Oh the tangled webs we weave...
Democrats in action. Why are we not surprised?A Seattle political consulting firm could face serious sanctions after a state watchdog determined it schemed to secretly take out a Democratic state senator from Everett in the August primary that unions had decided was too conservative.
On Friday, the PDC released a report saying that Moxie's Lisa MacLean coordinated with the Washington Federation of State Employees and labor affiliated political committees to pay for political advertising for a then-obscure conservative candidate in the 38th District Senate race. Labor was unhappy with the incumbent, Democratic Sen. Jean Berkey. Labor preferred another Democratic candidate, Nick Harper. A third candidate, conservative Rod Reiger, was not nearly as well known as the other two.
Under the state's Top Two system, the two candidates who get the most votes
in the primary advance to the general election, regardless of party. Apparently concerned that Berkey would make it through the primary, Moxie Media and labor interests reportedly decided to pump up Reiger's candidacy to try to make sure he was the candidate Harper would face in November."In written communications to her clients, Ms. MacLean clearly stated her intent to obscure the clients' sponsorship of postcards and robocalls that attacked Senator Berkey from the right, a strategy that all concerned understood to be controversial," the PDC report said. "Ms. MacLean promised her clients that they would not b connected to the project until after the August 17, 2010, primary." (Jerry Cornfield from The Everett Herald has more; so does Erik Smith from the Washington State Wire).
In the primary, Harper finished with 35 percent of the vote and Reiger got 32.75. Berkey finished third, just behind Reiger.
MacLean didn't respond to a request for comment.
The watchdog report says MacLean established two layers of political committees to sponsor anti-Berkey postcards and robocalls. The report says Moxie did the same in 2nd, 34th, 41s and 44th legislative districts, funneling campaign money through multiple PACs to be used on independent direct mail telephone, Internet and television advertising through Moxie.
The PDC says MacLean and Moxie violated state laws by not properly identifying funding sources or properly disclose MacLean and the consulting firm's role. The Public Disclosure Commission will consider the report Thursday. It could recommend fines or possible criminal prosecution.
Berkey was a member of the "Roadkill Caucus," a group of moderate Democratic state legislators who want the state to explore ideas like privatizing liquor sales and outsourcing other functions and who were concerned about imposing too many taxes to balance Washington's budget.
The Roadkillers were a big reason the the Washington State Labor Council launched the Don't Invest in More Excuses PAC in 2009. The committee took in more than $900,000. Labor leaders said they'd use that money to target Democrats who angered them - like Berkey - and support other candidates more in line with their views.
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