8th CD Candidates Stumble
The GOP primary in Indiana’s 8th congressional race is quickly shaping up to be a race between Larry Bucshon, a serious front-runner, and amateurs struggling to find their footing.
Kristi Risk, a stay-at-home mom seeking the GOP nomination, spoke to a crowd in Washington, Ind. about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. There Risk indicated the wars were unconstitutional and that she would work defund them. Yet in a subsequent debate in Evansville Risk claimed to support full funding of both wars.
The “flip-flopping” didn’t sit well with fellow candidate Bud Bernitt, who issued this press release railing against Risk. For good measure he even took a swipe at the alleged “farm” where she claims to live – a couple acres with a goat, in a residential subdivision (covenants and restrictions in her subdivision allows for up to three dogs and three cats and no other animals). The Terre Haute Tribune covers the Bernitt/Risk fight here.
Conveniently Bernitt leaves out the fact that he lives in Bloomington, which is outside of the 8th congressional district and therefore makes him ineligible to serve. But why let such pesky details get in the way of Kristi Risk’s obvious missteps and misdeads?
Meanwhile another candidate for the GOP nomination, serial name-dropper John Lee Smith, has already fumbled by erroneously claiming the support of Greg Goode, the previous Republican candidate in Indiana’s 8th CD. Goode issued a statement to all of Vigo County disavowing any support or relationship to Smith. Now Smith’s campaign has more trouble on its hands. The Courier & Press reports that his pastor from Crossroads Christian Church sent a letter on church letterhead urging support for Smith, putting the church in tax gray area.
Then there is the problem that all candidates but Bucshon seem to have – filing FEC reports on time. Only Bucshon had properly filed his report on time, and once some did eventually come in late, it wasn’t pretty. Through the first quarter Bucshon had raised $244,982, while Kristi Risk raised a paltry $22,684 (currently the report indicates her campaign is in debt) and Dan Stockton only $2,445. John Lee Smith still has yet to file a report.
With the exception of Larry Bucshon, the Republican primary in Indiana’s 8th congressional district seems to be amateur hour. Is it any wonder that so many “establishment” Republicans lined up behind Bucshon? At the current pace May 4th’s primary could shape up to be a Bucshon blow-out.
Corrections: Two readers write to offer suggested corrections to this post. First, although Bud Bernitt does not live int he 8th CD, he is apparently still eligible to serve in that office (though it does pose a problem with connecting to “your” constituents. Second, Dan Stockton did in fact file his FEC report on time, along with Larry Bucshon. Kristi Risk and John Lee Smith, however, did not.
April 23rd, 2010 at 9:30 am
Dan Stockton most certainly has filed all his reports on time. The “date filed” on the FEC site is 4/15/10 — exactly the same as Bucshon.
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:20 am
Bud Bernitt would have fit right in with the Watergate Nixonian Plumbers back in the early 1970’s but we rid ourselves of those hacks that damaged our party.
Bud Bernitt is a bumbling hatchet-man the GOP doesn’t need.
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/comments/cmt.php?
sto_uri=L3N0b3JpZXMvMjAxMC8wMy8xOC9sdGUuODY2MjkyLnN0bw==
http://monroe-bloomington-talk.com/bored/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9946
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:35 am
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/comments/cmt.php?sto_uri=L3N0b3JpZXMvMjAxMC8wMy8xOC9sdGUuODY2MjkyLnN0bw==&start=36
The Bud Bernitt connection to the Nixonian Plumbers- link above that was re-routed prevously.
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
That link I might add previous post connects articles and court documents linking Bud Bernitt to a county council person being set up and arrested with the state police for political reasons based on false reporting.
Our GOP needs to rid itself of these type of sordid schemers or our conservative policies will be left to the liberals.
April 23rd, 2010 at 12:50 pm
That link I might add previous post connects articles and court documents linking Bud Bernitt to a county council person being set up and arrested with the state police for political reasons based on false reporting.
Our GOP needs to rid itself of these type of sordid schemers or our conservative policies will be left to the liberals.
April 23rd, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Bud Bernitt’s FEC report was filed on time, per instructions from the FEC regarding method of mailing and postage.
The county council member that “Jack Robinson” is obsessively posting about about all over the Internet under multiple fake names was NOT “set up.”
The county council member was *convicted* by a jury of his peers. That conviction has never been overturned.
Furthermore, “Jack Robinson” is not a Republican. “Jack Robinson” is the same far-Left “green” Democrat who is obsessed with Bernitt and has been posting anywhere and everywhere he can to attack Bud.
Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade. This isn’t a Johnny-come-lately who went to a tea party and decided to run for Congress. This is someone who has been a warrior for conservative principles and Republicans candidates for many years.
April 24th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Kristi would bring her husband along to throw his fits.
He has already proven to be a hot head chasing candidates 50 plus miles trying to pick a fight just because he did not like what he said about his wife.
What a looser, but should expect much more really, his wife is a looser too…
April 24th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Scott Tibbs quote: “Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade.”
Would a real Christian Falsely Accuse Officials of doing Criminal Activity by snorting Cocaine and Smoking Pot right in the Mayor’s Office. Bud Bernitt does! No Christian would do that! And Scott Tibbs supports all of this as his campaign manager!
Watch the video False Drug Charges and Bud Bernitt admits on tape “he’s out of line” has no evidence but smears these Officials with lies.
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtruthism
Just read about Bud Bernitt’s big attorney Geoffrey Grodner Abrubtly Quit!
Scott Tibbs, Who will be now representing Bud Bernitt in his False Reporting Lawsuit on Scott Wells? S. Wells vs. Herman Otto Bernitt & the State Police?
Just like Bud Benritt lied on the video, Did he do the same thing against his admitted enemy Scott Wells?
We need good conservative honest Republicans not unchristian liars like you Scott Tibbs and Bud Bernitt.
April 24th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Bud Bernitt’s FEC report was filed on time, per instructions from the FEC regarding method of mailing and postage.
The county council member that “Jack Robinson” is obsessively posting about about all over the Internet under multiple fake names was NOT “set up.”
The county council member was *convicted* by a jury of his peers. That conviction has never been overturned.
Furthermore, “Jack Robinson” is not a Republican. “Jack Robinson” is the same far-Left “green” Democrat who is obsessed with Bernitt and has been posting anywhere and everywhere he can to attack Bud.
Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade. This isn’t a Johnny-come-lately who went to a tea party and decided to run for Congress. This is someone who has been a warrior for conservative principles and Republicans candidates for many years.
April 24th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Bud Bernitt’s FEC report was filed on time, per instructions from the FEC regarding method of mailing and postage.
The county council member that “Jack Robinson” is obsessively posting about about all over the Internet under multiple fake names was NOT “set up.”
The county council member was *convicted* by a jury of his peers. That conviction has never been overturned.
Furthermore, “Jack Robinson” is not a Republican. “Jack Robinson” is the same far-Left “green” Democrat who is obsessed with Bernitt and has been posting anywhere and everywhere he can to attack Bud.
Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade. This isn’t a Johnny-come-lately who went to a tea party and decided to run for Congress. This is someone who has been a warrior for conservative principles and Republicans candidates for many years.
April 24th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/comments/cmt.php?sto_uri=L3N0b3JpZXMvMjAxMC8wMy8xOC9sdGUuODY2MjkyLnN0bw==&start=36
The Bud Bernitt connection to the Nixonian Plumbers- link above that was re-routed prevously.
April 24th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Scott Tibbs quote: “Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade.”
Would a real Christian Falsely Accuse Officials of doing Criminal Activity by snorting Cocaine and Smoking Pot right in the Mayor’s Office. Bud Bernitt does! No Christian would do that! And Scott Tibbs supports all of this as his campaign manager!
Watch the video False Drug Charges and Bud Bernitt admits on tape “he’s out of line” has no evidence but smears these Officials with lies.
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtruthism
Just read about Bud Bernitt’s big attorney Geoffrey Grodner Abrubtly Quit!
Scott Tibbs, Who will be now representing Bud Bernitt in his False Reporting Lawsuit on Scott Wells? S. Wells vs. Herman Otto Bernitt & the State Police?
Just like Bud Benritt lied on the video, Did he do the same thing against his admitted enemy Scott Wells?
We need good conservative honest Republicans not unchristian liars like you Scott Tibbs and Bud Bernitt.
Jack Robinson has been a life-long Republican trying to rid the party of right wing jerks.
April 25th, 2010 at 5:08 am
Scott Tibbs quote: “Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade.”
Would a real Christian Falsely Accuse Officials of doing Criminal Activity by snorting Cocaine and Smoking Pot right in the Mayor’s Office. Bud Bernitt does! No Christian would do that! And Scott Tibbs supports all of this as his campaign manager!
Watch the video False Drug Charges and Bud Bernitt admits on tape “he’s out of line” has no evidence but smears these Officials with lies.
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtruthism
Just read about Bud Bernitt’s big attorney Geoffrey Grodner Abrubtly Quit!
Scott Tibbs, Who will be now representing Bud Bernitt in his False Reporting Lawsuit on Scott Wells? S. Wells vs. Herman Otto Bernitt & the State Police?
Just like Bud Benritt lied on the video, Did he do the same thing against his admitted enemy Scott Wells?
We need good conservative honest Republicans not unchristian liars like you Scott Tibbs and Bud Bernitt.
Jack Robinson has been a life-long Republican trying to rid the party of right wing jerks.
April 25th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Kristi would bring her husband along to throw his fits.
He has already proven to be a hot head chasing candidates 50 plus miles trying to pick a fight just because he did not like what he said about his wife.
What a looser, but should expect much more really, his wife is a looser too…
April 25th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Kristi would bring her husband along to throw his fits.
He has already proven to be a hot head chasing candidates 50 plus miles trying to pick a fight just because he did not like what he said about his wife.
What a looser, but should expect much more really, his wife is a looser too…
April 25th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Bud Bernitt’s FEC report was filed on time, per instructions from the FEC regarding method of mailing and postage.
The county council member that “Jack Robinson” is obsessively posting about about all over the Internet under multiple fake names was NOT “set up.”
The county council member was *convicted* by a jury of his peers. That conviction has never been overturned.
Furthermore, “Jack Robinson” is not a Republican. “Jack Robinson” is the same far-Left “green” Democrat who is obsessed with Bernitt and has been posting anywhere and everywhere he can to attack Bud.
Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade. This isn’t a Johnny-come-lately who went to a tea party and decided to run for Congress. This is someone who has been a warrior for conservative principles and Republicans candidates for many years.
April 25th, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Bud Bernitt’s FEC report was filed on time, per instructions from the FEC regarding method of mailing and postage.
The county council member that “Jack Robinson” is obsessively posting about about all over the Internet under multiple fake names was NOT “set up.”
The county council member was *convicted* by a jury of his peers. That conviction has never been overturned.
Furthermore, “Jack Robinson” is not a Republican. “Jack Robinson” is the same far-Left “green” Democrat who is obsessed with Bernitt and has been posting anywhere and everywhere he can to attack Bud.
Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade. This isn’t a Johnny-come-lately who went to a tea party and decided to run for Congress. This is someone who has been a warrior for conservative principles and Republicans candidates for many years.
April 25th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Bud Bernitt’s FEC report was filed on time, per instructions from the FEC regarding method of mailing and postage.
The county council member that “Jack Robinson” is obsessively posting about about all over the Internet under multiple fake names was NOT “set up.”
The county council member was *convicted* by a jury of his peers. That conviction has never been overturned.
Furthermore, “Jack Robinson” is not a Republican. “Jack Robinson” is the same far-Left “green” Democrat who is obsessed with Bernitt and has been posting anywhere and everywhere he can to attack Bud.
Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade. This isn’t a Johnny-come-lately who went to a tea party and decided to run for Congress. This is someone who has been a warrior for conservative principles and Republicans candidates for many years.
April 25th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Scott Tibbs quote: “Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade.”
Would a real Christian Falsely Accuse Officials of doing Criminal Activity by snorting Cocaine and Smoking Pot right in the Mayor’s Office. Bud Bernitt does! No Christian would do that! And Scott Tibbs supports all of this as his campaign manager!
Watch the video False Drug Charges and Bud Bernitt admits on tape “he’s out of line” has no evidence but smears these Officials with lies.
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtruthism
Just read about Bud Bernitt’s big attorney Geoffrey Grodner Abrubtly Quit!
Scott Tibbs, Who will be now representing Bud Bernitt in his False Reporting Lawsuit on Scott Wells? S. Wells vs. Herman Otto Bernitt & the State Police?
Just like Bud Benritt lied on the video, Did he do the same thing against his admitted enemy Scott Wells?
We need good conservative honest Republicans not unchristian liars like you Scott Tibbs and Bud Bernitt.
April 25th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Jack Robinson Says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:35 am
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/comments/cmt.php?sto_uri=L3N0b3JpZXMvMjAxMC8wMy8xOC9sdGUuODY2MjkyLnN0bw==&start=36
The Bud Bernitt connection to the Nixonian Plumbers- link above that was re-routed prevously
April 25th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Jack Robinson Says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
That link I might add previous post connects articles and court documents linking Bud Bernitt to a county council person being set up and arrested with the state police for political reasons based on false reporting.
Our GOP needs to rid itself of these type of sordid schemers or our conservative policies will be left to the liberals.
April 26th, 2010 at 5:26 am
Bud Bernitt’s FEC report was filed on time, per instructions from the FEC regarding method of mailing and postage.
The county council member that “Jack Robinson” is obsessively posting about about all over the Internet under multiple fake names was NOT “set up.”
The county council member was *convicted* by a jury of his peers. That conviction has never been overturned.
Furthermore, “Jack Robinson” is not a Republican. “Jack Robinson” is the same far-Left “green” Democrat who is obsessed with Bernitt and has been posting anywhere and everywhere he can to attack Bud.
Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade. This isn’t a Johnny-come-lately who went to a tea party and decided to run for Congress. This is someone who has been a warrior for conservative principles and Republicans candidates for many years.
April 26th, 2010 at 6:46 am
Jack Robinson Says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
That link I might add previous post connects articles and court documents linking Bud Bernitt to a county council person being set up and arrested with the state police for political reasons based on false reporting.
Our GOP needs to rid itself of these type of sordid schemers or our conservative policies will be left to the liberals.
April 26th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Jack Robinson Says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
That link I might add previous post connects articles and court documents linking Bud Bernitt to a county council person being set up and arrested with the state police for political reasons based on false reporting.
Our GOP needs to rid itself of these type of sordid schemers or our conservative policies will be left to the liberals.
April 26th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Scott Tibbs quote: “Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade.”
Would a real Christian Falsely Accuse Officials of doing Criminal Activity by snorting Cocaine and Smoking Pot right in the Mayor’s Office. Bud Bernitt does! No Christian would do that! And Scott Tibbs supports all of this as his campaign manager!
Watch the video False Drug Charges and Bud Bernitt admits on tape “he’s out of line” has no evidence but smears these Officials with lies.
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtruthism
Just read about Bud Bernitt’s big attorney Geoffrey Grodner Abrubtly Quit!
Scott Tibbs, Who will be now representing Bud Bernitt in his False Reporting Lawsuit on Scott Wells? S. Wells vs. Herman Otto Bernitt & the State Police?
Just like Bud Benritt lied on the video, Did he do the same thing against his admitted enemy Scott Wells?
We need good conservative honest Republicans not unchristian liars like you Scott Tibbs and Bud Bernitt.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Jack Robinson Says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
That link I might add previous post connects articles and court documents linking Bud Bernitt to a county council person being set up and arrested with the state police for political reasons based on false reporting.
Our GOP needs to rid itself of these type of sordid schemers or our conservative policies will be left to the liberals.
April 27th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I live up in the 2nd district and am not familiar with all of the candidates down there in the 8th. But what I know of Risk I like. The little peccadilloes this blog post mentions don’t look good, but they wouldn’t cost her my vote unless the establishment candidate demonstrated the same commitment to the Constitution Risk does (which I suspect is not the case). Mentioning those things is certainly fair game, but really, don’t you think that extremely unflattering purple picture of her is taking your opposition to her candidacy to a bit of an immature level?
April 27th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Bud Bernitt’s FEC report was filed on time, per instructions from the FEC regarding method of mailing and postage.
The county council member that “Jack Robinson” is obsessively posting about about all over the Internet under multiple fake names was NOT “set up.”
The county council member was *convicted* by a jury of his peers. That conviction has never been overturned.
Furthermore, “Jack Robinson” is not a Republican. “Jack Robinson” is the same far-Left “green” Democrat who is obsessed with Bernitt and has been posting anywhere and everywhere he can to attack Bud.
Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade. This isn’t a Johnny-come-lately who went to a tea party and decided to run for Congress. This is someone who has been a warrior for conservative principles and Republicans candidates for many years.
April 27th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Scott Tibbs quote: “Bud has been standing up to Leftists and fighting for conservative Christian values for the last decade.”
Would a real Christian Falsely Accuse Officials of doing Criminal Activity by snorting Cocaine and Smoking Pot right in the Mayor’s Office. Bud Bernitt does! No Christian would do that! And Scott Tibbs supports all of this as his campaign manager!
Watch the video False Drug Charges and Bud Bernitt admits on tape “he’s out of line” has no evidence but smears these Officials with lies.
http://www.youtube.com/user/realtruthism
Just read about Bud Bernitt’s big attorney Geoffrey Grodner Abrubtly Quit!
Scott Tibbs, Who will be now representing Bud Bernitt in his False Reporting Lawsuit on Scott Wells? S. Wells vs. Herman Otto Bernitt & the State Police?
Just like Bud Benritt lied on the video, Did he do the same thing against his admitted enemy Scott Wells?
We need good conservative honest Republicans not unchristian liars like you Scott Tibbs and Bud Bernitt.
April 28th, 2010 at 4:04 am
Jack Robinson Says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 am
That link I might add previous post connects articles and court documents linking Bud Bernitt to a county council person being set up and arrested with the state police for political reasons based on false reporting.
Our GOP needs to rid itself of these type of sordid schemers or our conservative policies will be left to the liberals.
April 28th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
This whole Bud Bernitt for Congress & Scott Tibbs Campaign Manager are putting together from what’s been blogged away another scheme… Deflect and dodge the reality of Bernitts’ Lawsuit against him.
Bud Bernitt has FAILED to Answer his Defamtion Lawsuit Complaint agaist him as his attorney Grodner has suddenly quit.
From what the blogs are postings and some press that the Bernitts setup a councilman Wells for “political payback” on a False Report using his Republican State Policeman JD Maxwell who was running for Sheriff at the time to “arrange the arrest”. Bernitt was Maxwell’s campaign confidante at the time.
The real question is who is Bud Bernitts’ attorney now and is he going to answer the Defamation Complaint against him?
Councilman Wells from the readings posted online was acquitted of Felony Battery, Resisting Arrest, OWI Endangerment, Public Intoxication, etc and not even charged with “urinating in pubic” (Public Indeceny) as both Bud and Amy Bernitt wild protestations claimed on everything.
http://www.mobtalk.net/bored/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8463&p=144792
http://monroe-bloomington-talk.com/bored/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8856
May 1st, 2010 at 3:01 pm
It’s time to set the record straight regarding John Lee Smith’s FEC reports. All required forms were completed and filed on time. A backlog in processing this information kept the data from being posted on their website until recently. Please feel free to contact the FEC directly to verify if you’d like.
The letter from John’s pastor was a personal letter to area collegues. It turns out that one pastor (who is a public supporter of Larry Bucshon)took issue with the letter. Instead of filing a complaint with the IRS, or maybe even checking with them to find out if the letter was actually a violation of anything, this pastor chose to fax the letter directly to the Evansville area media. That sounds more politically motivated to me than sharing information amongst collegues.
I would like to thank the disgruntled pastor for taking a letter that was only intended as an FYI for a small group of people and turning it into a media blitz to a few hundred thousand subscribers of the Evansville Courier.
May 1st, 2010 at 3:56 pm
It’s unfortunate that the pastor chose to attack the church for political gain. Wouldn’t it have been more approrpriate to contact the pastor who sent the letter directly as opposed to going directly around him. Apparantly politics was more important here than professional courtesy or concern for the overall church.
May 2nd, 2010 at 7:49 am
I am disappointed that Mr. Bernitt did not do some research before making false accusations against Kristi Risk. Mrs. Risk and her husband own 12 acres, which is enough land for a mini-farm, on which they raise goats and poultry. Twelve acres is much larger than a residential housing lot would be.
If Mr. Bernitt had taken time to drive through what he refers to as a “residential subdivision” that the Risks live in, he would have discovered that this “subdivision” is not located in an incorporated town or city but rather is located out in the country and is surrounded by farmland.
A farm does not need to raise acres and acres of corn, soybeans, etc. to be considered a farm. In fact, there are many books out instructing people on how to have a successful farm with 3-5 acres of land.
If Mr. Bernitt did more research, he would discover that the 8th Congressional District is filled with numerous mini-farms such as are owned by the Risks. If he plans to fully represent these mini-farm owners, he shouldn’t be casting them in such a negative light just because they don’t own hundreds of acres of farmland.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
The author of this blog is soooo OBVIOUSLY behind the doctor. But tell me, why do we need another doctor in congress? The Obamacare is now being fought in the courts with the states… is the doctor an attorney too? I don’t think so!
He should stay where he is making a million$ a year and save lives.
The questions voters should be asking is which candidate has the BEST qualifications to do the job?!! What is their professional EXPERIENCE?!!
We should elect candidates that have the right qualifications and life experiences to hold such an important position that affects all of our livelihoods!