Does Russell Pearce daydream about a Washington office?
September 19th, 2008, 5:57 pm · 3 Comments · posted by Le Templar
RUSSELL PEARCE
I wasn’t able to attend Thursday’s legislative candidate forum for District 18 in Mesa. But reading between the lines in Tribune writer Sonu Munshi’s coverage, I think Pearce still wishes he was running for Congress this fall instead of the Arizona Senate.
Pearce seriously considered challenging incumbent Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., in the primary because Flake has been a proponent of immigration reform that would provide an opportunity for otherwise law-abiding immigrants who enter the U.S. illegally to remain here. But Pearce found out when he tested the waters that running for Congress is a whole different ballgame than running for the Legislature. Access to cash, and lots of it, is much more important in a congressional campaign, although some East Valley Democrats want to believe I don’t know what I talking about.
Flake’s warchest is well-stocked and Pearce learned he would have a tough time matching it. So Pearce ran for the Legislature again, and even took public campaign funds to help fend off the heavy attacks from business-friendly critics.
Meanwhile, Flake isn’t taking any chances and he has launched a new fundraising tool called the Pork Parade. Technically, the site is supposed to be devoted to building support against pork-barrel spending and earmarks. But given its emphasis on the use of Twitter and its relative lack of content, the real purpose likely will be to build up Flake’s personal image and gather contact information for future donation appeals, ala Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
September 21st, 2008 at 7:31 pm
First of all, I commend Rep. Flake’s vigor in fighting earmarks.
However, Mr. Templar would appear to be correct in his assuption. In order to sign up for e-mails on earmark related issues at the Pork Parade website, one must first agree to accept e-mails from the Flake for Congress website. That is deceitful, in my estimation, and deceiving the constituency is shameful, especially for one who portrays himself an honest family man.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Pearce will not get my vote — he does not represent what America is about but operates like the tyrants from the backwater era. It’s time to move into the 21st century and he doesn’t represent a good future.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Pearce is scary — he takes us back decades to an era we thought we worked hard to leave behind. If this is the best Arizona has, then they are in sad shape.