidential campaign. Many friends and political observers who know the couple were both surprised by the announcement of his candidacy and curious about his wife’s take on it.

Ever the political spouse, after she made the joke, Katherine quickly spun the comment for better public consumption: “Of course, two weeks after he announced, I doubt Rudy Giuliani had a crowd around him after mass.”

Some friends have suggested that her tongue has gotten sharper since her husband left the Senate in 2002.

The Lincolns spent more than 30 years in Washington after Tom’s first election to Congress in 1970. During that time their four children had grown, some born during Lincoln’s stint in Congress. After returning to their native Minnesota after the state did not reelect him in 2002, they appeared to be settling in. He joined some corporate boards and was appointed to some teaching positions. She took on charity roles. And they took vacations and, some say, got to know each other better.

Then Tom announced his candidacy in January, and the situation changed. Different people say different things about Katherine’s reaction to the decision—or her advance knowledge of it.

“Let me stress that Tom and I talked about this candidacy long before he announced, and I’m completely on board,” Katherine said in a brief conversation outside the church on Ash Wednesday.

And about those people who question her full commitment? “You know, I have a certain way with words that doesn’t always sound like what I mean,” she explained. “Sometimes my sense of humor doesn’t translate very well. I think some people mistake my sarcasm for seriousness.”

Tom Lincoln insists that Katherine had a veto over his candidacy. “If she had said no,” he said, “you wouldn’t be bothering to talk to us today.”

Some associates suggest that Katherine was pleased with their life away from Washington politics. The idea that the couple would return to the campaign trail in their 70s was a blow, these acquaintances argue. “And the idea that it’s a single issue campaign and an issue that creates such divisiveness and that it’s simply a losing proposition—all these things have upset her,” said a friend who asked not to be named. The friend was referring to Tom Lincoln’s prolife liberal positioning.

When presented with this assessment, Katherine sighed. She’s clearly frustrated, but it’s unclear whether it’s with inaccurate readings of her feelings or fending off comments that touch too close to the truth. “All I can say is that I’m here. I’m on Tom’s side and on his campaign.” On the other hand, she added, “But we’re also being realistic. I won’t be everywhere on the campaign trail. I have my own commitments—and I have grandchildren! But I’m always available if it seems that I would be an asset at any event.”

She further expressed some frustration with the unnamed friend’s description of the nature of the campaign. “This isn’t a single issue campaign,” she argued. “It might be based on a theme of respect—respect for life, respect for the living, and the better human relations that would result—but it’s not about one issue. It’s about a continuum and consistency.”

With that impassioned defense, the Lincolns’ car showed up, and they drove away, leaving this reporter with the impression of a woman who supports her husband’s philosophy but unclear whether she wants him to be the one carrying the banner.

From Left is Right Now blog

I read the other day that Sen. Lincoln’s campaign suggests that some of the “other” votes on Super Tuesday were for him. Whatever. Chances are some voters did vote for Lincoln, thinking it was Abe.

What got me was his media hack using the Will Rogers quote about not belonging to an organized political party because they’re Democrats. The point is, they’re not Democrats! Lincoln has turned his back on his party. First by clinging to an anti-woman policy and now by running against the Democratic candidates. Don’t get me wrong. He’s not going to affect the campaign and he’s not going to last, but I think we can’t let them get away with referring to themselves as Democrats. He’s opposed to Democrats, and we have to point that out.

More information has turned up regarding the mysterious television ads supporting Sen. Thomas Lincoln’s Presidential campaign. The ads appeared on about a dozen TV stations around the country. They included excerpts from the announcement of his candidacy more than two weeks ago. The campaign has denied any involvement with or knowledge of the commercials.

Where details could be gathered, it was learned that individuals with no formal connection to the campaign purchased the airtime for the ads. At the end of the ads, the individuals acknowledged their support of the ad with the familiar “I approve of this message” tagline. Peter and Janet Simpson of Topeka, Kansas, purchased an ad for a local station. They are one of a handful of buyers who’ve been located.

The Simpsons indicated that they placed the ad after receiving an email from an unknown source that provided a link to a website where they could download a broadcast-quality version of the ad. “The download took forever,” Janet Simpson said. “It was a huge file.”

The website included instructions on how to add the tagline and how to approach a TV station about buying airtime. The email included the request that the recipient delete it when finished, which the Simpsons did. “It was like ‘Mission: Impossible,’” Peter Simpson said. “It seemed very cloak and dagger, but we didn’t see a problem with it.” They also don’t recall the website address for the ad. “But it has probably self-destructed by now,” Peter joked.

“We were happy to buy the ad,” Janet noted. “I admit that we don’t know a lot about Sen. Lincoln, but we share his basic prolife progressive values, and this seemed like a great way to support his campaign and raise awareness.”

She added that they received a few calls after the ad aired. “Some people were supportive. Some were simply curious. We didn’t receive many critical calls, although one person called us ‘facsist nuts,’ and another called us ‘baby killers.’”

A Federal Election Commission spokesman indicated that the agency was looking into the situation, but also hinted that they were unlikely to file charges if a violation had occurred.

New Lincoln Chair Takes Over

Will Dick Benedict lead the Tom Lincoln independent presidential campaign out of obscurity? The noted poverty and hunger advocate was an interesting choice to lead the campaign, and one must wonder what his impact will be.

Why would Lincoln tap Benedict? Perhaps the question could be whether Benedict was really the first choice. He is known much more as a policy wonk than as a politico. Despite successful runs for office, he never earned a reputation for political savvy. One might have expected Lincoln to find someone with more connections to purse strings than Benedict likely has (pointing out the causes of poverty and hunger don’t always endear one to the wealthy and powerful). But these are issues that would be more important in a truly viable campaign. Lincoln’s prolife liberal candidacy is presumably more about ideas and protest than victory, so a more ambitious manager may not be necessary. In this vein, Benedict’s liberal credentials may be his most important contribution to the campaign.

It’s also likely that someone with a stronger track record simply wasn’t available, at least not to Lincoln. What Democratic campaign consultant who wants to have a future in the Party would hire on with a maverick who contradicts a fundamental matter of faith for the Dems? The best and brightests probably didn’t apply, much less take phone calls about the job.

In all likelihood, this boils down to a friend doing a favor for a friend. Minneapolis native Lincoln and Benedict from Norfolk, Virginia, entered the House in the same year and became friends. Benedict has nothing to lose by helping his old pal, and Lincoln might gain credibility by having another Democratic apostate on his team.

Time will tell how wise the selection was. The same goes for Lincoln’s decision to run in the first place. Legacies may be the only thing at stake in this campaign.

Sen. Thomas Lincoln’s independent Presidential campaign has some thoughts on the Super Tuesday vote that favor its candidate. “Despite not being on the ballot in any states, Sen. Lincoln received votes,” Lincoln spokesman Kevin Rich commented. “Considering he’s not a candidate for either party’s nomination, that’s quite an accomplishment.”

Rich went on, “We’ve received word from supporters in many Super Tuesday states saying that where they could write Sen. Lincoln in, they did. If they couldn’t, they tried to vote for ‘other’ or ‘uncommitted.’ So if you look at all those pie charts of the vote for Tuesday, all those slivers of uncommitted votes include votes for Tom Lincoln.” Rich acknowledged that out of the millions of votes cast, the uncommitted votes counted in the thousands, and that he could only claim that Lincoln received a portion of those votes.

“Again, he’s not running for a party nomination and he’s hardly campaigned, but he received support in those contests. I think that tells you that there’s a part of the electorate that’s dissatisfied with the choices they’ve been presented. They’re tired of prolife candidates who also support the war, the death penalty, and tax cuts for the least vulnerable in society. On the other hand, they find it hard to vote for politicians who say the right things about poverty, hunger, civil rights, and foreign policy, but still ignore the most vulnerable. There’s a niche there waiting to be filled, and Tom Lincoln fills it.”

Rich added that in Lincoln’s home state of Minnesota, which held caucuses on Tuesday, some supporters claimed to have been denied the opportunity to vote in support of Lincoln. He said that the campaign would not complain or call for an investigation, “In all likelihood, that’s the result of people misunderstanding the rules, not necessarily an outright denial of someone’s rights. We’d like to be more forgiving than that at this time.” He added, “After all, and I hope to be the first to quote Will Rogers in this campaign, we don’t belong to an organized political party. We’re Democrats.”