Dow Constantine's appearance at Seattle Skyline Rotary yesterday was a sight to behold.
In typical Constantine fashion he delivered a well polished speech to the group pointing out some very good things he's done during his decade plus in elected office. I commend him for pushing to get a Whistleblower's law through while on the council and being willing to call our erstwhile Executive on some of his less than exemplary decisions while in office.
But his demeanor clearly changed when, a few questions in to the Q&A period of the meeting, a member raised the Jason Bennett/PDC issue. Dow, who had been all smiles and professionalism up to that point, left his position behind the podium and walked into the middle of the audience, visibly agitated. He led off his response by thanking the "Hutchison campaign" for the question even though the woman who asked it has no ties to the Hutchison campaign either officially or unofficially. He then went on to rant about how it was a red herring and would be dismissed in due course. After taking many more minutes than necessary to answer what he believes to be a nusaince complaint unwarranted of any attention, he turned on his heels, turned his back on the audience (a clear no-no in public speaking etiquette last time I checked) and walked back to the podium. While slightly calmer he remained on edge for the rest of the meeting and even mentioned to the President of Seattle Skyline Rotary (aka: me) that he hadn't realized there were going to be so many Hutchison campaign plants in the audience.
Geez, Dow. Why are you so upset over something that's suppose to be such small potatoes?
One other point of interest: It appears that keeping Bennett on as treasurer isn't only poor judgment in light of his past and possibly continuing campaign finance violations but it might lose Dow money. Bennett is also treasurer for the Joe Mallahan for Mayor campaign, a campaign which is $95,000 in the hole.
I will post footage of the entire meeting on YouTube later this evening.
Posted by MarkGriswold at October 14, 2009 12:26 PM | Email ThisThe King County Democrats have filed a �major� campaign ethics complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission against Constantine�s opponent, Susan Hutchison, alleging 81 violations of campaign finance law. The most serious allegation is that Hutchison is using a four-bedroom home in Laurelhurst as her campaign office without paying rent on the property, �illegally allowing her campaign to avoid paying � between $10,000 and $20,000,� according to the Democrats. The interior of the house, which is not Hutchison�s residence, is visible in this story on KCTS.Posted by: John Jensen on October 14, 2009 01:09 PM
The complaint also alleges that Hutchison has failed to report nearly $20,000 in expenses accrued before the primary election.
Do you know what's required to lodge a complaint with the PDC? You have to be literate and have access to a computer. That's about it.
Dow realized he had a serious issue, so he ordered his hacks to fire back. They conjured up 81 complaints. Most/all will be dismissed, but that doesn't matter. "Alleges 81 violations" makes for good press release headlines. :)
Posted by: AD on October 14, 2009 02:43 PMDo you guys not understand the clear irony of writing things like this? Do you not understand that the complaint against Constantine is trivial in the scheme of things, and will almost certainly be dismissed?
Of course it's political. So was the initial ethics complaint. But that doesn't mean Hutchison might not be doing some wrong. But yep, Constantine has to go down to her level here because look at the mileage this non-issue has gotten at Sound Politics.
Posted by: John Jensen on October 14, 2009 02:58 PMJust in case it wasn't clear.
This sort of thing is nothing new for Bennett.
Let's find some bad apples in the Hutchison camp and apply that logic.
Posted by: John Jensen on October 14, 2009 05:35 PMI never said anything solves anything; that any case was closed; or that there's no bad apples elsewhere.
Like many partisans -- especially liberal partisans -- you can't just say, "yep, he's a bad one," and move on. Everything with you has to be an excuse or a way to try to attack someone on the right.
It's produced some of the most incomprehensible babble I've ever read on Sound Politics.
This post from "Wells" is particularly priceless and deserves repeating...
"What is this? A Walt Disney animation feature production? Snarl! Gasp! Ah-Hah! Dramatic background orchestra keeping a frenetic pace!! Drums!! Oh, the suspense! Will heroic clay man Mr Bill not be rolled flat once again by any handy object that will surpass for rolling pin deliverance? Tune in tomorrow folks, for the exciting conclusion of "FUTILITY IN ACTION", starring Mr Bill Cruchon, writerist with nothing better to do! Symbols crash!!!!
Ultimately these people reveal their true selves. They are angry, mean people. It's why they become leftists. I wonder what a "writerist" is?
Trust me, we don't want these people to be in charge of anything. It appears they are stuck perpetually in grade school.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on October 15, 2009 02:23 AMHe fancies himself some sort of transportation "expert" and has a monorail sized bee in his bonnet.
Posted by: Chris Stefan on October 15, 2009 07:02 AMThe internet exposes the most disgusting side of humanity in the same way as a public toilet.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on October 15, 2009 07:53 AMAre kidding me? I am not attacking anyone on the right, while you are attacking someone on the left. Susan Hutchison has her own PDC complaints. I'm wondering why you're not saying we should abridge that process for her campaign as well?
There is no evidence that Bennett coordinated with Democrats then. There is no evidence that he coordinated his PAC with the various campaigns he's working on now. And even if there were wrongdoing, which shouldn't happen, it doesn't reflect any particular great light on Hutchison -- who has several of her own alleged ethical violations, has absolutely no experience in government at all, doesn't know local issues, and is out of touch with this region's politics.
The whole PDC investigations are a distraction on both sides. If Dow wins, it ain't because some treasurer has loose lips. If Hutchison wins, it ain't because she is freeloading a campaign office in violation of the law. But we can chatter, chatter, and chatter away at how obviously corrupt each candidate is when we both know that neither candidate is a corrupt person. They're both good people, and folks just disagree about which one is wrong.
Posted by: John Jensen on October 15, 2009 10:42 AMWhat a shock that you're lying. That is so unexpected from you!
There is no evidence that Bennett coordinated with Democrats then.
Of course there is. There's just no PROOF.
There is no evidence that he coordinated his PAC with the various campaigns he's working on now.
Again, you're wrong.
The whole PDC investigations are a distraction on both sides.
Riiiiiight. Bennett breaking RCWs is a "distraction."