Schweikert vs. Quayle: The Magic Carpet Ride Attack Fail

Rep. David Schweikert ‘wishes’ that Rep. Ben Quayle would just go away. It looks like the war begins early with Schweikert firing the first nasty shot.

Behold, Schweikert’s Carpetbagger “Magic Carpet Ride” Attack.

(reprint from an actual Schweikert campaign solicitation email I received the other day:)

Ben Quayle wants you to join him on a magic carpet ride to carpetbag a new Congressional district…

Why?

Because Ben Quayle wants to run for Congress in Schweikert’s CD6, but there are a few problems with Quayle’s argument:

• Quayle’s home isn’t in CD6, it’s in CD9
• Quayle’s campaign office isn’t in CD6, it’s in CD9
• Quayle’s Congressional office isn’t in CD6, it’s in CD9

This sure makes Quayle’s argument that “at the end of the day, my choice is to continue representing the people I represent today” a bit suspect, because he currently represents them from an office in CD9, his home is in CD9, and his campaign headquarters is in CD9!

But there’s still more!

News broke late last night Quayle actually polled CD9 to see how we match up in head-to-head against a radical leftist in 2012, to keep that seat red for a Republican majority in Arizona.

Just what did he learn?

He learned he would win in CD9!

So why then, would he run against David?

Because Ben Quayle puts himself before Arizona.

He puts himself before Republican victory in Arizona.

He is willing to cost Republicans a majority in the House of Representatives.

And now he wants YOU to HAND HIM a Congressional district that he doesn’t even live in.

Arizonans have never liked carpetbaggers.

Just because it’s Ben Quayle, doesn’t mean he is an exception.

Clever. I can see Schweikert’s creative team eagerly giving each other high-fives for coming up with this ad. But does it work?
This is a particularly nasty attack, most of which is probably unfair, considering a large portion of Quayle’s constituents now reside in Schweikert’s new district. Whatever your thoughts on Quayle’s run in the new district, most politicos must admit Quayle’s position was a difficult one. The ad is probably ineffective as well, coming off as whiny and somewhat desperate.

Schweikert’s record is good enough to run on rather than revert to juvenile attacks. Considering a large portion of Quayle’s constituents are now in Schweikert’s district, he would better be served at reaching out to make a good impression. Quayle’s record is equally praiseworthy and now he comes off as the adult in the room.

I am not certain but I think this should be considered an ad fail and behavior unbecoming of a professional.

The shenanigans of the poorly named “Independent Redistricting Commission” created this mess but Republicans should ask that the contest did not turn this ugly this early.

Also, I have not seen the movie legally blond and I am no lawyer but Aladdin’s image is likely copyrighted no? I hear Disney Corporation is pretty scary over copyright violations.