It looks like we have a Republican in this race afterall. This manipulation on the campaign system disgusts me. Clearly the Republicans will go to any lengths necessary to try to stop Jeff Smith and add a conservative vote like Gambaro's to their majority in the Senate. When the guy supports Bush's Veto of Stem Cell Research and supports Bush's Social Security Privatization Plan it's not hard to see why Republicans are doing everything they can to support him. Gambaro's tactics resemble those of Karl Rove's. It hardly suprises me that he has Rove/Bush money behind it.

We've always had Republican's in local politics, they just always file as Democrats. Nothing new here.

We just need to get over this illusion we are democratic stronghold in St. Louis and accept that we are getting played by the conservative right.

City Republicans are the least of Jeff Smith's concerns. It's the moderate Democrats who don't want a socialist in Democrat clothing as their state Senator he needs to worry about. Those are the voters who are not falling for all that rhetoric about Jeff being the guy who can represent everyone in the 4th District.

Jeff Smith may, indeed, politely listen to all voters, but if he is elected only the extreme liberals would be happy with his voting record. He is alienating a huge chunk of his own base.

---socialist in Democrat

I find this curious, what is it about Jeff's positions other than abortion that separates him from Pat Dougherty?

Seriously? Anyone find some daylight there?

"Socialist" that's what Republicans call anyone who wants to preserve social security. The old liberals are communists argument has been the last refuge of the right-wing for years. Next thing you know, Derio and his supporters will be deriding the "liberal media". LOL

check out Rex's vacation home in Osage County.

http://www.realestatearchitects.com/index.php/gallery/firm_single/phelps/

Excellent work, Dave, digging through the district committee reports to find the (legally) laundered contributions.

Enough of the exaggerated rhetoric on both sides! Derio is not a Republican, and Jeff is not a socialist. Republicans support Derio because they regard him as the least of the "evils," and supporters of school vouchers (regardless of party) support him because of his stand on that issue. And Jeff's supporters like him because he is a very principled progressive, not a socialist. Those who like to buy influence will be (and probably already are) unhappy with Jeff.

No, Patterson (Urban Review) is right. Gambaro would run as a Rethug if they had any kind of presence in the city proper. Kinda like Joe LIE-berman. The Dems should return Derio's filing fee and tell him he doesn't qualify to be a Dem.
Socialist. Pfft. You wouldn't know that if it came up and bit you on the ass.

Wow, it is hard to believe this is legal. So, the 13th, 14th and 15th District Legislative Districts set up Political Committees. The people elected as the Democratic commitee in the last election have the authority to do this. Mark Miles is the treasurer of all of them. (Who is Mark Miles?)

A political Committee can apparently donate up to ten times as much to a campaign as an individual can. Then one individual, Rex Sinquenfield, donates $6,500 to each of the three Political Committees. They turn around and donate it to Derio.

Wow, Oracle you are right, that is just legal laundering if there ever was such a thing.

Gotta give these guys credit, they know how to game the system.

What the ???, actually this is pretty much standard operating procedure throughout the state. Everybody knows how, it is more of a matter of hooking that big fish who'll donate that much money to you.

It will all end in January, Party committees will be outlawed from making contributions to candidates. However, limits will be gone too, so Rex could give until his heart is content come January...

Ok, Oracle, have it your way. Jeff is a "progressive." Regardless of what you call him, he would be serving in the Missouri Senate whose majority, whether any of you like it or not, is Republican. If we send Jeff Smith to Jeff City, we may as well send no one because his so-called progressive views will put him in such a minority that he will be talking to himself.

If Jeff wins on August 8, he'll be going to Jeff City to accomplish exactly what? Do you really think he'll be able to get laws passed that you will be happy with? Do you think he'll turn the Republicans into "progressives"?

If Jeff is elected, that will confirm every suspicion that outstate Missouri has about St. Louis--that we are left wing liberals (that's what they call "progressives," you know) incapable of negotiation or moderation.

The truth is somewhere between Corolla and Oracle.

Basically what you're saying Corolla: we should elect someone like Gambaro cause they'll vote with Republicans and Republicans will like him?

If we were to send someone like him to the Senate (this is a very hypothetical statement since he has basically no chance of winning this thing), what would he fight for?

He's against stem cell research, against raising the minimum wage, against social security, against equal rights, against public schooling, against police living in the neighborhoods they are paid to protect...(I can keep going)

No thank you! I'll take any of the progressives in this race over him. We have enough Republicans and weak-kneed Democrats in Jeff City.

I agree on several levels:

1. First of all, Derio is not going to win this race so this is silly.

2. I think Jeff represents values that most of the 4th district believe in and for that matter the state.

3. Jeff has shown an ability to create a diverse coalition of support in this race and he will do the same when possible in Jefferson City.

4. Finally, Jeff knows how to win. John may be willing to concede the state to Far Right but I certainly am not. The Republcans have just flat out played the game better. Jeff is a winner who will help Democrats across the state win back the legislature over the time he is in the Senate.

If you don't want to vote for Blunt, Bush and the status quo in a Democratic primary and would rather cast a vote for hope in our future than I would vote for Jeff.

Right On:
1. If Jeff represented the values that most of the state believe in, the Senate would not be so heavily Republican.

2. What diverse coalitions has he created? Forget about the right wingers, show me how he relates to voters who believe in adult stem cell research only, or who don't want discrimination against gays but can't go so far as to support gay marriage?

If you want Jeff to win, you just can't classify everyone who disagrees with him as a right wing lunatic or, God forbid, a Republican. Face it, you "progressive" Democrats, there are moderates in your party who might prefer Derio or even Yaphett E-Amin. Dismiss them at your peril.

Corolla,

Who is talking about dismissing moderate or conservative Democrats? Have you seen Jeff's endorsement list? It's about as diverse as you can get in the Democratic party. The 4th district has tremendous diversity and Jeff is the ONLY candidate who is reaching out to all of it while still standing strong for his core values. Boykins and El-Amin are sticking to the North Side. Derio is staying South. Jeff has been North, Central and South. He's reaching out and bringing together conservatives and progressives in the party. Many will support and him and some will not.

Show you "how he relates to voters who believe in adult stem cell research only, or who don't want discrimination against gays but can't go so far as to support gay marriage?" Come to the victory party on election night and you will see exactly how diverse Jeff's support is. They may not agree with him on every issue but they respect his values.

I believe deep down that Jeff and the Democratic party do represent the fundamental values of the majority of the state. Have we been losing that fight over the last several elections to the Republicans? Absolutely, but this is why it is so important to have a breath of fresh air in the party who can articulate our shared values and run elections in a way that we can be successful.

==If Jeff is elected, that will confirm every suspicion that outstate Missouri has about St. Louis--that we are left wing liberals (that's what they call "progressives," you know) incapable of negotiation or moderation.

I'm sorry, but I'll ask again, other than abortion, how is he any more liberal than Pat Dougherty? On fiscal issues I'd argue he's to the right of Pat, though not terribly so.

Furthermore, given the argument, who else fits the District? Derio who seems to have a right wing agenda against the minimum wage which members of all parties support, but Dems support at 90%? Derio has a horrible record as a Lege member on gay and lesbian issues in a District that has significant gay and lesbian residents. Derio has a record on economic issues that is horrendous including opposing Social Security in its current form, has the Missouri Chamber of Commerce Endorsement, and has received donations or been employed by anti-union think tanks.

Corolla-

I just laughed out loud when I read your comment about preferring El-Amin. Have you ever talked to any of her state house colleagues? She was impossible to work with and never reached across the aisle.

However, unlike Derio she actually has a chance to win this thing. From the beginning all he has been is a stalking horse.

Beyond that, you need to get your head checked. Adult stem cell research is a joke, the only thing that offers hope to those with incurable diseases is embryonic stem cell.

Jeff and Derio are much further apart on reproductive health issues than Jeff and the current gentleman from the 4th. Patrick's record:
2004 - mixed choice rating by NARAL
2004 - 75% ranking with Planned Parenthood
2000 - pro-abortion rating by Missouri Right to Life

Arch, Derio has a 100% voting record for labor, just so there is no confusion. You can call Hugh McVey, Tom George, or Tim Green if you need confirmation of that. Derio also supports the minimum wage initiative whole heartedly. Check with the folks actually running that ballot initiative--I think they'll confirm his support.

As to some of your other points, we've seen your research to support your claims that Derio has a "horrible record" on gay and lesbian issues. In those votes, did you look to see where Democratic leadership was on those votes at that time? And were you in the room when Democratic leadership--that's right, Democratic leadership--went to House Dems and said please vote this way on this bill to help our outstate members facing tough elections hold their seats in the House? Would you say maintaining house seats in Democratic hands is less important than voting a certain way on a singular bill that you knew for sure had no chance of going the way you wanted it to? If you knew a Republican majority were right around the corner if you failed to hold certain outstate House seats, would you be so fast to condemn party efforts to stem that tide?

Oracle was right many posts ago when he said enough with the exaggerated rhetoric. Derio may not be your kind of Democrat, but he's certainly a Democrat. I know it's much easier to call him a Republican than to have a conversation about the very real challenges faced by effective legislators, talented leaders, and political parties. You would be a much more credible source on these issues if you educated yourself on the FACTS related to these charges and then challenged Derio’s positions.

Bottom line, Derio's campaign is being funded in large part by Republican donors. That should tell everyone who the Republicans want in office. I learned a long time ago not to trust that gang of crooks.

---Arch, Derio has a 100% voting record for labor, just so there is no confusion

Like Social Security Privatization? Why again isn't he getting all the union support then? Or much of it?

==Derio also supports the minimum wage initiative whole heartedl

Funny, he hasn't said that publicly. Perhaps you could get him on record. Because the guy who just gave him $20,000 did it for some reason and he's not known for liking candidates into such things. He also got the Chamber of Commerce endorsement and the Restaurant PAC to support him and they are strongly against it--what else do they see in him?

So let's look at what the leadership told him to do:

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?sig_id=001223B

MO State House 60 Amber 'Holly' Boykins Democrat 86
MO State Senate 24 Joan Bray Democrat 100
MO U.S. House 1 William Lacy Clay Democrat 100
MO State Senate 14 Rita Heard Days Democrat 100
MO State Senate 4 Patrick 'Pat' Dougherty Democrat 71
MO State House 83 Barbara Fraser Democrat 86
MO Challenger Derio Gambaro Democrat 57
MO State House 74 Thomas E. 'Tom' George Democrat 50
MO State Senate 19 Charles 'Chuck' Graham Democrat 83
MO State Senate 13 Timothy P. 'Tim' Green Democrat 80
MO State Senate 1 Harry J. Kennedy Democrat 57
MO State House 104 Wes Wagner Democrat 57

So Derio just bends to the will of the leadership while the rest voted the way most city residents would prefer? That's a profile in courage for you. He votes more like an outstate legislator than a St. Louis City legislator.

And they did such a good job keeping the House in Democratic hands by pretending to not have many core Democratic values like individual freedom. I'm so glad that plan worked out so well. Let's try it again. Perhaps you want to bring Kreider back to. That would solve all the Dems problems.

How can Derio say he is pro-labor when he takes money from an anti-union think tank in the Show Me Institute (because face it the Show Me Institute is Rex's baby) and worked for an anti-union think tank promoting the privatization of Social Security? Hell, they wanted to privatize unemployment insurance and in Washington state they unions hate that place because they are always fighting them.

Or is this the lame "it was just my employer" defense he tried out?

http://gambaroforsenate.org/news/newsitem.php?section=PRS&id=3835&showcat=2&seq=1

There are no limits on the money going into these organizations and distributions to candidates can be up to 10 times the limit for that political election cycle. One wealthy donor can give a total of $25,000 to a handful of PACs that in turn can make five $5,000 contributions to a race that has a $1000 limit. Essentially, one individual, albeit one very rich individual, can easily circumvent contribution limits by giving large sums of money to a variety of PACs and political organizations." Gambaro proposes that all PACs and political party spending in support of, opposition to or referring to a state or local candidate in any way must come from segregated funds that would be subject to the same source restrictions as state candidates and elected officials. Political parties would share one contribution limit for all of its subdivisions. Individual contributions will be limited to $25,000 per calendar year to ALL candidates and segregated PAC and political party accounts.

Hilarious.

If Jeff truly were some "wacky socialist," then conservatives like Rex would want Smith to get elected in order to repel moderates away from Democrats. Instead, as a values-driven progressive, Jeff scares the hell out of Republicans. So then, folks like Rex are backing Gambaro as an attempt to defeat any grassroots reformer like Smith from changing Jefferson City.

Same old same old from the El-Amin and Gambaro folks. Approximately three weeks out from primary day and their continuous sole message is go negative and call Jeff every name in the book. Let us not forget that Yaphett's last finance report was already a week late before the storm hit and Derio waited until the last moment to try and funnel enough money to him to get over his 20% plateau. It ain't gonna work.