Campaign ‘96

Making music of your opponent

U.S. Senate candidate Walt Minnick was stiffed for a co-appearance with Emmylou Harris at a rally in Sandpoint earlier this week that focused on the down side of having ASARCO build a mine in Montana that drains its pollution to Idaho. Minnick still managed to make music about the event with several one-liners. “This is like the old country western song, ‘She Got the Gold Mine, I Got the Shaft.”’ The Minnick camp yodels that U.S. Sen. Larry Craig - Minnick’s Republican opponent, a champion of the mining industry and a favored customer of its PAC contributions more fits the tune “If You’ve Got the Money Honey, I’ve Got the Time.” Maybe Walt has a future in radio if the election doesn’t work out?

Bumper sticker politics

Expect Idaho’s delegation to introduce legislation to limit the First Amendment as it applies to automobile bumpers. The latest bumper wisdom, after all, threatens Idahoans’ most dearly held right. It reads: “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will accidentally shoot their children.”

Not quite ready for chrome time

Although this hasn’t made a bumper sticker, it probably should: “Why didn’t the Republicans do the Macarena at the convention in San Diego?” Answer: “They couldn’t find an English-only version.”

The hand that rocks the trough

Notoriety is mine, sayeth the politician, and none has commanded so much as the all-colorful U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth. (If you don’t already know she’s a Republican, you may not be qualified to vote in this election.) Chenoweth’s latest rise to the headlines comes through “Mother Jones” magazine, where it’s noted she took a $3,000 campaign contribution from Graco Children’s Products. Graco makes the infamous Converta-Cradle, an automatic-rocking crib that was recalled after allegedly killing infants. The company also wants product liability reform in the form of punitive damage limits, something Chenoweth supports. Sounds like another case for campaign finance reform. But does $3,000 really qualify someone for the top dozen disreputable congressmen and congresswomen?

Uh, before you cut that check

A staffer for state Sen. Tim Tucker, D-Porthill, wants to make a minor correction to the candidate’s latest campaign flier.

Political contributions to the senator’s campaign, or any other for that matter, are NOT tax deductible.

Campaign calendar

Anti-hydroplane racing forces will gather for food, drinks and entertainment Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. in Coeur d’Alene City Park.

In October, Idaho Public Television will air debates on all four statewide initiatives. Oct. 3 the Nuclear Waste Initiative is on the airwaves and on Oct. 10 it’s congressional term limits. Oct. 17 look for the give-and-take on the One Percent Initiative and Oct. 24 it will be the debate on the Bear Baiting Initiative. All are at 7:30 p.m.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: How they voted

MEMO: Campaign ‘96 is published regularly during the campaign season and is compiled by Ken Olsen from staff reports. To submit information on a political event or a question you want the candidates to answer, write us c/o The Idaho Spokesman-Review, 608 Northwest Boulevard, Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. Or call Cityline at (208) 765-8811 on a Touch-Tone phone, then press 9893 to leave a message.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Ken Olsen from staff reports