GOPER Loses Lead Over 'Slap Threat'

[sabra]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10302006/news/nationalnews/goper_loses_lead_over_slap_threat_nationalnews_.htm

GOPER LOSES LEAD OVER 'SLAP THREAT'

Wyoming's sole rep.October 30, 2006 -- CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The Democratic candidate for the only House seat in the reddest of states - Vice President Dick Cheney's Wyoming - is drawing even with GOP Rep. Barbara Cubin after a wheelchair-bound third-party candidate accused her of threatening to slap him.

Cubin, who is seeking a seventh term, leads Democrat Gary Trauner 44 percent to 40.4 percent, according to a new poll by the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle.

Five percent said they would vote for the allegedly threatened Libertarian candidate, Thomas Rankin.

Cubin, who is seeking a seventh term, held a solid lead over Democrat Gary Trauner going into an Oct. 23 debate. But her alleged threat against Libertarian candidate Thomas Rankin apparently gave Trauner a big boost.

Rankin, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, claims that after the debate, Cubin "walked over to me and said, 'If you weren't sitting in that chair, I'd slap you across the face.' "

[KingFlorez]

1. Good, serves her right

[Kolesar]

2. Ain't this the damnedest election season you ever saw?

Four gop congressmen resigned on ethics. Three seats in reliably-red Indiana in contention. Ohio sewed up for the Dem statewide candidates already. Voters actually polling about the economy and the war, not guns and abortions.

[elehhhhna]

7. slap the diabled, slam MJFox, slime Purple Heart Vets...

WTH will they think of next?

Prolly gonna crucify somebody.

[saigon68]

23. They are Thugs Hoodlums War Criminals and a sole Chimpanzee

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

24. It is quite odd.

I expected there to be some self-immolation within the Republican leadership especially, but at this point it seems like half of the rank-and-file Republican candidates nationwide have lost their minds. It really begs the question, what the hell are they thinking? Why, collectively, have they suddenly gone mad? I think there are some clues in the "Worst Congress Ever" article in RS. The structure put in place by the Republicans almost completely precludes the minority party from having any role in the decision making, and it is likely that those same structures are about to be used against them to devastating effect. (Even though I hope that isn't the case, I know it will be. It will take a long time to restore the balance necessary for a closely-divided Congress to function effectively. In the meantime it'll be a good show.)

Anyway, you're right. It's the damnedest election I've ever seen.

[gratuitous]

3. Alleged threat?

My understanding is that Cubin has confirmed that she confronted Rankin and said that she would indeed have used physical violence to settle their difference of opinion had Rankin not been so profoundly affected by multiple sclerosis.

[Frances]

4. Didn't she say that she got the idea from Rush

because he said something like that about Michael J Fox? I think someone on DU posted something to that effect.

[wicket]

5. Wow, what a psycho

She must be really proud, threatening a wheel-chair-bound person with violence. :nopity:

[Stand and Fight]

9. If you read the article....

Cubin's version is that she challenged Rankin's debate assertions and said, "If you had said that to anyone else, they probably would have smacked you."

[kainah]

20. She has admitted it

Her account does not vary from Rankin's anymore.

And, as for the blaming it on Rush, I believe that was some snark printed in the Billings paper.

I just came from a great Trauner rally and am very optimistic about this race.

[OnionPatch]

6. Typical right-wing behavior

If you can't get your way, resort to violence.

[spooky3]

8. and always bully those you perceive to be weaker than yourself

Never pick on someone your own size--but if you make a mistake and do that, start whining about being victimized by the vicious Democrat party.

[lyonn]

12. Kinda like attacking Iraq, figured they were weak and a slam

dunk! Never considered the human factor, the pride of a country and their people. There is no way we would allow China, Russia, etc. to stomp into our country and take it over. It would be a fight to the death. Works that way all over the world.

Bottom line, the repubs are arrogant and stupid.

[Stand and Fight]

10. What a sick person... She rightly deserves to lose.

What a vile and disgusting thing for a person to say to ANYONE else; much less someone afflicted with MS. She'd better go down in flames for this.

[Supersedeas]

11. more of that there 'compassionate conservatism' in action

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. Dumbass

:rofl:

[niceypoo]

14. "What she really meant to tell her was, < place lie here >"

[LynnTheDem]

15. WTF is the "alleged"??! She ADMITS it.

She blamed it on "too much Rush" (limpballs)

HELLO US "MEDIA". DO your fucking JOB (and no, it ain't dictation).

[KamaAina]

16. I wish they would stop saying "wheelchair-bound"

unless perhaps there is an S&M angle I am unaware of :evilgrin: The correct terminology is "a third-party candidate who uses a wheelchair".

This is not some sort of arcane knowledge hidden away on dusty papyrus scrolls in the vaults of some obscure independent living center. Everything a reporter needs to know about disability (but is apparently too clueless to ask) is here:

http://www.rtcil.org/products/RTCIL%20publications/Media/Guidelines%20for%20Reporting%20and%20Writing%20about%20People%20with%20Disabilities.pdf

EMPHASIZE ABILITIES, not limitations. For example:
uses a wheelchair/braces, walks with crutches, rather than
confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair-bound, differently-abled,
birth difference, or crippled. Similarly, do not use emotional
descriptors such as unfortunate, pitiful, and so forth.

[Hekate]

21. It gets the point across about the bully though, doesn't it?

I do my best to use appropriate language about people when I speak and write -- but you have to admit that using "wheelchair-bound" is a damning portrayal of her as someone who would physically threaten a much-weaker person.

Under the circumstances, I like it. :evilgrin:

Hekate

[Vidar]

17. People are finally seeing their true colors.

[geniph]

18. Did anyone in the modern GOP actually graduate from kindergarten?

I mean, didn't YOUR kindergarten teacher teach you that one does not settle things by hitting?

:eyes:

What a bunch of fucking ill-mannered babies!

[Anakin Skywalker]

19. I Slap You! You Slap Me! We're a Happy Family!

No???

[Judi Lynn]

22. GOP Committee Buys $240,000 in Ads in Wyoming (worried about Cubin!)

GOP Committee Buys $240,000 in Ads in Wyoming
Cheyenne- Posted 10/30/06
Associated Press

Democratic U.S. House candidate Gary Trauner's campaign says a late $240,000 advertising blitz by a Republican group shows the GOP is concerned that Representative Barbara Cubin might lose her seat.

The National Republican Congressional Committee bought ads last Friday that criticize Trauner, saying he would be a better representative for New York than for Wyoming.

Jonathan Collegio of the National Republican Congressional Committee says the $240,000 is a drop in the bucket and there was no concern about Cubin losing. He says the committee spends money in districts to shore up Republican incumbents.

Cubin is seeking a seventh term against Trauner and Libertarian Thomas Rankin.

Cubin says the ad buy is a reflection of troubles faced by the GOP nationally with the House page scandal, Iraq and other issues and not because of any problems with her campaign.
(snip/...)

http://www.kgwn.tv/home/headlines/4521936.html



Republican Cubin, Libertarian Soderlin, Democrate Trauner

Cubin tells challenger, 'I'd slap you'

By TOM MORTON
Star-Tribune staff writer

The Libertarian challenger for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat says Rep. Barbara Cubin offended him by uttering a slur related to his physical disability.

Thomas Rankin said Cubin approached him after a campaign debate on Sunday and said, "If you weren't sitting in that chair, I'd slap you across the face."

The Cubin campaign did not deny the remark, but a spokesman for the six-term congresswoman said Rankin started the exchange.

"He misrepresented her and insulted her integrity during the debate," Cubin spokesman Eric Cullen said, reading from a prepared statement.
(snip/...)

http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2006/10/24/news/top_story/f4de8437e0da75d28725721100041cd5.txt

[WePurrsevere]

25. "He misrepresented her and insulted her integrity..." Sounds more like

he touched too close to home with some facts to me.

There is NO reason ever to intimidate and threaten someone with bodily harm like that no less someone who wouldn't have a snow balls chance in hell of defending themselves. I am so darn sick of this "bully mentality" which seems to be rampant within the GOP both with the politicians and their neo-Con kool aid guzzling followers.