Over the last few days, I have been receiving dozens of political mailings from all sorts of Republican candidates.
After all, this is southwest Missouri where developers are required to do environmental impact studies to make sure their projects won't affect any endangered Democrats.
When the flyers come, I glance at them, and I toss them.
Until this morning.
The flyer was headlined "HERE'S THE TRUTH ABOUT JILL CARTER"
"Jill is a Jefferson City insider."
Say what? I was already beginning to question the premise. It's hard to be a Jefferson City insider when you live in Stark City.
"Jill failed to follow state ethics law."
That seemed rather vague, but I kept reading.
"Jill received 100 percent of her funding from Jefferson City and St. Louis."
That settled it. I knew a smear job when I saw one.
I had looked at the campaign disclosure forms filed by Jill Carter and her opponent, incumbent Sen. Bill White. I knew what they said, so I looked at the bottom of the flyer where it listed its "sources."
The Jefferson City/St. Louis funding was attributed to her April 15 filing, and while it is true that Carter received 100 percent of her funding from those cities, it is also evident from reviewing the report that she was just beginning her campaign and received a contribution of $2,400 from a Jefferson City conservative activist, Lisa Fannett, and $500 from a St. Louis woman- two contributions from Jefferson City and St. Louis.
Carter's July contribution list does not include anyone from St. Louis, Jefferson City, or Kansas City for that matter, Carter raised $39,615, including contributions from Stark City, Carthage, Loma Linda, Granby, Joplin, Neosho, Duenweg and Asbury.
The contributions were not surprising since Carter worked for Brunner's campaign.
Carter did not receive any PAC money.
As for Carter's "failure to follow ethics law," she placed her expenditures in the wrong place on her April 15 filing, something she subsequently corrected in a July 11 filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission. It was the type of clerical error that is often made on these disclosure forms, especially from people who have never run for public office before.
Southwest Missouri Patriot PAC
I still haven't figured out how Jill Carter became a Jefferson City insider. According to the flyer, the source was Carter's Facebook page.
Maybe something was posted on there that I missed or that was later removed, but the closest thing I saw to her being a Jefferson City insider was a comment that she had attended legislative committee hearings in Jefferson City.
Last I heard there is a big difference between being a Jefferson City insider and being inside Jefferson City.
The flyer was paid for by Southwest Missouri Patriot PAC, which as you can see from the screen capture from the Missouri Ethics Commission website is associated with Bill White.
In its July 15 Ethics Commission filing, the Southwest Missouri Patriot PAC reported contributions from the following PACs:
The final accusation against Carter on the flyer says "Jill refused to tell gun owners her position on the Second Amendment.
A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.
That would indicate Jill Carter did not refuse to tell gun owners her position on the Second Amendment, since she is listed as a "pro-gun" candidate and that listing is based on her response.
The final message on the flyer is similarly distorted.
"Jill Carter: She's not one of us and not who says she is."
From the information on the flyer, I would say the first part of that quote is accurate. She's not one of any group of people who are so desperate to keep a politician in office they are willing to bend the truth until it is unrecognizable.
Not who she says she is?
I will leave that up to the voting public.
All I know is Jill Carter is not who the Southwest Missouri Patriot PAC says she is.
Randy Turner thank you for sharing this information. I get so tired of this political fact/truth twisting. As I understand it Mr White decided to create a political hand-out that makes various accusations. First referencing Jill Carters fund raising which is misrepresented clearly. Representing a simple typo-clerical error as a nefarious action. Then her Jefferson City insider status? Really a citizen that takes an interest in state politics and goes to the Capital to observe and be involved is an insider? Perhaps you don't want constituents observing or being involved? The facts presented and can clearly be verified are that Bill White is supported by Pacs and big money and he is in fact the insider, having termed out in the house and now wants to get his 2nd term in the senate. He appears to want it bad enough to twist the facts and clearly misrepresent the background and actions of his opponent. This is not the actions of someone I want to vote for.
ReplyDeleteDoes he think we Southwest Missourians can't see through this? Will this help him get Votes. Not mine.
Once again Randy Turner thank you for setting the facts straight.
Not to bad research, but not enough. The add you investigated at the end treasurer is Lori Behn. Dr Lori Behn neurosurgeon at Freeman Health System, coworker of Bill White's wife Dr Ellen Nichols
ReplyDeleteI was aware of it. I didn't think it added anything to the story since the Ethics Commission screenshot shows the connection with White.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone who has invested any time in Jefferson City, or listened to him debate issues , they understand how arrogant and unapproachable Bill White has become. If people don't understand how bad he will be as a lame duck who no longer has to answer to his constituents in any way since he will be termed out of the House and Senate, they should understand this.
ReplyDeleteHere are true facts that every voter should care about:
Bill White voted to increase the gas tax. The largest tax increase in MO History by doing a run around the Hancock Amendment and calling the tax a "reimbursement". Your gas receipt still calls it a tax. It will take your gas tax from .17 cents a gallon to 29.5 cents a gallon by 2025. Bill White says it will cost you a Big Mac per year. That is untrue. And, that is not the point...the tax was voted down by Missourians in 2014, 2016, 2018. It isn't about what he thinks we need, it is about what the voters in our state want.
He has had years to do something about issues such as CRT and men in women's sports and has chosen to do NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. So, to campaign on those issues as if he is some hero is wrong and a lie.
He has also taken $10,000 from the Right Way PAC recently. Read about it here. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/2-million-from-major-washington-u-donors-flows-to-pac-in-midst-of-senate-paralysis/article_84e52013-fddc-590c-b565-da7b744d8fad.html. It is widely known this PAC is really about abortion. This is heavily funded by the Wash U donors who are part of the endowment. The closing of Planned Parenthood gets in the way of the "research" at Wash U and there is much speculation as to why the RIGHT WAY PAC was established. They do not want the "Conservative Caucus" to get in the way of their agenda. They also do not want interference with the training of abortion doctors at Wash U. If people want to understand the truth, it is there to see. And Bill White isn't telling voters who he really is. Bill White is not a conservative. He is the opposite.
It’s 2 pm on Saturday, July 23, 2022, I live in Carl Junction and I’m sitting at home watching a baseball game on TV when my doorbell rings. I answer the door and it’s a group of Bill White supporters going door to door handing out literature and engaging in discussions about smear campaigns.
ReplyDeleteThe group of women said Bill is just a few houses away and if I wanted to talk with him in person, either call him, his cell phone number was on the piece of literature, or they would have him come over and meet me in person.
Sorry Bill, I don’t want bothered at home on a Saturday at 2 when I’m enjoying MY TIME. It’s bad enough politicians want to fill my mailbox with flyers that I immediately trash.
I am a registered Republican, and I vote in every election. But my mind is made up, Mr. White you sir have lost my vote. Do. Not. Bother. Me. At. Home. On. My. Time.
@12:11 - Mrs White will be knocking on your door next, especially if you put the opposition sign in your yard. She’ll hand you a “fact” sheet about Jill Carter.
DeleteFirst hand experience from the south Joplin area.
So what some candidates are doing which is what they are all supposed to do is going door to door seeing people who vote and trying to earn your vote and your upset about loosing ten to 15 minutes of your time watching the television. Hope your team won. Shaking my head.
DeleteReminds me of " important " people who have their secretary call you - "hold for Mr White."
DeleteI am always glad when a candidate comes to my door. It means they are working hard. How selfish are you? Me. Me. Me. That’s all I hear from you.
ReplyDeletewell if Randy Turner supports Jill Carter that tells me to run the other direction
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Missouri Firearm Coalition Jill has filled out her survey with them 100% and says she will uphold the 2nd Ammendment totally-without question. They said Bill White did not fill his out. He must be waiting for the Billion dollars Biden is promising for states to initiate red flag laws.
ReplyDeleteSO according to Bill White, a retired elementary school teacher from Stark City is a Jeff City/STL/Columbia insider. Please gtfo with this bs.
ReplyDelete