St. Louis Rabbi Wants Apology From Kinder

"HEINOUS and HURTFUL"

Rabbi Susan Talve says Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder's comments comparing Sam Page's political attacks to a Nazi propaganda machine were "hurtful and unacceptable."

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"That's the Goebbels' Hitler . . . Big Lie, Big Lie," Kinder said on Monday in response to a question about a recent Page television ad.

You can watch video of Kinder's comments HERE.

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RABBI'S FULL STATEMENT:

"The comments made by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder this week were hurtful and unacceptable. It is disgraceful to compare Rep. Page's commercial to the Nazi propaganda machine that led to the genocide of the Jewish people. In comparing Page to the architect of Hitler's "Big Lie" technique, Lt. Gov. Kinder crossed a line that should never even be approached. Lt. Gov. Kinder should rescind his statement and issue an apology for his heinous comparison," said Rabbi Susan Talve in a statement Wednesday.

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Sam Page said the comment had no place in a political campaign. Rabbi Susan Talve is the founding rabbi of Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis.

Truthwatch '08: Kinder and Page

The Tour of Missouri vs. A vote for higher sales taxes.

"Faulty science" vs. Quality Jobs Funding.

We Truthwatch some of the ads that have been hitting T.V. screens in the race for Lieutenant Governor.

Watch the KY3 News @ 10 Truthwatch '08 report HERE.

Kinder Answers Claims in Page Attack Ad

POINT, COUNTERPOINT

"That's The Goebbels' Hitler . . .

Big Lie, Tell A Big Lie."

In a recent television ad, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Sam Page accuses Peter Kinder of calling second-hand smoke, "faulty science", losing "millions of taxpayer dollars" on the Tour of Missouri and passing a tax credit for a St. Louis developer.

ABOVE: Watch the ad, and Peter Kinder respond to each charge individually.

Kinder compares Page's tactics to "Goebbels," as in Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister.

Looking For A Fight

The two top candidates for Lieutenant Governor continue to trade tough jabs, two weeks out -- as the race becomes personal.

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PETER KINDER'S CAMPAIGN SAYS SAM PAGE DOES NOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BECAUSE OF HIS OPPOSITION TO THE DEATH PENALTY:

"Peter Kinder has always been a strong supporter of the death penalty and have always been prepared to carry out an execution in the event the governor was out of state. Peter believes we owe it to the victims of heinous crimes like murder to ensure that justice is served," said Kinder spokesman Paul Sloca. "Missourians should be concerned about Sam Page’s opposition to the death penalty and his apparent inability to carry out the duties of lieutenant governor," Sloca added.
TEAM PAGE RESPONDS:

"Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is apparently too busy defending physical and sexual abusers of children to check his facts," said Page spokesperson Bret Bender. "The man who called all Democrats dumb farm animals is so desperate at this point he has given up on twisting the truth and is just conjuring attacks out of thin air. Rep. Page has never co-sponsored such legislation," Bender added, referring to 2007 legislation to repeal the death penalty.

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TEAM PAGE HITS KINDER ON SEPARATION OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:

The Page campaign said Kinder should explain the hiring of Stacey Blomberg, who they say serves dual roles as an employee for the state and a worker for Kinder's campaign.

"The revolving door between campaign work and state work is well known in Kinder's office. Deputy Lieutenant Governor Jerry Dowell is also a member of Tour of Missouri Inc. even while moonlighting as a paid campaign manager for a Republican Congressional candidate. Campaign e-mails were found on the computer of former Kinder Chief-of-Staff Eric Feltner. And a slew of Kinder state staffers were found coordinating campaign efforts with Kinder's campaign spokesman Paul Sloca on state e-mail accounts," said Page spokesperson Bret Bender.

"It's time for the flagrant campaign work on state time and on our tax dollars in the lieutenant governor's office to come to an end," Bender added.

TEAM KINDER RESPONDS:

"Sam Page should be more worried about federal charges for taking campaign contributions from foreign nationals rather than who is working in the campaign office, but, to address Sam Page’s personnel obsession, Stacey Blomberg does not work in the campaign office. Does this guy have any real issues to talk about," responded Kinder spokesperson Sloca. "Blomberg has a letter from the Missouri Ethics Commission saying she has no conflict of interest as long as she does campaign work on her own time," Sloca added. (Here’s link: Blomberg ethics letter)

Page Camp Calls Canadian Donation Clerical Error

Republican Source: Federal Complaint Against Page Could Be Filed Friday

An Oct. 4th campaign contribution listed on the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor's ethics report says it's from a company in Canada.

But Sam Page's campaign is calling that a clerical error.

That's because accepting contributions from foreign countries or non-citizens is a violation of federal law.

At issue: a $10,000 campaign contribution to Page from Waverly Glen, with an address listed of Vaughan, ON Canada. It was filed on Page's 24-hour campaign report in early October.

Page's campaign said that address was processed incorrectly. Late Thursday, a person close to the campaign said the donation came from a subsidiary based in St. Louis. The campaign said it was planning to file an amended report Friday.

But a Republican source said that a federal complaint with the Justice Department and Federal Election Commission as early as Friday morning.

Page is locked in an increasingly testy race for Lieutenant Governor with Republican Peter Kinder.

DEVELOPING . . .

Kinder Has $397,402 More On Hand Than Page

In what's shaping up to be the most spirited, competitive statewide race this year, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder has a bit of a financial advantage heading down the stretch.

Looking at just the cash-on-hand number from the Sept. 30th deadline, Kinder, the Republican has $1,073,000. Democratic challenger Sam Page has $675,598.

Do some quick math and that gives Kinder a cash advantage over Page of just under $400,000.

"My opponent is in the pockets of the special interests. This has earned him the ability to raise money $100,000 check by $100,000 check," Page said in a statement Wednesday.

And to think, just nine short months ago Kinder was briefly a candidate for Governor.

"Unconscionable . . . Unethical"

LT. GOV. RACE GAINING ATTENTION

(UPDATED BELOW)

Kinder Keeps Pressure On Page Vote

DEMS Look Into Feltner's Work

Peter Kinder's re-election campaign wants Democratic challenger Sam Page to explain why he voted against a foster care bill in 2003 that required background checks for parents.

But Page's campaign tells the KY3 Political Notebook, a defense is uncessary. "Rep. Rep. Page doesn't need to defend his vote," said Page spokesperson Bret Bender in an e-mail to the Notebook.

It's the focus of Kinder's first television ad, currently running in Springfield. Recently, the Page campaign provided a Kansas City child care advocate to rebut Kinder's charges -- but Page himself has yet to respond directly.

"He was one of only 54 representatives to vote against requiring background checks for foster parents," said Kinder spokesperson Paul Sloca Tuesday. "Page’s position is stunning because he is a medical doctor whose oath is to do no harm," Sloca added, calling it "an unconscionable position."

Bender responded: "Rep. Page voted against the bill because he read and understood it. Apparently, Lt. Gov Kinder isn't concerned about children who are physically or sexually abused." Bender also points to a Kansas City Star editorial in August 2003, urging lawmakers to let Gov. Bob Holden's veto of the bill stand. The Star wrote the following:

In July, Holden vetoed the bill, which would make numerous changes in Missouri's child-protection system. His reasons weresound: It would have limited the state's power to subpoena witnessesin abuse and neglect cases, taking away an important tool in findingout the truth. It would also have required law enforcement officials to videotape child witnesses. Experts say that could be frighteningto the children and could discourage them from talking.

Meanwhile, the Missouri Democratic Party has filed a Sunshine request with the Cole County Prosecutor's Office for records relating to the investigation, prosecution and conviction of former Kinder Chief-of-Staff Eric Feltner. Feltner resigned from Kinder's office after being charged with furnishing porn to a minor.

Dems are looking for possible evidence that Feltner did campaign work for Kinder during his time in his state position. "The records of Eric Feltner’s prosecution may reveal more about the political work done with state resources by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder’s taxpayer-paid staff," said Jack Cardetti, Democratic Party spokesperson. "The revolving door between politics and government in Kinder’s office has led employees to believe that there is nothing unethical about taking undeserved pay bonuses or campaigning on state time. The pattern of unethical behavior runs deep in that office. We want to find out just how deep."

Page Responds To Kinder Ad

Kansas City Child Care Advocate: "Page Did The Right Thing."

The campaign of Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Sam Page responds to Peter Kinder's first television ad, which hits Page for voting against "vital child care reform."

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"In voting against house bills 679 and 396 in 2003 Sam Page was defending children in foster care," says Lori Burns-Bucklew attorney and member of the Kansas City Abuse Prevention Roundtable. "There were so many reasons to vote against this bill. For example, it required addresses of foster homes to be disclosed which put the foster kids' safety in jeopardy, and it would have put children at risk by making it more difficult to prosecute cases of child abuse. Sam Page did the right thing." she adds, in a statement provided to The Notebook.

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The Page campaign is also responding to another Kinder television ad with this YouTube video, featuring health care workers.

Polling Punches

DEMS CHALLENGE KINDER ON POLL:

PUT UP OR ZIP IT!

HOW CLOSE IS THE RACE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

PAGE 38%, KINDER 37%, UNDECIDED 23%

That's a poll from the Sam Page campaign, conducted by Global Strategy between Sept. 16th -18th of 600 voters. The poll has a margin of error of 4 %.

G.O.P. Operative Close to the Race Says Recent Ad "is not a case of polling trouble, it’s a case of putting the final nails in Page’s campaign coffin."

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Same Republican Says Internal Polling Done 2 Weeks Ago Shows Kinder Up By 9 Statewide, And By 11 in Greene County . . . But the Campaign WON'T release the actual poll for review. Kinder's Paul Sloca pulls back: "The only poll that really matters is the one on November 4th."

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***UPDATED: In a call to the Notebook, Democratic Political Player Tony Wyche, who is not affiliated with the race, notes: "Kinder beat Becky Cook, 60.6% to 36.3% in Greene County in 2004, and barely won the race. If they are only up by 11 in Greene County, they must not be doing real well. Eleven points is not a good place for them to be right now. If his internals only have him up 11% in Greene County, is seems highly, highly unlikely he's up 9% statewide."

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Also from Wyche:

"Recall that when Claire McCaskill beat Jim Talent in 2006, she got 42.6% in Greene County to Talent's 53.6%, a spread of -- that's right, 11%."

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Democrat Close To Page Points To Kinder's Comments To The St. Louis Beacon: "Peter Kinder agrees . . . This is a 1-point race."

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Kinder Hits Page On Attendance

PLUS: KINDER COMES OUT NEGATIVE

***WATCH HIS FIRST TV SPOT BELOW***

KINDER CAMP: "PART-TIME PAGE" MISSED KEY VOTES

PAGE RESPONDS: "Kinder is grasping at any attack his campaign staff can dream up."

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Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder's re-election campaign sent out a press release Wednesday targeting Democratic opponent Sam Page for missing 284 votes in the House since taking office in 2003. "Page, a physician, even missed 31 percent of the meetings of the 2006 Special Committee on Health Care Facilities," said Kinder spokesperson Paul Sloca. But Sloca targeted two votes in particular: A 2005 vote on allowing parents the right to sue people who aid children to get an abortion --AND-- A 2006 vote on restricting eminent domain for economic development.

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The Notebook asked Page's campaign about those two specific votes, but Page spokesperson Bret Bender replied with a statement from Rep. Page that doesn't address the charges.

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"Lt. Gov. Kinder is grasping at any attack his campaign staff can dream up He knows the polls are showing that we are pulling away," said Rep. Page in the statement. "Lt. Gov. Kinder is launching these attacks in the media and on the air because he is unable to defend a record that includes cutting health services to 400,000 Missourians, using job creation money on a bike race, and putting insurance companies ahead of protecting seniors from investment fraud," added Page.

LEGITIMATE ATTACK . . . OR . . . POLLING TROUBLE FOR KINDER?

KINDER TAPS LOCAL HEADLINE GRABBING DOMINIC JAMES CASE

"Why did Sam Page vote against vital child care reform?," asks Kinder's tough first ad of the season.

Friday Shorts

• A spokesperson for Peter Kinder sent us this statement in response to Sam Page's accusation that the Lieutenant Governor is having it both ways on embryonic stem cell research: "Peter Kinder stands by his statement that Sam Page is a liberal from St. Louis who continues to criticize Peter for all the work he has done on behalf of the people of St. Louis." Added Paul Sloca: "But Peter would be happy to call Sam Page a liberal from Carter County if that’s what Sam prefers." Sloca did not comment on how Kinder feels about embryonic stem cell research.
• Regarding Thursday's KY3 News @ 10 story on the Greene County Non-Partisan Court plan, Kenny Hulshof's spokesperson, Scott Baker wanted to remind us: "It is important to note that Kenny also said that modifications are needed to the overall Missouri Plan." Better Courts for Missouri, which has voiced opposition to the Non-Partisan Plan, sent out this awkward statement Friday: "We understand that Greene County citizens would reasonably be concerned by statements implying his support for a measure that would take away their right to vote for judges, but, again, we stand by our statement that Congressman Hulshof deserves to be commended for supporting open and accountable judicial selections and opposing the Missouri Plan."
• Dems are almost getting too gleeful when unemployment numbers tick up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Missouri's unemployment rate increased from 6.4% to 6.6% Friday. The Democratic Party notes that Missouri also lost another 3,700 jobs last month. "The thousands of Missourians who lost their job last month do not agree with Congressman Hulshof that either they or our state’s economy are in 'a good place,'" said Missouri Democratic Party spokesperson Zac Wright. So what happens if Jay Nixon becomes Governor, and in March, Missouri is still losing manufacturing jobs?
• Congressman Roy Blunt is calling for bipartisanship to deal with stabilization of the market. "Now is the time to set politics aside and prioritize stabilizing the economy," Blunt said at a press conference, as reported by Politico. "And if we do that and do that quickly, good things can happen and it will happen quickly. We may be seeing that in the market today," he said.

Paging Kinder

UPDATED BELOW: ROBINSON RESPONDS

Democratic Lieutenant Governor Candidate Sam Page renewed his call for Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder to release the backup e-mail records of the Blunt administration.

Kinder is serving as Acting Governor while Matt Blunt is out of the country. Yesterday, the Lieutenant Governor basically ignored Page's request, dismissing it as a political stunt.

"It appears Kinder does not consider a violation of the state's open records law to be a 'serious matter,' Page said in a statement Thursday. "If state law in that office is not a 'serious matter,' then it's another reason for change."

Also on Wednesday, the Missouri Republican Party announced it was slapping Page with a Sunshine Request. Page said he intends to comply fully to the request.

"It's Kinder's move, again," said Page. "Open up the files, Peter."

UPDATED 7:45 PM . . . Jessica Robinson from the Governor's office . . .

"We have never denied access to any e-mail unless it is protected by law," said Robinson in a statement e-mail to the KY3 Political Notebook.

"We follow the Sunshine law. In fact, we have gone beyond it. Sam Page is not taking the Sunshine Law seriously. Not only is he likely deleting his e-mails, he is attempting to use state government bureaucrats in a disgraceful attempt to circumvent the Sunshine Law because he does not believe it applies to him and other lawmakers," Robinson said.

Missouri G.O.P. Sunshines Page

BLUNT's Robinson: "Rep. Page does not understand the law, and does not know the facts."

Democrats, you've been put on notice.

Mouth off about a Republican's e-mail or Sunshine policies, and you'll get slapped with an open records request yourself.

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder initially blew off a call by Democratic rival Sam Page Wednesday to "release back-up e-mails" from the Blunt administration.

Kinder spokesman Gary McElyea said, "We're not going to respond to political rhetoric. The lieutenant governor takes his role as acting governor as a serious matter. When the governor is out of the country, matters of state come first."

But just hours later, the Missouri Republican Party took things into its own hands, issuing a Sunshine Request of Sam Page, Kinder's likely Democratic opponent this fall. The entire request can be read here http://www.mogop.org/docs/PageSunshine.PDF

"Representative Page has been grandstanding on the issue of the Sunshine Law and it’s time for him to demonstrate to Missourians where he really stands," said MoGOP spokesperson Tina Hervey. "I suspect that Representative Page is in the same camp as many of his Democrat colleagues in that he talks about the Sunshine Law but doesn’t understand it and, like Jay Nixon, we suspect he and his staff are deleting e-mails."

"If Democrats are going to politicize the Sunshine Law, they ought to have the integrity to have their actions match their words. We call on Representative Page to not hide behind any interpretation regarding whether House members are subject to the Sunshine Law. This is a simple request that should be responded to quickly and accurately. Representative Page should also come clean with the press and the public about whether his office is destroying emails," responded Hervey.

Then, Blunt spokesperson Jessica Robinson weighed in to respond to Page's accusation. "We have never denied access to any e-mail unless it is protected by law," Robinson wrote in an e-mail to the KY3 Political Notebook.

"We follow the Sunshine law. In fact, we have gone beyond it. Rep. Page does not understand the law and does not know the facts. Representative Page and his colleagues are not saving e-mails. They need to join in the permanent system. The charge that we are withholding e-mails is false and needs to be treated as such," Robinson added.

Page Calls on Kinder To Release Blunt E-mails

Newly emboldened Democratic candidate for Governor Sam Page is calling on Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder to release the back-up e-mail records of the Blunt Administration.

Kinder is Acting Governor right now because Blunt is out of the country on a trade mission. Blunt will be in Europe for 18 days.

"Peter Kinder is in a position to separate himself from a cover up that has gone on for too long," said Page. "He will claim the guilt for himself if he continues the Blunt administration's policy of secrecy in government," he added.

"As governor, Kinder can permanently lay to rest the issue of the secret e-mails and close this shameful chapter," Page said.

Page Outraises Kinder

Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Sam Page is boasting that he's outraised incumbent Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder during the 2nd quarter.

In a release, Page announced raising $271,191 during the last three months.

Earlier Tuesday, Kinder reported raising $258,346 during the same period.

Page said he gained 406 new individual contributors this quarter. "Our 2,234 contributors are the strength of our campaign," Page said.

"The broad-based support I've received has helped me out-raise the incumbent -- something not considered an easy feat. The addition of 406 contributors shows our campaign continues its momentum," Page added.

Page is reporting $560,440 on hand. Kinder still holds a slight advantage on that front. He has $573,492 on hand to spend.

Kinder Nets $258,346 in Q2

SOURCE: PAGE OUTRAISED KINDER THIS QUARTER

CASH ON HAND WILL BE ABOUT EVEN

REPORT TO BE FILED SOON

DEVELOPING . . .

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder raised $258,346 during the 2nd quarter of fundraising between April and June 30th.

He has $573,492 on hand to spend.

He burned about $325,443 over the last three months.

In his expenditure report, Kinder reported paying his former Chief of Staff Eric Feltner for mileage, lodging and supplies. Feltner was forced to resign in early June after he had been charged with furnishing pornographic materials to a minor. On June 10th, Feltner was paid $452.31 for mileage and lodging.

Kinder's likely Democratic opponent Sam Page has not yet filed his 2nd quarter fundraising report.

"I'm Here Now"

TARGET: JETTON

KINDER'S ETHICS PLAN

Watch KY3 News @ 5 Story HERE

(Kinder piece follows Steelman piece)

(Updated Page response below)

Flanked by Reps. Dennis Wood, and Jim Viebrock, the Lieutenant Governor calls for the barring of elected officials from serving as political consultants to other elected officials

Said this concern has been "stewing" for months . . . Planned to give speech at G.O.P. State Convention in Branson but was counseled out of it . . . Also said he made attempts to counsel colleagues, but they "fell on deaf ears"

On why he waited so long to come forward, responds . . . "I'm Here Now."

SAM PAGE RESPONDS:

"Peter Kinder has been part of an administration that has stripped healthcare services from 400,000 Missourians, has been investigated by the FBI for pay-for-play violations, and is part of an ongoing coverup of documents that should be public record. Meanwhile, he has championed a $100 million tax credit for one of his biggest contributors, has flown around the world on lobbyists' junkets, and has spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars remodeling his offices in the Capitol. If Peter Kinder were truly working to strengthen ethics laws, his plan would prohibit state officials from lobbying on behalf of land-grabbing real estate developers who seek to use eminent domain for private development."

We asked the Page campaign what it was specifically referring to when it mentioned the F.B.I. Here's the response from Rep. Page:

"The pay-for-play scandal of 2006 is representative of the administration that has been in power the past four years. The FBI investigation of whether political donors were improperly awarded lucrative Fee Offices should cause voters to question the values of the current administration. As a member of the Blunt-Kinder administration, my opponent has not stood in opposition to pay-for-play style politics. Peter Kinder has, in fact, shown a commitment to pay-for-play politics by championing a $100 million tax credit designed for one of his biggest political contributors."

UAW Backs Page for Lt. Gov.

SWIPES KINDER IN RELEASE

"Kinder abandoned the office to run for Governor . . .

. . . His party had other plans."

The United Auto Workers (UAW) have endorsed Rep. Sam Page for Missouri's Lieutenant Governor.


Glenn Kage, Financial Secretary for UAW Local 136, called Page "... a true friend of the people who works to expand health care coverage for working families in the State of Missouri. He avoids partisan bickering and is respected on both sides of the aisle, but when needed, Page fights for what he believes in, like affordable health care."


In his release, Page said the UAW has a track record "of endorsing few candidates, but working relentlessly for those that they endorse."

The release from Page also includes this curious statement:

Page seeks the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor. The office is currently held by Peter Kinder, Republican. Kinder abandoned the office to run for governor when Blunt announced he was not seeking reelection. His party leadership told Kinder they had other plans for the office. Kinder is again running for re-election.

Firefighters, First Responders Endorse Page

The Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters has endorsed St. Louis county Rep. Sam Page for Lieutenant Governor.

The group represents 6,000 firefighters, EMS workers, 911 dispatchers and assistant prosecuting attorneys around the state.

"Your caring attitude and record of service towards the citizens of Missouri have earned our highest endorsement," wrote Sherwood L. Smith, President of the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters to Page in release forwarded to news outlets.

"The endorsement of the State Council of Firefighters highlights a recognition of the forged brotherhood between Doctors and First Responders and our joint dedication to public safety in times of emergency," said Page, a physician, in a release.

The fire group has endorsed Page in each of his three legislative campaigns in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

Page Raises A Half Mil for Lt. Gov. Bid

Democratic State Representative Sam Page has raised about a half a million dollars this quarter for his campaign for Lieutenant Governor.

Page is reporting having raised $503,480 as of September 30th.

"This nine-month fundraising effort places us at the mid-point to the Primary election -- nine months away," said Page in a release. "We are finding support in all corners of the state. I am especially pleased that the total was from 1,129 donors who gave an average of $445.95 per donor."

After about nine months of campaigning, Page is reporting $350,547.03 cash on hand. There have been no loans to the campaign, according to a release.