The GOP's electoral race to the bottom

I've mentioned in several posts that we're on the brink of an election season that will set a new low for negative campaigning-- I just didn't expect to be proven right so early on. But OD1 gave me the impetus to start collecting scuzzy GOP campaigning with this story on Ohio's Bob Ney.

Voters in Ney's 18th Congressional District recently received the following automated phone call:

"My name is Maureen, and I'm very concerned about what I've heard recently about congressional candidate Zack Space…. Just last week, Zack was on an ultra-liberal radio show in New York City hosted by a cross-dressing lesbian, and he told her that social values are no longer that important. Zack Space claims the 18th District wants a progressive leader. Well, we all know that 'progressive' is nothing more than a code word for higher taxes, more gun control, more abortions and more gay marriages."

I'm not sure what a cross-dressing lesbian would be, unless she wears BVDs. I doubt 'Maureen' has rifled her underwear drawer, though. The show is Rachel Maddow's on Air America. She's also made her share of appearances on cable news shows.

From California:

Conrad faces Tom Berryhill in the Republican primary for the 25th Assembly District. The primary is June 6.

The mailer says in bold red letters, "Tom Berryhill doesn't have the HEART for State Assembly," and suggests that he might not survive the two-year term if elected because he had a heart transplant five years ago.

North Carolina:

Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Miller is a seasoned campaign veteran, but never before has he faced such intrusive questions.

"My wife was interviewed on three television stations last week about why we had not had children and what was my sexual orientation," Miller recently told delegates to the 13th District Democratic convention at Alamance Community College.

The Congressman's wife had a hysterectomy in her twenties due to medical complications. Disgusted yet?

Everyone's favorite headcase Rick Santorum has accused his opponent of sending operatives to spy on Santorum's Penn Hills "residence," causing his wife and children to fear for their lives. But the Santorum's don't live there, the house is widely reported as being devoid of furniture, and mail sent to the address is returned as undeliverable.

Then there's Vernon Robinson, although to be fair he's so completely out of his mind that no one takes him too seriously. A recent campaign ad said of his opponent: "If Miller had his way, America would be nothing but one big fiesta for illegal aliens and homosexuals." With mariachi music playing in the background.

I've already written about Pennsylvania's Curt Weldon, who accused his opponent of just pretending to live in the state, while actually residing in Virginia. Joe Sestak had been staying with his family in Virginia where his 6 year old daughter was hospitalized with a brain tumor. When this was pointed out to Weldon, he did it again-- asking why the girl hadn't been put in one of Pennsylvania's fine medical institutions. Could it be because Sestak is actually anti-Pennsylvania!?!

All this and the elections are still over five months away.