I was just reminded of something Boyda said at a campaign appearance

[proud2BlibKansan]

Two days before the election, on a Sunday, a group of us from KC went to Topeka to go to a Boyda rally on the steps of the capitol. As soon as we got there, we saw a group of people on the lawn painting anti-war signs. We went over to talk to them and as we were standing there, I saw Nancy walking by. I went over to say hello to her and to wish her good luck.

First thing she said to me was "Are you with THEM?" and she nodded her head toward the group painting the anti-war signs. I said no and she turned to one of the people with her and said "I don't want THEM here".

Then we walked over to the steps to watch the rally. I looked over and saw one of Nancy's 'people' talking to the group painting the signs. They picked up their signs and left.

I didn't think much of it at the time. I did think she sounded determined to keep her distance from the anti-war activists but that didn't really surprise me. Sure enough, she talked about bringing our troops home that day as she spoke to the crowd of supporters.

So I had completely forgotten about this little incident until today when I was talking to one of my friends who was with me that day. Coupled with her comments on ABC last night, I am now going "hmmmm" even louder than I was earlier today.

Another hmmm came to me when I read this on Daily Kos tonight. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/1/5/84459/93508
A blogger there is claiming that Nancy helped organize anti-war protests in KC in 2004. I was not a regular attendee in 2004 but I did go to some protests and I never saw her. I also never heard anyone mention Boyda being a part of any protests here in KC. Also, if she lives in Topeka, why in the world would she come to KC to organize a protest against the war?

[Mabus]

1. Nancy did help organize protests

From the 2004 campaign:

Ryun attacking Boyda

Perhaps the only allegation more politically charged than not supporting the troops is not supporting efforts to capture Osama bin Laden, who has claimed to be the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. That's what Ryun insinuates against Boyda. Like the Boyda ad, the ad uses a narrator to repeat or paraphrase written allegations that are footnoted with sources. The ad also has footage of anti-war signs and of Boyda getting on a bus to go to an anti-war protest.

Claim: "Nancy Boyda is attacking Congressman Ryun's support of our troops." ("... first attack ad ..." Kansas Public Radio Sept. 20).

Fact: Kansas Public Radio did report that the Boyda ad was the first attack ad in the race.

Claim: "But she has an odd way of showing her support." (Led weekly war protests in Johnson County. Kansas City Star April 10, 2003).

"Organizing protests while our troops were defending our freedom ... " (Organized a bus trip to Washington, D.C., to protest the war in Iraq. Kansas City Pitch Feb. 20, 2003). " ... with an organization opposed to the hunt for Osama Bin Laden ..." (Beneath a photo of bin Laden is www.internationalanswer.org).

Fact: Boyda participated and helped coordinate anti-war protests in Johnson County and Washington, D.C., according to published reports. She was quoted as a protester in the Kansas City Star and Pitch Weekly. Boyda says she had questions whether Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and whether President Bush had done enough to get as many allied members into the coalition. Once Bush started the invasion, she said, her anti-war protests stopped.

The group referred to in the ad as opposing the hunt for bin Laden is called A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. The group opposes violence and has described U.S. involvement in Afghanistan as occupation.

Boyda participated in an anti-war rally organized by the group, but she doesn't belong to the group and disagrees with its views, her campaign said. Boyda has said she does support U.S. troops and the hunt for bin Laden, and has called on Ryun to stop the ad. He hasn't.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/oct/17/analysis_substance_of/

And frankly, if I were Nancy and those were A.N.S.W.E.R. people that showed up at the rally, I wouldn't want them there either. Do you know what group they were with?

edited to add: Nancy used to live in the KC area in 2003 before she married her husband Steve who lived in the 2nd District.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. It was 3 people

who didn't look to be part of any organized group. Of course I don't know exactly who those people were, as I had never seen them before. But she didn't want them there.

Funny though she didn't seem too concerned about the anti-choice people and their HUGE signs with a picture of an aborted fetus.

So at a Nancy rally, this is good ->


and this is bad ->

[Mabus]

3. You know, we can argue all night

I called her office three times and spoke with her people. I know what they told me and I know you won't have any of it. I'll wait and see what actually goes down. If she's not what she said she was, I'll be the first one to light the torches when we go after her.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. You know I have been fielding phone calls and emails all day from

very angry peace activists from all over the country. I never had a free minute to call Boyda.

Even if she backs down and apologizes, she has tarnished her reputation as a promising progressive. And on her first friggin day in office!!

I don't want to argue with you. You know I love you. I just feel betrayed. First the crap with my rep resigning and being replaced with a fundie, then the PhiLL crap and now this. Maybe I should just give up politics and become a non voting sports fan. Go Chiefs! :)

[Mabus]

5. So far she's voted the party line

She's standing firm with the party, that says a lot right now. If she was a turncoat she's already had some opportunity to jump sides & vote with the Republicans but she hasn't.

Yeah, she fucked up. I think she misspoke in an attempt to stay with the party line.

I love you too. Besides, I can't find Jesus anymore. He was out in the living room holding hands with Ringo but he's disappeared. He's either raptured or he ran. I can't figure out which. And before you suggest it, if any of the dogs had gotten a hold of Jesus I would know by now. There'd be little pieces of our lord and savior everywhere but there aren't.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I will pray to St Anthony to find Jesus

Look under the furniture. My friend has a bumper sticker that says
I FOUND JESUS
HE WAS BEHIND THE SOFA THE WHOLE TIME.

[JeremyWestenn]

6. Politics is tough business.

And I wouldn't want anti-war protestors at my political rally either. Especially in such a contested district, at such a rough time when they were rallying against Bush's visit, and certainly not when the last campaign used it against her so well. Sometimes politics and electability is about choosing who you hang with. It's not offensive to me, it's the way of the game. :\