PORTLAND, Maine — A group of business leaders supporting independent U.S. Senate candidate Angus King returned fire at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday, calling a $400,000 advertising campaign the organization recently launched against the former Maine governor “misleading” and “disappointing.”
The high-profile U.S. Chamber campaign launched with a television spot labeling the former governor the “King of mismanagement” on Wednesday. King is facing Democrat Cynthia Dill and Republican Charlie Summers, as well as fellow independents Andrew Ian Dodge, Danny Dalton and Steve Woods, for the Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Olympia Snowe.
The business leaders who spoke during a Monday news conference at Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland claimed the Chamber’s TV spot oversimplified King’s record. Kevin Hancock, president of Casco-based Hancock Lumber, said he laughed the first time he saw the advertisement.
“The ad was so far off base and out of touch with Angus and out of touch with Maine, that I got a really good laugh,” said Hancock, who described himself as otherwise a supporter of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s work. “To me, the ad is a cookie-cutter commercial that looks like it was made to run anywhere in the country. Just cut out a photo of the candidate you oppose, dump a few statistics into the commercial, buy some ad time and head off for the next market.
“I believe most people in Maine will find it offensive,” he continued, “and see it as a poster child example of big, clumsy, out-of-state money bringing negativity and divisiveness to a campaign Angus is completely committed to running honorably, respectfully and thoughtfully.”
U.S. Chamber officials and Maine Republicans on Monday defended the first ad in the Chamber campaign, arguing that King supporters have not been able to prove that at least one of the television commercial’s major claims — that state spending “skyrocketed” to $2.6 billion under his watch — is inaccurate.
King backers have, however, made the case that the $1 billion “budget deficit” the advertisement claims King left behind is untrue, as Maine’s Constitution requires a balanced budget each year. King’s campaign representatives have noted that the $1 billion figure corresponds to a structural gap between what the government planned for in the budget and what state revenues supported at the time.
The Chamber has endorsed Summers in the race.
Dan Lafayette, whose company Lafayette Hotels owns the venue at which the media event took place Monday, said Standard & Poor’s credit rating agency gave the state of Maine AA+ marks during the heart of King’s tenure in the Blaine House, from 1997 until 2001.
Lafayette joined Tom Gorrill of Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers Inc. on Monday in arguing that state spending increased under King because he was able to take advantage of a strong economy to make much-needed investments across the state.
“The economy grew significantly while he was governor, and he put some of that money back into infrastructure and helping plants get built and helping businesses grow,” Lafayette said. “He put money into schools, and he put money into the university system, but it was money the state of Maine was earning.”
Gorrill said King increased fourfold the amount of highway reconstruction work being done — to about 100 miles per year during his governorship — and reduced the state’s backlog of bridge repair and maintenance work from $443 million in 1995 to $210,000 in 2002.
Others who spoke at the media conference Monday lauded King’s work fast-tracking economic development — former National Semiconductor executive Paul Edmonds said King saw to it the company’s $1.2 billion factory was permitted in 29 days, preventing the facility from being built in Texas instead — as well as opening up international trade for Maine companies.
Hancock said King’s first international trade mission to Mexico represented his company’s first exploration of international business, a step that has grown into 25 percent of Hancock Lumber’s annual sales.
Lolisa Windover, general manager of Peru-based gasket manufacturer Winderosa, said her company’s international sales climbed from 10 percent of its annual business to 40 percent during King’s governorship.
“We called him ‘Mr. Export’ because that was what he really pushed,” she said.
Others who hailed King as a pro-business governor Monday were Hussey Seating President Tim Hussey, Maine Balsam Fir founder Wendy Newmayer and independent consultant and former National Semiconductor site manager Laurenz Schmidt.
King, who is on the board of directors of Hancock Lumber, was not present at the event.
Representatives of the Maine Republican Party stood behind the U.S. Chamber advertisement Monday, saying King and his supporters are attempting to muddy the former governor’s financial record.
“Angus really pulls for Mainers’ heartstrings claiming that the television ad ‘takes aim’ at his character,” a Maine GOP response states, in part. “Here again reality just doesn’t match up with King’s rhetoric. We know that King’s more used to coronations than he is elections, but voters asking questions about a candidate’s record is not character assassination. It’s democracy.”
The Republican Party also criticizes King supporters for chiding the Chamber campaign for its out-of-state origins, saying the former governor has “been to Washington at least twice to raise money from lobbyists, special interests and super lobbyists.”
“Angus King needs to defend his record just like anyone else who seeks elected office, and King’s visceral response to questions about his record only raises more questions,” the Maine GOP stated.
Rob Engstrom, the U.S. Chamber’s senior vice president and national political director, said the group’s recent ad “obviously struck a nerve.”
“Voters deserve to know where Gov. King will stand on key business issues and whether he will advance job-creating policies in the Senate to get our economy back on track,” Engstrom said in a statement Monday. “We are proud to have endorsed Charlie Summers and look forward to working with him to create jobs in Maine and boost the American recovery.”
King and big money, what you need to know:
http://www.dirigoblue.com/2012/07/governor-king-thats-what-you-get-for-being-a-hypocrite-about-money-in-politics-explained/
Thanks alex..and there is so much more like his anti citizen anti worker stance..dems who ride this horse to the polls get what they deserve..and the rest of us just get singed and have to work that much harder to make up for their stupidity in backing King the plutocrat..the champion of industrial wind.
I guess only Republican’s are allowed to be “Big Money”
=======
Here’s the interesting part.
What international corporations are funding these ads? Are they 10% American owned? 20% American owned? Who owns the rest?
Who in the Arab world would like to buy a US Senate seat cheap? Who in Russia? Who in (you name it)?
The US Supreme Court, in the name of American free speech, has opened the money gates to ….who?
We’ll never know.
Hard to say “who” what with all of the dark money floating around, but interesting to note that Romney has taken to campaigning outside of the US.
You mean like Obama did in 2008 with his European tour that he took? Who will ever forget him getting all those chanting crowds in Germany? Well – obviously some have forgotten.
Just remember back to when Obama’s campaign staff put together a half-assed, ego-laden presentation to host the 2016 Olympics in Chicago and didn’t even make the finals:
First lady Michelle Obama vowed Monday to “take no prisoners” as she and her husband launch an unprecedented bid for Chicago’s 2016 Olympic bid.
“It’s a battle — we’re going to win — take no prisoners,” the first lady said with a smile at a roundtable discussion with reporters in the White House State Dining Room…
They lost in the first round to Rio; a major embarrassment quickly forgotten by the adoring media. Angus is also a product of the media, he ‘owns’ Maine Public Broadcasting and his buddies control the board and key positions.
You guys crack me up. No matter the subject of an article, if someone types the word Obama, you’re off after it like a hound after a squirrel.
but is his/her point invalid?
sooooo it’s ok for Angus to go to Washington for his money…but it’s not ok for Washington to send any of that money to Maine to support a position that is not in favor of King….that sounds like the democratic process at it’s finest….at least if your supporting a liberal candidate that rode the coat tails of a flourishing national economy while in office.
…..
Just a wild hunch here, but I bet the Chamber is backing Summer. However, this information could backfire on them.
Gary,
You mean you think it is possible Dems will wake up and realize what fools they are for backing King?
Nahhh..I don’t see that happening..they have their own circular firing squad going. No?
No.
No you don’t think the dems are engaged in a circular firing quad supporting King?
And Cutler is backing King; doncha love it when plutocrats fight in public?
Yet another example of big money controlling politics. It is our business who we vote to go to Washington. Back off lobbyists, you are dirty, rotten little munchkins. How do you sleep at night? All this is about special interests and favors. Stand up Maine, we are better than allowing this behavior! This is the sort of issue that needs to go to our legislators and push to change. I do not support dirty tactics like this in our system. If there is a reason I do vote for King, their actions would lead me in that direction to stop the antics.
Regardless of King’s past, you are missing the point of money buying votes. It needs to stop. This is what is ruining our country. Keep it out of Maine as we know better and deserve better.
I think they sleep well at night because they get paid damned good money.
A good, honest person knows differently. It will haunt them.
WeRLosing Civility
I pray that you are right..but I am not so sure..I am not so sure. If more citizens do not awaken and start paying attention day by day they will just keep walking away with it and things will just keep getting worse for the rest of us.
it has already begun:
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
I wonder how many are good and honest.
And I say that knowing there are lobbyists working for things I believe in.
How many registered lobbyists are there in Washington dc?A 2005 Washington Post article has reported that the number of registered lobbyists in Washington, DC is about 34750. Or 100 for every rep in DC
Carpetbaggers for sure.
Does nobody remember the Angus term as Governor? Come on people, we do not want him back in office!!!!!!
I’m interested, what was so bad about that time period? My business was a lot better off during King’s admin than during the Current Occupant’s.
Of course..we all were well off then..all our stars were rising. all of us at every sector were doing better..not because of King though..he was just shining in Clinton’s light..he contributed nothing to anything..he was just basking in Clinton’s success.
What did King do that was good? It seems he rode the Clinton wave.
We have seen what the Tea Party is about with Lepage!
I’ll take a Black Angus with Mad Cow Disease before another Mad Hater Tea Partier!
Ha! Good one!
interesting post….full of hate and malcontent with a governor that is closer to a balanced budget than we’ve seen in a very long time. He may be rough around the edges but he’s fiscally responsible which I’ll take any day.
He lowered the sales tax a point. I remember that.
The 6% sales tax had a sunset provision in it. It was automatic.
They were very good times 1995-2003, Bill Clinton was president during his first term.
ahhh so true..so true..we had no idea it was only temporary did we?
Sadly it didn’t last, but it makes for very fond memories.
Ummm, 1995 – 2003 were not “good times” for Maine’s economy. We were last in business and first in taxes. Nice revisionist history though.
….
Yes I was, trying to make a living in the HIGHEST taxed state in the nation, with the HIGHEST healthcare cost and the worst business climate. I can assure you and Obama that I made it with NO government help.
I remember Angus King as Governor. He had the foresight to get computers into our schools so that our kids could be ready to compete with others once they graduated high school. That was impressive.
But did that really help our students to be ready to compete? Recent news stories regarding school performance do not indicate that to be the case. Presenting someone with a tool is one thing; teaching them to use it effectively is another.
Angus King deserves credit for his efforts. And most students were given the chance to learn. Yes the computers helped our students, the students who wanted to learn.
So the end result is not the measure? The important thing is the effort? That’s the kind of thinking that has gotten us to this particular point. Maybe, with deeper investigation into the education system, a more effective use of those dollars could have been discovered and our students truly could be prepared to compete.
I remember it even better; computers were already in schools before he became governor and I was one of the people who installed them there…things were quite advanced in N. Maine; and moving along in S. Maine, and then King became enamored of Apple’s laptops.
Like all of his other technology embraces, he conspired with Apple national sales reps. to rig the competitive bids for laptops so that they could be leased as an option to being sold. People competing for the laptop contract were never briefed and submitted bids based on a SALE. The Apple lease, of course came in lower and they won; several times over.
Once the lease was over, students could buy them or Apple would refurbish them and sell them in the after market; in the meantime Angus made national commercials endorsing Apple Laptops and their sales and stock soared. I owned a bit and was conscious of the value of the tie-in. So was IBM, ACER, DELL, TOSHIBA, and a few others who got screwed in the bidding and consequent platform wars.
Apple also profited on Maintenance contracts; so the entire deal is now locked in the history of computers in Maine.
Don’t be surprised if the National Chamber doesn’t feature one of Angus’ endorsements and trace back the profits his family made on Apple investments.
Many thanks Organicgardener !! I had actually forgotten some of your comments update and as for Apple and King, seems a politician will do anything for a vote. I will correct you on the computers at hand prior to Angus securing his deal. Many small schools had No computers.
And what was the outcome of the law suit against King and the alleged collusion?
Maybe King recognized the superiority of the Mac Platform… :)
Hancock: they’re “big, clumsy ads”……???? HUH??
Dude, put down that doobie…….
LOL
Well, King is out of touch.
I think you’re wrong on that. On an opening day workshop we listened to a presentation on the new world economy and what kids would need to learn to be part of it. He seems to be up to date.
New word economy, beware, same old stuff (sounds like a new world order). He just wants more windmills, and he will be more of Democrat.
Oh, there’s no question which side he will vote with more often.
can’t disagree with that
King need not be concerned about instilling an aura of mystery concerning his political positions and flawed ideology to Mainers . An unproductive and dilatory tour at the Blaine House, lavish payoffs from the Federal government to underwrite his Quixote quests, and the rapacious destruction of Maine’s wilderness are all too familiar themes to those who have eyes to see. Like his ebony inamorata in Washington, King will pursue an agenda of moral decline and uncontrolled spending, ignoring the wishes of hard-working Mainers while ushering our children and grandchildren into an age of government excess that resigns them to a common existence. This mildewed remnant of average intellect should be reminded frequently and often that a failed legacy cannot be easily obfuscated.
Huh ? Once more, with language for the common folk this time, please !
Has anyone told you you are overcompensating?
Enough with the ebony inamorata crap.
You must have had a thesaurus on your table picking random words and sticking them anywhere you thought they would fit. Your inept try at rhyming is pathetic to say the least. Oh sorry you weren’t rhyming . Just a bunch of rubbish words. Stick to jigsaw puzzles please.
Your language is a bit too highbrow for this crowd, but I’ll give you a certain eloquence. In my studied opinion you are wrong, but said it nicely.
Except for the financial support going to the two wars, and the tax give-aways to the top quintile… and the spending resulting from the financial crisis to shore up those relying on the safety net transfer funds — entirely appropriate, legal, and in direct response to the crisis… overall government spending is not “uncontrolled.” That meme is fundamentally flawed and serves the right’s agenda to take more of the wealth, crippling and capturing government by starvation. Our children will be left at the beck and call of their corporate taskmasters… ask any student sporting $120k in student loans about their indentured servitude…
does anyone else think that the king campaign and it’s supporters need to put on their big boy pants?
The Supreme Court opened the door to unlimited big money advertising. Now we’ll see if the American people can be tricked by the best media manipulators in the country.
If they can, democracy is effectively dead, and Long Live the Plutocracy!
The US Chamber of Commerce was always a big backer of Snowe and other Republicans. Their dominant members are large health insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Visit their website and see. They want republicans that will protect their huge premium and cost increases year after year. Don’t be taken in by them.
Stephen King gives big money to out of state candidates who support the liberal agenda. What is good for the liberals must be good for the conservatives. Why do people like Angus King desire to get back into office? Don’t tell me; I already know.
Never heard that before. You have examples?
The ad displays the truth about King and that makes his supporters mad
right on the money I thought.. I had not one issue with one point all factual and true..made me worry though as I believe the Chamber is a Republican group? But hey the truth is the truth is the truth whoever tells it truth must be honored and hailed.
Be afraid Teaparty, be very afarid !
Looks like the ads are having their desired effect. I’d like to see the inside polling data.
Is Angus King still on Hancock Lumbers board of directors?
http://mainebusiness.mainetoday.com/newsdirect/release.html?id=404
Very interesting history here…..
What does Hancock Land do and how would they profit from the decisions of a U.S. Senator who sits on their Board? Anyone ask Angus how he is going resolve conflicts of interest with Hancock and the many other organizations he is affiliated with like Bowdoin College?
‘…Representatives of the Maine Republican Party stood behind the U.S.
Chamber advertisement Monday, saying King and his supporters are
attempting to muddy the issue of the former governor’s financial record…”
***
Ayuh! What else might we expect from our muddied ‘gubnah’ who’s already offered up the state
to the Teapublican Koch Brothers?
Ya can’t get heyuh from theyuh!
Obama 2012
King needs to defend his record…must be an exclusion (or six) from that one if you are in the GOP you know, like Romneys record on service in Vietnam (exempted six times) , on service to Bain Capital, on service to the State of Massachusetts…oh right, KING needs to defend his record.
King has a record other than riding the Clinton train and jumping on the Obama bandwagon?
Food for thought. Drop the “g” from Angus what do you get. LOL
Who exactly are Angus King’s supporters anyway?
I guess I know who they are… they’re the same mashed potato brains who have been voting for Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe for the past hundred and fifty years.
The Senators do a good job representing Maine. More importantly, for the good of the country they understand that being a responsible member of a governing body in a representative democracy means being able to compromise and reach consensus. The ultra-partisanship practiced in Congress in these times hurts our country.
So basically the huge majority of Mainers.
The Chamber ad helps King. It really does. Baldacci scraped through 8 years of budget whittling, with no real innovation. The current buffoon is a national embarrassment. When I see an out of state organization attacking King, and sparing LePage, my decision is made.
The BDN editors should instruct their reporters to provide more balance in their stories. This one is hopelessly one-sided. This should have been a real news story, not a promotion piece for Angus King. Surely some Maine business people agree with the Chamber’s position. Why were they not sought out and quoted? Instead, what we have here is a prime example of lazy (or biased) reporting and editing.
They really are chintzy ads. Low-budget job?
Mainers,
I’ve never seen so many helium balloons at the opening of any car dealership’s “Come On Down!!!” sale. Is there anything worse than a used car salesman? How about a panel of them, each with access to the communal microphone, each singing the praises of the lemon they know you’re about to buy.
If you’re seeing these red, white and blue balloons too too you’re not alone and you’re certainly not “losing it”.
Once again the BDN comes to the defense of one of the liberal candidates! They’re not content to “inform” us, but they feel the need to “influence” our way of thinking!
The Chamber is right on target–Angus King did leave the state with the $1 billion budget deficit is true–all we have to do is research his actions just before leaving office.
Kevin Hancock is a personal friend of Angus King as are the others that defend his past. No one expects that Angus has no friends but that does nothing to clear his record. He is a big spending liberal and his 8 years as governor of Maine exposed that. If we send him to Washington, fine. There is no reason not to know who you are voting for.
Facts are stubborn things. King spent too much as governor, and when followed by Baldacci who did likewise, they together contributed to the problems that Gov. LePage is now resolving.
The last person we want to send to Washington is a big spending Senator. Summers has pledged to reduce spending, and I believe him.
The Republican Party has no morals. They just can’t stand it when they are not in total power and when they are, they screw everything up. Elect Angus, get rid of LaPage in 2014. Clinton was the Best President in my lifetime. Angus did a good job too. The Republicans want to take us back to 1930.
Dear Jim, I just threw up in my mouth. Remind me to no longer read your posts.
Angus was a much better Governor than LaPage! Elect Angus and dump LaPage in ’14…Republicans have no morals in office. They only want to pad the pockets of their big $ supporters.
Before you point fingers you might check out what stock King held BEFORE he suggested that the State get Apple laptops for all public school children.
Are you accusing King of some sort of insider profiteering? Does your concern apply to Romney as well on that count?
(He took over the running of the Utah Olympics, mired in one of the worst corruption scandals in its existence, with Olympic officials receiving millions in lavish gifts, even free medical care by a potential sponsor, and Romney’s record reads that he turned it all around. Little do folks know that he then collected large campaign donations from the same entities that were implicated as the largest supporters of the graft… Turned it around, my arse… He put the lipstick on that pig and let it run…)
So, you’re against kids getting a good education that puts them in touch with today’s technology?
Oh please. I may vote Democrat for the first time because of Romney’s corruption lack of principle, and disregard of working class citizens. My argument (against King) is non-partisan. You notice (if you read) that in a previous post (on this thread) I criticized both Summers and Dill as being substandard candidates.
Laptops, like other school necessities, could and should be purchased by parents who can afford it, and subsidized by those who can’t. In case you haven’t noticed the “new technology” is no longer laptops (which few business people use now) so we subsidized a fad.
I stand by my earlier post. King is a big spender, self serving and we can’t afford him. I also said we’d probably get him anyway.
The reaction to this ad by the King camp tells me a lot – it musta stung him some and gotten to him. Don’t let ’em see you sweat, King Angus. Now, in full disclosure, I am a total welfare Mom and proud of it. King got me tons o’ money in his time, WIC, Section 8, welfare of all kinds, but I needed it – 4 kids and no Dads, thank you very much. I hope he wins, because he will side with my party and help Obama win (he gave Obama $5000 this year), thus ensuring I can keep working on my rap album and have enough money to live on.
Big Clumsy out-of-state, BUT at least partially true. King is a big spender, and Maine can’t afford him.
UNFORTUNATELY due to the substandard quality of all the candidates in this race, we will probably get him anyway.
Can’t wait for King’s new PAC…..C.C.U.(CRONY CAPITALISTS UNITED).
For the first in history, King’s record as governor is being seriously challenged and playing the infomercial every time the bobble-heads make a remark, only reminds people King’s record needs serious vetting….remember we have Car Test & MTBE & Mary’s Apple stock purchases & big wind subsidies & his special friends in the rich environmental establishment like Brownie Carlson and Kurt Adams and ….lot’s more to go folks.!
Angus promoted Maine business and the Maine brand across the country and internationally and more than 100,000 jobs were created during his two terms as governor. He also never ran a deficit while in office. He must have been doing something right!