MyDD :: Al Wynn Launches Campaign With Harold Ford Keynote

Al Wynn Launches Campaign With Harold Ford Keynote

by Matt Stoller, Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 01:01:14 PM EST

This is very significant. Wynn launched his campaign for reelection to Maryland's fourth district, bringing Fox News contributor Harold Ford to headline the announcement. Here's what Ford said:

Ford, meanwhile, offered scathing criticism of how President Bush has managed the war, but specifically noted "I don't think we can leave Iraq right away." Ford went on to say, "As much as didn't do it right, we have to get it right because there are people over there who want to do us harm."

And Wynn loved it.

In an interview, Wynn called Ford "a tremendous young talent in our party." Wynn said he believed Ford made it clear he wants the United States out of Iraq, but "he also made it very clear that we need to think beyond cliches. My race is not going to be a bunch of cliches...We're going to talk about issues, substance and policy. We're going to try to bring some depth to how we deal with the 21st century."

Wynn is pretending to change his stripes, and a lot of progressives are falling for it. Wynn is one of the key backers of the removal of the estate tax, and he's a genuine corporate corrupt Democrat. I'll have a lot more on this soon, but I would encourage you, if you think he's changed, to take a look through his FEC filings this year.

Walmart, AT&T, Bellsouth, Firstenergy, T-Mobile, Pfizer, Edison Electric, Progress Energy, Sallie Mae, the US Chamber of Commerce.

The US Chamber of Commerce! This is the group that is protesting dictionary-makers about the word 'McJob', trying to get them to change the word to "reflect a job that is stimulating, rewarding ... and offers skills that last a lifetime."

I wonder, does Al Wynn support Walmart's hiring practices? Does he support changing the definition of a McJob? Does he believe in global warming? Does he believe in anything that he isn't paid to believe in?

This is going to be a very different race from 2006 in a lot of ways, mostly because Donna is a legitimate candidate and Wynn is going to run a race not based on inevitability. I wonder if he's going to violate FEC rules this time, as he often does. Or maybe his staffers are going to beat up Edwards volunteers, or perhaps he'll brag about stealing the election in a committee hearing. Who knows? The question around this race, though, is always going to be 'follow the money'.

Tags: Al Wynn, Harold Ford, Donna Edwards, MD-04 (all tags)

Permalink :: 21 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Al Wynn Launches Campaign With Harold Ford Key (3.00 / 1)

The mere mention of Harold Ford helping would make me run the complete opposite direction.

Sorry folk, that's the way it is, TN-09 voter!

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by dk2 on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 01:14:51 PM EST

The "Sustance" Cliche (3.00 / 2)

My race is not going to be a bunch of cliches...We're going to talk about issues, substance and policy. We're going to try to bring some depth to how we deal with the 21st century."

Center-right corporatists have terrible ideas that people rightfully hate. So they spend $100k on studies to make it sound all complicated, and $10m on PR to make it sound like TINA (there is no alternative), and anyone who says otherwise is a nut.

That's how "substance" becomes a cliche.

"Substance" is the reason that on one can get what they want, or need, and "everyone has to sacrifice"--except the corporate campaign contributors, of course.

No cliches? Al Wynn is a walking cliche.

by Paul Rosenberg on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 01:37:43 PM EST

Re: Al Wynn Launches Campaign With Harold Ford Key (3.00 / 1)

I hope this race is on the netroots candidate page.

by Bob Brigham on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 01:44:48 PM EST

Netroots page (none / 0)

Do you mean at Act Blue? I know Howie Klein and Atrios both have her listed at their pages. Does MD have a sore loser law? Meaning, can Al Wynn run if he loses the primary? When we win a general election(or the equivalent(like the mayoral primary in a place like Philly .. just using it as an exmaple), we'll have really hit the big time. If we can defeat Wynn, we'll have Al From and his clowns really crapping their pants.

John McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 02:28:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Netroots page (3.00 / 0)

I was hoping on the dkos, mydd, ssp page too.

Hell, every page. There's nothing I'd rather see than From crap himself.

by Bob Brigham on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 03:11:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Netroots page (none / 0)

Re: sore loser, I don't think so. Unless I am mistaken, I think that, technically, the Republican nominee could drop out and Wynn could switch to being a Republican and get nominated if the central committees for the counties in the district chose it. That actually happened for a Democrat in a State Senate race (Giannetti) last September; back fired badly, and that district was less sapphire blue than MD-04.

Not so much a sore loser law as a very short window (couple days) in which to submit signatures as an independent/petitioning candidate after the primary.

by Crablaw on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 10:21:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Wynn Launches Campaign With Harold Ford Key (3.00 / 1)

Until progressives are able to take out a corrupt "Democrat" such as Wynn, we'll never be taken seriously by the powers that be. This is a good race for progressives nationally to focus on.

Since all of the Congressional Democrats in Washington State who voted for the war are safe this upcoming election cycle, I've been looking around at a race to rally around. Looks like I found it.

Aneurin Politics is a blood sport

by chrischross on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 01:47:33 PM EST

Excellent Post, Matt. (3.00 / 0)

Wynn and Ford are the part of the party that we need to leave behind.

by littafi on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 01:53:13 PM EST

I'm telling you... (3.00 / 0)

Ford completely sold out to the Clintons after he lost the 06 Senate race. Hillary will attempt to use him (along with Bill) to siphon black votes.

by jforshaw on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 02:02:00 PM EST

Re: Al Wynn Launches Campaign With Harold Ford Key (none / 0)

I clicked on a link from an old myDD post on the 2006 Edwards-Wynn debate and its link to a WashPost article about debate. The WashPost article also mention the infamous fight outside the debate venue in which a Wynn supporter attacked an Edwards supporter who objected when the Wynn supporters started tearing up Edwards signs.

Wouldn't you know Wynn lied and said his supporter was only acting in self defense: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con tent/article/2006/08/17/AR2006081701531. html

Imagine that - Wynns's a liar AND a thug.

It's time for the netroots to get behind Donna Edwards, who supports Net Neutrality (unlike Wynn, who is trying to undermine it). In fact, Net Neutrality ought to be the netroots' litmus test for who to support. After all, if Net Neutrality is overturned, the netroots itself is in jeopardy.

Speaking of that, hopefully there will be a Donna Edwards supporter following Wynn and his crew around with videocamera - Wynn seems ripe for a "maccaca" moment of his own. (note to videographer: just don't forget to bring along a personal bodyguard)

by ananke on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 02:37:01 PM EST

Saw Donna Edwards three weeks ago (none / 0)

She was in Cheverly MD at Cheverly day. When I asked what happened to her volunteer who had been assaulted she said that the perps got a six month suspended bust and if they don't do anything wrong for six months that their records will be wiped clean.

What was also interesting is the way the verdict was handed down. It wasn't in a courtroom but I can't remember if she said it was in the Judge's Chambers or not. It seems that they showed up for court, were sent somewhere other than a courtroom to meet the judge and were told of the verdict. They perps must of copped a plea.

Al Wynn has been making the rounds to the district four's progressive communities. He's not taking anything for granted this time.

by lisadawn82 on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 04:33:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saw Donna Edwards three weeks ago (none / 0)

The two Wynn aides apologized to the Edwards volunteer in a private meeting. They came to an agreement, and the case was put on the inactive trial docket. No bust on assault charges, AFAIK.

This was mediated by Howard Cty's state's attorney. Ivey went into hiding on this (ok, he recused himself).

by dblhelix on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 04:50:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saw Donna Edwards three weeks ago (none / 0)

This is the docket sheet for the second degree assault charges for Darius White (a stet, i.e. a "stay out of trouble for three years and it vanishes" dispo, like dblhelix said) and for William Boston (ditto stet.)

White was also charged on the scene by the officer apparently with disorderly conduct, dismissed by nolle prosequi. The assault charges were filed by the victims at the Commissioner's office so they separate case numbers, technically, from White's disorderly charge.

by Crablaw on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 10:30:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saw Donna Edwards three weeks ago (none / 0)

yep, not even PBJ.

by dblhelix on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 10:48:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This is why it's good that Ford lost his race (none / 0)

If Ford had won his race, he would have been THE "Democrat" the entire media would have referred to as "proof" that the Democrats won because they shifted to the right and were "serious" about right-wing pet issues like perpetual war. He would have been on a hundred magazine covers and twenty talkshows. He would have become as recognizable a name as Hillary Clinton.

The paltry one-seat gain (with a Lieberman clone, no less) would in no way have been worth the across-the-board damage the narrative of his win would have caused for progressive Democrats. It's bad enough WITHOUT him in the Senate.

As for Wynn, I will do everything possible to educate my fellow Marylanders about this guy. Donna Edwards came close enough last year to make Wynn vulnerable...

by Master Jack on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 02:46:09 PM EST

Re: Al Wynn Launches Campaign With Harold Ford Key (none / 0)

Did Al Wynn really brag that he stole the election in a committee hearing?

by alteran on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 03:23:58 PM EST

RE: Wynn's bragging (none / 0)

Yep. I remember when it happened, although I wish Howie Klein had provided a link to the transcripts in his post on the incident.

Absent any hard evidence connecting Wynn to the actual wrongdoing, I think a competent lawyer could get a case based on his words tossed out of court quite easily, by claiming it was just "light-hearted" banter. More than anything, the incident illustrated the guys's sheer arrogance and anti-democratic bearing... with perhaps a touch of relieved chuckling past the graveyard that almost claimed him.

Fight the good fight, Donna Edwards!

by MurlandGuy on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 04:12:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Wynn ... With Harold Ford (none / 0)

Thanks for this post Matt. Even with strong support from the northern part of MD-04 (mostly Montgomery County), Donna Edwards has her work cut out for her. In Wynn's traditional strongholds to the south, he has a certain inertia in his favor. Also, I doubt that the corporatism that disturbs so many of us is so troubling to this older African-American demographic. Many of them remember the bad ol' days quite well, so the success of folks like Albert Wynn is a sign of progress to them, i.e., they are "allowed in the game" now. Some of the slimier things they've done to achieve and maintain their prominence often tends to be glossed over.

Despite the challenge, I don't think Donna Edward should not write this demographic off as a lost cause. These folks are also parents and grandparents, whose progeny have to worry about health care and the mortgage just like everyone else. It is in areas such as these that Wynn does his greatest damage, mostly under the radar of media and public notice.

In ways I haven't fully thought through, I believe there are key issues here which tie in with the intergenerational changes going on within communities of color, especially the African-American community. I hope Donna takes full advantage of her knowledge of this community, and uses her long experience with this part of MD-04 to work up some effective strategies of piercing the comfortable blanket of inertia wrapped around so many of the voters in these parts.

Fight the good fight, Donna Edwards!

by MurlandGuy on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 04:01:41 PM EST

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not our friend (none / 0)

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has picked West Virginia as a target state to try out a tort reform campaign. They've spent millions of dollars in media ads attacking West Virginia's legal and political system. Thankfully, so far the campaign has backfired big-time--all its accomplished is scaring off business from joining local chapters!

Al Wynn should be--yet no doubt isn't--embarassed for getting money from them. Once again this cycle, Donna Edwards will be on my list of out-of-state candidates to somehow find money to support.

Visit West Virginia Blue

by WVaBlue on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 05:19:23 PM EST

Wynn's Hardly Alone .. (none / 0)

among Democrats who want to stay in Iraq forever.

Jane Harman's a good example. Some have read too much into what she's said, and how she voted on the supplemental .

The fact is, she wants to keep us there.

Compare her views to Wynn's, and you don't see much difference.

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by PeterB on Sun Jun 10, 2007 at 05:23:06 PM EST

Re: Al Wynn Launches Campaign (none / 0)

I'm sending money to Edwards. Heck no to Wynn.

by rikyrah on Mon Jun 11, 2007 at 12:12:11 AM EST

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