Some of Paton’s Scarping is more fun that others

by David Safier

I've dubbed Jonathan Paton's more amusing or swinging-wild newsletters and press releases "Scarps," after his press guy, Daniel Scarpinato, who used to write for the Star.

The definition of Scarps: Attack dog, logic-challenged rants written for Paton by Daniel Scarpinato.

The latest Scarp is a hoot.

Apparently, Jesse Kelly has a poll out saying he's leading Paton.

It's a push poll! the Scarp screams.

Push polling rears head in CD8

Here's where things gets fun. Who paid for the push poll?

It's no surprise that a poll paid for by a group known to support Jesse Kelly would produce numbers showing Jesse Kelly ahead. At least four of the group's committee members have donated to Jesse Kelly. And a local newspaper columnist who has been writing flattering articles about Kelly admitted today to be working for the group after being caught in a serious conflict of interest. [boldface added]

The "local newspaper columnist" is Emil Franzi, who writes from the right at The Explorer, where I write from the left. I've never met Franzi and have no love for his political leanings, so I'm not one to rush to his defense, but in this case, picking a fight with him is (1)probably ridiculous and (2)potentially damaging to Paton. Scarpinato, an ex-news man, should know better.

Last week, Franzi wrote a column about the growing dogfight between Paton and Kelly. Toward the end, he slams Paton's campaign pretty hard.

What should concern Republicans wishing to defeat Giffords in November is the incompetence of a campaign that produces drivel like [what is coming out of Paton's campaign]. The Republican hierarchy that lost CD8 twice with tired, hack campaigns is back, with far less money than Tim Bee had two years ago, much of which is already blown on out of state consultants and staff.

These overpaid geniuses are trying to position Paton to the right of Kelly and the third choice, Brian Miller. That's like squeezing past Duncan Hunter and Rand Paul – there's no room.

Kelly and Miller sincerely represent two different wings of the Tea Party movement. Jonathan Paton is a bright, competent, reasonably conservative guy whose handlers have maneuvered into calculation over commitment and position over principle.

Even worse, they're inept.

Today's Explorer has a letter complaining about Franzi's "hit piece" and accusing him of having a connection with the Kelly campaign. Franzi responded at the end of the letter:

I disclosed several months ago my role in the Conservatives for Congress Committee, an independent group prohibited by law from coordinating any efforts with any candidate or candidate's committee but allowed to comment on any or all of them which we have. … My comments on CD8 are my own and not authorized by them or in any way coordinated with the Kelly or Miller campaigns.

Franzi is well within a columnist's bounds going after Paton or whomever else he wishes. I don't see a "conflict of interest" unless Franzi is getting paid to work at the CCC. (If he's getting paid, that's a different story, and Franzi should consider taking a vacation from his Explorer columns until the election is over.) As for the group he's part of, if it's running push polls, Paton has a perfect right to call them on it. But swinging at Franzi is swinging wild.

Ol' Scarpinato likes to Scarp about Giffords getting desperate every time any Democrat refers to "Payday Paton." It sounds like Paton is getting a little, um, desperate himself.