A day after Republican Senate candidate and former governor Tommy Thompson called for an end to attack ads in an open letter, he released an ad ripping fellow Republican Senate hopeful Eric Hovde for what Thompson calls profiting from the financial crisis.
Thompson's ad released Saturday morning, titled "Washington Games," is set on a Monopoly-esque game board with a game piece — with Hovde's photo — skipping around collecting money. Here are some excerpts from the ad:
Hovde ran a hedge fund that used Uncle Sam to buy banks. He traded on government contacts to profit from taxpayer bailouts.
Hovde gamed the system and bet against American companies and homeowners. After financial markets collapsed and families lost their life savings, Hovde bragged that he made a forty percent profit.
Eric Hovde: He wins, taxpayers lose.
The ad focuses solely on Hovde, showing that Thompson may be shifting his focus onto Hovde. Though GOP candidates Mark Neumann and Jeff Fitzgerald will be on the Aug. 14 primary ballot, recent polling data by a wide margin.
The ad came one day after Thompson wrote a letter to both Hovde and Neumann, blasting both candidates for negative ads that aired this week.
"Gentlemen, this brand of politics is what is wrong with this country," Thompson wrote. "This approach was used to try to destroy Scott Walker only two years ago by you, Mr. Neumann, and now, Mr. Hovde, you are using it to tell the people of Wisconsin blatant lies about who I am, and even more, who you are."
The letter concluded: "I will defend my record."
Sean Lansing, Hovde's press secretary, on Saturday called Thompson's new ad "disappointing and disingenuous" — especially in light of Thompson's open letter. Moreover, he said, there are some inconsistencies with Thompson's claims.
Lansing acknowledged that some banks in which Hovde's asset managers invested took money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, but he said most banks, including larger ones, all did the same.
He also claimed that Thompson has personal investments in banks that took TARP money, calling Thompson's ad "hypocritical."
Hovde on Friday released an ad called "Missed Me," in which he accused Thompson and Neummann of distorting his record.
In the ad, Hovde dodges as mud is flung at him and says: "What do career politicians do? They sling mud. Mark Neumann and Tommy Thompson are slinging mud to distract from their own weaknesses."
Thompson strikes again
In another attack on Hovde Saturday, the Thompson campaign issued a press release concerning Hovde's Friday appearance on a conservative talk show hosted by Charlie Sykes.
During the show, Hovde explained that he was strong-armed by former governor Jim Doyle to make a donation to the Democrat.
Thompson's campaign said Thompson would never give in to something like that, but they also called for a better explanation:
"Hovde's latest explanation of the Doyle contribution resulting from being 'strong armed' conflicts with his own previous dismissive public accounts in which he claimed 'not to remember the contribution.'"
Farrow weighs in
Former lieutenant governor Margaret Farrow, who has endorsed Thompson, highlighted the battle between Thompson and Hovde Friday with a statement through the Thompson campaign.
Farrow's statement echoes Thompson's new ad, claiming that Hovde has been busy making money in Washington, and she goes so far as to call Hovde arrogant:
(Hovde) owes an apology to Tommy and Wisconsin for his arrogant, condescending comments.
Governor Thompson has dedicated his life to making Wisconsin a better state, and not mastering how to profit within the government bailout sector.
Mr. Hovde's arrogance is stunning, as it takes both an understanding of Wisconsin's past and present to be a U.S. Senator and a genuine humility that allows one to be a public servant.
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Correction: This article originally stated that Lansing acknowledged that Hovde's banks took TARP money. This was incorrect. Changes have been made to reflect that Hovde's asset managers invested in banks that benefitted from TARP. We apologize for the error.
Whoever takes the GOP nomination will win the seat - the results will be similar to those seen in the Walker recall election.
He actually comes from a family of 3 generations of a real estate dynasty in Madison, WI --- he made his money the old fashioned way --- by starting with money he was born to and didn't earn. He has lived the past decade in Washington DC NOT Wisconsin !!! Hmmmm wonder what he was milking in DC ?? He is no outsider to DC politics, his father was in the Reagan Administration. Oh, and for having such concern for our political welfare, it is reported that while living in DC for a decade, he only voted twice !! He is a Wisconsin born rich political insider family, who left his home state behind to play in the big sandbox, and then he carpet bags back to Wisconsin to put a long stem of grass in his mouth, stand in front of some cows, and say he is just a regular guy from Wisconsin .............
Was Eric really born in Wisconsin? I would like to see his original Birth Certificate --- there have been just too many mis-representations about him, that I think we should make sure that a Wisconsin birth was really true.
I'm still waiting for all those citations that you owe me. Or are you willing to admit that you were wrong?
Why does Hovde's place of birth matter? You don't have to be born in a state in order to represent that state in federal public office. Nancy Pelosi - Born in Maryland, represents California. Elizabeth Warren - Born in Oklahoma, running for US Senate in Massachusetts. Are you what the media refers to as a birther?
Mr. Hoffa, of course I'm not wrong. But since I have found you to be a "skimmer" I'll do it at a time more convenient for me as I'll basically be wasting my time.
Hoffa was trained to read for detail! Citation to where in the Ryan Path and/or budget that he expressly exempts members of Congress. Citation to where in the Ryan Path and/or budget that he expressly authorizes $43B in tax breaks for oil companies. Citation or link to a primary source indicating that Georgia Pacific and Diane Hendricks received tax breaks from the Walker administration, other than any consequential breaks received under the job creation program. Link to evidence linking Holmes' actions to the comments of Rush Limbaugh. Why don't you just put these issues to bed once and for all? If you prove Hoffa wrong, I'll openly admit that and apologize. So, waiting Bren...
"Hovde wants us to believe he is just a regular Wisconsin guy, who worked his way up from rags to riches." Ummm..., actually, everything that you mention here is fully disclosed on Hovde's website under the 'About' menu, in the 'About Eric' tab. http://www.ericforsenate.com/2012/03/about-eric/ So, how exactly is he trying to deceive people, as you've asserted here? "He actually comes from a family of 3 generations of a real estate dynasty in Madison, WI --- he made his money the old fashioned way --- by starting with money he was born to and didn't earn." So, how exactly do you feel about inheritance or continuing legacy interests?
Although why I'm taking time to respond to a "skimmer" is unclear.
You're letting your obsession with Rebecca Kleefisch get the best of you.
Could you provide examples of Hovde's fibs?
Rebecca Kleefisch represents a breed of politicians who runs for self-benefit, not public service. When our state is cutting necessary programs and services for people in need, I will admit to being irked at opportunists like Kleefisch. Especially when Lt. Governors like Farrow and Lawton set the gold standard for that position.
Nobody cares.
You've definitively asserted time and again that Ryan, as a member of Congress, would not be personally affected by the budget proposals he's made. You and morninmist have definitively asserted that the Ryan 'budget' gives $43B in tax breaks to oil companies. So, where's the proof of these assertions in the primary documents? You have definitively asserted that the Walker administration has given tax breaks to Georgia Pacific and Diane Hendricks. Where's the proof? You asserted the possibility that Holmes may have been influenced to do what he did by the comments of Rush Limbaugh. On what did you base such a premise? You claim that you're right, so provide us with some primary sources! I've asserted that you can't prove any of the above mentioned conspiracy theories that you've been pushing here on the Patch. Either admit that Hoffa is right or look a disingenuous fool with no integrity to speak of.
Again you're voting for Baldwin so please copy and paste a few more things from her blogs.
H.CON.RES.34 : Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2012 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2013 through 2021. Sponsor: Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] (introduced 4/11/2011) Cosponsors (None) Committees: House Budget; Senate Budget House Reports: 112-58 Latest Major Action: 5/25/2011 Senate floor actions. Status: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 40 - 57. Record Vote Number: 77. http://paulryan.house.gov/Legislation/Sponsored.htm This is what is known as a primary document. It is 100% factual. It is the end all source. So, what's it going to be Bren....