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In the contemporary world of politics, the quest for the photo-ops (opportunities) is mired with booby traps. Camera phones, YouTube, and the Internet have changed the landscape of photo-ops, wherein political campaigns have lost a degree of control over photo-opportunities. Consequently, political campaigns have to be even more careful when arranging their public operations opportunities.
While trying to find an “American Gothic” photo-op in Iowa, it looks as if the Giuliani campaign may have stepped on a booby trap. According to a story printed in yesterday’s edition of the Anamosa newspaper, “Journal-Eureka,” Rudy Giuiliani’s campaign reneged on plan a to hold a campaign rally on a Jones County couple’s farm, because they “weren’t worth a million dollars and Giuliani’s running on the Death Tax.”
Last weekend Deb and Jerry VonSprecken of Olin received a call from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s campaign office asking them if they would be interested in holding a campaign rally on May 4, after she had donated to his campaign.“We thought it would be an honor and agreed,” said Jerry.
The campaign office continued to contact the VonSpreckens throughout last weekend and were told a security check would be needed. The couple passed the security check and began putting plans in place.
“We started making phone calls. We got the sheriff and fire department and Olin school was going to let out early. We were also expecting kids from the Anamosa school,” Jerry explained. “Deb even went around and personally invited people.”
Then the plot thickened:
On Tuesday Deb received a call from Giuliani’s Des Monies office and was asked to call New York.
“They wanted to know our assets,” she revealed, and added that she and Jerry have a modest 80 acre farm and raise cattle.
Later she received a call from Tony Delgado at the Des Monies location.”Tony said, `I’m sorry, you aren’t worth a million dollars and he is campaigning on the Death Tax right now.’ then he said they weren’t going to be able to come,” Deb continued.
Although the farm couple may have fit the “American Gothic” photo-op persona, their back story didn’t provide the Giuliani campaign with an opportunity to promote his Death-Tax agenda (formerly known as the “Inheritance Tax” before the GOP exercised its spin-ops machine).
The photo-op plot thickens even more:
She [Deb] said she then got a call from New York later the same day asking her to introduce Giuliani at a rally in Cedar Rapids, also scheduled for May 4. They offered her one-on-one time with Giuliani and to have her photo taken with him.
“My feeling is that they’re trying to cover their butts,” said Jerry.
“I may go and give him a piece of my mind, but I’m not going to introduce him,” Deb included.
Preparations had already been put in place for traffic control and bleachers and Deb’s mother, sister and niece were planning to fly from Texas to meet Giuliani.
“Now they pull this,” Jerry exclaimed. “It’s really sad that we aren’t good enough because we aren’t millionaires.”"This is a horrible retraction we’re having to make. I’m in a state of shock, very hurt and embarrassed. I don’t understand why they don’t want to talk to normal people,” she concluded.
Maria Comella, spokesperson for the Giuliani campaign, said, “We’re glad to have Debby and Jerry’s support and are thankful for all their hard work on the campaign. We’re looking forward to our visit to Iowa on Friday and having the opportunity to share Mayor Giuliani’s message of fiscal discipline.
Comella did not comment on the cancellation at the VonSprecken home, and said a site had not yet been chosen for a campaign stop.
Greg Sargen (“Talking Points Memo”) followed up on the story and confirmed Deb VonSprecken’s account on his blog, “The Horses Mouth“:
A Giuliani campaign spokesperson declined to comment to the paper on the canceled event. In other words, no denial. The Rudy campaign just confirmed to me that its non-denial to the paper is real.I just got in touch with Deb VonSprecken, who told me the story’s accurate “word for word.”
The political fallout of this incident has yet to be seen, but don’t worry, if it does, the photo-ops will follow suit.
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