Has The Media Become The Story Once Again?

by John Dankosky – Our colleague at The Connecticut Mirror, Mark Pazniokas got it just right with his overview story titled:

Pazniokas at Blumenthal Press Conference - Photo Chion Wolf

Just another day of politics in the Land of Steady Habits

It was a remarkable Tuesday, to be sure – with media swarming around Senate hopeful and current Attorney General Richard Blumenthal all day long (including our own Diane Orson, reporting for NPR)…only to be chased to a story that’s probably a bigger deal here in Connecticut.  As WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports, Susan Bysiewicz’s bid to replace Blumenthal as AG may have ended with a unanimous supreme court ruling against her.

It’s shocking that in just a few months, some of the political titans of the Connecticut Democratic party have been toppled (Chris Dodd), wounded or rebuffed.

Frankly, though, I’m more interested right now in the story that David Folkenflik of NPR is covering in his “Media Circus” blog.  There’s this recurring theme that somehow, the Connecticut press corps fell down on the Blumenthal story.  He writes:

…the episode is something of an embarrassment for the press corps, too. It turns out several news outlets have veered between accurately presenting his military record in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and reporting, unwarrantedly, that he served in Vietnam.

He goes on to list the many factual errors that have made their way into print, and then into a kind of “cloud biography” that – while not official – is easy for some in the press to grab onto.

I’m with Colin McEnroe, who challenges our local media to find any other instances in our dealings with Blumenthal that would suggest he’s trying to convince people of a record he doesn’t have.  Look, I can say that WNPR hasn’t parroted false information about his record…but I can only speak for the last 16 years here.

I’m also in agreement with Brian Frederick at Media Matters, who wonders if the bigger story isn’t what the media overlooked in the case of Blumenthal, but what it might be missing in the campaign of Linda McMahon.  It’s a question I asked state GOP Chair Chris Healy on the show yesterday, and one that I think still needs some answers.

Court Rules Against Bysiewicz

Photo by Chion Wolf

The Connecticut Supreme Court unanimously ruled today that Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz does not meet the minimum statutory qualifications to run for attorney general.

This comes after a lower court ruling said that Bysiewicz had proven she actively practiced law in Connecticut for the required ten years.

The ruling ends the Bysiewicz campaign for attorney general just four days before the Democratic State Convention, apparently throwing the nomination to the remaining Democrat in the race, George Jepsen.

Jeff Cohen talks to Lucy Nalpthanchil on WNPR’s All Things Considered.   Stay tuned for more from Capital Region Reporter Jeff Cohen.

UPDATE: Bysiewicz released this statement on the ruling:

“I am tremendously disappointed with the court’s decision overturning Judge Sheldon’s ruling and I strongly disagree with the decision both on the eligibility and the constitutionality issue. However, I do respect the rule of law and will abide by it.”

Uncomfortable Moments in Connecticut Political History

Thanks to CTNewsJunkie for providing and producing this – and several other clips from the Bysiewicz deposition.

Some Candidates “Explore” Carefully, Others…Not So Much

by John Dankosky – In his latest story, The Connecticut Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas “explores” the convoluted concept of political “exploration.”

Mark Pazniokas - photo by Chion Wolf

It’s something we’ve blogged about here before.  Paz explains the reason why Dan Malloy and others have to be so careful about whether they say they’re “running for Governor” or “exploring a run:”

As an explorer, Malloy can legally accept donations of $375, raising money that will keep his campaign going until he qualifies for a Democratic primary. The earliest that can happen is May 22, the day of the nominating convention.

Once he declares as a candidate who intends to seek public financing, Malloy will be limited to $100 donations and must live off a budget of $250,000, which is the amount candidates must raise privately to qualify for public funds.

So, in this pettiest of political seasons, we get a fun new political tactic: Wait for “explorers” to slip up…then pounce!  Pazniokas reports that Chris Healy, the state Republican Party Chairman filed a complaint against Malloy for one of these slip-ups (it was dismissed).  Pazniokas then recalled one exchange on Where We Live with Malloy at the very end of the show, where the “explorer” seemed to make sure of his footing:

Dan Malloy on Where We Live - photo by Chion Wolf

“He is running for governor,” host John Dankosky said to close out the show, then he caught himself. “He is exploring a run for governor. Let’s say it correctly.”

“You can say it any way you want,” Malloy said, laughing. “I have to be careful.”

This reminded me of an earlier conversation…waaaaay earlier, in fact, with Secretary of the State, former Gubernatorial “explorer,” and aspiring candidate for Attorney General, Susan Bysiewicz. On this show from March 19th, 2009, Bysiewicz joined me in studio to talk about – well, about her candidacy – fresh off a Quinnipiac Poll that made it seem tough for anyone to beat incumbent Jodi Rell.

My first question?  ”Why are you running for Governor?”  In her answer, she talks about her three teenagers, and the “brain drain” in Connecticut that’s forcing young people to leave.  She talks about the state’s bad job market, high housing costs and sprawl.  Then, at 1:51 into the program (listen here) she says:

“We need to make Connecticut a place where young people, my daughter, will want to

Susan Bysiewicz - photo by Chion Wolf

come back and raise a family.  And that’s why I’m running for Governor.”

Oops.  Well, nearly one year later, there’s at least one big problem with that statement: She’s not running for Governor anymore.  While I don’t think we need to re-analyze her motivations for dropping that bid while leading in polls, we might want to think about what it means to be in a nearly perpetual state of campaigning that must be couched in ridiculous “butt-covering” jargon.  It’s not like any of these “explorers” are fooling anyone.  It does, however, give them a chance to gauge our collective interest, through free media coverage – until they finally decide, like Ned Lamont, that “now’s the time.”  In Bysiewicz’s case, this lack of official commitment may have left the door wider open for her to ditch one race in favor of another.

About twelve minutes later in that episode of Where We Live (at 17:00 for those listening at home) Bysiewicz took the first opportunity to correct her misstatement, but only after a savvy aide popped into the room with a whisper and a note during a break in the show.  She and I began the segment, listening to the question of a caller, Dan, who asked what she’d do as Governor to help someone like him – a baby boomer stuck without health insurance.  She thanked him for calling, but before giving an answer, she said this:

“I should also take this opportunity to say I have not declared for Governor yet.  I have formed an exploratory committee, and I am getting ready and organized to run for Governor.”

I then jump in, trying to be cute: “We thought maybe you were getting ready to declare today on the program…we were kinda excited.”  Bysiewicz, less amused than I would have liked: “Well, I just wanted to clarify that, John.”

If the person in charge of overseeing state elections doesn’t know when it’s okay to say she’s running for an office, it’s not just a “quirk” in the new public financing system.  Let’s come right out and say it: It’s a pretty dumb rule.

Bysiewicz, Blumethal Saga: The Update

by John Dankosky – Listen tomorrow to WNPR’s Morning Edition, as Ray Hardman talks to ctnewsjunkie.com’s Christine Stuart about the ongoing saga of Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and her eligibility for the attorney general’s job.   Bysiewicz (acting as SOTS) asked for a legal opinion from current A.G. Blumenthal (acting as A.G. we presume, not as a Democratic senate candidate) about whether she’s actually qualified for the gig.  We just got this from his office:

ATTORNEY GENERAL STATEMENT REGARDING SECRETARY OF THE STATE’S REQUEST FOR LEGAL OPINION

“My office today received a request from Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz for a formal legal opinion regarding statutes and constitutional provisions relating to eligibility requirements for the Office of Attorney General.  My office will carefully review Secretary Bysiewicz’s request, and I will respond as promptly as possible.”

Listen tomorrow for an update with Ray and Christine at 7:35 a.m.

Meanwhile, today we get word that New Haven rep Cam Staples has jumped into that race. He made the announcement to the New Haven Independent today at 11 a.m.   In case you’re wondering the obvious, this comes from Melissa Bailey’s article:

Staples is a partner at the Neubert, Pepe & Monteith law firm in downtown New Haven. He has a degree from UConn Law School and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. He has “actively practiced” law for the past 20 years. For the past five years, he has served as a federally appointed arbitrator for medical providers and their patients.

“That experience will be very helpful in the AG position,” he said.

“Credentials for this job and experience for this job make a difference,” he said, “and commitment for the job makes a difference.”

Whew.  Glad he checked that out first.

Dan Malloy, “Explorer”

Update: Here is a link to audio from today’s conversation with Dan Malloy.  More coming soon.

Dan Malloy is back on Where We Live today, answering listener questions about his run for governor.  Or, maybe it’s not a run yet.  As the Connecticut Post’s Ken Dixon says it’s still an “exploration.” We’ll find out.

It’s not the first time Malloy has been on the show – he was part of our “State of the Cities” series when he was still running the city of Stamford.  His decision to leave that post and start a statewide campaign backfired for Democrats there, who lost the subsequent mayoral race to Republican Michael Pavia.

Given that gamble, this seems to be a time of big decisions for Malloy.  With Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz leaving the governor’s race to run for attorney general, he could benefit.    But the numbers aren’t looking real good for Malloy in the latest Quinnipiac University poll.  From the Courant’s Capitol Watch:

Bysiewicz had 26 percent, while Greenwich entrepreneur Ned Lamont had 23 percent. Former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy had 9 percent, while former House Speaker James Amann trailed in fourth place with less than 5 percent.

So, will Malloy be able to capture some of those Bysiewicz supporters by making a push now?

Malloy was one of our first ever guests back in 2006, when he was running for the gubernatorial nomination – which he lost to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano.

Now, he faces a Democratic field that’s mostly got only one toe in the race:  Businessman and former senate candidate Ned Lamont;  Mary Glassman, the Simsbury First Selectman who ran with Malloy briefly in 2006, then jumped onto the ticket with DeStefano as a candidate for Lt. Governor;  Former House Speaker Jim Amann is the only “announced” candidate – but so far he’s raised about $35,000 toward his campaign.  That’s not likely to get him very far.

On the Republican side, current Lt. Governor Mike Fedele is in, despite lukewarm support from his boss, Governor Rell.  Former Ambassador Tom Foley is also in, as a front-runner on the Republican side, and in the fundraising sweepstakes.  Sorry, not really “fundraising” per se, but check-writing.  He’s already put $2-million of his own money in. Now, we’re just waiting for his “plan forward for Connecticut.”

And, I can’t forget Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, who – if there’s nothing else going for him – seems to have Colin McEnroe’s support.

As for Malloy, he’s raised more than $440,000 toward his bid, qualifying him for state money – and he’s expected to press Lamont to accept a pledge to use public financing.

Today, I’ll be asking about that, about this little item dug up by Rick Green, which shows a letter by Malloy touting Republican senate candidate Linda McMahon’s “keen insights” into public policy, and about how, specifically, he’ll deal with the looming state budget disaster, and miserable jobs climate that’s being left for the next governor.

Listen today 9-10 a.m. – call-in 860-275-7266.

Colin McEnroe: “Disturbed” by Bysiewicz Rejection of Public Financing

Wednesday’s announcement by Susan Bysiewicz that she’s running for Attorney General has been pulled apart by political observers searching for her motivations, her pledges, and her plans for the 2012 senate race.  WNPR’s own Colin McEnroe felt “Bamboozled” by the Secretary’s 180 on public financing for her campaign.

On this afternoon’s show, Colin admitted that he didn’t fully understand at the time of Wednesday’s interview that the Secretary’s plan was to take private funding for her race for AG.   Of course, this is something that we really couldn’t have expected, given her role as “champion” of the public financing system, which is now in legal jeopardy.

Colin sounds none too pleased.  Here’s a link to his short monologue on the issue.

Bysiewicz Switches From Governor’s Race to Attorney General’s Race

by John Dankosky - Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz will announce Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. that she’s running for attorney general, not governor, according to Capitol sources.  She’s been teasing us with her gubernatorial run for the better part of a year, and never moved past the “exploratory” phase.  Now, in an announcement at Middletown city hall, she’ll jump into a race for Richard Blumenthal’s A.G. post.   This, despite polls, which put her at the top of the race to replace Governor Jodi Rell.

You can read more from Christine Stuart at ctnewsjunkie.com and Chris Keating at The Hartford Courant.   I wonder what this statement from current A.G. candidate, and former Democratic Party chair, George Jepsen means?

If I become Attorney General, I pledge to give my full time and commitment to the position. As part of this pledge, I will not run for any higher office while Attorney General in my first term. Specifically, I will not seek the 2012 US Senate seat or the 2014 Governor’s seat. The next Attorney General needs the professionalism upheld by Richard Blumenthal and the office should avoid immediate conflicts involving electoral politics.

A not-so-subtle jab at at least one of his rivals for the job, who might be using it as a launching pad to higher office.

Update: Jeff Cohen will be covering the announcement, and the resulting scramble for yet more jobs.  Secretary Bysiewicz will appear at 1 p.m. on The Colin McEnroe Show.