Google's newspaper feature should be a cause for delight among citizen journalists. All those microfiche copies of newspapers are going online, including this wonderful little nugget on Russ Carnahan's first attempt to go to Congress. The Southeast Missourian in September of 1990 reads:
" Russ Carnahan is trying hard to portray Bill Emerson as a "Fat Cat" politician, a carpetbagging lobbyist who moved back to the district in 1979 solely to run for Congressl as someone who is tried to special interest groups and big corporations, and is out of touch with the working people of a district."
Of course, those with a sense of irony will note that Russ was running in the 8th district, but after failing, he moved to St Louis where he ran for a Missouri House seat, and then eventually won a narrow 10 -person primary to replace Richard Gephardt in the 3rd district. Funny enough, during both campaigns, he was accused of being a fat cat politician and carpetbagging lobbyist who moved into the district in solely to take over Richard Gephardt's seat.
Prince Russ' use of the term 'Fat Cat' was intended as a double entendre making fun of Emerson's weight. That's the kind of guy Russ is.
It should be noted that both of the offices the prince held were started with nail-biter primary wins, in spite of his family legacy. In his first successful run for office in 2000, he edged his ultimate successor, Jeannette Mott Oxford, for the state rep nomination by just 64 votes. That's in addition to his razor-thin win over future felon Jeff Smith in the 2004 congressional primary that you mentioned.
Posted by: The Unablogger | 02/08/2010 at 11:27 AM