Friday, February 15, 2008

Carson Uses LEO For Campaign Event

I just got through watching a WTHR news report on a press opportunity Democratic 7th District congressional candidate Andre Carson conducted today with former U.S. Rep. Tim Roemer on homeland security. The report says the two sat down with "Indiana's First Responders" to discuss Carson's ideas for homeland security. An LEO in a brown Marion County Deputy Sheriff's uniform can clearly be seen in the videotape sitting across from Carson and Roemer--a big no, no. I've seen the LEO before, but I don't know his name. [Update: Later confirmed to be Maron Co. Chief Deputy Sheriff Kerry Forestal]. WTHR hasn't uploaded the video from the event yet. I'll link to it if they do. Carson worked until a few months ago as a state excise police officer, a job his grandmother got for him. Carson had been assigned to work at the state's Fusion Center within the Department of Homeland Security for almost a year when he was forced out because he took a seat on the City-County Council and became a candidate for that office. His job at the Fusion Center involved federal funding and posed a potential Hatch Act violation if he remained employed there.

17 comments:

Wilson46201 said...

As you were so eloquently saying earlier about negative campaigning, Gary ...

Anonymous said...

Oh, my, Jen, et al, will be all over this with intimations that the sky will shortly be falling.

Anonymous said...

I think Marion County Democrat Chairman Mike O'Connor has a major problem on his hands which could cost him a primary victory for Andre in the primary. There are several elements within the party planning to dump the slate including the Maherns and in the judges' races....when that slate gets dumps, anyone could win that 7th district. One of the architects of the dumping is a former Democrat County Chair .......If O'Connor can't stop that one then he is toast.

Anonymous said...

Mike O'Connor should be toast, he is an idiot!

Wilson46201 said...

Lest it be forgotten: the last time the Democratic Slate was successfully bucked was 1992 by Senator Billie Breaux with the strenuous and skillful help of Trustee Julia Carson ... even then, it was very close.

Anonymous said...

I saw it too. What a cheap stunt by Andre. No surprise there. He would rather go along where he can read a prepared script than answer questions of constiuents.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Sorry, Wilson, but police officers in uniform are not to be used as political backdrops for partisan campaigns. Thems the rules. Wasn't that what Dan Parker's little sermon on ethics to Jon Elrod was supposed to be about the other day?

Anonymous said...

And what about Mike Delph and the Lt Col. The rules either apply to all or to none.

Anonymous said...

Since when does the law matter to a Carson?

Anonymous said...

but you think it is alright for a National Guard officer in uniform to lobby against gay rights in the legislature...now what is your position?

Anonymous said...

One more reason why we don't want the Sheriff in "charge" of IMPD. What an embarassment.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Wilson, but police officers in uniform are not to be used as political backdrops for partisan campaigns.

Glad you were so vocal about this issue during Greg Ballard, Jack Cottey, and Eric Dickerson's campaigns!

Anonymous said...

Does it constitute the felony crime of Official Misconduct?

At first glance, it appears so...

Anonymous said...

that was Kerry Forestal.......Frankies right hand man

Anonymous said...

Chief Deputy Sheriff Kelly Forrestal is the LEO sitting across the table from Carson at this campaign event. He is the man Sheriff Anderson has tapped as his replacement. He definitely should not have been at the event during working hours in full uniform helping out Carson's campaign.

Anonymous said...

Now Wilson Allen....what say you? Will you admonish your canidate for the campaign violation, as you so publiclly admonished John Elrod?

Wilson...Jen...et al...ethics go both ways...

Anonymous said...

AI... are you forgetting that it's KERRY FORESTAL???
The rules don't apply to him. At least noone will do anything about it!
Even André Carson is willing to break laws to get elected!