Massa Makes It Official

Mark Massa, chief legal counsel to Gov. Mitch Daniels, has made official his decision to run as a Republican for Marion County Prosecutor. Massa will ask Republican committeepersons to slate him as the party's official candidate at this Saturday's slating convention. Massa will resign his job with the governor if he is slated. Massa stated the following today:

After much deliberation and consultation with family, friends and community leaders, I have decided to submit my name for consideration by precinct committeemen and women to be their slated candidate for Marion County Prosecutor in 2010. I will abide by the decision of the convention and, if slated, will resign my position on the Governor's staff upon filing for the May primary next week. I look forward to addressing the convention this Saturday and discussing in more detail my experience, ideas and motivation for seeking the most important public safety office in our community.

More Media Double Standards

A few weeks back, the congressional office of U.S. Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) sent out a color, four-page brochure to voters in his 7th congressional district that I mistakenly confused with a campaign brochure. The brochure was full of smiling pictures of Carson and plenty of talk about how many great things Carson is accomplishing for his constituents. If a candidate had to pay to send out such a brochure, it would have cost his or her campaign well in excess of $50,000. Taxpayers picked up the tab for Carson's political mailer. Naturally, the media had nothing to say.

Today, the Star's Mary Beth Schneider takes Secretary of State Todd Rokita to task for the contents of an official e-newsletter put out by his office last week. "In his Rokita Report, e-mailed by his office last week, Rokita posted a note: 'Friends, Thank you for continuing to follow me and my office through the Rokita Report," Schneider reports. "If you are interested in my campaign for U.S. Representative for Indiana's 4th Congressional District, please visit my campaign Facebook page. Best, Todd.'"

I'm not going to defend Rokita's inclusion of the reference to his congressional campaign. It was wrong and showed poor judgment on someones part in his office. The actual cost of this blunder to taxpayers? Zero. My point is that transgressions of Andre Carson are completely overlooked by the media in this town, while it pounces all over every transgression of other politicians. I swear, Andre Carson could be caught in bed with a dead prostitute or a live boy and the media in this town would simply throw up their hands and say, "Hey, he didn't have a father growing up."

Who Dat

The New Orleans Saints upset the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in tonight's Super Bowl game. As the Star headline reads, "Manning's magic ends." Reading about Colts' owner Jim Irsay plans to offer Manning a life-time contract with a signing bonus of $50 million and $20 million a year, it's hard to shed any tears for Manning. The Saints seemed more determined to win tonight than the Colts.

Slow Blogging

I've been feeling very under the weather the last few days and haven't felt like doing much other than laying on the couch in front of the TV with a warm blanket. Looking forward to tonight's Super Bowl game. GO COLTS!

Would You Vote For This Guy?

Illinois Democrats are facing quite a quandary. The day after Scott Cohen won the right to run as the lieutenant governor candidate with Gov. Pat Quinn, who narrowly won the Democratic primary, details emerged about charges he held a knife to his live-in girlfriend, a prostitute, and threatened to kill her. His ex-wife has also made allegations of domestic abuse. She now supports him but stands by the original allegations. She has also taken him to court for unpaid child support and alimony payments. Cohen has had tax payment issues with the federal government as well. And did I mention he earns a living as a pawnbroker? Cohen blames his past erratic behavior on his use of anabolic steroids a few years ago when he was trying to put on muscle during a difficult time in his life. Gov. Quinn expects him to do the right thing and drop off the ticket. Cohen says he's going nowhere. What a mess. Republicans, meanwhile, are still waiting to learn whether Sen. Bill Brady or Sen. Kirk Dillard won the primary for governor. Brady leads by just 430 votes.

UPDATE: Cohen dropped out of the race over the weekend. Big surprise.

Plowman's Home Raided By FBI?

FOX 59 News' Russ McQaid is reporting tonight that FBI agents raided the home of City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman today. Here's what he is saying:

FBI sources tell FOX 59 agents analyzed multiple items inside Indianapolis republican Lincoln Plowman's home in Franklin Township Thursday. No details were given relating to what was found.

Plowman, the Franklin Township Councilman who this week was placed on administrative leave from his duties as a Metro Police Major, is still on the job representing Marion County's 25th District.

But here's the bigger picture on this story:

Sources are telling FOX 59 News Councilman Plowman's administrative leave is part of a bigger investigation that is focusing on alleged abuse of power by Marion County politicians.

This could get big real fast. Hold on, folks. The ride could be quite a wild one.

UPDATE: FOX 59 News has pulled from its website references to an FBI raid on Plowman's home without explanation.

McAtee Under Fire For Contributions To Sheriff Frank Anderson

Republican sheriff's candidate, Bart McAtee, is under fire by Republicans for contributions he made to Democratic Sheriff Frank Anderson. McAtee, son of former Sheriff Joe McAtee, has been facing tough questions from Republican precinct committeepersons about his loyalty to the party. Campaign finance records indicate he donated $2,500 to Anderson's campaign committee. His father endorsed Anderson in the 2002 sheriff's race after narrowly losing the Republican primary to former Lawrence Mayor Tom Schneider after a very tough and negative primary race. Joe later got a job with the sheriff's office and Bart got a promotion. Bart gives an unguarded response to a question at a recent Republican gathering in the video clip above. Acknowledging his contributions to Anderson, McAtee said it was the least he could do after Anderson gave him a promotion and a 40% pay raise. Ouch! So that's how business is conducted. McAtee is vying for the party's slating against IMPD Sgt. Dennis Fishburn and former sheriff's deputy Steve Davis, the unsuccessful Republican candidate for sheriff in 2006.