Why Are Scott Baugh's Favorite Slates Silent On Prop 98?
Posted by: Nick Naylor | 06/02/2008 1:21 PM
There's a certain bit of irony to a drama that has been unfolding within the Slate Mail world over the past month.
About a month ago, OCGOP Chairman Scott Baugh sent out an email to a group of Republican activists, donors, and elected officials urging them to buy onto the group of slates put out by the firm Citadel Campaigns out of northern California, saying that their slates "Unlike many other slates - they actually stand for conservative principles (not the highest bidder)."
It was curious why the Orange County GOP Chairman might send out an email like this for a particular group of slates, especially when a good number of other slate producers live in and work in Orange County, and are members and donors to the Orange County GOP.
But as an interesting twist, it turns out that these slates that Scott vouched for as being reliable to stand for conservative principles, took a pass on doing just that.
As Jim Lacy notes here and here, at least two of these slates that take advantage of IRS rules designating them as non-profits because of their activity in working for the conservative cause, took no position on either Prop 98 or Prop 99.
So, the very slates that Scott said don't follow the practice of simply going to the highest bidder, in this case left off two important conservative positions, presumably because they just didn't have the money to bid to be on (m)any slates.
About a month ago, OCGOP Chairman Scott Baugh sent out an email to a group of Republican activists, donors, and elected officials urging them to buy onto the group of slates put out by the firm Citadel Campaigns out of northern California, saying that their slates "Unlike many other slates - they actually stand for conservative principles (not the highest bidder)."
It was curious why the Orange County GOP Chairman might send out an email like this for a particular group of slates, especially when a good number of other slate producers live in and work in Orange County, and are members and donors to the Orange County GOP.
But as an interesting twist, it turns out that these slates that Scott vouched for as being reliable to stand for conservative principles, took a pass on doing just that.
As Jim Lacy notes here and here, at least two of these slates that take advantage of IRS rules designating them as non-profits because of their activity in working for the conservative cause, took no position on either Prop 98 or Prop 99.
So, the very slates that Scott said don't follow the practice of simply going to the highest bidder, in this case left off two important conservative positions, presumably because they just didn't have the money to bid to be on (m)any slates.
5/2/08
A Message From Chairman Scott Baugh
Dear Friends and Candidates,
As we move closer to the 2008 Primary and General Elections in California, we are all faced with many options to help us to be victorious on Election Day. As you know, one of the most effective ways to communicate with voters is through "third-party" communications. This is most often done through voter guides and slates.
But, how do you decide which ones are worthwhile and which ones are not?
As a conservative, I know that standing for and promoting conservative ideals in the election process is extremely important. Our base of conservative voters want to know which candidates actually stand for fiscal and social conservatism. This is why I encourage you to consider a group of four important voter guides/slates that can make a significant difference as third-party referrals in your campaign:
1.) Family, Faith and Freedom Voter Guide - with its own database of several hundred thousand identified "Values Voters."
2.) California Republican Assembly Slate - according to Ronald Reagan, "the conscience of the Republican Party."
3.) Republican Vote-by-Mail Slate - the best voter guide targeted for conservative Absentee Voters.
4.) California Taxpayer Protection Committee Slate - more influential than other "taxpayer" organizations that have compromised on state budgets and bonds in recent years.
I strongly encourage you to consider these four voter guides and slates to solidify your base of voters. For more information and to apply for their support, contact Citadel Campaigns.visit http://www.citadelcampaigns.com or give them a call at (916) 760-1115.
Unlike many other slates - they actually stand for conservative principles (not the highest bidder) - and, therefore, they have earned the respect of "the base" of conservative voters. All four cover four critical voter groups. Most importantly, you can rely on them too mail out on-time.
I wish you only the best in the upcoming elections.
Onward to victory!
Scott Baugh, Chairman
Republican Party of Orange County
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
If you look at the Slate Mailer disclosure forms, Scott paid to be on a number of slates (hey, to be Chairman of the Central Committee you have to be elected to be ON the Central Committee).
But, there are a few slates he appears on that he doesn't appear to have had to pay for... guess which ones??? You got it, the ones produced by Citadel Campaigns.
sounds more like Lacy doen't like competition. Why did his slate take money for listing 98/99 instead of doing it for free.
Don't central committee candidates usually pay a small amount to be on slates? On the reports it has an entry for payments received under $100. Wouldn't Baugh be there?
Baugh didn't pay because he clearly sent out that email in lieu of payment.
He sold out for a lousy coupla hundred bucks.
Nice try "Follow All" but you are just an anonymous spinner.
Our Save 13 voter guide did receive support from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. At over one million pieces statewide, the support was welcome.
But I own and run a lot of other slates that you can see for yourself at www.landslidecommunications.com. And of those others, all of them, i.e., Republican Woman's Voice, National Tax Limitation Committee, and Republican voter guides in three counties, all carried the Yes on 98/No on 99 message for free, at no cost, to help advance the cause. In total, I sent out an additional one million pieces of mail in this election to support Prop. 98 for free, because I could do it, and it was the right thing to do.
Clearly, as shown above, the sanctimonious organizers of the "Family Faith and Freedom Association" and "California Taxpayer Protection Committee" don't really care about advancing the conservative cause in their mailings. They could have. But they didn't. That is the point. They show themselves to be both hypocrites and disinterested. Shame on them.
I disagree with whoever the poster is here to bring Scott Baugh into the discussion. Scott certainly did not know that these guys were going to screw over the Prop. 98 campaign, and I am sure he believes sending out the email above was probably a mistake to begin with. I don't think it will happen again. Scott is not the issue and it is unfair to pick on him. The issue is the exposure of these self-professed conservative groups, who could have helped the cause by mentioning the only two Props on the statewide ballot in their mail, and their failure to do so. Which tells a lot about the character of the people behind these groups and their real intentions.
We have come full circle. HJTA supported Arnold and took money from the CTA to oppose school choice. The National Tax Limitation Committee supports Ose over McClintcok. Jim Lacy supported Rudy guliani for President. They now critize some one for not doing enogh, at least they did no harm. And let's be honest all slates are about the $$$$.
Yes there needs to be some MAJOR newspaper and TELEVISION coverage before the Fall election about slate mailers. When running for office I have used them myself; only to find myself listed on a slate mailer with other candidates that I don't support. A fledgling candidate such as myself only benefits from these slate mailers by getting some name recognition. But when I received the latest "Continuing the Republican Revolution" and it supported Prop 99 and had a "no" on Prop 98; I figured it was time to have some coverage of exactly how you get on a slate mailer. You pay for it and you don't have a choice of who else shows up on the same mailer, nor do you have the choice of what propositions are being supported or not supported.
Most undereducated voters who spend their time watching TV commercials to pick candidates will probably be voting Yes 99 and no on 98 due to the deceptive advertising by the AARP and this just isn't right. Just how can we get the mainstream media to cover the "absence of conscience" of a slate mailer?
As Scott was late to the Fullerton Republican Assembly meeting last Friday I was the warm up act explaining Prop 98. When he took over, and at the conclusion of his remarks, Scott took numerous questions from those in attendance. In some cases it might have been the same individual twice yet he failed to recognize me while my hand was up. Perhaps he was afraid I might ask him to take a position on either Prop 98 or Prop 99. I will leave it to him to explain his sitting this one out.
Larry Gilbert, OC Chairman, Prop 98 campaign