I Am In NO WAY Making Light Of This... Yet... Missouri Republicans Are Literally Killing Themselves

[WillyT]

Tom Schweich spokesman Spence Jackson found dead of apparent suicide
By DAVE HELLING and JASON HANCOCK
The Kansas City Star
03/30/2015 7:04 AM



<snip>

Jefferson City, Mo.

For the second time in a month, Missourians struggled Monday to understand the unfathomable — why a leading political figure in the state would take his own life. Robert “Spence” Jackson, a prominent Republican spokesman and media liaison for more than a decade, was found dead Sunday night in the bedroom of his Jefferson City apartment. He died from a single gunshot from a .357 Magnum revolver, police said. He left a note. Authorities consider the death a suicide.

They were unwilling Monday to officially tie Jackson’s death to that of his boss, former Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich, who shot himself Feb. 26. But politicians and consultants easily connected the two events.

Just as the furor surrounding Schweich’s death appeared to be subsiding, they said, Jackson’s likely suicide renews questions about the party’s rhetoric and political approach.

“The tragic event with Schweich, and now this one, will undoubtedly have Republicans talking about the civility of primary campaigns,” said Warren Erdman, a one-time GOP political strategist now in private industry, and one of the few Republicans willing to discuss Jackson’s death on the record.

That conversation seems certain to extend the one started four weeks ago today, at Schweich’s memorial service in Clayton, Mo.

In his eulogy, former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth denounced an alleged whisper campaign against the auditor by GOP chairman John Hancock, who may have inaccurately described Schweich, who was a candidate for governor, as Jewish.

Danforth also called the producer of an anti-Schweich radio ad a “bully.” GOP consultant Jeff Roe was later linked to the message, which was sponsored by an obscure group called Citizens for Fairness in Missouri. Danforth claimed both tactics contributed to Schweich’s suicide. Jackson echoed those views at the time, accusing opponents of taking the campaign for governor “straight into the gutter” and calling on Hancock to quit.

Other Republicans soon pushed back...

<snip>

More: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article16885850.html

[SummerSnow]

1. Rachel Maddow opened her show tonight discussing this and the GOP Chair won't resign.

No shame

[WillyT]

2. Word... The "Moral Majority" Is Neither... They Try To Shame Us... Yet Have No Shame Themselves...

[SummerSnow]

3. They truly wear their hate with a badge of honor

[Enthusiast]

19. Zero sense of ethics.

[foo_bar]

4. some backstory:

Meet Ted Cruz's Karl Rove: "He Leaves a Path of Destruction"

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/03/meet-ted-cruz-karl-rove-jeff-roe

[Dont call me Shirley]

24. Maybe jeff will start messing with the bushes.

[msanthrope]

5. Something more is going on here. nt

[herding cats]

6. Exactly.

This is bigger than the whisper campaign excuse. That doesn't explain the now two suicides.

There's more here, and whatever it is it's not nice.

[msanthrope]

9. Jeff Roe. nt

[herding cats]

12. Yes, he's behind something

Involved in something worse than what is being admitted to. The odd canceled press conference a few days before Schewich's death, in part because Roe, his nemesis in this drama, showed up at the event. The calls to the two media outlets right before his death. Now this new death.

Roe is one of those extra special dirty ones. I just don't know what exactly the real story is here yet. I likely never will know the whole of it. That bothers me greatly.

[Half-Century Man]

11. There is something far larger lurking just out of sight.

The public excuse is some real old school shit, like 15th-18th century Spanish Inquisition action.
Secret Jews? Why? What the hell did the whisper campaign say? "OH.. He is planning to sneak kosher food into the school system!"

Bullshit.
Not the reason or not a pair of suicides (maybe one, but even one sounds wrong based on public announcements).

[Fred Sanders]

7. Republican Presidential clown candidates are actually pandering to these extremist GOP clowns.

[ismnotwasm]

8. Hold up wait a minute

A whisper campaign about being Jewish? This is--unacceptable--to Missouri Republicans?

My God.

[BainsBane]

14. It can't be

No one kills themselves over that.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. How do you know?

While I find it unlikely it is the only reason, it certainly could be a factor. Suicide can be quite complicated.

[BainsBane]

17. I can't wrap my head around something like that

I'm thinking a scandal involving little boys or something.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. That's why I don't think it is the "cause" but may be a factor, nonetheless.

Like you, I am thinking there is something else involved, perhaps an affair...with each other.

[libdem4life]

22. This seems more likely...RIP

[Behind the Aegis]

15. It is just another example of some things being unacceptable, but not really.

I have yet to see anything saying either committed suicide because they are being accused of being Jewish. That was just part of the "whisper campaign." People seem to be missing the bigger point which is that "being accused of being a Jew" is a bad thing. Of course, some actually believe that any way.

[niyad]

10. sounds like some sort of cleanup is going on.

[ND-Dem]

13. why would someone kill themselves because a political opponent is whispering that they're

jewish?

doesn't seem likely to me.

[LuvLoogie]

20. What if money from places like Ferguson

was funneled to the GOP in Missouri. That would be worth making it look like suicide.

[pintobean]

21. Content of the note

"3-27-15
I'm so sorry. I just can't take being unemployed again"

That's it. Police read it, but didn't release copies.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/spence-jackson-s-note-i-can-t-take-being-unemployed/article_e623c1eb-343a-568d-9bae-a18d350175f3.html

[Dont call me Shirley]

23. Robert...