Jack Conway hopes to profit from Kentucky Stomp in new anti-Rand Paul TV ad

Rand Paul probably thought the whole Aqua Buddha controversy was the biggest hurdle his campaign would have to contend with in his quest to become the next senator from Kentucky. The GOP nominee was repeatedly grilled by his rival, Democrat Jack Conway, in a debate this month about a GQ article that claimed that Paul, while in college, kidnapped a fellow student and forced her to pray to "The Aqua Buddha". Conway's persistence flustered the Republican such that Paul refused to shake his opponent's hand at the conclusion of the meeting, and Talking Points Memo dubbed it "The Nastiest Debate of 2010."

Before the follow-up debate on Monday, Paul's Bourbon County coordinator Tim Profitt overreacted to a 23-year-old MoveOn.org employee who was attempting to take a photo with the candidate. After the woman, Lauren Valle, was pushed to the ground by some Paul supporters, Profitt appeared to keep her down by stomping on her shoulders and head.

The violent video went viral. Profitt, who has since been dismissed from his volunteer position, was slapped with an assault charge; Valle received a headache; and Paul's campaign was seriously bruised. And now the Kentucky Democratic Party has a low-cost commercial ominously tying together Paul's campaign promises with his former coordinator's infamous stomp.

The Kentucky Democrats plan to start airing "The Rand Paul Stomp" on Friday night, less than four days before the election.

"It’s a scary ad, but it’s reflective of what actually happened," Matt Erwin, communications director for the state Democratic Party, told Politico on Thursday. "It’s a story that needs to be spread."

The last negative ad aimed at Paul, focusing on the Aqua Buddha controversy, apparently backfired. Before that ad aired, the nominees were in a dead heat. Afterward, Conway fell by 13 points, according to a poll released Tuesday by Public Policy Polling. 

-- Tony Pierce
twitter.com/busblog

Photo: Rand Paul debates on Monday against Jack Conway in Lexington, Ky. Credit: Mark Lyons / EPA

Comments

[Elizabeth Adams]

The ultra conservative faction of the republican party is dangerous. There are those who threaten to take back America by force, if they deem it necessary. To them, I would pose the question: How do you take back something that has not been taken from you? To suggest taking up arms against a governing body is, in my opinion, a form of treason. When one disagrees with policies that are put in place during an administration's time in office, the right thing to do is lay forth your own ideas that differ in an intelligent, thoughtful manner. Additionally, to publicly state that there is no intention to cooperate in any shape, fashion or form with our current government and that your primary goal is to make sure our president serves only one term in office is setting a shameful precedent that every American citizen should reject.

[Elizabeth Adams]

The violence displayed against a young woman at a Rand Paul rally speaks volumes about the type of people trying to get into powerful positions in government. Sure spending has to be curbed and policies put in place to boost job creation and stability. To accomplish success in these areas, all of our elected officials should be wholly involved in a peaceful and intelligent manner. This does not equate to physically attacking your opposition if you don't agree with their posturing. And, additionally, it does not benefit our country to state your intent to make sure that compromise with the current administration is "off the table". The radicalism on display in this country should be fully publicized for what it is, a movement based on anger and fear, and not reality.

[Phil]

You're joking aren't you. "Tim Profitt overreacted ..."

He didn't overreact. He violently assaulted a young women, half his size, whilst she was pinned down on the ground by another guy. That's not overreacting, that's cowardice.

[Farid]

How is this Rand Paul's fault?

[Jeff B.]

The ad is disgusting and lies to the faces of Kentucky voters. Rand Paul never supported repeal of the Civil Rights Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act.

[AQ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiLeud-sxrM

Valle jams the placard in Rand Paul's face and then at 53 seconds in the video has run around the vehicle and is charging Paul from behind.

Not exactly an innocent bystander.

[Dave Parker]

"Ominously"? For all of you IOKIYAAR apologists out there, it's not an attack ad if the material it presents is true. I suppose it's ominous to someone who still believes the Supreme Court was correct on Bush v.Gore when it privileged the civil rights of George W. Bush in its "ominous" 5-4 decision.

[Brian]

The stomping should not have happened and it looked like the guy stepped on her shoulder which knocked her head to the ground. But 1) Rand didnt stomp on her head, the campaign should be focused on the issues 2) the women broke through a secured area wearing a disguise (is that really a good idea in that kind of environment?). 3) Supporters told him to stop as soon as they saw him do that but like most of politics, people like to cherry pick their moments and this ad is the worst I've seen from Conway in the category of fear mongering and spinning.

[Barry Hussein]

Jack Conway is going to find that no one cares about that vile woman who aggressively forced her way into the "kill zone". So any reaction or overreaction was strictly her own fault. Apologies and dismissals have been made, now it is time to get back to the issues. Conway, you do remember the issues, don't you? Or are you just selling more Demoncratic snake oil?

[Stephen]

How is this Rand Paul's fault?

...Nixon wasn't one of the Watergate burglars either.

[Til]

Liberal hypocrites, Barack Hussein Obama sat in Rev. Wright's church, listening to God damn America and hate preached against America by Wright and his church for 20 years. Voters still did not blame Obama for what one of his very close associates did, they voted for Obama. You can't blame Rand Paul for one person's bad act. Rand Paul will be the best senator.

[MrLasVegas]

Mr. Proffits moves were right out of a Hell's Angels movie in the '60s. They slammed Ms. Vallies head against the elevated sidewalk with her shoulder and body on the pavement. It appeared that Proffit was attempting to break C3-C4 vertabrae, by stomping on her head and neck as she laid on her side.

This could have made the woman an instant paraplegic, or killed her outright. Where is Gloria Allred? Where is Justice??? This was an open debate event, not a republican event. The woman was not a threat. The only defense we have is to vote straight ticket DEMOCRAT.

[Joemamabush]

We are the United States of America. United in fighting each other.

[youngnation]

People aged 50 + stepping on the head of 20 somethings. Sounds like congress.

[jim]

The news never showed what led to the "stomping", which didn't look like a stomp it looks more like he was placing his foot on her to hold her down. All of this happened after Lauren Valle ("Stomp victim") ran towards the car just a Rand Paul was arriving, to shove a huge sign into his face. Isn't it possible the "Big Crazy Men" acted because of Lauren Valle's mad dash towards Rand Paul?

I guess they should have let her slam a hugh sign into Rand's face, maybe that was the right thing to do, let her assault Rand Paul?

[KY]

"tried to take a picture with Rand Paul"

She tried to shove a placard in his face through a car window. With tensions running high, what did she expect? This is her fault.

OK people, we all apologized, so lets get back to the issues. Jack, do you remember the ISSUES?