Monday, September 11, 2006

"Wynn Accused of Inflating His List of Endorsements"

Read the full article by John Wagner and Ovetta Wiggins in The Washington Post, September 11, 2006.

Al Wynn, the incumbent from Maryland's 4th Congressional District, is facing a tough primary challenge from Donna Edwards. Today the Washington Post story suggests he has been playing dirty in the last days of the campaign.

Marilyn Praisner, the longest serving woman ever on the Montgomery County Council, is quoted saying that she refused to endorse Wynn, but found his literature listed her as endorsing him.

The article states:
At least two labor unions -- the Service Employees International Union and the Teamsters -- also have raised questions about Wynn's use of their names on his literature.....

"We were surprised that our name was on the literature," said Ellen Golombek , director of government affairs for SEIU. Curt Clifton , a spokesman for Wynn, said Wynn received contributions from the union and the Teamsters with letters of support for his reelection bid. Golombek said she was looking into whether a check was sent to Wynn last year; none were sent in 2006, she said. She added that the union "elected not to endorse in this congressional race."

Ferline Buie , president of Teamsters Joint Council No. 55, which represents five local unions in the 4th District, sent a letter to Wynn's campaign Friday asking that his literature be corrected because the union has endorsed Edwards. "We believe [it] is inappropriate and inaccurate to claim that the Teamsters have endorsed your campaign," Buie wrote.

Regulations prohibit members of Congress from sending taxpayer-financed mass mailings in the last 90 days before an election. A franked "Pass It On" newsletter dated Sept. 8 apparently was distributed to constituents in Wynn's district.

Comment: I don't like it, but I realize that most if not all politicians shade the truth. (See my posting on "In Congress, a Whole Lot of Half-Truths" By Richard Morin.) But getting caught faking endorsements a couple of days before the election is just dumb! I don't think we need another dumb guy in the House of Representatives!

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