A “push poll” – or a telephone survey that’s used to influence voters (as opposed to obtaining information from them) – is accusing Democratic congressional candidate Elizabeth Colbert-Busch of having had an abortion.
FITS investigated this allegation several weeks ago when the rumor was first floated to us and Colbert’s campaign told us unequivocally that the charge was “not true.” Given the lack of proof (or anything resembling independent confirmation) related to the allegation, we declined to publish a story. However that’s not stopping a shadowy group calling itself “SSI polling” from raising the charge in its “push polls.”
“What would you think of Elizabeth Colbert Busch if I told you she had had an abortion?” first district voters were asked in the calls, which appeared on Caller ID screens as having originated from an “unknown number.”
The push-poll also made references to Colbert-Busch’s messy first divorce – which resulted in her spending a night behind bars as a result of a contempt of court charge.
The mysterious calls – first exposed by the left-leaning website Think Progress – represent the latest twist in an incredibly tight race between Colbert-Busch and former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford.
Sanford’s campaign moved quickly to distance itself from the unsavory allegation.
“If there’s push polling going on it isn’t coming from us,” Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer told FITS, adding that he had not heard the content of the call.
Sawyer did generally refer to push-polling as a “terrible tactic.”
The push-poll bomb comes as Sanford appears to be regaining some of the ground he lost two weeks ago when lawyers for his ex-wife, former S.C. First Lady Jenny Sanford, accused him of habitually trespassing on her property. Jenny Sanford appears to have allowed the charges to become public after her husband permitted his ex-lover (now-fiancée) Maria Belen Chapur to appear alongside the Sanfords’ children at a victory party last month.
UPDATE: GOP sources are now alleging that the “push poll” is nothing but a Democratic stunt.
UPDATE II: Think Progress has posted an update to its original reporting on this subject here. The website notes that “Survey Sampling International, a Connecticut-based market research firm, confirmed that they have been involved in placing calls to voters in South Carolina.” The site goes on to state that “phone calls containing similar content – including questions about Colbert Busch’s divorce and possible credit card debt – have been placed into the district within the last few weeks on behalf of a third party.” No word yet on who that third party might be ...
***
82 comments
Classiest of classy moves. Suuuuuure, it isn’t coming from Sanford. Believe him, he’s totally a beacon of truth, a bastion of values, a defender of morals. Right?
Tell me what truth and morals mean to a Democrat? Morals have no place left in America or politics. You have the Pentagon going to try Christians that discuss their faith. You have a Democrat Party that booed the name of God at their National Convention on National Television. You folks are blind!
You lie.
What part of the statement is a lie Bro?
Desperate tactic. Sanford & team showing his narcissistic personality once again.
Classiest of classy moves. Suuuuuure, it isn’t coming from Sanford. Believe him, he’s totally a beacon of truth, a bastion of values, a defender of morals. Right?
Tell me what truth and morals mean to a Democrat? Morals have no place left in America or politics. You have the Pentagon going to try Christians that discuss their faith. You have a Democrat Party that booed the name of God at their National Convention on National Television. You folks are blind!
You lie.
What part of the statement is a lie Bro?
Desperate tactic. Sanford & team showing his narcissistic personality once again.
How many has Sanford paid for? The big secret is looming ever larger Gubna, have you told the staff yet?
How many has Sanford paid for? The big secret is looming ever larger Gubna, have you told the staff yet?
This is coming from Sanford spokesman who works at “Push Digital”
Yep. Manufactured BS.
Excellent information. Wow.
This is coming from Sanford spokesman who works at “Push Digital”
Yep. Manufactured BS.
Excellent information. Wow.
That might be a concern were she a Repukeagain. Prove a false negative, hmm, sounds like the adultery claim during Haley’s campaign.
That might be a concern were she a Repukeagain. Prove a false negative, hmm, sounds like the adultery claim during Haley’s campaign.
Oh, goodness, another “black baby” from the Christian fundamentalist SCGOP.
Oh, goodness, another “black baby” from the Christian fundamentalist SCGOP.
I’ll bet Sanford’s kids were wishing they had been aborted by now.
Best comment of all. They’ve gotta be reading these blogs, the Larry Flynt suck-fuck-Maria one included. Yeah, teach the children, Mark…
Let the Festival of Feces begin
Sanford 57%
ECB 43%
I’ll bet Sanford’s kids were wishing they had been aborted by now.
Best comment of all. They’ve gotta be reading these blogs, the Larry Flynt suck-fuck-Maria one included. Yeah, teach the children, Mark…
Let the Festival of Feces begin
Sanford 57%
ECB 43%
Abortions are not illegal. Using government resources for private pleasure IS, however.
What resources did he use?
Flown down to Argentina on a state-paid for plane, for one.
The Politico article cited claims $468,000 in travel costs. This figure includes 6.5 years of travel on the state plane, valued at $380,000.
As a point of comparison, Governor Sanford’s use of the state plane in 6.5 years is roughly what Hodges spent on the state plane in just 4 years ($377,000).
Sanford directed the sale of the state’s corporate jet ownership – a plane with transatlantic capability – and directed SLED and DNR to consolidate their aircraft. This achieved a one-time savings of more than $1 million, and a recurring savings of $120,000.
Monthly charges and flight time cost for the corporate jet ALONE during the Hodges Administration totaled more than $390,000 – almost the same TOTAL travel charges cited for Governor Sanford.
Simple subtraction yields $88,000, over 6.5 years in total travel costs: commercial flights, lodging, and meals on Department of Commerce sponsored economic development trips.
Bottom-line:
European Trade Missions highlights: Resulted in nearly $2.5 billion in investment, over 3,100 jobs, and that’s before counting Boeing’s most recent expansion announcement
December 1, 2004 – Global Aeronautica $556 million, 665 jobs, and served as the anchor to Boeing
December 14, 2005 — Michelin $85 million, 70 jobs
March 11, 2008 – BMW $750 million, 500 job expansion
October 29, 2009 – Boeing’s initial $750 million, over 1,000 job announcement (and they just announced at 2,000 job expansion)
July 22, 2010 – ZF Transmissions $350 million, 900 jobs (this one is of note because it was announced FROM GERMANY when SC officials were there sealing the deal)
Asian Trade Missions: $205 million in investment, plus another $125 million in direct sales from SC companies to Chinese entities, and nearly 1,400 jobs.
October 28, 2003 — The first trip to China helped seal a $90 million sale of railway maintenance equipment to the Chinese Ministry of Railways for Harsco Track Technologies, of West Columbia, a $20 million sale of imaging equipment to the same agency by ImageMap Inc., of Columbia, and a sale of $15 million in soybeans to the Chinese government by Palmetto Partners International, of Columbia.
April 10, 2006 – Haier, $150 million expansion, 800 more jobs (largest Chinese-owned manufacturing presence in SC)
January 25, 2008 — American Yuncheng Plate Making Inc, Spartanburg, 120 jobs
February 5, 2009 — Samsung – $20 million, 300 jobs
January 15, 2010 — Akebono Brakes – $35.6 million, 283 jobs
South American Trade Mission
Fitesa – $120 million investment, 80 jobs
Bottom-line:
As a result of aggressively recruiting overseas investment, South Carolina was ranked as high as number one in foreign direct investment.
Abortions are not illegal. Using government resources for private pleasure IS, however.
What resources did he use?
Flown down to Argentina on a state-paid for plane, for one.
The Politico article cited claims $468,000 in travel costs. This figure includes 6.5 years of travel on the state plane, valued at $380,000.
As a point of comparison, Governor Sanford’s use of the state plane in 6.5 years is roughly what Hodges spent on the state plane in just 4 years ($377,000).
Sanford directed the sale of the state’s corporate jet ownership – a plane with transatlantic capability – and directed SLED and DNR to consolidate their aircraft. This achieved a one-time savings of more than $1 million, and a recurring savings of $120,000.
Monthly charges and flight time cost for the corporate jet ALONE during the Hodges Administration totaled more than $390,000 – almost the same TOTAL travel charges cited for Governor Sanford.
Simple subtraction yields $88,000, over 6.5 years in total travel costs: commercial flights, lodging, and meals on Department of Commerce sponsored economic development trips.
Bottom-line:
European Trade Missions highlights: Resulted in nearly $2.5 billion in investment, over 3,100 jobs, and that’s before counting Boeing’s most recent expansion announcement
December 1, 2004 – Global Aeronautica $556 million, 665 jobs, and served as the anchor to Boeing
December 14, 2005 — Michelin $85 million, 70 jobs
March 11, 2008 – BMW $750 million, 500 job expansion
October 29, 2009 – Boeing’s initial $750 million, over 1,000 job announcement (and they just announced at 2,000 job expansion)
July 22, 2010 – ZF Transmissions $350 million, 900 jobs (this one is of note because it was announced FROM GERMANY when SC officials were there sealing the deal)
Asian Trade Missions: $205 million in investment, plus another $125 million in direct sales from SC companies to Chinese entities, and nearly 1,400 jobs.
October 28, 2003 — The first trip to China helped seal a $90 million sale of railway maintenance equipment to the Chinese Ministry of Railways for Harsco Track Technologies, of West Columbia, a $20 million sale of imaging equipment to the same agency by ImageMap Inc., of Columbia, and a sale of $15 million in soybeans to the Chinese government by Palmetto Partners International, of Columbia.
April 10, 2006 – Haier, $150 million expansion, 800 more jobs (largest Chinese-owned manufacturing presence in SC)
January 25, 2008 — American Yuncheng Plate Making Inc, Spartanburg, 120 jobs
February 5, 2009 — Samsung – $20 million, 300 jobs
January 15, 2010 — Akebono Brakes – $35.6 million, 283 jobs
South American Trade Mission
Fitesa – $120 million investment, 80 jobs
Bottom-line:
As a result of aggressively recruiting overseas investment, South Carolina was ranked as high as number one in foreign direct investment.
Yep. Sawyer and Donehue are totally believable. No blemishes on their credibility at all. We should absolutely take Sawyer, from Push Digital, at his word on this.
Please.
Yep. Sawyer and Donehue are totally believable. No blemishes on their credibility at all. We should absolutely take Sawyer, from Push Digital, at his word on this.
Please.
Who’s the chick with the nice tits in the zebra dress?
Wes Donehue
Who’s the chick with the nice tits in the zebra dress?
Wes Donehue
Sanford said ECB wanted to close Boeing..lie. Sanford said Pelosi contrbuted to ECB..lie .Sanford says they had nothing to do with this smear campaign..lie.
The surprising thing is that usually he’s pretty good at lying.
Sanford said ECB wanted to close Boeing..lie. Sanford said Pelosi contrbuted to ECB..lie .Sanford says they had nothing to do with this smear campaign..lie.
The surprising thing is that usually he’s pretty good at lying.
regaining some of the ground he lost
Uh huh.
In any event, I’m shocked Republicans would use nasty push polls. Shocked!
In other news, water is wet.
regaining some of the ground he lost
Uh huh.
In any event, I’m shocked Republicans would use nasty push polls. Shocked!
In other news, water is wet.
Have you considered they were testing negatives?
Have you considered they were testing negatives?
South Carolina is going SOUTH especially in SC1, first the billboard, then Larry Flint and now this push poll. For heavens sakes look at what the candidates’ platforms are and vote accordingly. Me thinks that these ads are put out by mind set political fanatics who do not care who they hurt. Having a well known comedian may have unintentionally hurt these candidates by attracting these weirdos.
Yep. Ole ‘Lady Jail Bird’ sure is attracting a whole mess of weirdos to her cause.All of this just theatre. She defined herself to SC 1 voters with the racist ‘Shaft’ radio ad.This election was over then.
Well, today really is….. MOTHER GOOSE DAY
Must be why she carried a nine point lead.
LOL!! A liberal polling firm contacts 800 liberals/RINO’S out of 250,000 REGISTERED voters in a district that Romney carried by 18% and Nurse Ratchet is up 9 points? SUPRISE,SUPRISE,SUPRISE!! This election is over.
When the election is over, no one will be surprised when you suddenly stop posting. ;)
Mr. Hoss, you have mistaken this unfortunate woman for me, a competent professional, and is too much for me to bear without comment.
I am currently the Chief Administrator, assisted by a competent but desperate group of RNs (Resident Nymphs), of the new Breaking Point Clinic for Those in the Fast Lane for Flipsville, home of the fleece-lined straitjacket with thirty-four luminous buckles that glow in the dark and spell out: “I AM NOT NUTS. I AM RAISINS”
Our motto is: “All is well if we touch and tell.”
Therefore, Mr. Hoss, if you are whipsawed by praise and blame and paralyzing bouts of indecision and you feel you are heading for the State Home for the Quaint, seething with inner resentment, and plagued by unruly disoriented inner visions, I look forward to seeing you. We always have room for an extra chair.
Sanford may be a comedian,but I don’t think a well known one.
South Carolina is going SOUTH especially in SC1, first the billboard, then Larry Flint and now this push poll. For heavens sakes look at what the candidates’ platforms are and vote accordingly. Me thinks that these ads are put out by mind set political fanatics who do not care who they hurt. Having a well known comedian may have unintentionally hurt these candidates by attracting these weirdos.
Yep. Ole ‘Lady Jail Bird’ sure is attracting a whole mess of weirdos to her cause.All of this just theatre. She defined herself to SC 1 voters with the racist ‘Shaft’ radio ad.This election was over then.
Well, today really is….. MOTHER GOOSE DAY
Must be why she carried a nine point lead.
LOL!! A liberal polling firm contacts 800 liberals/RINO’S out of 250,000 REGISTERED voters in a district that Romney carried by 18% and Nurse Ratchet is up 9 points? SUPRISE,SUPRISE,SUPRISE!! This election is over.
When the election is over, no one will be surprised when you suddenly stop posting. ;)
Mr. Hoss, you have mistaken this unfortunate woman for me, a competent professional, and is too much for me to bear without comment.
I am currently the Chief Administrator, assisted by a competent but desperate group of RNs (Resident Nymphs), of the new Breaking Point Clinic for Those in the Fast Lane for Flipsville, home of the fleece-lined straitjacket with thirty-four luminous buckles that glow in the dark and spell out: “I AM NOT NUTS. I AM RAISINS”
Our motto is: “All is well if we touch and tell.”
Therefore, Mr. Hoss, if you are whipsawed by praise and blame and paralyzing bouts of indecision and you feel you are heading for the State Home for the Quaint, seething with inner resentment, and plagued by unruly disoriented inner visions, I look forward to seeing you. We always have room for an extra chair.
Sanford may be a comedian,but I don’t think a well known one.
Lee Atwater lives!!
I guess I will give ECB another contribution. Seems only fair.
Heck even Lee would embarrassed by this campaign
Lee Atwater lives!!
I guess I will give ECB another contribution. Seems only fair.
Heck even Lee would embarrassed by this campaign
smells like Wes Donehue tactics..gone bad
smells like Wes Donehue tactics..gone bad
According to the “Art of War”….what would a flanking counter move ….be? What would the third candidate Platt be sure to do..?? How would a Caterpillar Bull Dozer be used considering the loss of those jobs…??
According to the “Art of War”….what would a flanking counter move ….be? What would the third candidate Platt be sure to do..?? How would a Caterpillar Bull Dozer be used considering the loss of those jobs…??
The GOP is a dirty player.
The GOP is a dirty player.
Wes is trying to cover up Sanford’s Strom problem.
Wes is trying to cover up Sanford’s Strom problem.
I’m new to the state. Who is this Wes guy that everyone keeps talking about?
He’s a political “consultant” that you can meet at upstate truck stops if you have $10 in your pocket and a desire to be blown.
I’m new to the state. Who is this Wes guy that everyone keeps talking about?
He’s a political “consultant” that you can meet at upstate truck stops if you have $10 in your pocket and a desire to be blown.