Let the Games Begin

[image caption] "Oh, Amy...Just you wait until I start up my hate machine." (image courtesy MPR.org)


This afternoon I heard a political attack add endorsed by Mark Kennedy on the radio.

Slightly annoyed and, frankly, disgusted by its content, I attempted to contact the Mark Kennedy for Senate campaign to voice my displeasure.

In doing so, however, I stumbled on a different controversy.

Once at MarkKennedy.com, I read this statement:
"We were informed last evening of a serious security breach of sensitive Kennedy campaign information by a senior member of Amy Klobuchar’s campaign. Due to the fact this information was accessed via the internet, we are taking precautionary measures to protect our campaign information. We apologize for the inconvenience. The full features of our website will be restored once this matter has been resolved."

Needless to say, I wouldn't be able to get the Kennedy campaigns telephone number from his site.

But, I was puzzled. Why hadn't I heard about this?

So I went over to WCCO.Com, where I found a news story about Kennedy's site. According to WCCO, Klobuchar's (now former) chief spokesperson had been provided information by an anonymous blogger allowing her to view a yet-to-be-aired Kennedy campaign commercial.

The blogger, who has since come forward, is Noah Kunin. Kunin has stated:
"At no point in the process did I circumvent security measures. The Web site containing this ad can be accessed by anyone with Internet access. It was in no way secured."

Regardless, Klobuchar dismissed the spokesperson in question.

This whole episode rings a bit hollow on Mark Kennedy's end, however. To wit, ask yourself the following questions:
1) If the commercial was readily available on the internet, why claim that a "serious security breach" had occurred?

2) If the commercial was hosted on a third party's website, why claim that Kennedy's personal site had been breached?

3) If there really was a security breach at Kennedy's site, why not shut the entire site down rather than shutting down every page on the site except for what might be the most security-threatened page on the site: the financial donation page?

The reason is quite simple.

In fact, it is the same reason why Kennedy's campaign has attacked the Star-Tribune for reporting a twenty-four point Klobuchar lead in the polls.

It is the same reason why Kennedy began airing attack ads on September 16, choosing not to discuss his own positions on issues, but to sling mud regarding Klobuchar.

This is the act of a desperate man and a desperate campaign.

Kennedy has no choice but to distort the facts and to frame his opponent in the worst light possible.

It is the Kennedy blueprint. It is the Kennedy way.

Kennedy doesn't run on who he is -- he runs on lies and distortions aimed at his opposition.

The sad fact is that this methodology has, in the end, come to define who Mark Kennedy is: a very sad and shallow man who resorts to lies because he can't defend his own record.

Shame, shame, Mark Kennedy.