The Bison Group

Case Files: Silencing the Opposition

Levi — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:01:28 +0000

From the TBG Files — Keith Humphrey for Kansas State Senate (2012)

Shortly after filing for the Kansas State Senate in the 28th Senate District in early June 2012, Wichita-businessman and decorated Navy vet Keith Humphrey was attacked on Twitter by a known Brownback staffer and former Topeka City Councilman, Jim Gardner. Jim Gardner accused Keith of having an intimate relationship with a 17-year old girl over Twitter. Unfortunately, Gardner failed to do his homework and it turned out the 17-year old girl was a Keith Humphrey’s stepdaughter who has raised as own since her biological father passed away in 2006.

We took the Gardner post, which was posted late on the evening of Monday, June 11, 2012, and issued a press release by 9:00 AM, Tuesday, June 12. The story was picked up by the Capital-Journal, The Wichita Eagle, and the Huffington Post. We helped to establish who Keith was: a no-nonsense businessman who wasn’t intimidated by anyone. Keith Humphrey received few attacks again from the Brownback camp until the waining days of the 2012 election cycle. The best outcome was that Jim Gardner lost his cushy lobbying job and lost his Twitter privileges for several months. The post is after the Bison.

Humphrey condemns attack on daughter by known Brownback associate

Late Monday evening, four days after filing for the Kansas Senate, the daughter of State Senate candidate Keith Humphrey was attacked on Twitter by a known Brownback associate.

“I served my country with distinction in the US Navy. I believe in freedom of speech. But actively stalking my 17-year old daughter on Twitter and making crude tweets of a derogatory, adult nature is unacceptable,” said Humphrey. “I call on Gov. Brownback to call off his thugs. We can debate Sam Brownback’s failed tax policy that gives tax breaks to millionaires while raising taxes on middle-class families, but my family is off-limits. I’ve faced tougher thugs than this in my life. I am not intimidated.”

The tweet was sent by Jim Gardner, a former Topeka City Councilman and now an associate at Hickam Public Affairs, formerly known as David Kensinger Associates, late Monday evening. Gardner had erased the tweet by late Tuesday afternoon. By its own admission, Hickam Public Affairs was previously named David Kensinger Associates, but changed names, when agency partnerDavid Kensinger assumed the position of Chief of Staff to Gov. Sam Brownback. Hickam Public Affairs is now owned by Matt Hickam, a long-time Washington, DC political consultant and lobbyist. David Kensinger resigned from Gov. Brownback’s office in April. Many lawmakers believe that Kensinger left the Governor’s office to target moderate Senators in the November elections.

Tyeler Rivera is the 17-year old biological daughter of Therese Humphrey, Keith Humphrey’s wife. In 2006, Tyeler’s biological father passed away from colon cancer. Since 2006, Keith and Therese Humphrey have raised Tyeler Rivera as their shared daughter. “I was fortunate to be there for the kids,” said Keith Humphrey. “I’ve learned so much from being there to provide them with love and support during an incredibly difficult time.”

Humphrey continued, “These are precisely the types of destructive politics and game-playing that must stop in Topeka. This is my first run for public office, and it’s repulsing to see the depths at which career politicians will go to retain control. Washington, DC insiders have invaded our state. I ask the voters across the state to reject these types of destructive politics.”

“Jim Gardner is a 39-year old man, and he thinks it’s appropriate to tweet ‘Teenage Lover!’ to a 17-year old girl. It’s despicable. He and his employers should be ashamed,” said Katie Rohr, Humphrey for Senate communications director. “It’s clear Keith has struck a nerve in the Governor’s office, which is strange, because this is a Wichita-based campaign for Kansas’ 28th Senate District. Undoubtedly, Sam Brownback and his Washington, DC thugs are trying to protect an incumbent senator in Wichita who is sure to rubber stamp the governor’s policies, no matter how inconsistent those policies are with our district and region.”

Keith Humphrey is a candidate for Kansas’ 28th Senate District, which encompasses south central Wichita, northern Derby and Oaklawn-Sunview. Humphrey is the President of Jet AirWerks, LLC, a commercial jet engine maintanence, repair and overhall facility; and Jet AirParts, LLC, a jet engine component material distribution company. Humphrey is also a decorated Navy veteran, earning the Navy and Marine Corps Medal – the second highest non-combatant medal for bravery awarded by the United States Navy — in 1979.

We Love Kansas

Levi — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 22:48:06 +0000

At least one of us grew up in the 1980s (Levi), and a staple of Kansas marketing was the Land of Ahs marketing program by former Kansas Department of Commerce, Travel and Tourism. Singing “Ahhh Ahhh KANSAS!” never got old, mostly because the commercials were really corny.

Today, however, we miss those jingles. The marketing was really simple, and, perhaps, because the jingle and the imagery takes us back to a time in Kansas that seems so distant today.

We came across these gems of Kansas history as we were perusing the Googles, and we wanted to pass them along.

Bad Democrat Attacks Labor

Colin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:39:09 +0000

TBG Background –

We found this from our files in the Chad Manspeaker for Topeka City Council race in early 2011. Manspeaker, a well-known and well-regarded labor organizer, filed to run against an entrenched incumbent, Deborah Swank, who billed herself as a Democrat in this left-leaning area of the City of Topeka. Unfortunately, her actions while serving on the City Council and running for re-election didn’t live up to the hype — Democrat she was not. Swank sought to use Manspeaker’s position as a Union organizer against him. While Kansas city and school elections are non-partisan, party still influences voters. We used social media and blogging to get the truth out about City Councilwoman Swank and to make sure her plan backfired. Manspeaker defeated Swank by nearly 10 points in the April 2011 general election. This post was featured on the Daily Kos and pushed through social media platforms. The post picks up after the Bison.

This year across the Nation and in the Statehouse we have seen attacks on the Labor movement by Republicans. Yesterday Deborah Swank, a city councilwoman in Topeka, launched a negative campaign against her Labor backed Democratic opponent Chad Manspeaker.

Why is this a big deal? Because Deborah Swank’s letters and radio ads attack Chad Manspeaker for his work in the Labor movement. Deborah Swank attacks Chad Manspeaker for standing up for working families daily. WTF?!?

Deborah Swank you’re just another back room deal making, shady politician who cares more about lining your own pockets than standing up for working families or the constituents of your district.

So let’s take a second to set the record straight.

Lie: Deborah Swank says Chad Manspeaker has only lived in Topeka for 3 years.

Truth: Chad Manspeaker was born in Topeka, attended K through 12 in USD 501 schools, graduated from Washburn University and is raising his 2 daughters here right across the street from his wife’s childhood home, where her parents and 92 year old grandmother still live today.

Lie: Deborah Swank says Chad Manspeaker is a bully.

Truth: Chad Manspeaker stands up for working families daily, he’s been a staple in Democratic politics for many years and cares more about making district 6 and all of Topeka a better place for his children to grow up.

Lie: Deborah Swank says she has successfully worked with the City and Council in a partnership with the Community to guide Topeka in new directions; directions that will attract new business and improve the quality of life for all of our citizens.

Truth: Deborah Swank was instrumental in bringing the College Hill development project to district 6. A project where the entire 24,000 square feet in retail space remains empty, and not a single townhouse out of the 25 constructed in the College Hill Redevelopment Plan have been sold, despite the fact that Councilwoman Swank herself served as a co-listing real estate agent on behalf of the Washburn Lane Renovations LLC sellers.

That’s right, Councilwoman Swank directly lined her own pockets with taxpayer money on a failed construction project that she was instrumental in bringing to the district.

Deborah Swank is not only antilabor, she is a liar. In Deborah Swank’s latest letter she urges voters to call her. Well I agree, call councilwoman Swank at (785) 845-4115 and tell her to stop lying and stop lining her pockets with taxpayer dollars.

Chad Manspeaker is running because he believes Topeka can do better, Chad believes that the city government must be honest with itself and the city taxpayers and he has received so much support for working families because of the work he has done on their behalf for many years. Chad believes that we must do more to demand transparency in government in order to increase accountability, stop the backroom deals and make Topeka as a whole a better place.

Today is the finance report deadline for the race, help Chad get a strong showing by donating to his campaign and show Mrs. Swank that standing up for working families is nothing to be ashamed of.

Kansas GOP Congressional Candidate Delivers Bigoted Attack To Supporters.

Colin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:43:13 +0000

We found this post from our files when a lowly-State GOP National Committeeman, Mike Pompeo, attacked via his communications director then State Representative Raj Goyle — an American-born citizen and one of the brightest individuals produced right here in Wichita. Pompeo had won a hard fought battle in the Republican primary against a crowded field including then-State Sen. Jean Kurtis Schodorf and then-State Sen. Dick Kelsey (both were moderate Republicans defeated in their re-election bids in the great purge of moderation of 2012). Following his win in the August 2010 Republican primary, Pompeo went on the offensive against Goyle — not on the basis of any policy difference, but through the use of race-baiting and “he’s not like us” hyperbole.

Ironically, Raj was more like us than Pompeo, who just a decade earlier had called California home. Pompeo came to Kansas when his wealthy investors — Charles and David Koch — gave him millions to start an aerospace company and join their army of free market idealism.

We took a post from the Pompeo camp calling a racist rant from a unstable individual “a good read.” This post went viral and ultimately was highlighted on the Rachel Maddow show. Our post begins after the Bison.

Yesterday Mike Pompeo, GOP Congressional candidate in the KS 04, tweeted about an interesting read from one of his campaign supporters. No big deal right?

Wrong. The link that Pompeo tweeted takes you to a page where one of Pompeo’s supporters rants about how terrible his opponent Raj Goyle is and says…

Like his comrad obama, he wouldn’t give an answer, only that he was not a Christian. This guy could be a muslim, a hindu, a buddhist etc who knows, only God, the shadow and …goyle knows! One thing’s for sure … goyle is not a Christian!

Since the 2008 election of the evil muslim communist USURPER, barack hussein obama, political candidate “BIRTH CERTIFICATE & RELIGION” information is now a vital part of the vetting/nomination/election process for any and all American citizens seeking political office.

Just like his evil muslim communist USURPER comrad, barack hussein obama, This goyle character is just another “turban topper” we don’t need in congress or any political office that deals with the U.S. Constitution, Christianity and the United States of America!!!

Just in case you happened to read over that part in the mass of racist vomit Pompeo’s supporter calls a blog post, I’ll point it out again.

Just like his evil muslim communist USURPER comrad, barack hussein obama, This goyle character is just another “turban topper”

Not only did Pompeo knowingly read this, he obviously agreed with it because he then sent it out over his official campaign Twitter account calling it an “interesting read”.

Mr. Pompeo not only are you a terrible candidate for Congress, you are a racist. You can say these aren’t you words but by you sending them out to your supporters you endorse the ideas in the article.

Here is screen shot of the entire article Pompeo tweeted. Just in case it disappears.