Rand Paul Reacts To Grayson Ad With One Of His Own

Rand Paul obviously noticed the amount of attention surrounding the latest Trey Grayson ad which made a direct hit on the Paul campaign over coal.  Grayson effectively used Paul's own words to suggest that he was not a friend of the coal industry in Kentucky.  Paul couldn't contain himself and has now launched an ad of his own.

This time Paul takes Grayson's words and seeks to weave them into a suggestion that Grayson is not a friend of coal.  Grayson's ad hit its target.  Paul's ad is more of a swat, than a punch. 

Moreover, although one school of thought says that a campaign needs to be ready for a rapid response to attack ads, in reality a well planned campaign has already taken any potential negatives into account and desgined its strategy to deal with such things long before they come up.  Reactionary ads tend to reveal a less well developed game plan and puts the candidate at risk of being seen as "thin skinned".

Paul's new ad, scheduled to begin running today, looks like it was pieced together over night.  In addition, it might very well have done to Grayson just what Paul complains Grayson is doing, taking words out of context.

Paul would be well advised to stick with his theme that Grayson's ad was further evidence that he can't be trusted than to get down in the mud and wrestle with him.  But, boys will be boys.  Here is Paul's response ad:

Comments

[Dr. Duncan]

Where'd everyone go?

[Dr. Duncan]

Louisville, CO – Magellan Strategies CEO David Flaherty today contacted US Senate candidate Bill Johnson and apologized to him personally for not included his name in Magellan... See More’s February 18th survey of likely Republican primary voters. Magellan CEO David Flaherty stated “It was a gross oversight on our part and we sincerely apologize for any problems this may have caused to the Johnson, Grayson and other Republican US Senate campaigns in Kentucky.”

Flaherty continued, “The US Senate ballot test question from our February 18th survey is not accurate because Bill Johnson and other declared candidates were not included in the question. Without Bill Johnson and the other primary candidates included in the ballot test question the results are obviously not an accurate reflection of the Republican primary ballot that voters will choose from on May 18th.”

[Dr. Duncan]

Not at all, Andrew. Thank you.
In so far as you agree that Dr. Paul's positions were fabrications, it was incumbant upon Johnson to set the record straight in the debate so the voters would be fully informed.
That is called "setting the record straight."
Johnson then stepped back at one point to let Grayson and Paul continue their personal attacks at each other.
See how easy it is for us to agree?

[Andrew]

Thank you for correcting your comments, Dr. Duncan. It is obvious that Johnson did address the positions of Dr. Paul (even though they were fabrications), thus your statement regarding Johnson as only sticking "to the message and let(ting) those two go at each other" is a false one.

[Dr. Duncan]

And so, the reader can conclude that Paulite writers are collectively able to convey one coherant thought, "Bill Johnson is a threat to our candidate and we will say whatever we can to diminish him, degrade his campaign, besmurch his supporters, and silence their dissent. He lies! They are all pre-fabrications! He works for Trey Grayson!"
The fact is that it's your candidate, Rand Paul, whose loose tongue gets him in trouble.
I was at the debate. It's on the Internet, too. Johnson only addressed Rand to correct Rand for "misstatements" on abortion.
If Kentucky elects Paul, they'll get what Ron Paul & Campaign for Liberty paid for.
We'll see in 12 weeks!

[Rolf Lindgren]

This ad isn't a really a big deal.

The deal is that thanks to the Internet fundraising, alternative/maverick pro-Constitution candidates can fight back on TV against corrupted candidates from the too old parties.

Rand rocks!

[Brent]

Bull crap Bill Johnson doesn't criticize his opponents. He criticizes Rand Paul everyday as he holds hands with Grayson. He attacked Paul about coal the day after Grayson did, but in a press release rather than an ad.

[Andrew]

Bill Johnson had plenty of comments to say about Rand Paul at the debate, Dr. Duncan. Were you able to watch the debate? He spent plenty of time talking about Dr. Paul and his positions (even though a lot of what he said were fabrications).

[Barbara Garlisch]

Bill Johnson has my vote. Let these two keep showing their true colors. Wanna be career politicans.

[mefford eversole]

That's good commentary Bill.

You obviously won't have to join this spat because you're actually financed by and working for Grayson.

All you need do is wait for the next opportunity to spread your lies about Dr Paul.

[b]

Too bad bill johnson cant even raise money

He is a birther... thats really going to help conservatives keep the seat. I can just see Conway having a field day with Bill Johnson and his #1 endorsement from Alan Keyes, birther NUTJOB!

Hopefully Grayson has learned his lesson, next time he makes a frivolous attack ad he better be prepared to get a response he might not be very happy about. If you cant handle the heat get out the kitchen.

Does Kentucky's GOP really want a YES man to the establishment??? Or do they want someone who will stir up the pot and vote on principle?

Trey is done in fundraising. Rand Paul is having his biggest moneybomb yet March 23rd.

Trey better be prepared cause the McConnell strategy of attack ads wont work when your opponent has more money than you do to counter.

[Dr. Duncan]

For a more thoughtful and responsible position on the coal industry's value to Eastern Kentucky and the economy of the the Commonwealth, please read Bill Johnson's campaign release.

http://www.aipnews.com/talk/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=12383&posts=1

[BG]

You won't see attack ads or many ads from Bill because he's not a viable candidate since the most he's raised is $25,000 from others. Most of those are his family or out of state donors.

Bill does have a tendency to follow everything Grayson does so, it's obvious he's just another Grayson fan trying to peal away votes from Dr. Paul an original Tea Party speaker.

But, back to the two viable candidates, Rand has shown his stance with a video done by Wendy Macy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y8raYYs8h0

[Ed Ross]

Bill Johnson is the better candidate

[Dr. Duncan]

You won't be seeing attack ads from Bill Johnson. Even had Grayson and Paul not bought out the entire ad market for their pummeling of each other, Bill would not have used such tactics..

Why not? Here are two reasons in Johnson's words:
1.) "I don't care to crticize my opponents in order to lift myself up. I'm just going to tell you who I am and why I'm asking for your vote."
2.) "Let's stick to the message and let those two go at each other."

Bill knows that people are tired, not only of politics as usual, but they're fed up with political campaigning as usual.

His message is to introduce himself to the voters as the most qualified candidate to represent them in the United States Senate.

He's applied for the job to be their public servant and not a machine candidate.

A stellar candidate, Bill Johnson is a natural leader, one who will rise above the personal bickering in order to conduct the business of the people of Kentucky. His use of facts, logic, reasoning, and debate are all he needs to demonstrate his preparation and readiness.

You only need to look at his track record to predict how well he will discharge his duties www.kentuckybill.com .

DUTY HONOR COUNTRY

[robbie]

Looks like a "sour grapes" ad to me. Bill Johnson will get my vote.

[ProudConservative]

I'm glad Paul finally resorted to Grayson's gameplan -- smear and use quotes out of context.

This ad owns Grayson with his own words, especially the Obama part!

I do agree with the above poster on Van Jones and Apsen, that is truly troubling and needs to be exposed.

[BG]

Totally disagree. I think it hits Grayson just like he hits Rand. If Grayson can splice crap together then Rand is justified doing the same. Also, it is more truthful considering Trey is connected to Van Jones and The Aspen Institute and was a supporter of Clinton and Al Gore.

As much as I would rather have issue ads, Grayson doesn't want to run those because honestly, the only issues I know he's about are against Term Limits and voting for Mitch.

[rick]

weak ad