Marilyn Brewer Jumps The Shark, II

The fallout continues from Marilyn Brewer's Howard Jarvis/Harvey Englander mailer. In addition to the embarassment of stooping to an endorsement mailer from you campaign consultant, it appears the Brewer mailer by evil genius Harvey Englander may have run afoul of copyright laws, as per this post from The Successor Project Blog:

A recent mailing sent by Brewer for Congress could have some legal problems. Attorneys for two organizations, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and Save Proposition 13 slate, which both separately own the copyright to a famous picture of Howard Jarvis that appeared on the cover of TIME magazine, are considering whether the use of the picture in the Brewer mailing is a copyright infringment.

TSP offers further thoughts on how this mail peice may boomerang back on Brewer:

Yesterday the OCBlog reported on a mailer sent by Brewer’s campaign featuring her consultant, Harvey Englander.

The mailer mentions Englander’s work with Howard Jarvis on Prop 13 and suggests that Brewer is the type of candidate that Jarvis would’ve supported.

However, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is supporting John Campbell.

Fallout from this mailer begins now as HJTA (through Campbell’s campaign) has come out with a statement of strong opposition. This is somewhat like hitting a sleeping giant and Brewer’s mailer has probably done little other than forcing HJTA into action.

There is still time for Campbell and HJTA to mail a response to this mailer. Candidates who use these techniques usually suffer severe repercussions – unless they are used so late in the campaign that the other side has little time to respond. This could’ve been an effective piece, but Brewer’s campaign shot itself in the foot by sending it so early.

Comments

[Intensified!]

When is Brewer just going to quit. This is sad.

[Buzzards are circling]

"evil Genius" or Idiot Savant? This is just poor strategy. I think Marilyn should have hired a seasoned Republican Congressional consultant instead of a Dem who may or may not have ulterior motives.

[Chip Ahlswede]

Although Harvey Englander is a Democrat, his firm is bipartisan, with some very strong, very accomplished, very well connected Republicans on staff. Furthermore his firm is very well respected by both sides of the aisle. I wouldn't be so quick to suppose ulterior motives or assign partisan bias on Englander and Associates.

[Anonymous]

Mr. Chip Ahlswede,

Are you aware that Mr. Englander only has ONE associate and they share an assistant?! OR were you intentially being misleading when you make reference to the "very strong, very accomplished, and very well connected Republicans on staff"?

Regardless...

Whether or not he (or his "firm") is respected is all relative!

[Chip Ahlswede]

Take one look at the name of the individual you are refering to as an associate with Englander and you will realize exactly what I was saying. The firm is bi partisan, and has well respected individuals from both sides of the aisle.

Additionally it is a growing firm, (and yes, it is a firm) that is working with a number of very accomplished individuals, contractors, and yes, employees. That is the nature of a public affairs firm.

The respectability of the firm is also well regarded not only in the political realm, but in the public affairs world as well. Especially when one considers what the experience has been. I don't work for them, with them, or against them. I just know that it is wrong to unfairly categorize or place suppositions on a company like Englander and Associaties. Especially when it is done from the cloak of anonymity.

Finally the point of my post was that pegging the firm as one ideology or another, and pegging the firm as one with ulterior motives, is incorrect. And despite your retort, that fact stands.