Spence Jackson goes Back to the Future
To be fair to Spence Jackson, the spokesperson for the gubernatorial campaign of state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, every new political cycle offers a chance to work for different candidates, including some who might go up against your former allies. It’s got to be tough for the political workers who go from campaign to campaign, seeking employment.
Such is the case with Jackson today, as he spins the Steelman position against U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, who seems to have the unofficial backing of the Blunt clan. Jackson used to work for Gov. Matt Blunt.
So with that caveat in mind, Jackson might want to peruse the clips a bit before taking the new company line.
Here’s Jackson yesterday, when suggesting that the Missouri Chamber’s endorsement of Hulshof is no big deal:
“This is a Jefferson City-based lobbying group trying to shroud Congressman Hulshof’s record on earmarks, pork barrel spending and record deficits.”
Here’s Jackson in 2004 after Blunt secured the same endorsement:
“The endorsements of groups like the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau, the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police played an instrumental role in the governor-elect’s victory.”
Spinning Steelman’s position would be a difficult job. Almost as difficult as spinning Nixon’s position (positions?).
The tone of the two statements is different, but their substance is not necessarily contradictory. The Mo Chamber is a Jeff City-based lobbying group, its endorsement of Blunt was helpful (maybe even “instrumental”) to Blunt’s victory, and the Chamber may well be spinning Hulshof’s record in the manner stated, since the Chamber probably favors earmarks and pork-barrel spending that favor Missouri interests.
Nevertheless, Jackson would have been better off not commenting. Why make opponents more motivated to defeat your candidate? Plus, if Steelman beats Hulshof, she will want and may well receive the Chamber’s endorsement for the general. If that happens, the Dems will certainly repeat this release.
I really want to like Sarah Steelman, but if these are the types of people she surrounds herself with and hires then I would just assume she bow out of the primary, regroup and run for another office later on down the line. She just doesn’t seem like she is up for the challenge of running a good campaign, let alone being our next Governor. The best thing she can do for the Republican party is just withdraw. I’m assuming that if she is still giving a lot of her own money just to fund her campaign, it might be best for her family if she got out now as well.
The Chamber is for big business, who loves govt handouts and special legislation. Sarah is for the blue-collar wing of the party. Meaning that she supports equality of opportunity for Missouri businesses. Kenny is for the big special interest GOP’ers who love earmarks, etc. In a primary she is going to smoke Kenny. The consultants may be with him, but the grassroots worker bees are with Sarah.