Rob Wasinger gets CoNKed in the head by viral video
Title Screen from CoNK video (click to embiggen)
UPDATE: The floodgates have opened on Rob Wasinger today. In addition to the huge scoop below, check back later today when Dirt Diver will post an additional exclusive on the oft-ridiculed Wasinger for Congress campaign later this afternoon.
For the record, Dirt Diver is not picking on Rob Wasinger on purpose, that just happens to be all the ammo we’ve received so far. Dirt Diver will be happy to post viral videos about Tim Huelskamp or any other candidate – we just haven’t received any – yet. So, Wasinger fans, we’re waiting…
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As if the GOP primary race in KS-01 wasn’t hot enough already, with the two leading Republican candidates each reporting $100,000 on hand, things suddenly just got a lot hotter.
A previously unheard of group calling itself “Coalition of Native Kansans” or “CoNK” for short, emailed a flattering message to Dirt Diver late Monday evening. The Diver was blind copied and thus it is impossible to tell what other influential members of the blogosphere or Kansas media may have received the video, but the intent is rather obvious – create a viral video to reinforce the message that Rob Wasinger hasn’t spent a lot of time in Kansas lately. There are a few other clues in the video which we’ll get around to disecting later. For now, it’s a pretty funny shot across the SS Wasinger’s bow.
Enjoy:
Attention Influential Member of the Kansas media/blogosphere:
As you know, there is an important contest taking place in the 1st Congressional District of Kansas (KS-01), and we, the members of the Coalition of Native Kansans (CoNK) would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of the candidates to the race. As a non-partisan group, it is our desire to educate all Kansans on the rich history of Kansas.
It has come to our attention that one of the candidates, Mr. Rob Wasinger, recently moved to Kansas from his home state of Virginia. As such, the members of CoNK wish to extend to Mr. Wasinger and his family a warm CoNK welcome to the Sunflower State, and we further extend an offer of Kansas history lessons and other state cultural education to Mr. Wasinger and the members of his campaign team so that he may more equitably compete with other candidates who have spent more time in the state.
Welcome to Kansas, Mr. Wasinger. Please enjoy this little welcome video we prepared especially for you.
Sincerely,
Coalition of Native Kansans
And with that, I was directed to a link on YouTube, which Dirt Diver has posted below for your viewing pleasure.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter, Dirt Diver. We believe it is very important to offer a warm welcome to Mr. Wasinger and his family.
We appreciate your willingness to help us pass along this message.
It is my pleasure to help promote civil discourse in Kansas politics. This is a fine effort.
Very kind and thoughtful of you guys to do this.
The information is wrong. Rob is a native Kansan, graduate of the Hays school system. He’s worked on Kansas political staffs in Topeka and in DC (for Sen. Sam Brownback, R-KS). If you work in DC you gotta live somewhere and most everybody picks living south of DC, in Virginia (if you’ve ever lived in Maryland, you’ll know why). The video is very clever. It is also an outright political lie. – The Refugee Kansan
Congrats to Russ as the first pro-Wasinger guy to post at Dirt Diver. For the record, we’re not anti-Wasinger here, we’re pro-humor, and this video certainly qualifies – if not for the outrageous visuals, then certainly for the choice of music. Cotton-Eyed Joe never gets old.
As for the facts, I leave that to voters to sort out. I just enjoy enabling mudslingers – without mud, politics would be boring.
Russ: What information is wrong? Please, tell us specifically what information in the video is incorrect?
Does Wasinger maintain a residence in Virginia? YES.
Did he recently buy a house in the district to establish legal residence in Kansas? YES.
Does Fred Thompson correctly point out in the video that Virginia is where Wasinger came from and Kansas is where Wasinger did go? YES.
Perhaps you take umbrage with the term “Virginia Gentleman?” Since he’s obviously from Virginia, perhaps you think he’s not a gentleman? I guess we’ll find out from former staffers about that soon enough.
Regardless, CoNK released this video to give Rob “Cotton-Eye” Wasinger a warm Kansas welcome.
I look forward to hearing from you real soon now.
CoNK,
See that Brabender / Cox did video. That’s a political consulting firm. Who are you working for…Barker?
In other words…this is a professional job…who’s Brabender working for…BArker or Huelskamp?
Oh, I’m all in favor of a good laugh, at least as much as the next guy. But humor works best – doesn’t it? – when it exaggerates the truth. Then we’re talking, oh, “exaggerated accuracy,” for want of another term. Satire would be another term. And that’s fair in politics. But what CoNK 2010 passes on to us isn’t accurate at all.
As for your own declaration – As for the facts, I leave that to voters to sort out. – that leaves you pretty much free to say any damn thing you want, and duck responsibility at the same time. (I think that’s called “having your cake and eating it too.” Which has always struck me as pretty stupid: it is your cake; what’s the problem?)
Anyway, so you’ll know, I have a problem with “funny” lies so big they make the truth look small.
Oh, Russ, lighten up, will ya? CoNK seems to have a big hit here, judging from the traffic I’m seeing, and it IS partly based in truth. To claim otherwise is dishonest on your part, Russ.
And please don’t pretend that Wasinger is some angel who is above slinging a little mud or engaging in political backstabbing…unless that IS what you’re saying.
IS that what you’re saying, Russ?
Because believe me, Russ, though I’ve only been open for business since the first of the year, BELIEVE me when I tell you that the anti-Wasinger stuff has been pouring in to Dirt Diver, and I’ve had to be downright careful about what I post and what I ignore. Some of it is outright ridiculous, other items are intriguing but unsubstantiated.
This video, however, qualifies as fair game. Face it – Wasinger will get attacked on this throughout the campaign – it’s a legimate issue and we’re not going to pretend he’s lived and voted in Kansas his whole life, are we?
You tell me.
KS Friend,
Now that you mention it, I do see the Brabender Cox tag. A little research indicates they are a Republican media production house.
Another item of note is the tag line “Internet Version” indicating there are potentially other versions being readied for circulation. The quality of this is relatively low – some of the images are difficult to see, however the kind folks at CoNK sent me one image (posted already) and promised more of the “creative” (their words not mine) used in the video was on the way to my inbox, but as of this time (11:40 Central Time), I haven’t received anything else.
Another clue – an internet video doesn’t need to be 30 seconds long. Could be an indicator they have a TV or radio version with a similar theme.
Dirt Driver:
This video was cut by someone…sounds like one of the candidates has hired Brabender-Cox. Is CoNK associated with Hueulskamp or Bareker?
Dirt Driver:
This video was cut by someone…sounds like one of the candidates has hired Brabender-Cox. Is CoNK associated with Barker
I don’t have any indication who CoNK is associated with. From their emails, I have a feeling it will become obvious over time.
I seriously doubt either of the candidates would cut a check directly from a campaign account, though.
Most likely this was an independent expenditure that will never be disclosed on the candidate’s FEC filings.
In other news, my email inbox is filling up with all sorts of interesting information today. More on that later.
Dirt Diver asks: “And please don’t pretend that Wasinger is some angel who is above slinging a little mud or engaging in political backstabbing…unless that IS what you’re saying. IS that what you’re saying, Russ?”
Of course not. But what I do know of him is this: He can balance principle with practical politics and not lose his soul.
And let me point out, Mr. Huelskamp – my guess – is the same kind of man (but someone connected there is plopping gossip over the transom).
But on balance, Wasinger knows DC from his senatorial staff experience and can hit Congress running. That’s something Mr. Huelskamp, for all his gifts, cannot give.
(Y’know, I really like your site.)
Russ,
I appreciate your sentiments regarding Mr. Wasinger, and I’m sure the points you make about him being able to hit the ground running are valid. I am not sure what that is really worth in the grand scheme of things, but I’m sure in the opening days it means Wasinger would have an advantage over anyone else – but what that really means for the folks in KS-01 is really miniscule.
In my opinion, elections are won or lost based on a number of factors, most importantly, authenticity. If Mr. Wasinger is authentic, he stands a pretty decent shot at winning the race.
And here’s the good news for Wasinger fans – he’s got almost 18 months to prove it.
In the meantime, Dirt Diver / Kansas will continue to publish entertaining political information and I am certain there will be more mud slung at all the candidates in KS-01.
As for you liking my site, I’m pleased. The concept we launched really depends heavily on participation by all sides. The vision for Dirt Diver / Kansas is for this to be THE go-to blog for ENTERTAINING political coverage in Kansas.
SEND ME MORE STUFF!!!
CoNK asks me: “Russ: What information is wrong? Please, tell us specifically what information in the video is incorrect?”
Oh, you mean the video? Nothing I can see, off-hand, but I’ll look at it again, to be sure. And as the video goes, very nice. If you were aiming for sophomoric giggles, you did good work.
So, no, not the video. I was reacting to CoNK’s accompanying release to media and blogosphere folks:
It has come to our attention that one of the candidates, Mr. Rob Wasinger, recently moved to Kansas from his home state of Virginia. As such, the members of CoNK wish to extend to Mr. Wasinger and his family a warm CoNK welcome to the Sunflower State, and we further extend an offer of Kansas history lessons and other state cultural education to Mr. Wasinger. . .
Wasinger is a native Kansan and a graduate of the Hays school system. CoNK’s fatuous announcement forgets he spent some years in staff work in Topeka – with governor and Legislature – before joining Brownback’s senatorial staff in DC. The assertion that Rob was born anywhere except in Kansas, or that he has ever not thought of himself as a Kansan, or that he has violent allergic reactions to sunflowers, is incorrect.
[...] a source going by the acronym “CoNK” (Coalition of Native Kansans) rolled out a warm Kansas welcome for Mr. Wasinger earlier this week. That post shattered all previous pageview records for Dirt [...]
Hey Russ
What gives with all the Pro Rob talk. You must be on the dole, or sucking up to him to get some of his money. I know a hack when I see one, and Rob’s “experience” in DC only makes him unfit for the job. We have enough DC clowns coming back to Kansas. Uh, like BrownNose
sad. if your going to keep the video up you should move one of the comments about Wasinger being born in Kansas, working here prior to moving to DC to the top. also he didn’t go to UVA another “fact” the video alludes to. ironic as no real Kansan would stand by, or create such a disingenuous tape.
Character assassination is fine so long as it drives up your web traffic? What a classy human being…
A video poking fun at a candidate’s residency is NOT character assassination, people. It’s called politics. Get used to it.
How low can you go! Garbage video and no truth. Just another adventure in your type of politics. We won’t let you take this county with this kind of junk!… Haven’t you been watching what’s happening. .. and you are helping us with this creation…. For that I should thank you.