The Burton Blog

Gun owner update: McGoff's gun grabber connections confirmed

A local Indiana blogger has been trying to get the campaign of John McGoff to answer his inquiries about McGoff's connections to a gun control group:  Indiana Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence.  McGoff lists membership in the organization on his website.

From Call me Ahab:

On his bio, Dr. John McGoff claims that he was involved with the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence from 2000-2004; the Partnership currently operates under the name Indiana Partnership to Prevent Violent Injury and Death.  Back in 1999, the Partnership was founded by Indianapolis area doctors, who were “concerned” about the “epidemic” of gun violence.  The initial grant to found the partnership came from none other than our old buddies and funders of anti-gun astroturf nationwide: The Joyce Foundation, to the tune of half a million dollars a year.

In 2003 and 2004, the Indiana Partnership solidified their chops as anti-gun group, first by accusing the firearms industry of not being willing to “help firearms out of the hands of criminals”, and then in 2004 by joining forces with none other than the Brady Campaign to oppose the Indiana House Bill which granted legal immunity to Indiana gun owners if their firearms were stolen and used in a criminal act (this bill did in fact pass - ed).

The Partnership, like many other Joyce funded groups, also has a habit of commissioning “surveys” using questionable sampling techniques to produce meaningless results which they then tout as “popular support” for their proposed restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms.

In 2005, the Partnership changed their name, removing the “Firearm Violence” in favor of “Violent Death and Injury”.  I can speculate lots of reasons as to why that change was made, foremost being that gun control has long been a losing ballgame in Indiana and they might have been tired of getting creamed.  However, it’s pretty clear that their agenda hasn’t changed, as in that same year they received another grant from the Joyce Foundation; this time to cover all their operating expenses for a year.

If you go to the Partnership’s website check out their list of people on the “advisory board”, about 3/4 down the list you’ll find none other than Marian Towne, of Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence, which is yet another local anti-gun group.

The Indiana Partnership to Prevent Violent Injury and Death seems to be pretty firmly established as an anti-gun group masquerading as a public health group.  Firearms violence isn’t a public health issue, it’s a law enforcement issue and should be handled as such.  Dr. John McCoff’s involvement with this group brings tremendous questions to light about his actual support for the 2nd Amendment.

There are no questions about Dan Burton’s support for the 2nd Amendment, at least to me.  I was going to vote in the Democratic primary in an effort to torpedo Barack the Hopemonger; however it’s more important to me to support a candidate who is going to represent our right to keep and bear arms in Washington.

If you’re a 5th district voter (and I know I have some that read here), make sure you get out on May 6th and vote for Dan Burton in the Republican primary.  The last thing we need right now with the possibility of a Hillary or Obama presidency is to lose a pro-gun Congressman.  It’s also kind of pleasant that I have been able to find something to vote for in this primary that I actually believe in.

Gun Owners: The Dr. is out

For Gun Owners, the Dr. is out.  Another Indianapolis, IN blogger comments on the 5th district race.

NRAhab has the skinny on Dr. John McGoff, who is attempting to challenge for the GOP nomination in Indiana's 5th District, and his involvement with Joyce Foundation-funded and Brady-affiliated anti-gun organization "Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence", which makes him even less of a Republican than John McCain.

Fortunately, 5th District Republicans won't have to hold their nose in this primary like they will in the national race, because McGoff's opponent, Dan Burton, Votes Freedom First.

Hoosier Access debunks McGoff attacks

McGoff is having a hard time hiding from the half-truths and misrepresentations he's become known for.

To Run For Congress Shouldn't You Know How It Works?

Okay people, I’m really beginning to wonder why the 5th CD race is even a race. Time and again, John McGoff has proven that he doesn’t get how being a congressman even works. The only thing he’s run on is “if you don’t like Dan Burton vote for me”. Now that’s enough to swing some people, but that’s no platform. He’s run a negative campaign devoid of any real ideas from the beginning. And he’s still going on the attack trying to…get this…label Burton as a liberal. The idea is so absurd I don’t even know where to begin. Oh wait, yes, I do.

McGoff’s latest unfounded criticism of Congressman Burton comes on immigration. He’s going to start running ads claiming that Burton promoted amnesty for illegal immigrants. He’s even sent out mailers to scare voters into believing that Burton supported amnesty. The problem is, that couldn’t be further from the truth. So did McGoff just make this up? What he did was misconstrue the truth (that political-ese for lying).

Read more.

Blogger compares the candidates on gun rights

A local Indianapolis blogger has a great post up comparing the candidates in the 5th district race.  Dan Burton has been endorsed by the NRA.  John McGoff was a member of the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, a group the NRA calls "anti-gun."

The incumbent, Dan Burton is being challenged in the primary by Dr. John McGoff - Dan Burton has received an “A” rating from NRA, and has an excellent track record of voting for bills which would protect and expand the right to keep and bear arms.

According NRA-ILA, Dr. Goff has/is a member of Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence, which is a local anti-gun group with ties to the Brady Campaign. This doesn’t exactly square well with Dr. Goff’s stated position of “protecting” the 2nd Amendment.

NRA has endorsed Dan Burton in the primary, and I agree with that endorsement. I sent a friendly email to the campaign of Dr. Goff asking for clarification on his position on the right to keep and bear arms with respect to his involvement in an anti-gun organization. I’ll keep you posted on any kind of response.

Right now, I encourage residents of the 5th Congressional district who are concerned about their right to keep and bear arms to vote for Rep. Burton on the May 6th primary. I’ll note that if your polling place is the church right off of Brooks School Road, I’ll be there early in the morning to be casting my vote.

McGoff attack ads debunked

Dan's opponent, perennial candidate John McGoff, has dumped $60,000 of his own money into attack ads against Dan Burton.  His most recent attack ad lies about Dan Burton's record, accusing him of supporting "amnesty".  Visit this page to learn the facts.

Brian Jessen has a great summary of McGoff's false and misleading attack ads.  He also points out the irony in it.  While distorting Dan's record, he is pushing a plan to... wait for it... deliver amnesty to illegal aliens.

McGoff slammed Burton hard on this, saying Burton supports amnesty for illegal immigrants. (taken from a McGoff TV ad). In the ad, McGoff talks about a bill Burton authored in 2006 introduced as a discussion draft to encourage debate on illegal immigration.

Let's look at Burton's Congressional Record:
In 2007, Burton introduced HR3549 "to withdraw Federal funds from States and political subdivisions of States that interfere with enforcement of Federal immigration law."
He also introduced HR3638 "to end the cycle of illegal immigration in the United States."

Read the bills.  How can you consider this amnesty?

But what I really love...  is when you read McGoff's own plan for illegal immigration.

"I propose setting up registration centers where they will pay a fine and register for temporary worker status so that we can document how many there are and ensure that they are paying payroll taxes like those of us here legally."
(taken from McGoff's website).

Maybe it's how you define it...  but this idea really looks like amnesty to me. (emphasis ours)

John McGoff is spinning Burton's position on things so much that it is hiding his own positions. I can only imagine what McGoff would be saying if this was Burton's position.

Another Republican repudiation of McGoff smear campaign

Howard County Republican Chairman Craig Dunn and Conservative talk show host Peter Heck talked about John McGoff's dirty campaign yesterday on their show.

Take some time and listen here.   

Grassroots sets the record straight #3

It seems everywhere we turn we see our supporters from accross the district correcting the record.  Here's another post from Indiana's premiere conservative blog, Hoosier Access.  This post is from Howard County Republican Chairman Craig Dunn.

As Chairman of the Howard County Republican Party, I thought the readers of this website might be interested in why I personally endorsed Congressman Burton early last year and why our county party organization unanimously endorsed Congressman Burton in February.

First, Dan Burton has the critical seniority in Congress necessary to bring attention to the unique needs of Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District. A new freshman Representative will have little or no influence in Washington.

Second, Dan Burton has had an exemplary conservative voting record. Dr. McGoff might cast the same votes as Dan Burton, but he will not be more conservative. A close examination of FEC reports makes me wonder whether Dr. McGoff could act independently of the Medical, Pharmaceutical and Trial Attorney special interests who seem so intent on financing his campaign. That same review of the FEC finance reports would show little or no support from common residents in the Fifth District, mom and pop types who are struggling to deal with the issues of the day. We simply cannot afford to take a chance that we would be electing a Congressman that would be dancing at the ends of the strings of big Pharma, Medicine and Law.

Third, Dan Burton’s constituent relations work is second to none. It may seem rather mundane work, but helping citizens navigate the hazardous waters of the Federal bureaucracy is tedious and difficult work. Congressman Burton’s staff does a superb job with a great attitude of service. I believe that Dan sets the tone for this service attitude.

Finally, Dan Burton has been a loyal and tireless supporter of the Republican Party on all levels. He has given his time and his financial resources to help elect Republicans to office around the state. Whether it is working a phone bank or going door to door with a candidate, Dan Burton has always been there. Frankly, Dr. McGoff will have to hoard his financial resources to assure his own re-election and he would have little ability to help fund the efforts of the many worthy Republican candidates that Dan has helped over the years.

Parroting Barak Obama’s rally cry for change may seem like a winning strategy to Dr. McGoff, but now is not the time to change a bona fide excellent Congressman for someone who is untried, offers hollow promises and carries the foul odor of special interest money with him as he campaigns.

When I was growing up we had an old hunting dog who had seen many a hunting season come and go. One year I asked my father if it wasn’t time to replace our beloved old dog with a younger dog that made more noise. “Why in the world would we want to do that son? That dog can hunt!” So I ask the rhetorical question of Indiana’s Fifth District voters, “Why in the world would we want to replace Congressman Burton? That dog can hunt!”

Grassroots sets the record straight #2

Once again, real people are seeing past the liberal media's coverage of this election to provide voters with the truth.  Take this post from Hoosier Access, Indiana's best conservative blog.

Integrity Matters to John McGoff Like it Matters to Hillary Clinton

Forgive me as I chuckle at John McGoff’s hypocritical campaign slogan. More and more, it sounds as if McGoff’s memory is about as good as Hillary Clinton’s memory of her trip to Bosnia.

McGoff recently sent out an email telling anyone who would read it that the Marion County Coroner’s office was forced to move because they were running out of space. What he fails to tell them is that, according to the Indiana Business Journal from November 19 of 2001, the lease that was supposed to save the taxpayers up to one million dollars actually caused the rent of the shiny offices to raise 190%! Not only that, but it also turns out that one of McGoff’s campaign contributors happened to benefit from that very lease.

But wait! It get’s better!

The very same email also claims that the budget of the Coroner’s office went up a cool 73% while he was in office. Hmm, 73%? My guess is the Democrats would LOVE to have McGoff around when they are working on the federal budget. But I’m not done yet, McGoff’s budget as coroner more than doubled during his tenure from $1.o1 Million when he was first elected in 1996 to $2.07 Million the year he left.

Think I’m done. Oh, no.

John McGoff served as that Chair of the Marion County Crime lab from 2002-2004. During that time, he put over 60 criminal cases in jeopardy when 64 DNA cases were called into question by Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi. A July 23, 2003 article from the Indy Star claims McGoff opposed retesting of the samples saying “It is crazy to go back and review every one of these things”. Carl Brizzi argued that new tests were necessary by saying “You have to maintain your integrity because that is all you have.”

Remember that John. Integrity is all you have especially when you’re calling out Congressman Burton for missing committee hearings when he couldn’t attend because he was attending or Chairing committee hearings of equal or greater importance that were going on at the same time. Oh, that’s right. You leave that part of the information out. Yep! Integrity matters.

Grassroots sets the record straight

We're always pleased that despite the mainstream media's dislike for Conservative candidates there are always the real people in CH5 willing to set the record straight.

Check out some great fact-checking from Polis Politics this week.

McGoff unveiled a minute-long radio ad last week going after his opponent, incumbent Congressman Dan Burton, for missing committee meetings. Burton countered with his own 60 second ad, saying McGoff was distorting the facts and McGoff was a "career politician" who caused tax increases by increasing the Coroner's budget.

Normally the Challenger could claim success by engaging the incumbent to go negative. But McGoff didn't leave good enough alone. His campaign sent an e-mail out refuting the Burton ad, including this excerpt:

"Burton Claim #2: While coroner, John's budget went up 200%.

"*The first year John was in office, the coroner's budget was $1.1 million; the last year, it was $1.9 million.  That is an increase, but only 73%." (emphasis added)

Our advice to McGoff: You don't refute the claim that your budget ballooned by claiming it was only a 73% increase. That's a mighty hefty raise and one that makes out look out of touch with average Hoosiers. It didn't work for King-Ro Conley, it didn't work for Bart Peterson, and it won't work for you.

Thanks, Polis, for saying what we all are thinking.  Even McGoff can't deny that he hosed taxpayers for an additional $1 million while Coroner.  Let's hope we never find out what his policies will cost us as Congressman.

It's that time again...

They come twice a year.  Once near May and another time near November.  What are they?  Nasty, negative, political attack ads.

This year is no different.  The Congressman's opponent, John McGoff, has clearly decided that he'll benefit from contributing to the cynicism of Indiana voters by running a campaign against something instead of for anything.

But thankfully, we've seen some folks out in the blogosphere willing to call him out for his misrepresentations and nastiness.

We link!

Hoosier Access on John McGoff's misrepresentations

Weird Pros covers John McGoff's violations of campaign election law