The Sorry Shenanigans in the 5th

I can’t hide the fact that I’m biased when it comes to the 5th CD race. But let me say one thing before I start here. I have had the pleasure of meeting John McGoff. He’s a genuinely nice guy who I am starting to believe was convinced to run (by an Indy based group of people) against Congressman Burton without realizing what he was going to be up against. What makes me say this? Because McGoff and the Congressman were friends before this primary. And my guess is, that after the primary they will remain friends. But what’s interesting, is that on McGoff’s new smear site, he’s casting stones at the Congressman for taking a “CoDel” (Congressional Delegation) down to Central America that McGoff was part of. Even the Lt. Governor Becky Skillman was part of the trip. He even has the gall to put it in his bio on his campaign website. His claims against the Congressman?

From January 8-14, 2006, the Congressional Record shows that Dan Burton took an official trip to Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama at taxpayer expense. While we don’t know exactly what he was doing there, the record shows that the entire trip cost over $13,500—quite a pretty penny for only a week-long stay.

What really happened? According to the other blog I flack for:

In 2005, John McGoff and some partners were trying to buy a ‘Pollo Comprero’ Chicken franchise from a Guatemalan company. They were not having any success and so asked Congressman Burton to help them. Congressman Burton and LTG Skillman were leading a CoDel to Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama – the first US delegation to Central America after passage of the CAFTA-DR trade legislation – and the Congressman agreed to help the McGoff group get a meeting with the Guatemalan company.

McGoff, and two of his partners flew down to Guatemala City, on their own outside of the official delegation to attend the meeting that Congressman Burton had set up for them. In fact, the Congressman took time out from the official schedule to go with the group to the meeting, along with the US Ambassador to Guatemala, to support their attempt!

If that’s not enough:

Neither McGoff, nor his partners were ever a part of the official delegation, and did not travel outside of Guatemala City nor participate in any of the official meetings.

Additionally, the nameless campaign blasts the Congressman for trips “to Costa Rica … [which] hasn’t been the topic of any Congressional hearing or substantial legislation.”

May we point out that the Central American Free Trade Agreement/Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR) was a major piece of trade legislation on which dozens of hearings were held and Costa Rica was a large part of those hearings. One of the missions of the CoDel, was to reinforce the pact with the CRG and open bilateral trade opportunities between Indiana and these Central American partners. See the Trip report language below.

Want the proof?

Introduction , Part One, Part Two, Part Three

To top all of this off, McGoff even had an expired passport that he he begged the Congressman to expedite of so he could get his chicken franchise in Guatemala.

So let’s recap here. McGoff calls out the Congressman for a CoDel to Central America that even involved Lt. Gov. Skillman, is involved himself, says he’s “helping to forge economic relationships between Indiana and Central America”, but really he’s trying to buy a chicken franchise from a group who won’t return his calls.

Oh, and by the way, even after getting his expedited passport, McGoff failed to close the deal on his “pollo loco”. That means that no economic ties were ever forged.

All of McGoff’s campaign has been about how he’s a better person than Dan Burton, that’s he’s got more integrity. Dragging a former friend through the mud just to advance your career isn’t what I call integrity.