Kennedy Conundrum, Part II
I’ve recently come under attack in the blogosphere for the story I wrote earlier this on Melina Kennedy, the Democratic candidate for County Prosecutor, letting her law license lapse for nine months prior to getting ready to run for the office. I’ve been called almost every name in the book. That doesn’t bother me, because I’ve been called worse by women I’ve dated. However, I think it’s important to set a couple items straight. I’ve used some of the text in an earlier post to make this response. Hey, why tamper with genius?
My critics have accused me of fishing for a story. They’re right. It’s what reporters and pundits do. We look for information, do a little checking and if it’s worth reporting, we do. My only agenda is to inform the public and let them make up their own minds.
With respect to the Melina story, when I found out about the information I gave her campaign 24 hours to come up with a response. Instead they just said it didn’t matter and was immaterial. The experience issue is going to dog Melina in this campaign and their response doesn’t help. I don’t think the fact she was pregnant with twins would have totally quashed the question but it would have been better than saying it doesn’t matter. All the Kennedy folks had to say was that she pregnant with twins, and had so many responsibilities that keeping up with the CLE (Continuing Legal Education) requirements would have been too much for her, so she put her priorities in order. She knew she was going to renew her license eventually and that’s what she did. She would have been questioned about the timing, but it would have been a much better response. Maybe they should hire me to run campaign communications.
If Melina was going to let her license lapse, her campaign should have known and been ready to respond. When I called her campaign with the initial information I was asked what rumor mill did I get the information from, and I told them the Indiana Roll of Attorneys. I will go so far as to speculate that her own campaign staff was not aware of this information. That is frightening. For the campaign not to know that crucial information and not have an answer for it when it comes up is ridiculous.
I’m told Melina will make an appearance on another radio talk show today and likely tell why she let her license lapse for nine months. The host is friendly to the Kennedy camp so it’s not like she will get any tough questions. And knowing the host, any intelligent questions for that matter. If I were a strategist for the campaign, I’d do it too.
And I also find it interesting that is labeled as GOP dirty tricks. I argue this is one of those rare instances where the local GOP got it right. They’ve known about this for a while, but never said anything. They just waited for someone in the media to start asking questions. The way the local folks have dropped the ball lately, I was surprised they got this right. Usually when they make a firing squad, they’re in a circle.
If anyone should be upset, it should be Melina at her staff. A campaign with this much at stake can’t afford to make these kinds of stupid mistakes. By saying it doesn’t matter, they just gave the Brizzi folks a campaign commercial. What kind of political strategy is that? I think it’s one that shows these folks may want to do some reorganization now, before it’s too late.
