As much can be written about the events leading up to and during the US Senate debate being held today in Baton Rouge as can and will be written about the debate itself.

Prior to the debate, both candidates flooded the media with talking points against the opposition.  During the debate, again, talking points concerning what is taking place during the debate.

In essence, it is a profound way to use the Internet to send out spin before the debate begins and certainly after it is over.

Here is some samples:

By Mary Landrieu Campaign

“Senator Landrieu today reminded viewers of John Kennedy's opposition to a $1 billion relief package for Louisiana farmers.  John Kennedy neglected to address his decision to stand with a campaign contributor instead of Louisiana's farmers.

Kennedy Accepted $10,000 From Sen. Coburn's PAC: In the 2008 election, Kennedy has taken $10,000 from Sen. Tom Coburn's Truth, Accountability and Courage PAC (TACPAC) including $5,000 in March 2008 and $5,000 on September 22, 2008. (Kennedy FEC Filings, www.tacpac.org)
 
Coburn Expected To Campaign With Kennedy: In August 2008, the Daily Advertiser reported, "The [Kennedy] campaign hopes Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, will make a joint campaign stop with Kennedy. But it may have to settle for conservative Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn and other GOP surrogates." (Daily Advertiser, 8/11/08)
 
Coburn Blocking Disaster Relief For Louisiana Farms: Roll Call reported, "Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) is blocking movement on a billion-dollar disaster relief bill...which seeks $1.12 billion for farmlands that were ravaged by hurricanes and heavy flooding." (Roll Call, 10/2/08)
 
Kennedy Opposes Money For Louisiana Farmers: On October 3, 2008, Kennedy criticized Senator Landrieu for working to secure $1.12 billion for Louisiana farmers who suffered losses during Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Kennedy called the effort "election year politics" (Kennedy Campaign Update, 10/3/08; Times-Picayune, 9/28/08)”

“In their opening statements of the first 2008 U.S. Senate debate, Senator Landrieu presented her 12-year record of delivering key resources for Louisiana, ranging from expanding oil and gas drilling to securing infrastructure and hurricane recovery funding.  She passed the only bill in the last 25 years that increased domestic drilling, and she secured revenue sharing for Louisiana, meaning $40 billion for hurricane protection and coastal restoration.

In John Kennedy's opening statement, he repeated debunked distortions of Senator Landrieu's record.  Despite Mr. Kennedy's assertions, Senator Landrieu has voted repeatedly to open ANWR to oil drilling.  She has the most bipartisan record in the United States Senate, according to National Journal.  In fact, the Baton Rouge Advocate editorialized today that Kennedy's claims are "distortions of her record."

Senator Landrieu will continue to talk about the issues facing Louisiana voters.  We expect Mr. Kennedy to continue his false attacks that have been repeatedly discredited by the facts.

Landrieu Ranked As The Ideological Center Of U.S. Senate: National Journal magazine ranked Landrieu as the ideological center of the U.S. Senate in 2008. (National Journal, 3/8/08)

 Consistently Among The Top 10 Most Independent Democrats In The U.S. Senate: Landrieu has consistently been rated by Congressional Quarterly among the most independent members of the Senate, breaking with her party more than most other Democrats. In 2007, Landrieu was the second most independent Democrat in the Senate. (CQ Party Unity Ratings, 2001 â€" 2007)

Landrieu Breaks With Her Party More Often Than Any Other Member Of The Louisiana Delegation: According to vote ratings by Congressional Quarterly, Senator Landrieu broke with her party more than any other member of the Louisiana delegation in 2007. (CQ Party Unity Ratings,  2007)

Broke With Her Party To Oppose New Energy Taxes: Landrieu was the only Senate Democrat to oppose eliminating $13 billion in energy tax breaks and her vote was pivotal in blocking the measure. Landrieu said she opposed ending oil and gas industry tax breaks because it would unfairly punish an industry that employed hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana. (Vote #425, 12/13/07; Times-Picayune, 12/14/07, 1/13/08; AP, 12/13/07)

§         Praised By Taxpayers Group For Opposing Energy Taxes: In 2008, the National Taxpayers Union praised Landrieu for breaking with her party to oppose new taxes on energy companies. (NTU Ad, 2008)

Landrieu Participated In "Gang Of 14" To Ensure Judges Received Fair Senate Approval Process: In May 2005, Landrieu was one of the "Gang of 14," a group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats who seized the Senate's balance of power on judicial nominations. They vowed to prevent filibusters of the president's nominees except under "extraordinary circumstances," a term they left up to each senator to define. But they also vowed to block GOP leaders from using a parliamentary force play to end all judicial filibusters. (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/24/05; CQ Politics In America, 4/1/07)

Landrieu Voted For Bush Nominees 81% Of The Time: In 225 roll call votes on President Bush's judicial nominees, Senator Landrieu voted for the nominee 81% of the time. (CQ Vote Reports)

Voted 16 Times In Favor Of Increased Domestic Energy Production, Including Drilling Offshore & In Alaska: In the U.S. Senate, Mary Landrieu has voted 16 times to support increasing production of energy in the United States. She has repeatedly supported efforts to allow drilling in Alaska (ANWR) and drilling offshore. (Vote #212, 7/14/07; Vote #279, 12/9/06; Vote #219, 8/1/06; Vote #218, 7/31/06; Vote #217, 7/26/06; Vote #74, 3/16/06; Vote #72, 3/16/06; Vote #288, 11/3/05; Vote #143, 6/21/05; Vote #52, 3/16/05; Vote #221, 6/12/03; Vote #59, 3/19/03; Vote #71, 4/18/02; Vote #70, 4/18/02; Vote #231, 7/12/01; Vote #229, 7/11/01)

Senator Landrieu's Law Opened 8.3 Million Acres In Gulf Of Mexico To New Drilling: In 2006, Landrieu co-authored the Domenici-Landrieu Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act that opened 8.3 million acres in the Gulf to drilling, a region estimated to contain 1.2 billion barrels of oil and nearly 6 trillion cubic feet of gas. (HR 6111, 2006; New Orleans CityBusiness, 12/20/06; Oil Daily, 12/11/06)

Allows New Domestic Energy Production For First Time In 25 Years: The measure allowed increased domestic energy production for the first time in 25 years. (HR 6111, 2006; New Orleans CityBusiness, 12/20/06; Oil Daily, 12/11/06)”

John Kennedy today proclaimed that he has been a conservative his whole life.  Unfortunately, his record proves him wrong.

Kennedy Was The Liberal Candidate In 2004 Senate Race: In 2004, Kennedy was the liberal, left-wing Democratic candidate for Senate. (Weekly Standard, 10/4/04; Gambit Weekly, 12/4/07; Times-Picayune, 7/9/08)

Called Himself "Not Just Another Election Day Democrat": A 2004 Kennedy campaign mailing to African American voters proclaimed "John Kennedy…not just another Election Day Democrat." (Times-Picayune, 10/29/04)
 
Said He Was Not Going To Be Afraid To Be A Democrat: In April 2004, Kennedy said he was "not going to be afraid to be a Democrat" in the Senate race. (Roll Call, 4/12/04)
 
Accused Of Trying To Portray Himself As A Member Of Famous Liberal Kennedys: In 2004, Kennedy was accused of trying to link himself with the famous liberal, Massachusetts Kennedy family after he sent a mailing to black voters that said, "The Kennedy tradition! The Kennedy commitment!" (Times-Picayune, 10/30/04)

Political Columnist John Maginnis Cited Irony In Kennedy's Change Message: In July 2008, Louisiana columnist John Maginnis wrote of Kennedy's message, "The irony of the change candidate is not lost of those who remember Kennedy in his 2004 Senate campaign as a populist Democrat, who criticized eventual winner David Vitter as a lackey of the Bush administration." (Times-Picayune, 7/16/08)
 
GOP Chair – Kennedy "Can't Run" From Liberal Past: In July 2008, the Times-Picayune reported that in response to questions about Kennedy's liberal past in which he endorsed John Kerry and campaigned "with a platform arguably more liberal than Landrieu's record in the Senate," GOP Chair Roger Villere said, "He can't run from it." (Times-Picayune, 7/6/08)
 
Conservative Radio Host Said There Was "No Doubt" Kennedy Has To Answer For His 2004 Positions: In August 2008, conservative talk show host, Moon Griffon stated, "…there's no doubt, I think, uh, in this U.S. Senate race, John will have to answer for some of the things that he was for in the last election…" (Moon Griffon Radio Show, 8/1/08)

By John Kennedy

DEBATE FACT SHEET: Voting With Obama 81% Of The Time

Mary Landrieu Voted With Barack Obama 81% Of The Time.

Since Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2005, Mary Landrieu has voted with Obama 81 percent of the time. In the 956 total number of instances when both senators voted “yes” or “no,” Landrieu and Obama voted together 772 times - 80.75  percent of the time.  (CQ Vote Comparison, Conducted 8/12/08)

Barack Obama Is The Most Liberal Member Of The United States Senate.

National Journal: “Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings.”  (Brian Friel, Richard E. Cohen And Kirk Victor, “Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007,” National Journal, 1/31/08)

On Abortion:

Mary Landrieu voted with Barack Obama “to repeal the ‘Mexico City’ policy, which bars U.S. aid to international family planning organizations that perform or promote abortions, even if they use their own funds to do so.”  (S 600, CQ Vote #83, Landrieu Voted Yea, Obama Voted Yea, 4/5/05)

On Taxes:

Mary Landrieu voted with Barack Obama for the largest tax increase in American history. (S Con Res 21, CQ Vote #114, Landrieu Voted Yea, Obama Voted Yea, 3/23/07)

Americans for Tax Reform: “This budget provides for the largest tax increase in American history, drastically increases spending, and if enacted will slow economic growth.” (“ATR Urges Senators To Vote Against The Proposed Fiscal Year 2008 Budget, S. Con. Resolution 21,” Americans for Tax Reform, 3/21/07)

On Opposing Conservative Judges:

Mary Landrieu voted with Barack Obama opposing the confirmation of Justice Sam Alito. (Senate Vote #2, On The Confirmation Of Samuel A. Alito, Jr. To Be An Associate Justice On The Supreme Court, Landrieu Voted Nay, Obama Voted Nay, 1/31/06)

Mary Landrieu: “Judge Alito's record gives me cause for concern.” (Senator Mary Landrieu, “Sen. Landrieu, After Urging Against Filibuster, Votes No On Alito,” Press Release, 1/31/06)

DEBATE FACT SHEET: One Of Congress’ “Most Corrupt” Members

Landrieu’s $2 Million Earmark For A Campaign Contributor Earned Her The Title Of One Of Congress’ “Most Corrupt” Members. Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics In Washington (CREW), a nonpartisan, government watchdog group named Landrieu one of Congress’ most corrupt members for her $2 million earmark.

Citizens For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington (CREW): “Her [Landrieu] ethics issues stem from inserting an earmark into an appropriations bill to benefit a large campaign donor.” (Citizens For Responsibility And Ethics In Washington (CREW), “Report Summary On Senator Mary Landrieu,” CREW’s Most Corrupt Members Of Congress Website, Link, 9/10/08)

On October 19, 2001 Randy Best, Founder of “Voyager,” Hosted A Fundraiser For Mary Landrieu And 18 Days Later On November 6, Landrieu Inserted A $2 Million Earmark For Best’s Organization.

The Washington Post: “Shortly after the meeting in Landrieu's office, Best said he was called by someone in her office to ask whether he would throw a campaign fundraiser. On Oct. 19, 2001, at Best's residence in the Claridge, a high-rise condominium complex overlooking the Dallas skyline, Landrieu gave a short talk on the importance of reading, Best said.” (James V. Grimaldi, “A Reading Program's Powerful Patron,” The Washington Post, 12/20/07)

The Washington Post: “Campaign finance records indicate that Landrieu received contributions of about $30,000 on or about Nov. 2. Four days later, she went to the Senate floor and offered an amendment to the House bill with the $1 million Voyager earmark. Landrieu jettisoned the matching money requirement and doubled the federal portion to $2 million.” (James V. Grimaldi, “A Reading Program's Powerful Patron,” The Washington Post, 12/20/07)

CBS Evening News: “The reading program is called ‘Voyager,’ its founder politically connected businessman Randy Best. Best and Landrieu have had a mutually beneficial relationship for years, one that's now hounding her as she runs for re-election. They first linked up in 2001. Senator Landrieu was a major player in deciding funding for Washington, DC. Best was lobbying to put Voyager in DC schools. The senator gave him what he wanted, a generous $2 million earmark, a grant of money without the normal public review.” (CBS’ Evening News With Katie Couric, 1/25/08)

“Landrieu Has Received About $80,000 From Voyager Employees And Lobbyists.”

The Washington Post: “Landrieu has received about $80,000 from Voyager employees and lobbyists, Federal Election Commission records show.” (James V. Grimaldi, “A Reading Program's Powerful Patron,” The Washington Post, 12/20/07)

The [Baton Rouge, LA] Advocate: “Voyager's political action committee, executives, employees, their relatives and lobbyists have contributed $80,000 to Landrieu, according to campaign reports cited by the newspaper. Four days after Voyager's founder, Randy Best, held a $30,000 fundraiser for Landrieu in his Dallas home, the Senate approved the bill with the $2 million contract.” (Will Sentell, “Landrieu Denies Bribery; Senator Says D.C. Contract Was Not Tied To Fundraiser,” The [Baton Rouge, LA] Advocate, 1/12/08)

Bayoubuzz will provide more details about the debate itself after it concludes. 


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