October 07, 2008 06:33 PM UTC

Musgrave Brilliantly Outsmarts Self

• 10 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

As all of you know, the CD-4 race between Betsy Markey and threatened incumbent Marilyn Musgrave has become highly acrimonious in the last few weeks, with both campaigns trading accusations of lawbreaking and complaints filed in every applicable jurisdiction. Longtime CD-4 watchers recognize what’s happening is typical for Musgrave when down in the polls, as she has been at one time or another just about every time she runs for re-election.

Yesterday, Musgrave tried to keep the slugfest going with a new criminal complaint against Markey, citing her much-trumpeted claim that Markey got preferential treatment for her company while an aide to US Senate Ken Salazar. As we’ve covered here in detail, no real evidence exists to support the claim, merely “unanswered questions” that Musgrave’s camp is determined to keep rhetorically asking.

We’ve said repeatedly that these complaints can be useful as another vehicle for your allegations–not because anybody actually goes to jail, but because it helps make the charge seem more credible to voters. But Musgrave screwed up a very important credibility-related detail, as the Greeley Tribune reports:

A Weld County man filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday alleging that Democratic Congressional candidate Betsy Markey violated federal law in receiving contracts for her company while a Senate staffer.

The man, Ron Buxman, is the state Republican chairman for the 4th Congressional District [Pols emphasis] — most of northern and eastern Colorado. Buxman owns a dairy farm between Greeley and Windsor and is a former vice chairman of the Weld County Republican Party.

He said in a conference call that he filed the complaint because he felt compelled to as part of the Republican party and acknowledged that Musgrave’s campaign helped him prepare the complaint. [Pols emphasis]

Jason Thielman, campaign spokesman for Musgrave, said his staff provided statements Markey provided to the press and other public records…

Ben Marter, campaign spokesman for Markey, said the current complaint against Markey is a stunt…

In April 2006, Buxman — then vice chairman of the Weld Republicans — filed a complaint against former 4th Congressional District candidate Angie Paccione alleging that she violated federal election law after an e-mail from her campaign offered free vacations to contributors. The Federal Election Commission cleared Paccione of wrongdoing in that case in July 2006. [Pols emphasis]

Let’s get this straight: Musgrave went looking for a surrogate to keep her accusations against Markey going, and the only person she could find was…the GOP chairman for her district? Who admits that Musgrave’s campaign did all the paperwork? Who filed a similar complaint against Musgrave’s last challenger that was summarily tossed out?

How is this not completely laughable? Is there a reporter in the world who won’t see through this transparent ploy in a matter of seconds? If not, why the hell would you do it? To get laughed at?

Note to Musgrave campaign: you really suck at this.