CD11: Did Emken pull the religion card?
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Monday, May 17th, 2010 at 4:29 pm in Congress, congressional district 11.
The wife of GOP Congressional District 11 candidate David Harmer is livid over a religious reference in a negative mailer sent out by opponent Elizabeth Emken. (See mailer below.)
“… (Emken) takes a gratuitous swipe at our faith even putting Mormon in boldface,” wrote Elayne Harmer in an email blast sent out today. “It’s a none-too-subtle appeal to religious prejudice, and I find it repugnant.” (She also asked for contributions to her husband’s campaign in the email.)
The Emken mailer shows part of a Dec. 9 article from the Mormon Times, where Harmer was quoted saying he intended to run for the 11th District. Harmer had just lost the special 10th District election in November.
Elayne Harmer picked up on the fact that Emken most likely intended to convey more than the fact that her husband is running for his third congressional campaign. Some evangelicals and Catholics still view Mormonism with great suspicion. Even former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has endorsed Harmer, suffered from what his own staff called the TMT, or “The Mormon Thing.”
David Harmer is not running overtly as a Mormon nor has he hidden it. He has collected substantial numbers of contributions from members of the Mormon community.
Emken, on the other hand, is running openly as a devout, evangelical Christian.
The mailer was never intended to highlight Harmer’s religion, said Emken spokeswoman Nancy Tengler.
“We chose the Mormon Times article because it was the most recent after the District 10 election,” Tengler said. “The Mormon Times is a reputable newspaper. I don’t understand the protestations. If anyone is making this about religion, it is Harmer.”
But Tengler also said the content of the Mormon Times article was intended to reflect what she describes as Harmer’s “manifest destiny” campaign platform. In the article, Harmer was quoted as saying he was running for Congress because he was “prompted by the Spirit” and that “American Mormons must hoist the Title of Liberty.”
Will the voters care about either of these candidate’s religious views? We’ll find out.
Here is Emken’s mailer.
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May 17th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Bigtory pure and simple — a page right out of the Huckabee playbook in Iowa. Shame on Emken.
May 17th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
I checked out the Mormon Times website to see if the word “Mormon” was in bold, versus the word “Times”. The only difference is that Mormon is in white and Times is in light yellow. But the type font looks exactly the same for both words. See for yourself. http://www.mormontimes.com So, I emailed Emken’s campaign and asked why they emboldened that word. If and when they respond, I will post it.
May 17th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
I see that they also quoted the Contra Costa Times. Where’s the outrage by the other newspapers for not being quoted as well? It seems like the only people that are making this about “religion” are in the Harmer camp.
All I care about is how quickly he was talking about running for this seat. This guy is so disingenuous, I won’t NOT vote for him. What makes anyone think he can actually win in November?
Many of us in the TEA Party are sick of career politicians. Continuously running for Congress makes you a career politician Harmer. And the fact that you defend the creeps that raised my interest rates from 12% to 29% when many of us patriots were losing jobs over the past two years, makes me sick. I will NEVER vote for Harmer for any office. We have enough RINOs in Congress.
May 17th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Sarah, whatever you might think of credit card rates (which he, of course, had nothing to do with), Dave Harmer is anything but a RINO. No one running has a better understanding of, or commitment to, the principles of limited Constitutional government. You will not find a more articulate advocate for free markets, low taxes, secure borders and the rule of law in America. And Harmer is the only Republican who can beat McNerney in November, which is one more reason why Tea Party members are overwhelmingly in support of him.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Dan – So you’re saying as a lawyer for the credit card industry he had nothing to do with the paper with tiny font Providian and alike sent out about a month before they raised people’s rates? That’s pretty naive of you. We have enough lawyers in Congress. Can we get people with some real life experience? At least Emken has done something other than making a rich bank get richer.
If you want someone that SOUNDS good, then go waste your vote on Harmer. If you want someone who’ll actually do something, then vote for any of the other candidates in this race.
As for the TEA Party, sorry you’re wrong. There are various TEA Party groups in CD-11 and most have not endorsed Harmer. If Harmer can actually beat McNerney in November, then how come the Democrats have been him twice? I mean the guy lost in Utah. That’s pretty hard to do if you’re a conservative Mormon.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I agree…stinks of Huckabee tactics. This, ‘we’re not the guilty ones’ act is transparent. Her kind of bigotry is sad. I’m sure she has seen this kind of unwarranted fear promoting prejudice against autistic kids, who she has represented.. Some people can only lift themselves by debassing others.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Oh please. Harmer’s crying because an article written about him in a National Newspaper was quoted? Does anyone sincerely think that the size of the typeface made the headline less noticable? Captian Moroni called him to run for office? Give me a break. Come to think of it, he’d look pretty silly in a cape and tights.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Sarah, I rarely comment on posts (perhaps I shouldn’t even be reading them), but I need to respond to yours. First, you mention “how quickly he was talking about running for this seat.” Actually, David had no interest in ever running again. ( I should know–I’m his wife, and I know what’s in his heart, unlike others who are quick to judge.) When he lost in CD10, after a good, hard fight, he felt that he had done his part to promote the cause of liberty and conservative ideals. He could look our kids in the eyes and tell them he had done what he could. But the day after the election, hundreds of emails and calls started pouring in, urging him to run in a district with more even registration: CD11, the only swing district in California. David urged others to run instead. He was looking forward to being a dad and a husband again, and did not relish the thought of another long campaign. Eventually, people (including me) persuaded him that because he had the talents and skills to be a passionate and articulate defender of the Constitution and limited government, then he had the concomitant duty to run for office. People who complain about the state of our country have a responsibility to do something about it — and that’s why David is running.
David is the furthest thing from a RINO, Sarah, and if you talked with him for 30 seconds you’d know that. I don’t know anyone who’s a more articulate and genuine spokesman for the conservative movement. The fact that he’s run for office before shows how deeply he cares about public policy and this country. Each time, he has run only because so many have persuaded him to. You think he wants to do this for power, or ego, or fame? Again–if you met him and talked to him for 30 seconds, you’d know how ridiculous that idea is. Come take a look at our family and see the sacrifices he’s made to run for Congress.
Also, as Dan said, David had absolutely nothing to do with raising credit card rates, nor did he defend those who did. His job was to make sure his division followed the law and protected consumers — and his was an exemplary division. David has more integrity in his little pinky than most people do in their whole body, and he is an exceptional husband, father, and neighbor. Please stop saying such shameful things about his character and his activities, which involve more sacrifice and commitment to principles and values than you can begin to imagine.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
“Many of us in the TEA Party are sick of career politicians. Continuously running for Congress makes you a career politician Harmer. And the fact that you defend the creeps that raised my interest rates from 12% to 29% when many of us patriots were losing jobs over the past two years, makes me sick. I will NEVER vote for Harmer for any office. We have enough RINOs in Congress.”
Typical juvenille liberal arguments to be sure.
Many of us True TEA Party love Mr. Harmer because he loves the Founders, he is a true conservative. He has more knowledge about and respect for this country’s conservative roots than any politician out there.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
I want a representative who has enough confidence in themselves to not have to resort to debasing their competition. I am entirely unimpressed by Emken–why does she feel the need to highlight Harmer’s religion? I see via Sarah’s comments that some people are actually afraid of lawyers, so Emken may have something there, but the religion card? Isn’t she being patronizing by assuming that we are ignorant enough to be wary of a church-going family man? I would rather have a Mormon who believes in standing for liberty because his God told him to, then someone who uses manipulation as a tool.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
It makes me ill when I hear Emken talk about making the US a more Christian nation with Christian values and then the other religious sects in the Republican party push their terms of religious values as a divine spirit.
Evangelicals, Catholics and Mormons, when will the Republicans realize that the unholy alliance is bound to disaster. As soon as any success is obtained the Bonfires of the Heretics will begin. Unbelievers are banned but heretics are burned.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
So Elayne, will you be responding if Nancy Pelosi goes after Harmer? Is David still running? Or is he hiding behind your skirt?
May 17th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Josh, if Pelosi goes after David, I’ll be delighted that she considers him a threat. But no, David doesn’t need to hide behind my skirt. (I usually wear jeans, for the record.) He’s eminently more qualified than I am to defend himself, and is never shy about expressing his opinion. I just happened to offer my services as campaign email writer today, since he was a bit busy with a few other things.
May 18th, 2010 at 2:40 am
This is one of the many things wrong right now in our Country. We are so divided. It doesn’t appear to be getting better nor does there seem to be an end in site. The candidates should be attacking McNerney not each other and I think it says a lot about David where in his own wife openly defends him so passionately making David and herself subject to further attacks by her making her opinions public and known. I think it goes to show what a great guy David is when his wife can’t stay quiet about him. Lets look at the candidates if you will: We have Brad, he openly admits to hiring illegal aliens and last week said he wants to declare open season on liberals, I think we deserve better, we have Tony, seems like a nice enough guy, although he has questionable past and I don’t think he has the stamina for what it takes. We have Elizabeth, she seems extremely bitter all the time, constantly bashing Pelosi, rightfully so, but come on is that all she has? If you listened to one speech or interview you’ve heard them all. One trick pony comes to mind. Being a special needs mom makes her strong and admirable but not suited for Congress on that alone especially when not too long ago she was working on the very healthcare bill as a lobbyist that she now proclaims to hate. Asides from that look at her contributions she received, it came mostly from out of state from other lobbyists. Gee I wonder who she will be looking out for if elected. Us or them. Then the whole Mormon bashing? I’ve heard enough. When looking at the whole picture of the four candidates David is the only one I see that truly has what it takes to make a difference, who’s heart is in the right place and seems to have the support of the people. So what if he lives a mile out of the district, so what if he has run for political office, has anyone looked at Abraham Lincoln!?! What if old honest Abe threw in the towel? Bottom line, David has my vote and I will be making a donation today to further show my support.
May 18th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Elayne – with all due respect, I have met David. I don’t appreciate the assumption you’re making. He sounded good, you’re right. But I watched his actions the rest of the event and it turned me off. I was at the Pleasanton TEA Party on tax day and the way he carried himself in order to be seen behind Fox News cameras reminded me of a politician just looking for air time.
I appreciate you taking the time to respond. But you just said something that should concern all voters. You said that David was “a bit busy with a few other things”. As a Congressman, he will always be busy, but having other people do something that he should do reminds me a lot of Jerry McNerney. Jerry is always just too “busy” for his constituents.
Again, I go back to the original point. This isn’t about religion. You are making assumptions and turning this into religion in order to distract people from the real content. That this is David’s 3rd run for Congress, his 2nd run in a few short months and he doesn’t even live in the district.
Dan – it’s TEA Party, not Tea Party. Nice try.
I’m going to stop engaging with you all. It is obvious that your campaign is monitoring this site and has people ready to respond to what others say. Dan’s error made it very clear. Please stop insulting my intelligence.
May 18th, 2010 at 8:26 am
I received your “outraged” email yesterday. I was wondering, since you obviously don’t have campaign staff to help with these kind of things, will David always be “too busy” to respond to his critics? I don’t care who wrote it, you, the pope, captain Moroni himself, if he wants to hold public office I recommend he actually begin to put his name, not yours, and not his campaign managers on any email he deems “distasteful” or beneath his high and mighty self. I’ve heard him pontificate about how he is a job applicant and this is an interview, so why doesn’t he give the whole picture? It’s not about whether or not he CAN defend himself, it’s about whether or not he will. If you want to run Elayne, please by all means send out emails from the campaign. In the meantime, how about taking a page out of the other three candidates who send me emails with their own name emblazoned on the bottom. Oh, and if Mrs. Emken ever sends out emails with her autistic son’s name on the bottom to get sympathy from people I’ll lose respect for her too.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Elizabeth should be ashamed of herself for playing the religion card. This country was based on the search for religious freedom. I used to like and respect Elizabeth Emken. She used to be my second choice. If she had won the primary, I would have helped her campaign. Now I never will. I don’t like being involved with people that act with religious bigotry.
So what if David Harmer is an attorney? Yes, he has worked in the banking industry. He has also used his legal skills to work to protect property rights, water rights, the 2nd Amendment, traditional marriage and much more when he worked with the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, and the Pacific Legal Foundation. Those are pretty powerful conservative credentials if you ask me.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Go David Harmer! We are Taxed Enough Already fighting unwinnable wars our kids will pay for. The 1st Amendment Right of Freedom of Religion must be preserved.
May 19th, 2010 at 12:37 am
Hey Sarah, go check your mailbox because I’m certain there’s check waiting for you from Emken. Pot, Kettle, which are you? Lots of people write it Tea – see http://www.theeastbayteaparty.com/
I seriously doubt that Dan is with the Harmer campaign. It just so happens that there are thousands of us who are dedicated to seeing that Harmer is elected. Your employer will see this in her measly vote totals very soon.
May 19th, 2010 at 2:46 am
A lot of people perceive the Emken mailer as religious bias. It is circulating nationally (I live in Cambridge, MA), and intelligent people recognize it for what it is. Emken seems like a decent woman in general, but this is an action that she will have to live down.
We have a memory here in Massachusetts of Ted Kennedy playing the religion card against Mitt Romney during their Senatorial campaign. Shame on Ted, since JFK had to defend himself for being Catholic. Emken’s staff are intelligent, and they knew what they were doing. Presumably they weighed the benefits of galvanizing the anti-Mormon crowd versus offending those who respect all religious faith and decided the benefits outweighed the costs.
Harmer a RINO? Wow! We were THRILLED, THRILLED, THRILLED to get Scott Brown here, and he is practically left-wing compared to Harmer. WE should be so lucky as to have a Harmer Republican represent Massachusetts. Some perspective, folks…
May 31st, 2010 at 1:43 am
Hey if the challengers don’t tell us voters the downside of their opponents, We’ll never know!
Here’s a clip from his last election that reveals his opposition to equal rights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqvgWWxl-fI
And the Voters will never see that, unless one of the challengers mails it to them!