GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Charles W. Herbster and Jim Pillen are acting like two of the three stooges — right down to the face-slaps, eye gouges and nose twists.
Their barrage of TV ads clogging the airwaves show that they offer little of substance on how best to govern Nebraska. Instead, they’re appealing to their debased base.
To that point, following are excerpts from a recent article former Omaha World-Herald Executive Editor Randy Essex penned for Medium.com:
If we believe TV ads in the Nebraska governor’s race, the need to suppress critical race theory is just about the most important issue facing the state.
Two years ago, very few Nebraskans — and hardly any Americans — had even heard of CRT, which lived in rarified academic circles. Candidates might have focused on property taxes, our costly worst-in-the-nation prison crowding, maybe meatpacking concentration and ranchers’ low share of high retail beef prices.
But instead, Chuck Herbster and Jim Pillen today are working from the latest edition of the Republican playbook that brought us George H.W. Bush’s Willie Horton ads. This is race-baiting, defined by Britannica as “the unfair use of statements about race to try to influence the actions or attitudes of a particular group of people.”
It works on a population with either little exposure or hostility to diversity, manufacturing outrage about something that’s poorly understood and can be made to sound scary.
And that ought to scare the hell out of us.
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As Rep. Jeff Fortenberry stands trial this week in Los Angeles on felony charges that he lied to the FBI about potentially illegal campaign contributions, it now seems he might be fibbing about why he’s not in Washington D.C. to vote on legislation.
From the Nebraska Examiner:
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., might not be telling congressional administrators the whole truth about why someone else is casting his votes in the U.S. House.
Fortenberry is in Los Angeles this week for his trial in U.S. District Court on felony criminal charges of lying to or misleading federal investigators about foreign funds raised for his campaign, which is illegal.
In a letter Tuesday to the Clerk of the House, Fortenberry wrote that he would be “unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency.”
The congressman is not sick with COVID-19, nor is he claiming to be, Fortenberry’s chief of staff, Andy Braner, said in an email responding to a reporter’s questions.
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County conventions are winding down with Douglas County hosting their event on March 20.
Chair Kleeb and the NDP Officers welcome all the delegates attending their county conventions this month. Our 2022 plan to build on the 750 Democrats elected statewide — Expand the Vote. Protect the Vote. Close the Rural Gap. You can help — become a Block Captain, join our monthly donor club and support our strong slate of candidates running across Nebraska. Find out more at our website.
Watch the “Message for county convention delegates” video:
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Let the NDP help you or a family member or friend get a Vote-by-Mail ballot for the May 10 Primary Election!
You can do that and much more at the NDP Voting Center.
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The NDP has launched a “Flip that Bacon” website to target Rep. Don Bacon’s 2nd District congressional seat in 2022.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has CD2 as one of its 22 competitive House districts that are either open or held by Republicans.
Click here to go to the Flip that Bacon site.
At the bottom of the home page is a timeline slider listing Bacon’s gaffes and horrible votes and positions during his time in office.
Also, click here to download and share Flip that Bacon graphics on social media!
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Help build the NDP and become a Monthly Donor to help us help Dems win in 2022 and beyond! We need your help!
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Join us on a Welcome-to-the-Party call!! We cover topics such as voter registration and redistricting.
The next call is March 22. Sign up here.
If you have suggestions for topics to cover, please email gina@nebraskademocrats.org.
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Get your NDP swag at the NDP/Shirts 101 store!
There are lots of designs, including some terrific Jomaha/Blue Dot swag!
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We leave you this week with a rendering by Bill Bramhall.
–By Kevin O’Hanlon/NDP Communications Director
NOTE: If you’d like to receive #NebDems News via email, just let us know by sending a note to: info@nebraskademocrats.org
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IMPORTANT DATES
March 1-20: NDP county conventions
March 22: Welcome-to-the-Party call
March 22: Weekly Tuesday Phone Bank to register voters in CD2
March 22: North Omaha Town Hall on law enforcement
March 24: Weekly Thursday Phone Bank to register voters in CD2
March 30: Kristen DuPree for MCC Board Campaign Launch Event
April 1-3 NDP State Convention
April 19: North Omaha Town Hall with candidates
May 10: Primary election
