MO-03

GOPer Ed Martin Concedes House Race After Previously Claiming Shenanigans

Eric Kleefeld | November 8, 2010, 12:08PM

House candidate Ed Martin (R-MO) and Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO)

Republican House candidate Ed Martin has now conceded a close race against Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan, after Martin had initially claimed that voter fraud or other misbehavior may have been responsible for Carnahan's win.

On election, night, Martin narrowly led Carnahan for most of the count. But then some late returns from heavily Democratic areas of St. Louis put the incumbent ahead, and the media widely projected him to be the winner by a margin of about two percent.

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Health care lawsuits

Missouri Voters Poised To Reject Health Care Reform, Start Legal Challenges

Christina Bellantoni | August 3, 2010, 1:07PM

Protesting the health care bill in March.

Missouri Republicans today are preparing to celebrate the success of their ballot initiative on health care reform, which asks Missourians whether they want to roll back a critical element of the new law despite significant questions about the constitutionality of doing so.

But opponents of Prop C, the Republican-engineered ballot measure dubbed the "Health Care Freedom Act" that has more political significance than legal precedent behind it, number just in the hundreds and have scant help from the state's Democrats or even Gov. Jay Nixon. The teenage leader of the opposition, in fact, is managing a Facebook campaign against the ballot measure in between his job making sandwiches at Subway.

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Health care lawsuits

Missouri Health Care Reform Foes Hope Ballot Initiative Will Start National Trend

Christina Bellantoni | July 21, 2010, 12:45PM

A Tea Party protester

The first real test of health care reform won't take place before the Supreme Court, as some Republicans have promised. Instead, it will happen in the heartland, when Missouri voters take a stand on their Republican-written ballot measure dubbed the "Health Care Freedom Act."

The actual question from the Aug. 3 Proposition C measure centers around the individual insurance mandate included in the sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system. If it passes, it would amend state statutes to deny the federal government the authority to penalize people for not buying health insurance. Boosters are campaigning on the fact that it's the "first time" voters will get a chance to weigh in on health care reform passed this spring.

Repealing health care has become a central issue in the 2010 campaigns, and one we've followed closely at TPM. If this measure passes in the über-battleground state, critics with similar state ballot initiatives may feel emboldened this fall. Among those states with similar ballot initiatives are Arizona, Florida and Indiana -- all of which also have high-profile Senate races.

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MO-03

GOPer Doubles Down On Carnahan Comments: So Many Gov't Bailouts, Religious Freedom Could Be Next!

Christina Bellantoni | July 13, 2010, 6:29PM

House candidate Ed Martin (R-MO)

Moments after Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) condemned his Congressional challenger Ed Martin (R-MO) for remarks Martin made about Carnahan's faith, Martin said in a statement to TPM that he stands by the comments.

As we reported, Martin said on the "Dr. Gina show" that the growth of government endangers freedom to worship and, "[T]hat's one of the things that we have to be very, very aware of that the Obama Administration and Congressman Carnahan are doing to us." In his statement tonight Martin defends himself, saying the Obama administration already has "abolished" many freedoms.

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MO-03

Carnahan Says GOPer 'Crossed The Line' Attacking Me Over Faith

Christina Bellantoni | July 13, 2010, 6:11PM

House candidate Ed Martin (R-MO) and Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO)

Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) tonight tore into his Republican rival for suggesting that Carnahan and President Obama are trying to "take away" religious freedom. Carnahan said in a statement that Ed Martin (R-MO) is engaging in "fear mongering" that proves his true character.

As TPM reported last night, Martin said on a conservative radio show Tuesday that the growth of government endangers religious freedom and the "ultimate freedom ... to get your salvation." He said on the "Dr. Gina show" that "[T]hat's one of the things that we have to be very, very aware of that the Obama Administration and Congressman Carnahan are doing to us."

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MO-03

GOP Candidate: Obama And Carnahan Want To Take Away Your Chance To Find The Lord (AUDIO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 12, 2010, 8:45PM

House candidate Ed Martin (R-MO)

Ed Martin, a Republican candidate for Congress in Missouri, said in a radio interview with a conservative talk show host that President Obama and Rep. Russ Carnahan are trying to interfere with America's freedom to worship. Martin also has taken a swipe at Carnahan's sister Robin Carnahan, suggesting she is doing the "devil's work" as Secretary of State.

Martin said today the growth of government endangers religious freedom and the "ultimate freedom ... to get your salvation." "And I think that's one of the things that we have to be very, very aware of that the Obama Administration and Congressman Carnahan are doing to us," Martin said during an interview on the "Dr. Gina show."

Martin is challenging Carnahan (D-MO) this fall. The left-leaning FiredUp Missouri blog caught the radio segment and posted the audio tonight.

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