Spin Control: Debating points aside, Rossi and GOP win 3-2

The Public Disclosure Commission voted last week to dismiss the state Democrats’ complaint against Dino Rossi and Forward Washington, which in most books would be a victory for Rossi and the state Republicans. Their books, for sure.

But one might not have concluded that from the reaction of the Democrats. One might have thought, instead, that Rossi was ordered something an inch this side of horse whipping.

Admittedly, it’s hardly news when Democrats and Republicans disagree. But sometimes it’s fun to delve deeper.

The complaint alleged that Rossi should have reported the names of people who gave money to Forward Washington, a nonprofit group that employed Rossi while he traveled the state talking about what needs to be done to improve the state. That was before he was officially a candidate, of course; he still travels the state talking about ways to improve the state, but now at the top of his list is “replace Chris Gregoire with me.”

Democrats contend that Rossi was running a shadow campaign all along.

Shortly after the vote, a statement came from Rossi campaign HQ with a headline proclaiming the PDC dismissed all charges against their guy. In it, Rossi proclaimed it a great day for himself and his family: “I’m glad the PDC confirmed that we had been telling the truth all along with my work for The (Forward Washington) Foundation.”

A statement from state GOP Chairman Luke Esser followed a bit later, opining that “the truth ultimately prevails” because Rossi was cleared of all charges by “the Gregoire smear machine.”

Hyperbole aside, this didn’t create many orders to “stop the presses” around the state. The PDC staff had investigated the state Democrats’ complaint, and recommended earlier that it be dismissed, so it wasn’t really surprising that the commission had pulled the plug on this little drama.

But then state Democrats sent out their missive saying the PDC had concluded Rossi should “come clean” on his donors, accompanied with various “shame on Dino” quotes from various commissioners.

What the …? Did the Republicans and Democrats attend two different meetings?

When contacted, PDC spokeswoman Lori Anderson offered to shed a little light on what went on by reading the minutes of the meeting. Minutes can be a bit dry, so here’s Spin Control’s play-by-play version of the five-commissioner vote:

Vice Chairman Ken Schellberg made a motion to toss the complaint out, saying he didn’t see much campaign activity and it wasn’t unusual for unsuccessful candidates to get involved in these sorts of activities. If Rossi engaged in political activity, it wasn’t the kind of political activity the PDC regulates, he said. Rossi 1, Dems 0, early in the match.

Commissioner Earl Tilley called it a troubling case. In reading the press coverage of Rossi’s Forward Washington meetings, he felt Rossi probably was campaigning, but reading the staff report convinced him otherwise. Another vote to dismiss. Rossi 2, Dems 0: Things not looking so good for the blue team.

But wait. Commissioner Jane Noland said the disclosure statute should be “liberally construed.” (And what else would a Seattle liberal say, Republicans out there are thinking.) Rossi filed as a candidate in 2005, he never came back and filed papers to say he wasn’t a candidate, nor did he ever file papers closing out his 2004 campaign. Vote against dismissal; Rossi 2, Dems 1.

Secretary Dave Seabrook said he tried to look at the situation like a common citizen would, and a common citizen would say this was campaign activity. Rossi 2, Dems 2. Score tied, everything on the line.

One second to go, Gonzaga down by 1 and Jeremy Pargo steps to the foul line to shoot a one-and-one. Sudden death and Seahawks line up for a Josh Brown field goal attempt at the 10-yard line. Bases loaded bottom of the ninth, 3-2 count. A hushed silence falls over the crowd. The toss. The snap. The pitch. Fans, can it get any more exciting than this?

OK, so it is possible to overdo this, and Spin Control has found itself in trouble for misusing sports analogies in the past.

In any case, Chairman Bill Brumsickle said he wondered whether Rossi was campaigning or not before the investigation, but if the PDC staff spent five months looking into it and concluded the laws weren’t broken, it was good enough for him. Vote to dismiss.

So while it’s true, as the Democrats said, that Tilley thought the law has a loophole, Schellberg said the donors should be disclosed and Brumsickle called the situation “shady,” what matters is how they voted.

Dems lose, 3-2. Game over. Have a good night, fans, and be careful driving home from the stadium.