The DSCC is attacking one of Ohio's best progressive candidates...

[madfloridian]

and threatening to support her primary rival who most likely can't win.

Jennifer Brunner is Ohio's Secretary of State who has been so brave fighting election change. She has put up with death threats as well.



Jennifer was one of four Secretaries of State that we supported in 2006 through DFA

Protect the vote: DFA supports 4 for Secretaries of State

Jennifer Brunner -- Ohio. Jennifer is a former Franklin County, OH Judge. Before being elected to the bench, Jennifer served as Legislative Counsel of the Ohio Secretary of State's Office. She is a former member of the Franklin County Board of Elections and has over thirteen years of experience in election law representing citizen groups, labor unions, and candidates for state offices. Brunner has promised to make all Ohio elections "free, fair, open, and honest" and to oversee a process that can be "audited and verified." Please join Democracy for American, Emily's List, the Women's Campaign Forum, and we can win this seat and end the corruption in Ohio's election process.
http://www.jenniferbrunner.com /

Jennifer is so very qualified, but Bob Menendez of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is threatening not to support her until she raises more money. Her opponent has raised more money but not near the candidate she would be.

This is the age old tactic of the DSCC and the DCCC...if you don't get enough money right up front they will not support you. They have turned down good candidates and recruited millionaire Republicans to run...just so they could fund themselves. Rahm lost us a couple of house seats in Florida with this stunt.

From Daily Kos recommended list:

DSCC threatens Jennifer Brunner in OH-SEN, over money! UPDATE

Bob Menendez, the head of the DSCC, is threatening to attack Jennifer Brunner if she is deemed to not have enough money in her primary against perennial loser Lee Fisher.

The DSCC has all but written her off, however, and the establishment has turned to Fisher. In fact, Brunner said when she spoke with DSCC Chair Bob Menendez in Sept., he first told her that he “didn’t want to see a Democratic candidate at the end of the primary with zero dollars,” and he followed up that his organization would go into the state to work against a candidate perceived as “being negative in the primary or not raising enough money.”

Brunner said she responded: “If you do that, the women of Ohio will never forgive you.” Menendez, she said, retorted: “I know you’re not scared of me, and I’m not scared of you.”

All because Lee Fisher has more money. Newsflash, Bob. Lee Fisher CANNOT WIN THE SEAT. He has lost his last two statewide campaigns, the most recent in 1998 to BOB TAFT, after OUTRAISING Bob Taft.

Here is the UPDATE from Tim Russo at DKos:

UPDATEx2 - Ohio blogs are weighing in, confirming that the establishment is coming after Jennifer guns blazing. Ohio Daily Blog.

The line from the people who really know her goes like this : "God help these f___ers if they don't take her seriously. She's a wonderful person. Don't get me wrong. She's caring and compassionate and I'd walk through fire for her. But God help these guys if they cross her. She's got ice water running through those veins and she'll take you down a brick at a time or blow your whole house down."

And that's from the people who not only really know her, but from the people who really respect her.

This afternoon, the DC publication Hotline ran a story that's chock full of every side story we've heard over the last six months, but could never repeat or report. At long last, the story about the behind the scenes look at the Jennifer Brunner for U.S. Senate campaign is playing out. In part, because Jennifer Brunner doesn't care what the establishment thinks anymore.

Bottom line is she was discouraged from running because the governor supported her opponent, Fisher. Many of us believe without real proof that she is not acceptable because she was a DFA candidate. It has happened to others like Cegelis, so it is a possibility.

SO...on the surfact the main condition for getting party support is money. Not being a good candidate...just having money.

Being a great Secretary of State does not qualify Jennifer for party support.

That is just terrible.

[Cleita]

1. I'm not surprised. I hope she gets a lot of grass roots money to counter them.

This is what we are up against, a well oiled, corporate funded DLC machine that is selecting our candidates for us.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

8. YES YES YES

CLEAN THEM ALL OUT

[Zodiak]

32. You are correct

And after they do this...they ride whatever wave of Democratic sentiment there is into office, and then turn around and say that "conservatives" voted them in.

No, Democrats voted you in and had no idea you were a stealth corporatist.

The DLC has been trying to get a tighter hold in Ohio, and Strickland (DLC) has been less than perfect and disappointing in many ways.

the Ohio Democratic party is much like the Florida Democratic party....hardly Democratic and filled with many former pukes.



This is what the DSCC, DNC, and DLC do...they get the most conservative Democrats they can, paint them as progressives, and hope you do not notice.

[OhioBlue]

2. Jennifer would be a remarkable Senator

She isn't afraid to lead on progressive issues - she has taken the most progressive stances on issues that are most important. If you are on facebook - friend her - she posts daily on her activities.

jennifer worked for Sherrod Brown when he was Secretary of State. She reminds me a lot of Senator Brown.

If you have some money to donate to her campaign, please do. She is the absolute best candidate to take the Senate seat currently held by George Voinovich in Ohio. He is retiring. She would be a voice from the left that we could all applaud.

[dgibby]

3. Post this at firedoglake

She can get funded through ACTBLUE. I'm sure Jane Hamshler would be more than willing to help her.

[tomm2thumbs]

16. excellent idea - and smartly posted

[dgibby]

18. Thanks so much.

Who says the "netroots",as Tweety so derisively called us yesterday (we're not "real" Dems to him), can't make a difference? I'm ready to make him eat those words.

[tomm2thumbs]

59. absolutely!

you go!

[rockymountaindem]

4. Then it's time to put up or shut up, people

Send some money this lady's way so she can get the traction she needs. Unfortunately I'm a poor graduate student, but I'm sure some of you will put your money where your mouth is and help out. Otherwise, all this complaining about conservadems is just noise.

[DFW]

5. When I get to a secure portal (this evening, I hope) I will do just that. Thanks for the heads-up

Gotta head down to France for the day--how weird does THAT sound?

[rockymountaindem]

7. It sounds like you are somewhere north of France, within driving distance...

I'd wager Belgium.

[DFW]

30. I was in Belgium when I wrote that.

I'm now in the train from Paris to Köln, stuck for the last 3/4 hour in the Bruxelles-Midi station, with
hundreds of angry Germans wanting their reserved seats that are occupied by people who are already in them
from other cancelled trains. Three others were canceled, and we are SRO with people who were sent here from
Gatwick Airport who couldn't fly out of there, and got sent over on the Eurostar. What was to be a shortened
work day, with me back with my wife in Düsseldorf by 8 PM has me now hoping to be back by midnight. One of
those Murphy's Law days that you have to endure every so often.

[madfloridian]

33. Sounds like quite a trip, DFW

:-)

[femrap]

52. It sounds wonderful....

can I go to France too?

[DFW]

56. Please!!

I have to run down there almost once a week now. I'm getting way too little sleep.

Feel free to fill in for me for a month or two.

[katkat]

41. rockymountaindem

I'm a retiree and I'm sending her some money. I'm sure you have five bucks you can send her,

[EFerrari]

6. F#ck me. madfloridian, thank you for this info.

Jennifer had to clean up the mess left by Ken Blackwell.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

:grr:

[madfloridian]

27. Yep, she did indeed have to clean up after Blackwell.

And this is the thanks she gets.

[OHdem10]

9. Give Rahm the sign--Find us another wealthy Rw ProLifer dressed

in Democratic Clothes.

Forgive me for being sarcastic. I get a bit upset when
I read--She must come up with money by date certain.

[WCGreen]

11. I really don't think Lee Fisher is Pro-Life...

I agree he can't win when it counts. He actually believes that it was he who won the state for Strickland.

Lee Fisher is the consummate corporate democrat. A Leemousine Liberal, if you will...

[ChiciB1]

36. Yes, THIS IS THE DLC Modus Operendi... Happened Here In My District In Florida!

Rahm zeroed in on Christine Jennings a former Repuke, turned Dem, but a conservative one. Got lots of money to her first time out... she lost by 269 votes, fought back, but after a very long time... it was over. Vern Buchanan, a person with many lawsuits against him the FIRST go round, ended up the winner. This after there were over 18,000 under votes that never seemed to get solved!

Next time out, same match up... NO MONEY FROM RAHM... Jennings lost again to Vernie and this time he had EVEN MORE lawsuits against him! He not "Democrat Friendly" and it's pretty useless even calling his office. Not only that, the Dems here for the most part are DLC too!

I had to stop attending meetings because I felt like an interloper! I LEAN LEFT... that doesn't work here!

[madfloridian]

45. Jennings lost even though her opponent had 8 lawsuits

against him and other pending problems. She ran a cautious DLC campaign and it did not work.

[ChiciB1]

47. I'm So Aware Of That! Rahm Decided It Was Going To Be Jennings...

At least that's the way I saw it, threw Jan Schneider under the bus and went his merry way! Buchanan is awful, and I keep wondering why I'm so fortunate to live in a place that just seems to have some of the WORST Representatives! Before him it was Katherine Harris!

I'm forever having to deal with this stuff. I recall people saying horrid things about Schneider because she wouldn't bow out of the race! Schneider was much more to my liking, but the Dems here just decided they wanted a Democrat, ANY Democrat and Jennings almost got there. But still, my preference was Schneider, but the Dems here just abandoned her!

[femrap]

53. Rahm can kiss my

........

Jennifer Brunner :yourock:

[ChoppinBroccoli]

10. I Happen To Know Jennifer Brunner

I practiced in front of Jennifer Brunner when she was a Judge here in Columbus, and I can tell you that she's a quality person. She got into the Secretary of State's office and cleaned up a huge portion of the mess left by Ken Blackwell. I would even say that part of the reason Obama won Ohio is because of the voting reforms Jennifer put into place in her term here.

Now, I can't say anything bad about Lee Fisher, because I like him too, and the truth of the matter is that either one of them would wipe the floor with the fool they'd be running against. I haven't even chosen a dog in this race yet, and may not (I'm certain to vote for whoever emerges, but I don't think I'm ready to take one over the other--certainly not yet, anyway).

What I CAN tell you is this, you will never be disappointed supporting Jennifer Brunner. She's well deserving of any contributions/support you're willing to give her. And when you pair either one of these two up with Sherrod Brown, Ohio is sure to have two quality Senators for the first time in a long time.

[sabrina 1]

13. Wasn't it Jennifer who fought with Republicans

before the 2008 election over the counting of votes they claimed should not be counted for some reason. I'm forgetting the details now, but I do remember the case going to court, and hoping that what had happened in the past, would not happen again. It didn't, the judge ruled in favor of counting the votes. And I agree with you regarding the Obama losing Ohio if she had not fought hard to get every vote counted.

I doubt she is being pushed out simply because of a lack of money. That's the job of the party isn't it, to provide support for good candidates?

[madfloridian]

14. Trust me, I can give you examples in Florida of being pushed out for money.

Tell you what, I have other examples with facts...like Cegelis in IL. I will get some stuff together.

Oh, yes, indeed. You raise the money...used to be 120,000 before you get support.

[sabrina 1]

25. That is sad. I do remember what happened to Cegelis

But do you think it was only because of money, or is it sometimes that the candidate might be considered 'too liberal' for our current Democratic Party. I'm just wondering if Jennifer eg, was less active on the election fraud issue, which she has been, (an issued that astoundingly to me at least, Democrats seem less interested than they should be, sometimes outright opposed to any discussion of it. Look how the issue is banned eg, on a major progressive board like Daily Kos) and more 'conservative' and 'friendly' towards 'our Republican colleagues', would the money be found somehow? Or is money the only reason? Cegelis airc, was a pretty progressive candidate also and wasn't it Rahm who made that decision?

Would love to read your opinion on this adfloridian, as it has always bothered me, the way good candidates are deprived by the party of the money they need. Maybe I'm just imagining it, which is very possible as I have not really researched it ~ anyhow, thanks for posting this OP. I just remember being very, very grateful that she was the SOS and had the courage to take on the Republicans to ensure a fair election, which they were working hard to prevent. Sounds like someone we could use in the Senate.

[madfloridian]

34. They handpick the ones they will fund.

So they pick the ones who will most suit them.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

15. My Memory Is Hazy Too

But I do remember vaguely what you're talking about. I think it had to do with a couple of different issues. First, the Republicans wanted to discard a bunch of the new voter registrations (there was a big push to register new voters in Ohio during 2008), for different nitpicky reasons. Jennifer fought them and the Court ruled in favor of allowing the registrations to stand. Second, the Republicans tried to disqualify a bunch of the provisional ballots. Because of the measures Jennifer took to ensure that every vote got counted after the 2004 debacle, provisional ballots were to be given to any person who had any kind of problem at the polls. The policies, subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court, were put in place to ensure that everyone who showed up to vote would get the chance to cast a ballot, even if there were minor mistakes with their registration, etc. These were technicalities the Republicans used in 2004 to prevent huge numbers of people from ever casting a ballot. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing people to vote. Third, the Republicans tried to shut down polling places. They went to court to try to prevent early voting, and to disqualify the votes of people who didn't show up to vote at EXACTLY the designated times. They lost that one too.

Funny, but I seem to be noticing a theme here. Republicans don't want people to vote.

[sabrina 1]

26. Thank you, I think you got most of it right.

I remember at the time, when Jennifer decided to take it to court, the judge had ruled in favor of Republicans in 2004, so there was a feeling of 'here we go again', but this time, the ruling was in favor of the SOS and it seemed like a huge victory for a change, which it was.

Airc, the Repubs were using ACORN also, claiming they were engaged in election fraud (not true at all) and McCain and Fox were helping spread that lie. She fought them all, resulting in her computer being hacked and death threats which she made public, airc. She seemed like a real fighter to me and I remember being very grateful that it was she, and not Blackwell who was making decisions or we might have lost yet another election.

Thanks for filling in the blanks ~ it was a tense period. I did not know she was running for the Senate but based on what I know of her before the election, I would definitley love to see her win.

[mod mom]

22. Unfortunately, Fisher is a corporate sponsored Dem, something we have too many of already.

I hate to say it but if they use these tactics against Brunner , we will definitely have another Republican Senator.

[madfloridian]

28. That's why he has more money. And Jennifer has less.

Because the party wants him.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

35. I Don't Buy It

Whether it's Brunner or Lee Fisher who gets the nod next year, I don't think that tool Rob Portman has a snowball's chance of beating either one of them. The guy's a certified tool.

[mod mom]

40. We know he's a tool but the rest of Ohioans:

November 12, 2009 - Dems Fade In Ohio Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Obama Gets Negative Score In Key Swing State

For the first time, Republican Rob Portman is inching ahead of the two Democrats in the 2010 race for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Also for the first time, Ohio voters disapprove 50 - 45 percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, down from his 53 - 42 percent approval September 16 and 49 - 44 percent approval July 7.

-snip
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1322.xml?ReleaseID=1396

[verges]

37. That's pretty much my take on it as well.

[Major Hogwash]

50. That's a pretty damned good reference.

Thanks for offering to tell us all that.

[Union Yes]

12. The DSCC is gettin on my fightin side now... knr nt

[Wilms]

17. that's what the dscc does. n/t

[G_j]

19. she is deemed to not have enough money

there you have it, this is why progressive legislation will never be passed without campaign finance reform.

[Dinger]

20. K & R.

Terrible indeed.

[mod mom]

21. I was working on her campaign until a family crisis. She is a true progressive

and extremely hard working. I just donated again to her campaign. I contacted the DSCC to express my outrage and guess whose name pops up-James F-ing Carville! How surprising they are trying to attack Brunner. I wrote to Mr "Million Dollar Asshole" himself and let him know that this tactic will backfire as it will alienate both progressives and women.

If you are financially able to, please consider donating to Jennifer Brunner's campaign-she is truly one on the good progressives that could make a real difference in the senate!

[Botany]

23. I know Jennifer and she is as good as it gets.

No one person has done more about cleaning up Ohio's Blackwell mess and
making sure we got Obama elected and that the provisional votes were counted
that got us Mary Jo Kilroy into congress.

Fisher will get crushed in the general election.

[RevCheesehead]

24. So maybe she should run as an independent?

Honestly, any D_CC committee is so screwed, I'll NEVER give them any money.

[Are_grits_groceries]

29. Wasn't she the one who

fought the Rethugs tooth and nail about voting? If anybody deserves support, Brunner should get it. She has proved herself in the trenches.

[Botany]

44. Jenny did not fight only the republicans but she fought for the law ...

..... if you wanted to vote and you were legal to vote then your vote would be counted.

I am proud to say know her and I am very limited to say what I know out of respect for her but
J.B. had threats of death against her and her family in 2008 because shits like Hannity sold the
ACORN lie 24/7. Jenny lives by the letter of the law because she sees "the law" as just.

[madfloridian]

31. A reminder of one seat that policy cost us in Florida. Shameful.

FL 16: The waste of a good Democrat. The harm done there now.

Mahoney is the Republican millionaire Rahm and Thurman recruited to run for Foley's seat against a good Democrat. Dave Lutrin, who was forced out of the race by his own party and union.

Lutrin said that he also met personally with Mahoney. During a three- hour breakfast meeting, Mahoney offered Lutrin a higher-paying job if he agreed to drop out of the primary. "Mahoney tried to get me to run in a different district. He offered me a job at one of his non-profit organizations where he said that I would make more than I was making as a teacher. He said I could campaign full time while working at his non-profit as long as I agreed to drop out of the race," Lutrin said. Lutrin declined the job offer.

According to Lutrin, when he refused to step aside, the DCCC shored up local political support for Mahoney. The local AFL-CIO chapter, of which Lutrin was a member, came out with an early endorsement of Mahoney's campaign. According to Lutrin, the union told him that "they would like to back a fellow union brother, but Mahoney has more money and more political support from the party." Lutrin eventually dropped out of the race when the local teachers' union decided to support Mahoney.

[Odin2005]

38. This is where the rubber meats the road, folks. the centrists must be crushed in the primaries!

[madfloridian]

39. Good enought to be Secretary of State of Ohio, not good enough for her party.

Think about the implications of that.

[suffragette]

42. Horrible news

Everything I've heard about Brunner, especially from DU'ers in her state, has been good.

It's not long ago at all that Ohio, and through that state all of the U.S., was in the dastardly clutches of Ken Blackwell.

Brunner has had the incredibly tough job of turning that around and has done so capably.



:wtf:

[Sebastian Doyle]

43. The DSCC and DCCC were infested with the DLC disease a long time ago

We'll never save this party from Repuke infiltration if we can't even get Democrats on the ballot.

[tbyg52]

46. I do not say this lightly.

GOD DAMN THEM.

And I'm an atheist.

Terrible people.

[dusmcj]

48. well, let's defund the DSCC.

BTW, Menendez is a northeast Party machine apparatchik.

You listening, boys ?

[scentopine]

49. DNC, DLC, DCCC, DSCC, and the rest of the DICKS

don't spend a dime on these candidates. We need to send home a message.

JUST DON"T DO IT

It will hurt, but you must resist the temptation to spend even a penny on an establishment candidate.

Write in ballots or stay home and do not vote. Do not perpetuate the disaster that is becoming Obama's legacy.

[femrap]

51. Jennifer is the smartest, most

eloquent of candidates, but the boyz like Fisher...Harry Reid is having a big fund raiser for him.

Some folks in Ohio are thinking she should give up and run for OH Supreme Court.

I want her in the Senate...she may not have the $$$$, but she has lots of women on the ground working for her.

She's better than Sherrod Brown....and that's saying something because he's pretty cool.

[ellie]

54. I threw a couple of bucks her

way today via Act Blue. I like her.

[Jamastiene]

55. K&R MUST READ

:kick:

This is where it all begins. This is where we begin to take out party back.

[DFW]

57. Finally made it back to Germany and sent Jennifer a conribution

I get pounded with so much Emily's List stuff that the really good ones sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

Thanks for this, MF. Jennifer was one of the ones truly deserving of some serious money.

[pundaint]

58. I nominate her for the first Progressive Senator if she loses the primary

[Jax]

60. k&r

I am 50+ and beyond mad anymore. Kind of pissed numb.

madfloridian as usual, knowledge and class. Speak for me.

The links/efforts you post are very invaluable. Must reads, must reads.

Thank you.

Alyce





















Alyce

[madfloridian]

61. It is shameful that a SoS who fought the good fight..

is not deemed okay by her own party.

[Dr.Phool]

62. Kick!

I knew Fisher and his wife, both, over 20 years go. They were both a couple of entitled elite snobs back then.

Another reason I send all my fundraising replies back in their postage paid envelopes.

[suffragette]

63. Yet Rahm had no problem giving Parker Griffith money

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/fec/?id=51979&cycle=2007-2008

Note both "Friends of Rahm" and "Common Values PAC" which is affiliated with Rahm.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00399014&cycle=2006


Stunning that Griffith (who is now trading in his D for an R) would financially merit being a friend and sharing common values while Brunner is shunned.