Yeah, it was news to me, too. And, for the record? Fred Upton, contra the text below, is still cruising toward victory.
Veteran Republican Rep. Fred Upton appeared to be cruising toward victory until Harvard law professor Larry Lessig’s Mayday PAC targeted him earlier this month, buying $2.15 million in TV ads against him.
Lessig’s PAC targets politicians who don’t back campaign finance reform, but hitting Upton was an odd tactic, not only given his support of the issue but also because of his ties to the tech industry.
This is going to result in oceans of pain next year; Fred Upton is not amused with Mayday’s Silicon Valley donors, given that they should theoretically like having him in that district* – and, of course, like having him as Energy and Commerce Chair. However, Lessig isn’t really interested in that. What he’s interested in is replacing Upton with a Democrat, and not worrying overmuch whether that’s in the best interests of Lessig’s Silicon Valley donors.
Which is how Democratic operatives think. All for the Party; and the Party rewards as it sees fit.
Via @PatrickRuffini.
Moe Lane
PS: How is Fred Upton doing? Let me put it this way… his opponent is trying to brag that Democratic internal polls show Upton only up by four. Spoiler warning: that’s what candidates do when they’re about to lose.
*I have no idea whether Fred Upton resides more on the side of the angels or on that of the devils, and honestly for the purposes of this discussion it matters not. As a practical matter Larry Lessig has just committed a lot of his political donors to a knife fight in an alley with a veteran Congressman, and none of his donors actually have any knives. And, no, a close match will not teach Fred Upton anything… except that there’s a group that he must now destroy.
I’m not saying, don’t get into these kinds of fights. I do say, don’t get into these kinds of fights by accident.
What the hell does silicone valley have against Kate Upton? (http://www.kateupton.com)
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Oh, silicon valley, not silicone valley. My bad!
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Mew
Upton’s main sin as I recall was the incandescent light bulb ban he got through before the Republicans lost congress. Lots of blame to throw around on that one as it had to also get through the Senate and the GWB’s veto pen, but angering none the less. Still, a D is no improvement.
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Lessig is a man who knows a lot that isn’t so and it appears this extends to his knowledge of how political power works. So much the better for us, as this will probably lead to Upton working more in our favor than Lessig’s.
This does deserve a more serious reply. One of the things the Dems have done, more often than the Repubs, has been to have a candidate in every race, no matter how long a shot it seems.
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Politicians have a habit of blowing themselves up and .. when the GOP candidates do so, there’s a Dem right there to grab the prize.
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The GOP does this .. less often.
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Mew