The Burton Blog

Burton to seek re-election in 2012

Congressman Dan Burton issued the following statement regarding the 2012 election:“I am announcing that I will be seeking re-election next year to continue my service to the Hoosiers of the 5th Congressional District. Conservatives have again risen up to voice their discontent with the big government, job-killing agenda that Barack Obama and the Democrats in Washington are trying to foist on the American people. I am committed to continuing the fight against Washington’s reckless out-of-control spending and putting an end to the era of the big government. I will not rest until we have created a positive environment for job growth for the Hoosiers of Indiana's fifth Congressional District and American's all across our Country!”

Dan Burton on the Peter Heck show

Dan Burton joined the Peter Heck show again yesterday.  It's worth listening to. 

http://n.b5z.net/i/u/6136888/m/4.30.s4.mp3

New Burton radio ad

We've got a new radio ad starting soon and it's our favorite here at TBB.

Download in_cd5_dan_burton_radio_ad_2_radpriburt0802.mp3

Weekend campaign highlights

TBB joined the Congressman for a weekend of campaigning.

We started the morning by visiting the Carmel Lions Club at 7AM.  BTW, TBB actually got up about 4:30AM to drive up to Lawrence to meet other staff and then pick up the Congressman.  Remind us again why we do this?  The Lions Club has an annual pancake breakfast that raises thousands of dollars for Lions Club charities.  Dan campaigned- TBB feasted.

Interesting story- we ran into a naturalized citizen who said that he was required to name his US Congressman in order to pass his citizenship exam.  He said that he named Dan Burton and has always wanted to meet him.  Mission accomplished.

After that, we headed down to the IUPUI campus in order to participate in the Race for the Cure.  The race helps raise money for cancer research.  Over 43,000 people participated in the race on Saturday and raised over $2.5 million!!  Dan helped start the mile long family walk with a great speech.

Once Dan walked with individuals as part of the race, we headed to Noblesville for lunch at Eddie's Cafe.  Eddie spent a lot of time reminiscing with Dan and showing off photos all over the walls there.  TBB was most impressed with the photo signed by every member of the "Rat Pack."

After a great lunch, we left to head over to the Third Phase Christian Center.  They were dedicating a new facility to house their food pantry.  Third Phase is a great organization that helps care for a lot of poor families.  They also provide temporary housing for women in trouble.

Finally, Dan attended the Tipton County Lincoln Day Dinner in Tipton.  TBB wasn't able to attend, but we were told that it was a great event and that Tim Berry gave a great speech.

Dan Burton on Peter Heck radio show

Conservative radio host Peter Heck hosted Congressman Burton on his radio show on Wednesday.  He and the Congressman worked together to debunk the accusations made by Dan's liberal opponent.

Check out the audio here.

Our new campaign commercial

Check out our new campaign commercial.

Be patient with us regarding yard signs

TBB has been instructed to let everyone know that their yard signs are coming as fast as we can.  We've already distributed almost 3,000 and have requests for 1,500 more so please be patient with us.

If you would like to receive a yard sign and haven't got one yet, just let us know.  You can call the campaign at 317.546.5673.

McGoff's attack ads backfiring

We've not talked very much about our opponent on this blog because we've never found it worth doing.  But after a number of negative attack ads via radio and direct mail, we've decided to post this letter, sent to a number of local media outlets.  BTW, a hat tip to Hoosier Access, who alerted us to the letter.

We've been getting quite a few calls about the mail that Mr. McGoff has been dropping.  Voters are livid and ready to get involved.  The blowback has led us to set fund raising records on our website.  In last week alone, we received almost 1,000 requests for yard signs.

Anyway, we digress.  We print this also because TBB is sure you won't see this letter in the Indianapolis Star, who has been attacking Dan since the '70s. 

*The following was written by Howard County GOP Chairman Craig Dunn*

I am writing this as both a Republican and as Republican County Chairman for Howard County. When Dr. John McGoff surprised and disappointed most of the leadership of the Republican Party by announcing an ill-advised campaign against thirteen-term incumbent Congressman Dan Burton, many old political hands expected McGoff to take the easy shots at Burton for missing a few votes for a previously scheduled charity golf tournament. Frankly, since Burton’s conservative voting record, constituent services and service to the Republican Party were above reproach, it did not leave much of an opportunity for Dr. McGoff to attack. However, the old political hands failed to realize the depths that someone in desperate political straights might resort to in an effort to revive a moribund and utterly failed campaign.

I was personally sickened and saddened by the callously inappropriate attack mail piece selectively mailed by John McGoff in recent days. To characterize this most recent mail piece as a gross distortion would be an understatement. In fact, it was a senseless, inaccurate distortion of the truth that was not only libelous to Dan Burton personally, but was incredibly damaging to the Republican Party. It is self-evident that the McGoff campaign has shed any vestige of civility and honor and has resorted to the time-worn tactic of obfuscation and smearing of an opponents good name. This is the act of one who is definitely more concerned with his own well-being than with the well-being of his Party and Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District. I had hoped that Dr. McGoff would run an honorable, honest and energetic campaign of ideas. However, McGoff, devoid of original ideas, felt compelled to try and rescue his lagging campaign with the political equivalent of a fourth quarter “Hail Mary” pass.

It is no secret that former lobbyist Jack Abramoff donated campaign funds to hundreds of elected officials, of both political parties, over the years. When the news of Abramoff’s plainly illegal acts became known, Dan Burton felt compelled to disgorge his campaign of any Abramoff contributed funds. This is a time-honored and accepted tradition in the political world. Dan Burton donated Abramoff’s campaign contributions to various charities. This is the truth, plain and simple.

In the hands of McGoff’s highly-paid political hit-men this simple act of reasonable charity morphed itself into a mail piece alleging fraud, intentionally diverting campaign funds to a charity. This is not only disingenuous, but laughable in the face of the facts. Upon further reflection, it isn’t laughable. To directly challenge the personal integrity of a man who has given the majority of his life to public service in Indiana, agree with his political views or not, is totally inappropriate. It not only violates one of the Commandments against bearing false witness, it also violates Ronald Reagan’s Commandment about speaking ill of another Republican. It was an obvious act of desperation, beneath the dignity of Dr. McGoff, detrimental to the Republican Party and just plain wrong.

I am sure that Dan Burton subscribes to Abraham Lincoln’s philosophy about a lion doing battle with a skunk. The lion Burton will surely win, but cannot help but come out smelling from the encounter. It is for this reason that I ask Dr. John McGoff to grow up, understand that he is trying to compete on a level which requires much more judgment than he has demonstrated and treat his fellow man and opponent in a manner in which he would also wish to be treated. The constituents of the Fifth Congressional District are entitled to as much. Dr. McGoff owes Dan Burton and the people of the Fifth District an apology for bringing such sewage to our state. Perhaps the mail piece was not the work of Dr. McGoff, but the work of the medical, pharmacological and trial attorney special interests that seem to be his sole source of financial and political support. If so, Dr. McGoff, please repudiate these special interest driven libels!

When one reviews the incredible long list of endorsements that Dan Burton has received from State officials, legislators, Congressmen, local elected officials, party faithful and average loyal Republicans, it is very easy to understand why they have put their trust in Dan to represent their interests and defend their Country. He has consistently delivered sound, conservative and effective leadership in the United States Congress and yet has remained a Hoosier at heart. If Dr. McGoff does not provide himself with the appropriate Hoosier self-discipline, I trust that the Republican voters of the Fifth District will apply the needed restraint.

On the campaign trail

TBB spent a day in Wabash with Congressman Burton on Saturday.

In the morning, Dan spoke at the Wabash County Chamber's Third House session.  Like it seems everywhere we go, voters were interested in hearing about illegal immigration.  In addition, several asked questions about factory farms and their environmental impact.

After the Third House session, we headed over to the Honeywell pool to meet volunteers for a door to door blitz.  We were cut short by bad weather, but redeemed ourselves by stopping by the Wabash Gardens restaurant in town.

Dan greeted folks having lunch and then sat down with volunteers and with Republican Chairman Larry Rice.  TBB had to take off at that point but Dan and others stayed around for more campaigning.

To note, we saw a whole lot of yard signs for Dan Burton and none for the other guy.  Last I checked, we had almost 300 distributed in Grant County, about half of that much in Wabash County and almost 3,000 district-wide.  And last week we received almost 1,000 more requests and we're out of signs.  We have another 1,500 coming.

Either way, it's always great to be on the campaign trail.

New postcard

If you are a Republican in Indiana's 5th district you should have seen this already!