NASTY POLITICS in 3rd Congressional District Louisiana

[funkybutt]

The 3rd Congressional District race between Billy Tauzin III and Charlie Melancon takes negative campaigning to a new low

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1101887746222710.xml

By Matthew Brown
West Bank bureau

The grueling six-month campaign for Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District seat has boiled down to the ugly basics of hardball politics in the electronic age: personal attacks, half-truths and distortions delivered right to your living room via round-the-clock TV commercials.

...

Negative campaigning is nothing new in Louisiana politics, where a drunken-driving conviction (Tauzin's) and votes for taxes (Melancon's) are considered fair game. But the relentless onslaught in the 3rd District -- backed by millions of dollars from the national Democratic and Republican parties -- seems to be breaking new ground.

The National Republican Congressional Committee spent nearly $1.8 million through the start of this week on TV, radio and print ads to tear down Melancon. That's more than 20 times the $75,000 the group spent in support of its own candidate, Tauzin.

On the other side, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has spent $1.6 million attacking Tauzin, almost five times the $341,000 it spent in support of Melancon.

*if you'd really like to know what's going on with this race, please read the whole article. Strangely, there's NO POLLS out on this race and candidates aren't releasing their own polls so nobody knows where this race currently is. "Where are the polls in the 3rd district race?" ---> http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/politics/3959399/detail.html *

[BOSSHOG]

1. I don't live in the district but Tauzin made it my business

when he told the world in his TV ads that george bush will not return phone calls from democratic congressmembers who need federal assistance at the local level. That sure does sound christian and compassionate to me. Great way for a uniter to act.

[funkybutt]

2. I hear ya

That commercial made me mad too. They kept showing all these photos of Little Tauzin hanging out with the Prez AS IF it wasn't a photo op from a few weeks ago!

It was talking about how our state desperately needs help with funding to save the wetlands, then it said,"who's call do you think the president will return?"

I think the Republicans paid for that ad but that little punk makes me sick.

[BOSSHOG]

3. Symbiosis?

Drunk Driving, failed military record, rich dad with coattails, wears a smirk, not very bright - what's for bush not to love?

[finecraft]

4. I live in the district

and the crap that "Little Billy" is spewing around is making me sick on a daily basis. I expect a flyer in my mailbox any day now that says "Charlie Melancon eats little children for breakfast". This little prick has done nothing in all his years of existence but hang around his father and all of this crony pals. I don't understand the mentality of some people around here. They would vote for a dead rat, (or Little Billy in this case, because he is the next best thing), as long as there is a (R) beside the name on the ballot. From what I'm hearing, I think that Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes will go for Charlie. We have been working hard to get people out to vote for Charlie. He's been here a lot...in fact he is having a meet and greet with Kathleen Blanco tonight here in New Iberia. Little Billy and his dad were in town yesterday and had a fish fry lunch for the local Repukes. Too bad it rained like heck and only about 15 people showed up :)

[Endangered Specie]

5. We need both of Lousians runoff congressional districts...

damage control.

[funkybutt]

6. I'm concerned about voter fatigue

and I think my concern is a valid one. People are sick of this shit after a year+ long presidential race! I suspect turnout will be low.