Elrod Pulls An Oops
Jon Elrod was video taped by some Democrats writing campaign letters (thank you notes, according to Elrod) while on the State House floor and then handing them to a Legislative employee to mail.
This is certainly a bad move by Elrod, but probably not near as horrible as it is being portrayed. The Indy Star article is interesting in that it is clear that Elrod did not break any ethics rules by writing the letters, but he caused the Legislative employee to violate personnel rules by having him perform “political” work while on the clock.
The timing of this special election certainly gives Elrod some difficulties in performing his elected duties and running for Congress, but he will have to do a better job of separating the efforts.
Of course, I’m not convinced that the Dems videotaping activities on the House floor is exactly ethical either.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Not good for Jon and it shows he may be running thin with his time with doing his duty at State Rep, lawyer job, and running for congress.
I think its time the Elrod camp start to hit Carson on some stuff its clear with this and DNCC ad they have been first to go negative.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Why does this “conservative” blog insist on carrying negative stories about our guys……”STOP DOING THAT!!!
February 14th, 2008 at 10:18 am
First, I don’t consider this negative–but it is pointing out something that is going on. I don’t want supporters of Elrod being blindsided or uninformed of what is out there. Nothing would be worse than going up to your friend and saying “we need to vote for Elrod” and them saying “didn’t he pull some unethical stunt on the House floor” and not understand what happened. I noted how this was NOT an ethical violation.
Second, one of the major factors that led to Republicans losing control of Congress in 2006 was turning a blind eye to the ethical lapses in our own caucus. Conservatives and Republicans are not served well if we do not pay close attention to things like this.
I don’t think that what happened here is worth dropping support of Elrod. Elrod has made the correct statements regarding the incident. He has also said that he will not keep any campaign materials anywhere in the State House–a good move. But we also need to act in a way to be above reproach, so far as it is possible.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Yeah, Jon knows what he did is wrong and he owned up to it. I think what is more disgusting is that Democrats had their cameras trained on Jon just waiting for him to make even the simplest mistake. And then, they pass it on to the media to vilify him. What bothers me more is that the media is lapping this up like the lapdogs they are just so they can have something on the news.
What would happen if Republicans decided to follow Andre around with a camera? I can imagine he’d be pretty upset about it and claim dirty tricks were being played on him. There is such a double standard in this town for Democrats and Republicans.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Is it even legal to run a camera in the House? I know in DC you are not allowed to do that–I don’t even think you can take in still cameras.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Joel, we agree 100% about the Dems ethics, and about the need for blogs friendly to Jon to run the story.
Sometimes you have to play defense. And Josh is right — if in defense you raise the question of “what would Andre do?”, you make it less likely that the Dems will pull this sort of stunt again.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Comparing this crap which technically is not illegal, because it was not statehouse election material to what happened on Capitol hill in 06 is absurd….Republicans need to stop eating themselves. I am more coservative than anybody I know, but I am not stupid we need moderates and others so conservatives can be in charge….we would have never had Newt G withoit some mods from NE….wake up kids leave the litte table and come sit with the grownups
February 14th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Hey ‘Joel” you are mistaken the sides of the chamber where this video was taken is off limits to cameras.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Anonymous 11:08–please clarify your comment. Are you saying that it could not have been taped (that is what the Indy Star is reporting happened) or that it is, in fact, off limits to cameras.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Were there any old, overweight, poorly dressed gay men with bleached hair involved in the shooting of that videotape?
February 14th, 2008 at 11:49 am
According to Advance Indiana:
To which he asks:
Fair question, don’t you think?
February 14th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Very fair question Josh.
You know, I can see this happening - one of the eager and helpful GOP legislative assistants walks by, Jon says something to the effect of “You going to the mailbox? Drop these in for me please” and hands over a stack of mail with anything from bills being paid and mailed out to these thank you letters. I’m sure THAT’S never happened before (sarcasm) with Democrat legislators. Double standard.
I’m sure Pat Bauer and Bill Crawford never work on things for their full-time jobs while in the Legislature. Oh wait they don’t have jobs they work for Ivy Tech.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
If you followed Andre around with a camera I think you would be hard pressed to ever find him doing anything ethical.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Its against Senate Regulations to show Senators on floor in DC so I do wonder if same applies here
Bottom line, the Carson camp has gone negative first so they must be scared (have to wonder what internal polling is showing in this race) and must be trying to define Jon before he has the capacity to do so himself.
Elrod has to start to define Carson and I am willing to bet he has some huge ethics issues.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I guess the Dem’s have no problem with spying on a Republican but spy on the terrorists and all hell breaks lose.