The campaign of U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon thinks it has a wedge issue heading into Friday’s state convention that could peel away support from opponent Chris Shays. The Shays campaign worked a spin into the news cycle a few days ago trying to connect Bridgeport Republican Town Chairman John Slater’s attendance of a WrestleMania event in April with his endorsement of McMahon in May despite no credible evidence to make the claim. Slater produced evidence he had paid his own way and no freebie was involved. The McMahon campaign issued an eblast today to GOP delegates charging “Congressman Shays thinks you can be bought” that includes an audio file from Slater condemning Shays’ campaign tactics. The audio was also unleashed as an automated phone call to delegates. McMahon Campaign Manager Corry Bliss issues this:
Congressman Chris Shays has demonstrated over and over that he will say anything to get elected. But this week the Congressman stooped to his lowest point yet.
Congressman Shays wrongly accused Bridgeport RTC Chair John Slater of selling his endorsement for wrestling tickets. His campaign combed through John’s Facebook page, copied his personal photos, and sent them to a reporter. John had to provide his personal bank records to a newspaper to prove that he purchased the tickets on his own. Can you imagine being personally attacked like this?
Understandably, John is offended and outraged at the Congressman’s behavior. I hope you’ll click here to listen to this message from John to learn first-hand what he’s been through because of the Congressman’s dirty, eleventh-hour, campaign attacks.
As John says, people support Linda because she is a job creator with a plan to get people back to work and turn our economy around. They are NOT supporting Chris Shays because he is a professional politician who will say anything to get elected.
By attacking John, Congressman Shays is personally attacking every single delegate and insinuating that Republicans can be bought. I hope you’ll join John in sending a clear message to the Congressman and stand with Linda tomorrow night in Hartford.
Listen to Slater’s message: {running time: 01:10}
Text of Slater’s audio message:
This is John Slater, and I am the RTC Chairman in Bridgeport. I have been an active, loyal Republican for my entire life. This week, however, has been the lowest I have seen in politics in a long time. Congressman Chris Shays publicly accused me of selling my endorsement to Linda McMahon.
He accused me of trading my vote for wrestling tickets. That’s offensive. It should also be offensive to you that a Washington, DC, politician who has sold us out over the years for higher taxes is accusing Republicans of selling their votes.
In the past, I have supported Chris Shays and voted for him when he was in Congress. I am very disappointed in his recent behavior and the way he has attacked Republicans across Connecticut. Chris Shays has become nothing more than a professional politician that is disrespecting the convention process, the Republican Party, and each and every one of us with his false accusations.
Linda McMahon is an outsider and proven job creator with a plan to cut taxes, cut spending, and create jobs. That’s why I am voting for her. I hope you will join me in supporting Linda McMahon at tomorrow’s state convention in Hartford.
Political columnist Kevin Rennie also weighs in here.
Who’s keeping score here? Rennie’s column was interesting, calling Shays a Vietnam war conscientious objector. Maybe it’s time to hear from the Dems, from a couple-days-ago CT Post Op Ed called: “Differing opinions on Shays’ comeback attempt.”
Read more: www .ctpost.com/news/article/Differing-opinions-on-Shays-comeback-attempt-3560443.php
“Thank you, Hugh Bailey, for your recent column about Chris Shays. I attended one of his public meetings in Westport a few months prior to our invasion, and he equated Saddam’s Iraq at that time with Japan and Germany before World War II. This ludicrous and obscene exaggeration typified his water-carrying for the Bush administration. Shays was an incessant cheerleader for the unjustified war that resulted in the death of thousands of U.S. soldiers and the traumatizing of many thousands more, as well as the death and traumatizing of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, civilians as well as military. The trillion or so dollars wasted so far on this adventure is another black mark on Shays’ record.
“The Fourth District, and Connecticut as a whole, is well rid of this ‘moderate.’ “
Cut Shays some slack on Iraq? It’s time to cut John Slater some slack.
WOW!!!
Tell it like it is. Good job.
As a Democrat, I agree John Slater should be cut some slack. He’s a good guy who only has Bridgeport’s best interests at heart.
Unfortunately, Republicans can be bought. Just look at Watergate. Why do you think Linda McMahon is going to spend a fortune to try and get elected? What do you think she’s going to do with that money? She is going to try and buy her seat with ill-gotten gains.
In the end, this is all a moot point as McMahon will not be elected. Whether she loses in the primary or the general election, she will lose.
Is this John Slater who has been an active, loyal Republican for his whole short life the same John Slater who was an active loyal supporter of Chris Caruso four years ago in the Democratic primary against Bill Finch???
You are a fraud, Mr. Slater!
*** Shays doesn’t need this type of drama to beat McMahon. If this story is indeed false, Shays should reprimand his campaign workers involved and offer an apology to Mr. Slater! Anyone can mudsling in a political race, however admitting when you’re wrong during a mudsling frenzy can show you’re human and not afraid to admit it! *** C. SHAYS FOR US SENATE. ***
John Slater has always presented himself as a polite and honest young man. If he supports Linda, so will I. Chris should take his big pension and do some useful volunteer work.
Chris Shays is a carpetbagging fraud who has stooped to new all-time lows going after Slater. They are trashing a good man because he had the audacity to make up his own mind.
Jack Testani in Trumbull is going against his entire RTC and his first Selectman with his very public support of one of the Congressional candidates. Funny, don’t seem to see anyone calling for his head with wild accusations.
If I were John Slater I would sue the bastards.