This letter from Ohio GOP Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine was sent out to Steve Buehrer’s campaign and Birthright Bob Latta’s campaign:

Joe Hallett explains what DeWine means about the “preferred vendor list”:

DeWine said he is preparing “a preferred vendor list” of the state GOP to use in future races. Among other things, the list will be predicated on a code including “guidelines on the use of candidate ad footage in primary races.”

That code is the result of outrage over the antics of Latta’s media consultant, Rex Elsass of Columbus. Last year, Buehrer paid Elsass to produce commercials for his Ohio Senate primary race. Elsass this week used outtakes from those ads, unflattering images of Buehrer, in a Latta attack ad against Buehrer.

And here is Latta’s campaign’s truly hilarious response:

Dear Deputy Chairman DeWine and Republican Party Leaders,

I would like to applaud you on your leadership. I am also thrilled that the Republican Party has adopted a clean campaign proposal that is very similar to the proposal issued by Bob Latta on October 14, 2007. The Latta campaign will be focused solely on promoting Bob Latta’s conservative record and agenda from this point forward. I truly hope that the Buehrer campaign will follow suit. I also think it is extremely important for the Buehrer campaign to denounce the misleading negative attacks by the Club for Growth immediately, in order to comply with this proposal. If the Buehrer campaign does not denounce Club for Growth’s independent expenditure ads, then Bob Latta must still have the right to defend himself against the misleading attacks.

The Latta campaign was already heading in a positive direction. Attached, you will find our new ad that we already had planned to start airing tomorrow.

By tomorrow, Saturday, October 27th, the only ads on television from the Latta campaign will be positive. Also, from this point forward, the Latta campaign will not be producing mail, radio, or phone calls that mention Steve Buehrer.

Thank you for your leadership, and I hope that Mr. Buehrer will follow Mr. Latta’s example and conduct a clean campaign.

Sincerely,

Matt Parker
Campaign Manager, Latta for Congress

“Heading in a positive direction?” How about the negative TV ads, where Bob Latta (who voted for some of the largest tax increases in the history of Ohio, including Taft’s sales tax hikes and a $1 billion school tax increase) tried to label Steve Buehrer, who voted against Taft’s increases, as a tax raiser? Latta’s message is Orwellian and false, but their shady compaign hired a shady TV ad production firm to make a misleading impression on voters… knowing full well that there is little time for Buehrer to set the record straight.

“Misleading ads?” Actually, Matt, the issue at hand was an email sent out by The Club for Growth, which your campaign filed a complaint about. If the TV ads are misleading, then why haven’t you sent Scott back to file a complaint? Which part of these ads below aren’t true? And which taxes mentioned in these ads did Latta actually not vote for?

And after unsuccessfully trying to rip Buehrer’s heart out, they are turning to the ORP for cover, because Latta knows what is to come… and Latta knows that his close personal ties with Tom Noe and his support of massive sales tax increases…. two things which were once politically convenient, no longer are.

As I told Matt Parker, if I was the Buehrer campaign, my response to him and the ORP would be vulgar and unprintable. When looking at this situation, one can not forget that the Ohio GOP leadership certainly had input and influence over Bob Taft’s tax increases, and the party went out of their way to beat up dissenters such as Ken Blackwell, Tom Brinkman, and Steve Buehrer. Essentially, this entire effort for a “clean campaign” is the Latta campaign teaming up with the Ohio GOP, as the establishment always supports establishment candidates. And now, the establishment is doing what little they can, trying to stop Steve Buehrer, and the principled conservative groups that support him, from striking back with a final, deadly blow to tax raising Bob Latta.

My suggestion to Steve Buehrer and his campaign is to ignore any call for a so-called “clean” campaign pledge, and do what it takes to win this election. Republicans may have to put up with tax raisers in the Ohio legislature, but it would be a shame to send one of those same tax raisers to Washington.

Update at 5:50 pm: Buehrer’s campaign responds to DeWine’s letter:

Mr. Chairman:

Congratulations! You have achieved a small victory in getting Mr. Latta to pull his shameful ad.

A week ago, the Republican County Chairs of the 5th Congressional District made an appeal to Republican candidates to run a more constructive, positive campaign.

One of us did that.

Attached you will find the television ad and radio ad that were produced by my campaign since that time. All positive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP-UbWygCW4

http://www.stevebuehrer.com/files/No_Brainer_SB-RA-01_NS.mp3

One of us did not.

Attached you will find the Latta campaign ads. (latta-mailer-2.jpg) All negative!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BRgvdB7Fy8

My opponent thumbed his nose at your letter and your authority and launched the most vicious attack ad I have ever seen. They launched two direct mail pieces that knowingly lied about my record for which the Ohio Elections Commission has now found probable cause to investigate.

My campaign has always been in compliance with your request.

However, in the aftermath of your letter, I was not rewarded for my positive campaign. My opponent was not censured for his nasty campaign.

The attacks from him continued and continued and continued.

Mr. Latta has severely damaged my reputation. He has taken materials that do not belong to him and used them against me. He has launched the most vicious ad I have ever seen that seeks to leave voters with the impression that I am a criminal.

Now, after his character assassination has run its complete course, and after my children were forced to endure hours and hours of nasty ads against their father, you are begging me to be positive?

I’ll do it.

Under one condition. I just want an apology. I will continue my positive campaign if Mr. Latta agrees to use the remainder of his campaign resources to undo the damage that he has done. I’m asking him to run one and only one television ad that publicly apologizes to me and my family.

* The ad script must be approved by me.

* It must apologize for taking campaign materials that I paid for and using them against me.

* It must apologize for using Tom Noe as a weapon knowing full well that Mr. Latta had done the same thing.

* It must apologize to every Republican Chairman in the 5th district for his nasty and divisive tactics that have done immeasurable harm to our Party.

* Then if there is time, he can use the rest of the ad to explain his tax votes.

Somebody has to set the record straight.

As for independent organizations, I have absolutely no control over independent organizations. None.

I will not tell any organization that they should stop exercising their right to free speech, especially those groups that Mr. Latta invited into this campaign.

If Mr. Latta finally earns the endorsement of a conservative organization, I will not ask him to inhibit their rights either.

I can only answer for the actions that I can control. My campaign has been positive and focused on legitimate issues that should be discussed in a Republican primary campaign.

Once again, thank you for your leadership and congratulations on your efforts to force Mr. Latta to finally seek a positive tone in this campaign.

Sincerely,

Steve Buehrer