Special interest money pouring in

And. They’re. Off!

The Clarion-Ledger had a pair of articles this weekend about special interest money in the Supreme Court races.

The first, from Saturday, looks at what Kitch and his opponents have raised.

Although it appears Kitchens has collected $10,000 more than Smith, the figures are misleading, says Kitchens’ campaign manager, Sam Hall.

Hall said pro-business special interest groups have raised almost $600,000, and some of that money has gone to support Smith’s re-election campaign.

The outside money doesn’t have to be listed on Smith’s campaign finance report, Hall said. Hall pointed out that outside special interest groups have been running ads supporting Smith.

The second, from Sunday, details how special interest groups have released a diluge of money into Mississippi in an attempt to buy these races.

Another group, Improve Mississippi Political Action Committee, reported $573,203 in contributions, much of it coming from PACs for Mississippi doctors, bankers, manufacturers and Realtors. The biggest contribution – $125,000 – came from the American Justice Partnership.

…

“Jim Smith likes to use the phrase he wants to throw the moneychangers out of the temple, but the moneychangers are spending more than half a million dollars to support him and some of his friends in other districts,” Hall said.

[Smith political consultant Morgan] Baldwin responded that more than half of Kitchens’ contributions have come from trial lawyers.

I love hypocrisy, don’t you?

Music Monday for Oct. 6

Welcome to Music Mondays. Today’s selections from Kitch’s album, The Sun Recordings, are:

Track 13: Waiting for the Train

Track 14: How Long, How Long?

We’ll release two tracks every Monday between now and Election Day.

On Monday, Nov. 3, we’ll release all 20 tracks again so that you can have the entire album to enjoy.

Difference between Kitch and Smith

Jim Smith came to Kitch’s home county of Copiah. Jim Smith attended a $100 per-plate catfish fundraiser in Hazlehurst.

Across the highway Kitch is feeding county employees and hundreds of his friends and supporters FREE catfish.

That just about epitomizes the difference between the two men — one of big money and one of the people.

We’ll post photos later.

A bit about Kitch

John Kitchens, one of Kitch’s three sons, has been spreading the word about his dad and the campaign.

What follows is a bit of “unknown parts” of his dad’s life. He promises this will be a multi-part series.

I’ll share the stories with you as John sends them.

Jim Kitchens was elected district attorney in 1971 for Copiah, Lincoln, Pike and Walthall Counties. His term began in 1972. Kitch resigned from that position in 1981 to return to private practice in order to pay medical bills for one of his 5 children.

Kitch served not only the citizens of these counties, but was selected more than any other DA in history to prosecute cases in other districts where the DA was conflicted.

During his service as DA, Kitch was constantly harassed and threatened. It was necessary for the State to assign bodyguards to Kitch and his family to watch over us in case someone Dad had convicted wanted to harm us.

I remember as a child hearing that sugar had been poured into Dad’s gas tank several times. Although it was never officially linked to Dad, a bomb threat was called in to the school where four of his children attended. It was presumed that this threat was directed at Dad. These were not easy times.

In fact, on January 20, 1974, Dad was confronted by a man who was upset with him for having prosecuted someone close to him. The assailant pulled a gun on Dad and Dad began to wrestle with the man for the gun.

During the fight, Kitch was shot through his hand, with the bullet coming to rest in Kitch’s leg.

Kitch, knowing that the citizens of his district still needed his help, successfully ran for re-election two more times.

Music Monday for Sept. 29

Welcome to Music Mondays. Today’s selections from Kitch’s album, The Sun Recordings, are:

Track 11: The Wreck of Old ’97

Track 12: Folsom Prison Blues

We’ll release two tracks every Monday between now and Election Day.

On Monday, Nov. 3, we’ll release all 20 tracks again so that you can have the entire album to enjoy.

Three days in Scott County

It’s been a great three days, and it just so happens much of time was spent in Scott County.

Right now, we’re sitting in Vicksburg. Kitch is about to address the Warren County Bar Association.

On Saturday, Kitch visited the Wing Dang Doodle. That is the Forest blues and chicken wing cookoff festival.

Then on Sunday, Rose Wicker of Forest (along with several friends) hosted a reception for Kitch at the Barbara Gatewood Studios in downtown Forest. What a great event.

Then this morning, Kitch spoke to prospective jurors at the Scott County courthouse.

Kitch really enjoyed being in Scott County, and he’ll be back before Election Day.

For now, we’re spending the day in Warren County.

Smith supporters waste no time with dirty tricks

Wow! Supporters of Chief Justice Jim Smith have wasted no time getting their hands dirty in this judicial race. Smith has already found himself at the center of a controversy that is the target of an investigation by the attorney general.

From the Clarion-Ledger:

Bogus telephone opinion polls – “push polls” – have cropped up in at least three of the judicial races.

“We are looking into these sleazy, bogus calls to determine if they violate our criminal and/or civil laws,” Hood said Monday. “We call on any person who has recorded one of these calls to call our office at 1-800-281-4418 or e-mail us at agjimhood.com.”

So what are push polls?

Push polls pretend to be legitimate opinion polls, but they’re actually nothing more than a way to spread lies or negative propaganda regarding candidates, said Joe Parker, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Southern Mississippi.

He recalled those done when George Bush faced off against John McCain in the Republican primary in South Carolina in 2000. “McCain was really decimated with those push polls,” he said.

Among the lies spread by those push polls – McCain fathered a black child. “They did a number on him,” Parker said. “He didn’t even get a majority of veterans when they got through with him.”

Of course, all Smith’s campaign wanted to talk about was trial lawyers.

In addition to those supporting businesses, “you’ve got trial lawyers coming in here from all over the country,” [Smith campaign spokesman Morgan] Baldwin said. “Both sides are throwing money at independent expenditures.”

Funny. I don’t know of a single group who has done anything on our behalf in this race.

Even funnier is the idea that the Smith campaign knows nothing about these push polls. I call bull$#!% on that one.

And in a couple of days, I bet some fairly strong evidence showing Smith’s campaign is involved in a coordinated campaign will emerge.

Music Monday for Sept. 22

Welcome to Music Mondays. Today’s selections from Kitch’s album, The Sun Recordings, are:

Track 9: The 9-Pound Hammer

Track 10: Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

We’ll release two tracks every Monday between now and Election Day.

On Monday, Nov. 3, we’ll release all 20 tracks again so that you can have the entire album to enjoy.

Music Monday for Sept. 15

Welcome to Music Mondays. Today’s selections from Kitch’s album, The Sun Recordings, are:

Track 7: Swanee River

Track 8: Corrine, Corrina

We’ll release two tracks every Monday between now and Election Day.

On Monday, Nov. 3, we’ll release all 20 tracks again so that you can have the entire album to enjoy.

Music Monday for Sept. 8

Welcome to Music Mondays. Today’s selections from Kitch’s album, The Sun Recordings, are:

Track 5: Trouble in Mind

Track 6: Careless Love

We’ll release two tracks every Monday between now and Election Day.

On Monday, Nov. 3, we’ll release all 20 tracks again so that you can have the entire album to enjoy.

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