That Old Move

Mike McGavick, our local Senate candidate, just came out to say that an ad from The Free Enterprise fund goes too far: (Fome the Seattle Times)

Mike McGavick, the Republican candidate challenging Sen. Maria Cantwell, says a television commercial that shows Cantwell's head superimposed on a vulture's body should be taken off the air.

But the Free Enterprise Fund, the pro-business lobbying organization running the ad that advocates repeal of the federal estate tax, says it's not pulling the plug.

"This isn't the kind of ad that I think is helpful to the political process, and I wish it would be taken down," McGavick said in an interview Thursday.

He called the commercial an "inappropriate and personal attack."

"I have said over and over that my campaign will be a civil one that does not attack Senator Cantwell personally," McGavick said in a written statement.

Yeah, sure. This is an oldie but a goodie in the GOP playbook. Get some "independant" organziation to run a untrue/racist/over-the-top attack on a Democrat, wait for it to do damage, then meekly call for its withdrawl. I first remember it from the Bush/Dukakis race, when Americans for Bush ran the Willie Horton ad. It's most recent variation was the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth in 2004. It's a sweet political move. It allows the GOP candidate to slime his opponent, then come out and say "See what my divisive opponent inspires in political discourse? How coarse and rude! Vote for me to return decency and civility to politics." You wouldn't think it would work every time, but it does.

Note to Cantwell: this is just the warm-up. The really nasty variations on this move won't come until Labor Day.