Sensenbrenner Campaigns On Taxpayer Dime

[eyesroll]

Anyone else get this campaign brochure masquerading as news? (If you want, you can download the .pdf version at http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner/newsletterjune2004.pdf.)

(Mods: This is a press release, not subject to copyright.)

Bryan Kennedy today criticized Congressman Sensenbrenner for wasting taxpayer dollars to fund his campaign. Like others in the district, Kennedy was appalled when he received a mailing from the Congressman’s office that looked more like a full-color campaign mailing than a Congressional newsletter. Previous newsletters from the Congressman have been printed in two colors.
 
“Jim Sensenbrenner hasn’t been able to find money to fund our VA hospitals, to pay a livable wage to our troops or to guarantee life insurance policies for the families of our men and women in Iraq,” said Kennedy. “Somehow he was able to come up with the money to send out a full color newsletter with a picture of himself on front. Jim Sensenbrenner’s priorities are obviously in the wrong place.”
 
“It’s apparent that he did this because he is facing his first viable challenge since he was elected. This is yet another example of a corrupt Congressman taking advantage of a corrupt political system.”
 
Kennedy supports measures to scale back printing and franking privileges for members of Congress during a campaign year.
 
www.bryankennedyforcongress.org

[Zynx]

1. Viable challenge?

Ah, no. Kennedy has as much chance against him as I do of killing a Great White Shark in the open ocean with a pointy stick. Sorry, I know the truth hurts, but this really has no shot whatsoever.

[sybylla]

2. I disagree

Dems taking on incumbents have a much better shot this year than most recent elections. If Kerry wins Wisconsin and Feingold wins Wisconsin (which I don't doubt)there could be some serious coat tails carrying other dems into office, including Kennedy.

Met Kennedy at the convention, heard him speak. If he can get the press, he'll do well and at the very least force Senselessbrenner to spend his campaign cash - well, unless he figures out how to spend the people's money instead.

You'll have to pardon my optimism. We'll have to disagree on whose "opinion" is the "truth".

[eyesroll]

3. I agree he's a long shot, but he is putting up a tough fight.

And he's going to make Sensenbrenner work to keep his job, which is something he hasn't had to do in recent years. (Of course a candidate is going to put "viable challenge" or other "I'm tough" rhetoric in his own press release.)

Kennedy's got two campaign offices, two full-time staffers (plus some interns, plus more on the way), a favorable Roll Call article, etc. I wouldn't count him out -- I'm not expecting to see a Rep. Kennedy (D-WI) this year, unless there's a huge wave of anti-incumbent sentiments natiionwide, but I'm betting it'll be close enough to make Sensenbrenner sweat.