Iowa Machine Shed TV commercial creates a stir - AP

[Debi]

My title? republicans eating their own!!


A complaint has been filed with the Federal Election Commission over television commercials being aired by a Republican candidate for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District with opponents claiming the spots are a cloaked effort to boost the candidate’s image.

Brian Kennedy, who also is seeking the Republican nomination, filed the complaint over commercials being run by Mike Whalen, which promote Whalen’s business the Iowa Machine Shed.

The commercials feature Whalen sitting at a table in one of his restaurants talking about his business philosophy and how he’s tied to the land in Iowa.

Kennedy said the commercials are more about touting Whalen’s candidacy than the restaurant, and allow him to use corporate money in the image-making effort.

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http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051130/NEWS09/51130012/1056

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Couple of notes in this race - Kennedy is losing the money race BIG TIME! and can't get any press/media attention - I guess he'll get it now.

Also, here in Black Hawk County two of the republicans running for County Supervisor walked a very fine line using their business advertising colors and symbols in their campaign advertising. Democrats filed an ethics complaint and the board basically said what they were doing wasn't right, but not bad enough to get fined. republicans jumped all over Democrats for being poor sports. Now they're attacking one of their own. Fun.

Last I think this only helps Bill Dix (even though Whalen has the most money, if he gets a slap on the wrist for this are republicans going to want someone with baggage in the race against a clean Democrat) because he's staying out of the fight and just plugging away. (Remember Dean/Gephardt in the Caucuses?)

[IA_Seth]

1. I love it!

Lol..thanks for the post Debi. Nothing like seeing Republicans point out each others flaws, especially when those flaws may be illegal!

I would say from the sounds of it that even if this isn't illegal, it sure in the hell is unethical!

Culture of Corruption.

[blueloo]

2. Gluba missing

I'm not sure if this means anything but Bill Gluba was not mentioned as a Democratic nominee. I imagine this was a mistake, but it would be some news if he got out of the race.

[Debi]

3. I saw that in the article as well

I assume the article came from a press release out of Kennedy's campaign (and then a quick rebuttal interview with Whalen's staff). Maybe they don't even know who they're running against?

[Bluzmann57]

4. Something weird

I live in Davenport, which is the home of Whalen and HoA and haven't seen any ads for the Machine Shed in quite some time. Why doesn't he run them here? He also took over part ownership as well as corporate sponsorship of our local minor league football team, for which I have held season tix for several years. I am not going to drop my support of the team just because of his money going into the team, but if I get ANY campaign material from him with my Steamwheeler stuff, I will lodge a complaint somewhere.