Jeff Landry Issues Rebuttal to Caldwell's Accusations

In a rebuttal to Buddy Caldwell's accusations that he is not qualified for the office of Louisiana Attorney General, Jeff Landry issued the following via email today:

There’s a lot to be said about experience in this race.

It is critical for you, and your friends, to know I have worked as a successful Attorney for many years. 

I have handled millions of dollars in legal cases all across our State in multiple jurisdictional courts.

In this race, I am the only candidate who has been a successful lawyer, a lawmaker elected by the citizens of South Louisiana as a Congressman who took on Barack Obama’s federal overreach, and a law enforcement officer who fought crime on the front lines years ago.

In addition, I have owned and operated a successful Louisiana oil and gas small business where I created jobs and helped grow our economy.

Currently, Buddy Caldwell presides over the SECOND WORST legal environment in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. It’s a legal climate that is hostile to job creators and as a result has added to the devastation of our economy. Jobs are leaving the state and stakeholders are opting to conduct business elsewhere as a result.

We need an Attorney General who will bring to the table the type of experience needed to help clean up our legal climate and help Louisiana get back to work.

The legal field is similar to the practice of medicine in that there are various types of law in which attorneys practice. You wouldn’t go to an orthopedic surgeon for brain surgery; you would go to a neurosurgeon. Similarly, if you were closing on your home mortgage loan, you would not call a personal injury attorney; you would find a good real estate attorney.

Almost all of our criminal cases in Louisiana are handled at the District Attorney level. Rarely does the Attorney General prosecute those kinds of cases, and when they do it is the Assistants who travel to those courtrooms and make those arguments. The vast majority of litigation that is overseen by the Attorney General’s office has nothing to do with criminal prosecution. On the contrary, it’s mostly civil litigation and given our legal climate and the economy in the shape it’s in we need an AG who will focus on the impact we have on job creators.

We need an AG with over a decade of experience practicing corporate law, experience as a lawmaker, and experience as a law-enforcer.

That is why I am running for Attorney General.

Our current Attorney General looks at Louisiana businesses as an ATM machine with which to reward his Democratic campaign donors.

I am running to bring ethics, professionalism, and hard work to the Attorney General’s office.

We need an Attorney General who will work with our job creators, not harm our economy.

In early voting starting this Saturday or on October 24th - I hope you will take a close look at the shape of our state, think about how much better it could be if jobs weren’t leaving the state at an alarming rate and how much better it would be if our children had an opportunity to live and work in the state we call home.

Louisiana is a good state; let’s work to make it great.

I ask for your vote as our next Attorney General. 

Sincerely,
Jeff Landry

Landry Campaign Unleashes New Video Highlighting Caldwell's Liberal Tendencies

In what's the latest jab at Buddy Caldwell's history of support of liberal politicians, Jeff Landry issued this video highlighting Caldwell's "love" of Mary Landrieu, the recently vanquished Senator from Louisiana,

Louisiana AFP Releases Legislative Scorecard and New "Crickets" Commercial

Photo source: LouisianaScorecard.com

Louisiana's Americans for Prosperity released the following by email today, which included the above commercial now being aired on radio throughout the State of Louisiana:

As you know, we worked hard all Summer to knock on your neighbors' doors and let them know what their lawmakers did in Baton Rouge this year. They raised taxes on Louisianans by over $700 million. They supported a scheme that could usher in Obamacare's Medicaid expansion into the state under the next administration. It was shortsighted, and it's not the way to fix our spending problem. 

Additionally, the legislative voting record on these taxes can be found at LouisianaScorecard.com.

LAGOP Issues Release on John Bel Edwards' Debate Performance

Photo source: YouTube

Jason Dore' with the Louisiana Republican Party issued the following email regarding statements made by John Bel Edwards during last night's Governor's debate in New Orleans:

Liberal John Bel Edwards exposed his true liberal self at the WDSU gubernatorial forum last night.

Here are a few of Edwards' greatest hits, for the record:

Liberal John Bel Edwards exposed his true liberal self at the WDSU gubernatorial forum last night.

Here are a few of Edwards' greatest hits, for the record:

"I SUPPORTED THE PRESIDENT." The Louisiana democrats' standard-bearer, Rep. John Bel Edwards, doubled down on his support for the liberal democrat policies of President Obama.

"THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS I AM A DEMOCRAT. I SUPPORTED THE PRESIDENT." The entire quote.

"I BELIEVE WE SHOULD LET THAT PLAY OUT AND LEARN ALL THE FACTS. ONE OF THE FACTS IS PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOES PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES, CANCER SCREENINGS, BREAST EXAMS, AND OTHER NEEDED HELP SERVICES. THE ONLY THING I WILL SUGGEST IS BEFORE WE CLOSE PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOWN, WE KNOW THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING ABORTIONS IN LOUISIANA..."

In supporting government funding for Planned Parenthood, John Bel Edwards used the abortion industry's often repeated, yet untrue narrative about the nature of the abortion provider's services. The fact is Planned Parenthood is currently building a $4.2 million, 8,000 square foot abortion clinic in New Orleans and does not own nor operate a single mammogram machine in the state of Louisiana. 

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Why Is This Lawyer Spending So Much Money Against Vitter's Campaign

Photo source: Louisiana Record

Trial lawyer John Carmouche, partner in the Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello law firm out of Baton Rouge, has been spending in excess of $1,000,000 to fund a PAC that has been railing against Sen. David Vitter's campaign for Louisiana Governor.  According to this site, Carmouche provided $600,000 in cash and another $500,000 in loans to the Louisiana Water Coalition PAC.  In addition, Carmouche is listed as the only donor to that PAC.

Could this action be the result of Vitter's pledge to enact tort reform within his administration?  And could it also be a result of Carmouche himself making millions in legacy lawsuits against the oil and gas industry?

This is an obvious response by trial lawyers in this state that are seriously concerned about a Vitter win in the Governor's race.  It's also a sign that Vitter will be a force to contend with if he does win the fall election.

GNO Republicans Endorse Jeff Landry for Attorney General

Photo source: LandryForLouisiana.com

 St. Tammany Parish GOP, Jefferson Parish GOP, Orleans Parish GOP, St. Bernard GOP, St. Charles Parish GOP, St. John Parish GOP choose Landry over Incumbent.

METAIRIE, LA – At a press conference this afternoon, local Republican Parties from the Greater New Orleans metropolitan area announced their endorsements of Jeff Landry for Attorney General.

“Jeff Landry is a conservative lawmaker, a successful businessman, and a former law enforcement officer who is uniquely qualified to be Louisiana’s next Attorney General. The St. Tammany Parish Republican Party overwhelmingly endorses Jeff Landry for Attorney General, and we encourage everyone to vote for Jeff this month,” said St. Tammany GOP Chairman Peter Egan. 

“The Jefferson Parish Republican Party believes that Jeff Landry embodies the Republican principles of compassion, adherence to the Constitution, and fiscal conservatism,” said Jefferson GOP Chairwoman Polly Thomas. “The Jefferson Parish Republican Party urges voters to cast their ballots for Jeff Landry on October 24th or during the early voting period of October 10th through 17th.”

“The Orleans Parish Republican Party is proud to endorse Jeff Landry for Attorney General,” said Orleans GOP Vice Chairman Adrian Bruneau. “We are confident Mr. Landry will return the Office of Attorney General to a positive direction and value-based leadership.”

“Jeff Landry represented St. Bernard with distinction and honor in Congress, and we know he will continue to defend the Constitution and promote our conservative values,” said St. Bernard GOP Chairman Mark Madary. “The St. Bernard Republican Party endorses Jeff Landry for Attorney General, and we encourage everyone from Arabi to Chalmette and Meraux to Violet to vote for Jeff Landry.” 

“Jeff Landry is honest and ethical; you can trust him. Jeff is uniquely qualified as a former lawmaker, law enforcement officer, and lawyer. The St. Charles Parish Republican Party endorses Jeff Landry for Attorney General, and I urge everyone to vote Jeff Landry for Attorney General,” said St. Charles GOP Chairman Garrett Monti. 

“The St. John the Baptist Republican Party knows the Attorney General is one of the most important offices in Louisiana, and we have given a great deal of thought to which candidate would best represent our state. After reviewing the candidates’ backgrounds and qualifications, the St. John Parish Republican Party has determined Congressman Landry’s unique combination of experience, conservatism, and integrity make him the best choice to represent all of Louisiana’s citizens,” said St. John GOP Vice Chairman Allan Reynaud.

In accepting these endorsements, Landry concluded: “I am grateful to have earned the support of the Greater New Orleans Republican Parties. We recognize change is needed to fight federal overreach and make our communities safer. Together, we will make Louisiana a better place to live, work, and raise our families.”

Jay Dardenne's "Birthday Bash"

Sen. David Vitter's office has released the below video and documentation showing Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne's taxpayer funded trip to Europe. 

The state documents are below and can be found at this website.

Debating the Future of Iberia Parish

Below is a video of the debate last week between David Ditch and Larry Richard, both candidates for Iberia Parish President.  

The Very Liberal Jay Dardenne

In what can be called a history lesson on the "Republican" Jay Dardenne's voting record, Cajun Conservatism would like to take the time to revisit his history while a member of the Louisiana legislature.

While touting himself as a fiscal conservative, Dardenne has supported higher fees, taxes and spending. Additionally, his record on abortion is not quite stellar.

This list is several years old, but nonetheless, he cannot shake the RINO label he so richly deserves. 

Why Media Won't Report on Scott Angelle Skipping Public Appearances

Photo source: NOLA.gov

The media loves to point out if Sen. David Vitter misses a forum gubernatorial forum. Vitter has far more reason to miss forums and debates than anyone because of his job in the U.S. Senate requires him to be voting and present in DC most weeks and he has a far more grueling schedule in the state holding town hall meetings, running seven offices, and representing the entire state. 

Scott Angelle, however, has no such excuse. By our count, he's missed at least four gubernatorial forums in the last few weeks. Alliance for Good Government, Campaign for Healthcare for Everyone Gubernatorial Forum, Northshore Old Fashioned Straw Poll and Caucus, and the Region 1 Republican Women Gubernatorial Forum.

But why is he skipping so many and why won't the media cover it?

For one, the more he is out in public, the more questions he is getting about his record. Most people didn't know until recently that he was a lifelong Democrat until 2010 and voted in Obama's first Presidential Primary. And hardly anyone knew about his role in the Bayou Corne Sinkhole or how he quit five days after it collapsed. Voters like to know these things, and Angelle clearly doesn't like to answer. 

The reason the media won't cover it is simple. They have an unhealthy obsession with attacking Sen. Vitter.  We aren't blaming the media for protecting Angelle. We are blaming them for being lazy and only reporting biasedly what they want, which is to attack Vitter. 

Mitch Landrieu Leaves City to Attend Out-Of-State Functions While City Burns

Photo source: NOLA.gov

New Orleans' "mayor", Mitch Landrieu, who has defied a court order to comply with the payment requirements regarding millions in back payments to firefighters, has decided to forgo a house arrest threat and attend out of state functions last week, all the while the city falls further and further into violence.

Per the NOPD Major Offense Log, several violent crimes have occurred during his time away from the city. 

Keep Louisiana Working Executive Director Anthony Ramirez released the following statement:

“Never one to let important city business keep him at home—even with with a public health crisis and crime epidemic—Mayor Landrieu has left the city behind to further his own political ambition.”
 
“Mayor Landrieu has seemingly turned his back on the city, traveling out of state when the city needs him the most. Louisiana cannot afford to have another absent politician with a personal political agenda." 

The Public Integrity Alliance and Solution Fund Release "The Buddy System"

Photo source: YouTube

The "BuddySystem" in the Louisiana Attorney General's Office has drawn the attention of the  Public Integrity Alliance. Louisiana deserves better than another corrupt state politician.

Have You Heard of the Soldier Running for Louisiana Senate Arrested for a Seatbelt Violation?

Photo sources: Facebook

Put this one under "the good ol' boy network" in Louisiana politics.  It seems that Stewart Cathey, a veteran of the United States armed services, was arrested last week for an unpaid seatbelt violation.  However, the kicker in this story is that Cathey, who inadvertently overlooked the ticket while preparing for deployment to Afghanistan, was willing to pay the fines and fees associated with the ticket, but was ordered to jail by Judge Tammy D. Lee.  Could this possibly be politically motivated?  Well, Cathey's opponent in this race is none other than recent Republican Party switch, Jim "Big Lake" Fannin, who is running to succeed Bob Kostelka. 

Col. Rob Maness, former candidate for the Louisiana Senate seat in DC, had this to say regarding Cathey in his endorsement:

“I call for an investigation for impeachment against Judge Tammy D. Lee, the official who forced the arrest, and an ethics investigation into Cathey’s opponent, State Representative Jim “Big Lake” Fannin and current Senator Bob Kostelka who apparently had information on the seatbelt charge and arrest before Cathey even knew about it," said Maness. 

Maness added, "I respectfully call on the LA GOP leadership, all elected officials and veterans in Louisiana to condemn these career politicians, withdraw all support for them and endorse Mr. Cathey.  Is this really how we are going to treat our heroes?”

Cathey issued the following statement last week when he was arrested and subsequently bonded out:

Let me first say thank you to everyone for being here today to support me. As many of you are now aware, in September of 2009, I was issued a ticket by the City of Monroe for not wearing my seatbelt. Eight short days later, I deployed to Afghanistan as a member of the US Army where I spent the next year fighting for the country we all love and hold so dear.While I was in Afghanistan, I honestly forgot about my seatbelt ticket, because as one might imagine that was the furthest thing from my mind. My mind was focused on keeping my team mates safe, keeping myself alive and getting back home to my family, just as is the case with any soldier who as every been fortunate enough to wear our nations uniform. Thankfully, the Lord allowed me to come home and gave me the opportunity to find new ways to serve my state and country. Is my serving my nation overseas an excuse, or a crutch, ABSOLUTELY not, I would never use my service to my nation as an excuse! This is nothing more than me simply forgetting to pay a ticket during a very stressful time in my life.

All of this is what brings us here today, and most likely, were I not a candidate for the State Senate I would never have even remembered that I had been issued a ticket for not wearing my seatbelt.

Had it not been for my opponent and his political supporters and advisers reminding me of this ticket on September 11th, the day after qualifying, and making it an issue in this campaign, I likely would never have even remembered it. Over the last 6 years, I have not received any paperwork documenting that there was ever a warrant. During this time I have been able to renew my driver’s license and purchase vehicles without my license being flagged due to a warrant, nor has anything related to this issue ever come up.

Since being reminded of this ticket by my opponents, I have exhausted all efforts to try to pay the fines or penalties associated with it, because I am admitting I made a mistake, and I want to and am willing to pay any fines in order to make this right as is normally the way a situation like this is handled. But for some reason I am being denied the right to simply pay my fine and penalties, and I am instead being forced to be arrested, and required to bond out over a simple seat belt violation from 6 years ago.  It has become apparent to me that my opponents will stop at nothing to protect their candidates and the good ole boy system, even to the point of abusing the justice system.

I hope and pray that the voters of District 35 will not be distracted by this issue, but instead hear my message: Louisiana needs new leadership in Baton Rouge to right the ship from the mess that my opponent has created.

I hope that you, the voters, will understand that while I was serving in combat overseas, the furthest thing from my mind was a seatbelt violation. My full concentration and attention was on my mission of keeping America safe by defeating Al Qaeda and the Taliban, supporting my fellow troops, and coming back home safely. This type of treatment is what we are seeing all over America right now when our service men and women return home from war, and it is another example that we have to support our Veterans, who have sacrificed so much.

What we're seeing today is the ugly side of politics. People ask me all the time why I'd want to get involved in something so nasty and underhanded.

Ironically, this situation is exactly why I'm running. The career politicians like Jim Fannin will clearly stop at nothing to get back to the good ole boys club in Baton Rouge. We don't need people who will stoop to such cutthroat tactics. We need real leadership to turn this state around.

Just as I served my country around the world now I want to serve my state in the Senate. I need your support and most importantly I need your prayers. We deserve better than what we've had, and I hope you can trust that I'm the man for the job.

Is this the way we thank our veterans that serve our country day in and day out?  Or, better yet, is this how scared the elite in this state really are about holding onto their sacred cows?  Voters of this state should not stand for this and should throw out all of "the good ol' boys" in Louisiana this fall.

Louisiana Political Ad Reviews

Photo source: KTBS.com

We’ve been monitoring the political ads on TV this cycle. We may not have seen them all, but here’s a quick synopsis with letter grades.

Jeff Landry, candidate for Attorney General. His ad shows him as the true conservative in the race. We give him an “A.”

Buddy Caldwell, candidate for AG. Caldwell is running a misleading attack on Landry and deflecting the fact that he is a longtime Democrat.  We give him a “D” (for Democrat).

John Young, candidate for Lt. Governor.  His ad is a biographical spot touting himself as a conservative. It’s a fine no-frills spot, but didn’t wow us either. Grade: “A-.”

David Vitter, candidate for Governor. He has 3 ads on the air. He’s airing attacks on his GOP opponents Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne for being liberal. Both ads get an “A+.” He’s also running a sport about a plan to reform welfare. Great issue, solid ad; we give it a “B+.”

The Fund for Louisiana’s Future, a Super PAC supporting Vitter. They have two ads. One is hitting Angelle and Dardenne for use of state cars. That ad gets a “B-." Their other ad is hitting Angelle for his negligence on the Bayou Corne Sinkhole and for quitting right after. This ad gets an “A+," although we are still not sure if the ad is running in Baton Rouge which is literally 30 miles from Bayou Corne.

Jay Dardenne, candidate for Governor. He has two ads. One is a weird bobble head version of Dardenne on a fake stage. We don’t get the point of this ad, and gave it a “C.” His other ad is just his wife Cathy talking about Dardenne. It’s too boring to give anything more than a “C.”

Scott Angelle, candidate for Governor. He was running a biographical type spot, however he’s swapped it out to defend himself against Vitter and the Fund for Louisiana’s Future ads. His ad tries to discredit the attacks against him and then attacks Vitter. There are too many issues in the ad, and hard to follow. We give it a “B-.”

Louisiana Rising, Super PAC supporting Angelle.They are attacking Vitter for switching positions on Common Core. CajunConservatism.com has long been opposed to Common Core, and we were upset when Vitter initially said he supported Common Core. But, he’s right on the issue today, so a switch really doesn’t matter. We give their ad a “B+.”

The Louisiana Water Coalition, Super PAC opposing Vitter. They are running slash and burn attack ads against Vitter for his past. Their ads may have some impact, but it’s pure garbage and equally disturbing because they are completely funded by one law firm and they are accountable to no one. They get an “F.”

John Bel Edwards, Candidate for Governor. Edwards ad is good, and makes him look likable to conservatives. There is one BIG problem – he is not. He gets a “D” (for Democrat).

John Kennedy, Candidate Treasurer. The Kennedy ad is a great biography spot making him very likable, and not your typical politician. The strategy to spend his state money this year building his positives is a smart strategy. "A+"

Jim Donelon, Candidate for Insurance Commissioner. Donelon's ad is boring and not memorable. "D"

Vitter Receives Several Key Parish Executive Committee Endorsements

Today, David Vitter's campaign sent out a press release by email indicating that they have secured several key endorsements from Parish Executive Committees.  The following list of parishes have endorsed Vitter in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana.

• Caddo
• East Baton Rouge
•  Iberia
•  Jefferson
•  Orleans
• St. Bernard
•  St. Tammany

The campaign had the following to say about the endorsements:

Vitter’s opponents have been trying to make inroads in the Shreveport area, but the Caddo endorsement helps shore up Vitter’s support in Northwest Louisiana. Iberia Parish is obviously in PSC Commissioner Scott Angelle’s base, which shows clear signs of weakness for Angelle in his geographical base. Vitter has also received the endorsement of the East Baton Rouge Parish GOP, which is a sign of weakness for Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne in his geographical base. 

Vitter Campaign Issues Press Release Regarding Scott Angelle's Time as DNR and Bayou Corne

Photo source: opednews.com

In what can only be described as a scathing letter, Sen. David Vitter's campaign released an email blasting Scott Angelle's handling of the Bayou Corne sinkhole disaster and subsequent resignation as Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.  Some of the stronger points of argument made are that since "2010 the DNR had a report showing that the sinkhole posed a threat not long before residents started experiencing earthquakes. Scott Angelle and the DNR did not disclose the failed integrity test."

The full release can be read here.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette College Republicans Endorse Jeff Landry for Louisianas next Attorney General

Photo source: Facebook

The following press release was issued by the UL College Republicans on Tuesday regarding Landry's bid to unseat Buddy Caldwell in the race for Louisiana Attorney General.

LAFAYETTE – Today, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette College Republicans announced their endorsement of Jeff Landry for Louisiana’s next Attorney General. The announcement comes ahead of the October 24th elections and shows a growing trend in millennial support for Landry’s campaign. UL Lafayette joins LSU College Republicans and the Louisiana Young Republican Federation in endorsing Jeff Landry’s bid for AG.

Louisiana is often ranked at the bottom of a lot of rankings in the nation. Louisiana currently has the second worst legal environment in the country (source: institute for legal reform Sept, 10, 2015). Furthermore, Louisiana’s economy is not attracting as many jobs as expected in 2015. It could be argued that the two are part and parcel of one another. ULL College Republicans President Graham Beduze said, “Louisiana’s legal climate is hostile to job creators and as a result Louisiana isn’t seeing enough economic growth to be an attractive option for our graduates. We are unfortunately losing graduates to Texas and other states. We need do all we can to keep our bright minds and the future of Louisiana here at home.”

Louisiana needs an Attorney General who recognizes this and has the right experience to turn things around. Jeff Landry has been a corporate attorney for over a decade, has created hundreds of jobs as a small business owner, and has a unique understanding of the law from his experience as a lawmaker. Beduze continued, “We need to create opportunity for economic growth and job creation in Louisiana. We can accomplish that by cleaning up the legal environment here at home thus encouraging businesses to come to Louisiana and put people back to work. Jeff Landry is uniquely qualified to help us do just that.”

In receiving the endorsement, Jeff Landry said: “I am honored to have the support of the College Republicans at my Alma Mater. The support of young voters who recognize the untapped potential of our state is humbling. In Louisiana, and particularly in Acadiana, we know the power of an unbridled entrepreneurial spirit. We have seen Lafayette transform over time as a model for growth, but we must allow for that same growth across the state. That takes a combined effort. I hope the voters will join me in fighting for our Louisiana. Louisiana is a good state, let’s make it great!”

Landry’s other endorsements include the Republican Party of Louisiana, Pro-Life Family Research Council Action, Gun Owners of America, Gator PAC, The Washington Parish Republican Party, Congressmen Fleming and Scalise, the Louisiana Young Republican Federation, and the College Republicans at Louisiana State University.

LAGOP Issues Press Release on Hillary Clinton's Visit to Baton Rouge

Photo source: NOLA

In a press release issued on Monday, the LAGOP had to say the following concerning the abysmal showing for Clinton's visit to Baton Rouge:

Hillary Fails to Draw 1/3 the Crowd of Sanders

Today in Baton Rouge, Hillary Clinton failed to draw even one-third of the crowd that self-proclaimed socialist Senator Bernie Sanders drew in his visit to Louisiana a few weeks ago. According to press reports, Clinton, who was aided by Louisiana Democrat Party Chair Karen Carter Peterson, only attracted 1,200 supporters. In August, more than 4,500 people attended Sanders’ rally in Kenner.

“While the state Democrat Party is apparently in the bag for Hillary, it is clear the voters of Louisiana are ready for anyone but Hillary,” Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere said.

Notably absent from today’s Clinton rally was the Louisiana Democrat Party’s handpicked gubernatorial candidate, Rep. John Bel Edwards.

"Undoubtedly, Edwards is doing his best to achieve what many statewide Democrat candidates before him have failed to do--ally himself with Democrat Party leaders and donors while at the same time convincing the voters of Louisiana that he doesn’t really believe in their far left wing policies,” Villere said. “At the event, Hillary doubled down on her support for Obamacare, which is hurting Louisiana families, but failed to explain why she is seeking to hold Louisiana’s economy captive as she opposes lifting the ban on crude oil exports until she gains "concessions” from the energy industry. No wonder John Bel was hiding. Hillary and her friends who control the state Democrat Party never miss a chance to be out of touch with Louisiana voters.”

Fund For Louisiana’s Future Still Playing Nice

Photo source: The Advocate 

Recently, Cajunconservatism.com reported on the Super PAC’s influence in the race to be Louisiana’s next Governor. There are at least five Super PAC’s trying to impact the race, and four of the five have already been on TV. 

The Louisiana Water Coalition PAC is by far the most aggressive, which is somewhat of a surprise to observers who expected former Bill Cassidy Campaign Manager and the Fund for Louisiana’s Future (FFLF) Executive Director Joel Digrado to use their millions taking Vitter’s opponents to the woodshed. After all, Digrado is the one I’ve heard was behind Vitter’s vicious 2010 ad on illegals. Their ads to date have been tame or non-existent so far. 

The Water Coalition, who says they are not affiliated with any individual campaign, continues to attack U.S. Senator David Vitter. Most recently, they are going after a former staff member who has since been fired but pled guilty to charges regarding an attack on an ex-girlfriend (even though the charges were dropped and the staff member was fired).

The Water Coalition PAC claims to be impartial, although they are promoting the candidacy of John Bel Edwards, Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne on their website betterthanvitter.com. 

The FFLF appears to only be running an ad depicting Angelle and Dardenne as used car salesmen for the use of state cars. Cajunconservatism.com would give this ad a “C+”. We’ve also seen an online ad from the FFLF hitting Scott Angelle for his role in the Bayou Corne Sinkhole. The ad shows Angelle as negligent and a quitter in regards to the Bayou Corne Sinkhole. This ad seems to be very strong and we would give it an “A,” however it does not seem to be up on television in the major TV markets and FFLF isn’t going to move Angelle or Dardenne numbers with online email buys.

We will continue to monitor the advertising traffic for each of the candidates as well as the Super PACs as we enter the final month of the primary. 

Vitter Releases "Back to Work" Video Regarding Welfare Reform

David Vitter today released another television ad that has been airing statewide. The ad, called “Back to Work,” highlights Vitter's bold plan to reform Louisiana's welfare program.

“Welfare was created to help struggling families get back on their feet. But too often, welfare programs are abused, and this fraud takes resources away from families who rely on the program for survival,” says Vitter. “My plan says if you use your electronic food stamp card – you must show a photo ID. That’s common sense, and it's working in other states.”

Vitter's plan also includes real work requirements and ends taxpayer-funded welfare for violent criminals. Vitter has passed legislation in the U.S. Senate to prevent murderers and rapists from being able to receive food stamps. 

Back in 2014, 500 people robbed Walmart stores of more than $300,000 worth of groceries in Northwest Louisiana after a temporary glitch in the food stamp system eliminated spending limits for Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.