Coloradolib, campaign managers' edition
For the rest of America, today is election day. While we wait for results from Virginia and New Jersey, I thought I'd check in with two people who made a dent in the 2005 election without running for office.
"Legalize marijuana because it's safer than alcohol" always seemed like a batty strategy to me. But Mason Tvert believed in it. And the architect of I-100 convinced Denver to agree with him. I sent him an email asking whether he was going to apply his expertise to other issues or politicians. He responded via email, "I have no intention of shifting my focus from marijuana law at this point. This speaks to your other question regarding other causes---I believe this issue encompasses many areas of our society and culture (criminal justice, safety, civil rights/liberties, health/medicine, environment, etc.). Also, this is an issue in which the government is unwilling to tell the truth with horrifying implications, and it is critical our society hear and see people out there calling them on it."
Straightforward enough. Thanks for the response, Mason.
Jon Caldera apparently understands campaign finance reform a heck of a lot better than me. To me, the Independence Institute's anti-C ads were clearly taking sides and therefore should have been forced to disclose their financial backers. But an actual judge agreed with Caldera. Lynn Bartels of the Rocky Mountain News reported that, "For months, Ref C supporters, including GOP Gov. Bill Owens, hammered Caldara for refusing to reveal his donors. And for months, Caldara argued that the Independence Institute legally was not required to release that information because it's not an issue committee. Issue committees, under state law, are formed to push for the passage or defeat of a ballot measure. They are required to report contributions and expenditures. Caldara said his metro-based group has been around for 21 years and has a variety of 'free market' missions, including taxation, education and health care. The Independence Institute was allowed to educate voters, he said, but Ref C supporters argued the ads were so one-sided the think tank was acting as an issue committee. Judge Michelle Norcross sided with Caldara, ruling the Independence Institute was not an issue committee and its primary mission was not Refs C and D."
So even Jon Caldera, who many thought had been marginalized by the C win, has found a way to salvage some credibility.
"Legalize marijuana because it's safer than alcohol" always seemed like a batty strategy to me. But Mason Tvert believed in it. And the architect of I-100 convinced Denver to agree with him. I sent him an email asking whether he was going to apply his expertise to other issues or politicians. He responded via email, "I have no intention of shifting my focus from marijuana law at this point. This speaks to your other question regarding other causes---I believe this issue encompasses many areas of our society and culture (criminal justice, safety, civil rights/liberties, health/medicine, environment, etc.). Also, this is an issue in which the government is unwilling to tell the truth with horrifying implications, and it is critical our society hear and see people out there calling them on it."
Straightforward enough. Thanks for the response, Mason.
Jon Caldera apparently understands campaign finance reform a heck of a lot better than me. To me, the Independence Institute's anti-C ads were clearly taking sides and therefore should have been forced to disclose their financial backers. But an actual judge agreed with Caldera. Lynn Bartels of the Rocky Mountain News reported that, "For months, Ref C supporters, including GOP Gov. Bill Owens, hammered Caldara for refusing to reveal his donors. And for months, Caldara argued that the Independence Institute legally was not required to release that information because it's not an issue committee. Issue committees, under state law, are formed to push for the passage or defeat of a ballot measure. They are required to report contributions and expenditures. Caldara said his metro-based group has been around for 21 years and has a variety of 'free market' missions, including taxation, education and health care. The Independence Institute was allowed to educate voters, he said, but Ref C supporters argued the ads were so one-sided the think tank was acting as an issue committee. Judge Michelle Norcross sided with Caldara, ruling the Independence Institute was not an issue committee and its primary mission was not Refs C and D."
So even Jon Caldera, who many thought had been marginalized by the C win, has found a way to salvage some credibility.
1 Comments:
UPDATE: here is why I found the SAFER strategy "batty." I have a background in ad writing. In advertising, dual meanings are the kiss of death. To me, SAFER's strategy is not an argument to legalize marijuana. It is an argument to criminalize alcohol.
But obviously the strategy worked. And it is hard to argue with a winner. That's why I'm a lowly blogger and not a campaign manager.
Post a Comment
<< Home