Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Ballard Reacts To Peterson's Negative Attacks

Direct mail pieces were arriving in mailboxes around the city today from the Peterson for Mayor campaign accusing Greg Ballard of negative attacks. The mailer is a complete lie. In fact, Mayor Peterson is the first and only candidate in the race for mayor to air negative attack ads against his opponent. A new ad from Peterson's campaign lifts words from a Star editorial endorsing him to suggest Ballard is unqualified to be mayor. Ballard actually has far more management and leadership experience than Peterson had when he first ran for mayor eight years ago. Ballard, reacting to Peterson's negative attack, is offended at what he sees as Mayor Peterson's denigration of his military career. Peterson never served in the military. Ballard said:

"In my twenty-three year military career, I held numerous positions that called upon the same kind of skills one would utilize as mayor. I am sure that I am more prepared now than Mr. Peterson was when he first ran for mayor eight years ago and I am certainly prepared to lead Indianapolis today.

"But the worst part of Mr. Peterson's ad is that it implies that service or a career in the military just isn't good enough and it tells Hoosiers in the military that they are not qualified for public service," said Ballard. "History, of course, says otherwise. Our nation's veterans have historically used their military training and leadership to become some of the best leaders in politics, business, and their communities."

Ballard concluded, "Mayor Peterson and I have disagreed a lot about our city's problems and the solutions, especially taxes, spending and crime. But I have not questioned his personal abilities and I am disappointed that the Mayor's campaign has taken a different course."

Ballard also launched his first TV ad with less than a week to go before the election, which features he and at-large council candidate Kent Smith. You can view it by clicking here. Another ad with Ballard alone is running. It can be viewed by clicking here. Unfortunately, Ballard's absence from TV, radio and direct mail to date has allowed Peterson to define Ballard, even if by dishonest means. I'm not sure if Ballard will have enough of a media presence to counter the negative Peterson barrage hitting mailboxes and airwaves this week. These ads were simply thrown together on the cheap without any thought about a message that will resonate with voters in a memorable way.

UPDATE: The Peterson campaign is launching yet another negative attack ad on Ballard. If the Peterson campaign were selling a product, it would be charged with consumer fraud. Using the $3 million dollars he shook down from city contractors, employees and businesses, Peterson is spreading intentionally false information on the airwaves and in your mailboxes about Greg Ballard, who has no financial means to respond to these false and misleading ads. Tell your neighbors what Bart Peterson is doing in desperation to hold on to power for Indianapolis' ruling elite.

23 comments:

Mike Bowman said...

Didn't the Indy Star last year complain of a Dickerson and or Carson flyer that had information lifted from a story or article ?

Anonymous said...

We have had almost a full year of negative attacks on Peterson. All of this "Bart Lies" nonsense and the character asassinations and allegations of everything but treason. The public is tired of it and will reject it on election day. Unfortunately a very small vocal number or mean spirited police officers have been in the middle of this hatefulness.

Anonymous said...

Peterson must be in real trouble. These are the kind of ads that you run when you are completely desperate. You are right that Ballard's lack of resources may prove to be a problem but don't be too sure. People aren't as stupid as politicians think.

Anonymous said...

Nothing from the Peterson camp except the same 'ol same 'ol diatribe O'Conner thinks will pull the Mayor's pitiful record out of the fire.
I'm not sure voters are buying the goods especially with their anti-Ballard rhetoric about a Lt.Colonel with 23 years of service top level service to his country not being qualified to hold the job.
Sad that all the silver spooners Peterson has on board that not one has had experience in the military, let alone 23 years in the Corp.
Peterson was not qualified to be mayor when he ran 8 years ago other than he was an errand boy for Evan Bayh.
BTW, where has Evan been this campaign? I thought he would at least cut a TV spot or two for his buddy.

Anonymous said...

We have had almost a full year of negative attacks on Peterson. All of this "Bart Lies" nonsense and the character asassinations and allegations of everything but treason. The public is tired of it and will reject it on election day. Unfortunately a very small vocal number or mean spirited police officers have been in the middle of this hatefulness.

Who's we?

Anonymous said...

6:33 you are a dumbass. It's not just police officers upset. It's the taxpayers who are fed up with rising income and property taxes in an unsafe city. And what might you ask did the property tax levy increase for: welfare, and schools. Schools that you have to be on welfare to send your kids to because they are so bad. bart's had his run, he's gotta go. The negative ads are the final nail in the coffin.

Anonymous said...

actually 6:13 was the dumbass.

let's get something straight for 6:13. greg ballard has not yet done one negative attack, perhaps to his own disadvantage. there clearly are many, many things that he could attack peterson on.

the negative things you see are ordinary people fed up with the waste, corruption, and increasing tax burden under the peterson administration and current ccc. some are fringe -- like the "bart lies" people who long, long preceded greg ballard -- but most are normal citizens who have started blogs or other campaigns because of their disgust. they got interested in ballard but embraced him as they got to know him better.

the lack of his own party's support for him with make him a super nova of a folk hero if he wins. oh, why isn't hte republican establishment supporting him? they like bart peterson just fine. he's one of them when it comes to big business, real estate deals, and tax abatements. he then socks it to ordinary workers when he gets a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise the income tax.

people are mean spirited about bart because they were down because of property taxes and he kicked them with an income tax all the while looking away from dirty ,dirty, dirty city county council members.

yeah, it's pretty negative around here. it won't end on tuesday either.

indyernie said...

Peterson slandered everyone who has served. We were trained and qualified to face the enemy and die for our country. BUT! because of military service we are unqualified to serve in public service in a position of leadership? What in the hell does he think we were trained to do? Lead, obey law and order, defend and protect we were taught and shown respect and when our time was up we were shown the honor that we earned. Peterson hasn’t a clue.

I’m not a Marine but I served with them. I respect and trust the Marines. I’ve never met a Marine who I wouldn’t trust to cover my back when needed. I wouldn’t want to be at sea or in a fox hole with Peterson.
If he didn’t shoot you in the back he would piss all over you when the bullets start flying.

The Mayor has shown his true colors today.
Someone like Peterson who didn't serve shouldn't belittle those of us who did.
Col. Ballard deserves respect from everyone including Mayor Bart Peterson.
Peterson is a skunk. And calling him just a skunk is giving him more credit then he deserves.


I think every Veteran should join in the protest Sat at the Dem HQ.
I will be there proudly displaying my Honorable Discharge.

Anonymous said...

613 you can't call FACTS a LIE.

Using "Bart Lies" in fact is the same type of line as "The Peterson Plan III" - what does it mean?


The FACT that Peterson is running a negative campaign is pathetic! It shows he is desperate and it turns people off.

Anonymous said...

my bad 9:14, i meant to go after 6:13 not 6:33. Agree 100% w/your comments. Heyo, peterson's got to go...

Anonymous said...

8:55pm I copied an earlier post and was responding to it. Read the whole thing

Anonymous said...

speaking of negative, anyone else live in CD 8? what's up with all the mail from monroe gray. there's no way he's going to be in trouble in the polls, right?

i have lived in CD 8 for years. despite numerous calls, letters, emails to councillor greay, i have never received any return communication whatsoever. none. now i get 4 mail pieces in 3 weeks.

the last one is just incredible. he lies about kurt webber and says kurt doesn't care about property taxes.

for anyone who was at the meeting that gray references, what kurt actually said was he had no opinion on complete REPEAL. at the same meeting, monroe muttered and rambled unintelligibly. you can watch it on YourTube!

i have never heard monroe state any opinion on property taxes. i have written him numerous times specifically on that topic to no response.

so the councillors are going negative too. boy monroe, you are going to win on tuesday but you are dirty. when all is said and done, you probably will wish you would have lost the election. the ghost employment, conflict of interests, and 300 east stuff that is all in the news is bad enough. details about the craps houses, pea shakes, prostitutes and drugs are going to see the light of day in your next term.

Sir Hailstone said...

Gray is unwilling or unable (not sure which) to control the budgets of libraries and schools. But yet he gladly approves them no matter the taxes!!

(all right there on YouTube)

Anonymous said...

Admittedly a Peterson supporter here, but: I watched the ad four times. I don't get the slam on military service. I don't get it.
I don't see it.

I also watched Ballard's commercial a few times. Wow. We waited for this?

In the modern political world, TV ads, sadly, do make a difference. About a third of those who'll vote next Tuesday have not made up their minds or have no idea who's running. To them, ads can count for something.

It frankly solidified my view that Ballard isn't ready to govern. If this is his best judgment. Not impressive.

Gary R. Welsh said...

"It frankly solidified my view that Ballard isn't ready to govern. If this is his best judgment. Not impressive."

Sadly, if this is how people make judgments on how they vote--the candidate with the slickest campaign commercials--then there is little hope for our representative democracy.

The slam on the military experience is omnipresent in the Peterson attack ad. How any objective person could look at Ballard's 23 years of military experience, which gave him far more leadership and decision-making experience than Peterson got working for his daddy's business or hanging on to Evan Bayh's coat-tails--and claim that he is unprepared to be mayor says it all.

Gary R. Welsh said...

"It frankly solidified my view that Ballard isn't ready to govern. If this is his best judgment. Not impressive."

Sadly, if this is how people make judgments on how they vote--the candidate with the slickest campaign commercials--then there is little hope for our representative democracy.

The slam on the military experience is omnipresent in the Peterson attack ad. How any objective person could look at Ballard's 23 years of military experience, which gave him far more leadership and decision-making experience than Peterson got working for his daddy's business or hanging on to Evan Bayh's coat-tails--and claim that he is unprepared to be mayor says it all.

Anonymous said...

It seems like Ballard is trying to use the Guilani scare them with seurity issue...but it wont work as there are no attacks or even references to military record. I am sure that everyone is appreciative of his service but for Ballard's campaign staff to try and trivialize it by complaining of nonexistent attacks is pitiful..

Sir Hailstone said...

"Admittedly a Peterson supporter here, but: I watched the ad four times. I don't get the slam on military service. I don't get it.
I don't see it."

Another one punch drunk on the koolaid.

A third of them might make up their minds, but three-quarters of the voters got their 2nd installment tax bills (or notices from escrow) on how much they still owe in property taxes just last week or so.

THAT is what people remember.

Anonymous said...

Bart Lies has nothing to do with the Ballard campaign and EVERYTHING to do with ordinary citizens exercising their right to free speech.

What reason would these ordinary citizens have to say "Bart Lies" if Bart did not indeed lie.

I can attest to one lie that seriously affected my life. He libeled and slandered me. Check his press release dated 12/1/05 which clearly states over and over that I owned illegal adult businesses when in fact I did not! The city attorney admitted this fact to the judge and to the press (when forced).

I am voting for Ballard, but I am not a Republican. I came to know Ballard at the tax rallies and genuinely believe in the man.

BART LIES! Ordinary citizens are not going to let this liar and liability hijack our city!

Anonymous said...

Any batallion commander in the U. S. Military is qualified to run a city. To get that high rank, one must attend leadership training and, in most cases, possess a post-graduate degree.

Bart, has no leadership experience. He has had everything in life given him by his rich daddy. Bart never earned anything. As mayor, he has allowed corruption to flourish and implement tax and spend policies that favor his daddy's rich friends. Bart has created a flight from Indianapolis like never before seen, and comparable to what happened to Detroit in the 70's.

--By the way, Bart did NOT serve in the United States Military. Serving our country in the Military should be an obligation of every physically able person. The Military cannot accept everyone. Bart has gutted the police department which is now understaffed. Remember what Orwell said: "Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Bart slept peaceably every night of his life, protected by the wealth of his daddy, police officers of this city, and the soldiers of the U. S. Military.

What has Bart given in return for this luxury? My money! That's right, the largest increase in TAXes ever in the history of our city, raising income and property tax!!! -and his gives it to the rich

Anonymous said...

So many things to say...

First, the lack of experience is not a quote from Bart Peterson. It is directly from the Indy Star editorial. If you don't like it, take it up with the Star Editorial Board. You better believe if The Star had endorsed Ballard by saying something negative against Bart, Ballard would be doing the same thing.

Second, the attack on Bart for not serving in the military is completely improper. NOTHING in Peterson's ad attack's Ballard's service in the military. I follow politics closely and barely knew about Ballard's service. If he thinks that's a qualification for leadership, he should have talked about it to voters and the Star Editorial Board. I rarely believe in the presence of "talking points" but believe that the sudden attempt by Ballard and/or Ballard supporters to make Bart Peterson's ad a slam on the military smacks of desperation. You got punched in the face with a very, very effective ad, and can do nothing to counter it.

I can't wait for next week Tuesday to get here and be done. I'm hoping the paranoia and hyperbole will die down for just a few months. I can hardly stand it!

Sir Hailstone said...

To the Anonymous Coward at 12:07:

1. "It is directly from the Indy Star editorial."

The Star and Dennis Ryerson is so far up Bart's ass, Dennis can't see sunshine anymore. That might as well be written by Bart. How much has the Ryerson Rag ki$$ed Bart's ass? A lot!

2. "I follow politics closely and barely knew about Ballard's service."

No you drink Democrat koolaid. That's not "following politics closely".

Anonymous said...

I follow politics closely enough Hailstone to know that your political insights are worth the paper they are written on. Kind of like the Indianapolis Star.