Image Consultant, Heal Thyself
It's been an awfully humiliating month for Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who recently settled a probe by the Federal Election Commission after she failed to report nearly a half a million dollars in campaign donations and disbursements. Throughout her first three congressional campaigns, Blackburn received a staggering 33 letters from the FEC scolding her for at least 90 possible mistakes in her campaign reports. Of course, like a true conservative, Blackburn didn't blame herself, instead shifting the accountability to her inexperienced campaign staffers, who just happened to include her daughter and son-in law, Mary Morgan and Paul Ketchel.
Of course, the Ketchels weren't as naïve as mommy dearest suggests. Congressional Quarterly reported that the daughter and son-in-law collected over $300,000 in campaign donations for their roles in the congresswoman's campaigns but apparently weren't competent enough to fill out a few forms correctly. This is what today's Republicans really think of the free market: Forget about finding qualified help from a competitive group of candidates; let's just make our friends and cronies filthy rich. Give those Ketchels a few years and they'd probably win an oil drilling contract in Kurdistan.
Anyhow, we'd rather not kick Blackburn when she's down. That's not what we do here on Pith. In fact, we're very concerned that the congresswoman's ethical problems will brand her as just another slippery pol and not the bright beacon of honesty and intelligence that we know her to be. Already, her primary opponent Tom Leatherwood is making the FEC fine an issue. And even if she manages to win reelection, this is the type of story that will haunt Blackburn for years to come. How do you run for governor with a rap sheet like hers?
So we think Blackburn needs a little help from a professional. Someone who can turn around her blighted reputation. Someone who can reshape her entire persona. Someone who can help reinvent the tarnished incumbent as a brave protector of the people. Now who could that professional be? I wonder. I do wonder....
UPDATE: Politico picks us up.
Comments
Of course this isn't a hit piece.
But, you will let us know when you decide to do one, won't you?
Posted 05/28/2008 at 01:22:24 PMDoes Bill Frist have such business? No, his is giving people a heart not an image, right?
Posted 05/28/2008 at 01:25:04 PMWhere did the "$300,000 in public funds" reference come from? Were they paid out of her congressional funds or are these campaign funds you're talking about?
Posted 05/28/2008 at 01:37:52 PMThat was my mistake.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 01:55:01 PMBut, you will let us know when you decide to do one, won't you?
Don't worry. You'll be the last to know.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 02:15:37 PMThis is the most sexist, ridiculous piece of non-journalism. It looks like that picture is from 20 years ago and seems to have nothing to do with anything except to try and embarass someone.
Even worse that you admit a mistake in your comments, but haven't corrected it in the article. This is a tabloid article and you should be utterly ashamed. If you would like to run a legitimate article with actual correct facts, then a real discussion could be had about the FEC issues and voting records.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 02:16:27 PMNicole, you ignorant slut. The picture IS from 20 years ago (at least). Marsha Blackburn really was an image consultant, and she really ran ads promoting it. Really.
If Michael Dukakis looking ridiculous in a tank is fair game (and it was), then what's wrong with reminding people that Marsha Brady was a shallow self promoter?
Posted 05/28/2008 at 02:26:54 PMI'm not saying this isn't from 20 years ago. I'm saying, "What does this have to do with the current election?" Nothing. The fact that you would use the word slut when you don't me shows readers who the ignorant one is here.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 02:37:39 PMThree comments removed.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 02:37:47 PMIf course it's a hit piece. Are you people completely naive? Is the press only supposed to be "Fair and Balanced" when it comes to your candidate and your issue, and you just didn't happen to notice when it was the other way around?
Anyway, it couldn't have happened to a nicer piece of fluff.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 02:37:52 PMI suppose there is some irony (or is it karma?) that in a couple hundred word piece on Blackburn's FEC mistakes you make a pretty substantial one yourself. Journalist, fact-check yourself!
Posted 05/28/2008 at 02:44:53 PMThis reminds me of the pictures they used against Ronald Reagan in a desperate attempt to make him look bad. Remember Bedtime for Bonzo?
When people can not intelligently refute ones political arguments they always try crap like this. Marsha Blackburn has won every election since 1998 by a landslide. She has a genuine conservative philosophy, represents her district well and outworks everyone. I guess according to this article being attractive is as bad as being a conservative.
Marsha Blackburn earned her way in politics. She is not a native of Tennessee. She is not a millionaire. And she is not a legacy. Her name is not Gore, Clement or Ford!
When the votes are counted she will win again by at least 15%. Just like in 1984. Reagan won 49 states. Mondale won 1 state (Minnesota) plus Washington D.C.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 03:07:55 PMJust wish I could vote for her challenger.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 03:23:25 PMThe real question people have to ask themselves in this situation is if image is more important than effectiveness? I mean it saddens me that people are so self-consumed that they couldn't tell you what their Congressman has done for them but they will be the first ones to join the bandwagon on something as ridiculous as this.
Seriously, are people that fake that they can complain and throw their two cents in on a picture like this one, but when it comes to actual substance they can offer nothing more than sheer insults and childish remarks? Last time I checked this is politics not Hollywood.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 03:33:33 PMNicole, you ignorant slut, you're evidently too young and ignorant to get the old joke from SNL.
Having known Marsha for all those years, I can say she is the apotheosis of Brentwood, and the perfect representative for the Stepford wives of Williamson.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 04:02:08 PMOh pinko. You are soooooooo funny.
Or should that be sick?
In your instance, one and the same.
Posted 05/28/2008 at 04:41:48 PMI imagine Congressman Blackburn will be just fine. He's a tough broad.
How long do you think it took him to get his hair like that?
Posted 05/28/2008 at 06:39:36 PMAnd then there's the mysterious Laurie Zink...
Posted 05/28/2008 at 08:32:55 PMThis is to be expected from the liberal media, just slander with little, if any support. That's why this guy is writing for Nashville and not New York or even Atlanta...
I'd much rather want an honest image consultant that helps other people on a personal level, than a scheming lawyer or politician. Really, what is the problem with being an image consultant anyway? Wow, the woman actually had a REAL job and did not come straight out of college and "work" (AKA just telling us what we want to hear) for people's campaign money.
Honestly, we need more real people that care for the people like Marsha Blackburn in Congress and the Senate.
Furthermore, We need more people in the great U.S.A. that will stop complaining about the government and actually do something about it (just like Marsha)! But that's a whole other issue...
Posted 06/02/2008 at 05:00:12 PM