Sat 21 Jun 2008
Democrat Operative Crashing CD-5 Republican Events
Posted by DSW under Campaigns & Elections , Political Parties , Special Event[8] Comments
Today, I received an email from Andrew Fontaine, Executive Producer for the J.D. Hayworth Show which airs on KFYI ever weekday afternoon:
YESTERDAY THE BREAKING NEWS…..
JUNE 19–On the J.D. Hayworth Show on 550 KFYI listeners found out that the Arizona Democratic Party may be using spying techniques on the campaign trail. During a private fundraiser for fifth congressional district Republican-hopeful Lauren Knaperek, a man was spotted taking pictures of attendees and their vehicles.
When approached by Campaign Manager Lauren Barnett, David Judd (spelling yet to be confirmed) said he worked for the Arizona Democratic Party.
“He is an employee of The Arizona Democratic Party, and he has been assigned, his job (J.D.) is to trail Laura Knaperek,” Barnett said on the show.
Judd, was spotted by one of the thirty attendees, who told Barnett, and later emailed Hayworth. It is said he drove a red car with California license plates.
Barnett later commented, “This is undemocratic, this is reprehensible. What ever happened to freedom of association (J.D.)?”
Freshman Harry Mitchell will be running against one of the six Republican hopefuls this November.
So I could not help posting on this incident since I have a first person accounting.
Thursday night, I attended a fundraising event for Republican candidate, David Schweikert, at the Scottsdale Gun Club. It was a great event with former President of the NRA, Sandra Froman, hosting it. All who attended were privleged to meet Sandra, hear from David Schweikert and get a chance to shoot some magnificent firearms. As I stood at the front entrance welcoming supporters, a young man entered and asked what was the occassion of the event. He introduced himself as “David” to a Schweikert volunteer and myself. “David” also said that he was a member of the Scottsdale Gun Club. He asked if he could move in closer to observe. Throughout the event, I watched him on and off and noticed that he was taking photos. I thought it was a little odd but nevertheless, went home that night wondering if he had really just happened on to the event. Once home, I made my round of the ususal blogs and read a posting by Evan Brown on AZPolicker that seemed to explain “David’s” attendance.
The next day, I went to the open house event for the David Schwiekert campaign. I informed Bill Connor and other staff of my suspicions regarding the visitation by the individual known as “David” at the Scottsdale Gun Club. Not more than five minutes after my conversation, who should walk into the campaign office than “David?!” (And I’m not talking about David Schweikert.) As he entered the office, he carried a small video camera waist-high filming as he walked through the office. He was obviously gathering information about who was present and how the office was set up and operating. By this time, Campaign Manager Bill Connor had swung into action. In fact, Connor had talked “David” into helping the Schweikert campaign volunteers stuff envelopes! This is where Andrew Fontaine’s accounting of the incident comes into play:
Bill Connor, Campaign Manager for David Schweikert, called into the J.D. Hayworth Show on 550 KFYI, and talked about how Arizona Democratic Party Employee, David Judd, was caught at another private fundraiser last night.
Judd was caught at a previous private fundraiser for Laure Knaperek, taking pictures of vehicles and private citizens, Judd then came to Schweiker’s Campaign office opening Friday. Connor called Hayworth after hearing what happened with at the Knaperek fundraiser.
According to Connor, he then gave the phone to Judd while on the Hayworth show.
When Hayworth asked Judd (again not confirmed to be Judd via telpehone) why these spying tactics are being embraced by the Democratic Party Judd responded, “You’ll have to speak to the communications director, Emily Bittner (DeRose),” then promptly hung up.
Connor called back and said Judd ran out.
Sonoran Alliance would love to hear from all the Republican congressional campaigns regarding strange visits by “David,” the discovery of wiretapping, “bugging” or other surveillance devices placed by the Arizona Democratic Party in its “due dilligance” efforts. Feel free to post your comments.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Uh, what is the problem? He was on a public street, taking pictures of cars parked on a public street, and people walking in public on a public street. Unless he actually went into the event without having paid, I don’t see any issues.
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
All is fair in love, war and politics. If there ever was an opportunity of turn around is fair play this is it.
The GOP should have people following Mitchell and Giffords around.
If I were in the Bee camp, I’d have a guy in Texas clocking every move Gabby makes when “visiting” her hubby, and also track just how much time she spends there.
Mitchell and GIffords also have some nefarious donors on their FEC reports. I’d start following them around as well and see who they’re hanging out with.
Guilt by association is a tactic the dems use (tying everyone to Bush, Cheney and Rove), lets do a little tying ourselves by getting some video of Mitchell’s donors at communist/socialists George Soros events, etc.
The CD5 & CD8 GOP candidates and had better realize this is war. No quarter given, no quarter returned and none taken.
Where the heck is the RNC and the state party?
June 22nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Please read ARS Title 13 section 13-1503A. When he lied about belonging to the Gun Club, he changed his status, as he was then unlawfully present at the private function. They no longer needed to ask him to leave and get a refusal before he could be taken into custody. I am surprised Bittner (DeRose) would authorize such a foolish and politically dangerous activity.
June 22nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
On another blog (re Judd at Knaperek’s event) someone pointed out that if he is employed by an AZ employer, by law he should have AZ license plates on his car (assuming it was his and not rented or borrowed). Perhaps Judd and the AZ Democratic Party would like to explain this discrepancy. Or maybe not.
June 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
This is nothing new. Back in the day, when I was still an ink-stained wretch (as opposed to my current status as a gnarly fingered e-gnome), we used to goof on the spies – R and D alike – who showed up at various events. We’d go and grab a name tag, write SPY in big letters, and paste it on their chest (unless it was a woman, in which case we’d slap it on her back).
Having said that, the ham-handed tactics of the state Democratic Party are an embarassment. Couldn’t you guys at least be a little subtle?
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:42 am
Nothing new here.
In a past life, I worked for a well-known elected official who was followed by an operative for our rival. He would set up at meetings (that were open to the public, so he was breaking no laws) and start video tape rolling.
The solution was simple: we started taping him. He set up his tripod, we set up ours: focused on him. It was the most boring video imaginable; just him sitting there listening to our guy talk. But having a camera trained on him left him so unnerved that he eventually left us alone.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I see J.D.’s continuing on his Inspector Javert-like quest against Harry Mitchell by trying to find something, anything, that will make it seem that Harry defeated him through nefarious means.
Shocked! Shocked I am to find oppo going on. And in an election, no less. Oh lawsy me, I’m getting the vapors!
I’ve often thought it would be better for J.D.’s psyche to see Harry win again, because then Harry would have won in ‘06 based upon the shifting demography of CD5 and not because CD5 didn’t want him no more.
I could totally spin that into a country and western song.
October 21st, 2008 at 12:45 am
[...] http://sonoranalliance.com/?p=2431 Thursday night, I attended a fundraising event for Republican candidate, David Schweikert, at the Scottsdale Gun Club. It was a great event with former President of the NRA, Sandra Froman, hosting it. All who attended were privleged to meet Sandra, hear from David Schweikert and get a chance to shoot some magnificent firearms. As I stood at the front entrance welcoming supporters, a young man entered and asked what was the occassion of the event. He introduced himself as “David” to a Schweikert volunteer and myself. “David” also said that he was a member of the Scottsdale Gun Club. He asked if he could move in closer to observe. Throughout the event, I watched him on and off and noticed that he was taking photos. I thought it was a little odd but nevertheless, went home that night wondering if he had really just happened on to the event. Once home, I made my round of the ususal blogs and read a posting by Evan Brown on AZPolicker that seemed to explain “David’s” attendance. Democrat Resident Stalker David Judd [...]