The fake outrage is just getting started in Senate race

By Jon Ralston

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

In the classic film about law school, “The Paper Chase,” there is this priceless moment when the incomparable John Houseman, playing the professor, holds up a coin and offers it to the beleaguered student played by Timothy Bottoms.

“Mr. Hart,” Houseman says drolly, “Here is a dime (!). Call your mother. Tell her there are serious doubts about your becoming a lawyer.”

I was reminded of that scene this week after what seems like a minor kerfuffle broke out because of some comments U.S. Senate candidate Sue Lowden made on a local radio show hosted by conservative activist Heidi Harris. I have written for months that Lowden is the most formidable candidate Majority Leader Harry Reid could face in the general election, someone whom I could imagine defeating him. But the Lowden-Harris colloquy gives me serious doubts about her becoming a U.S. senator.

Here’s why:

Making judgments about isolated incidents may be risky, but the tone of the remarks on the radio show indicates a certain lack of seriousness on Lowden’s part for what may be the most important race in the country next year. This isn’t a contest for Miss New Jersey or even the state Senate — it is the task of taking out the most powerful Nevadan in Capitol Hill history.

Less than a week after Lowden expressed/feigned outrage at a Reid aide’s telling Politico the senator would “vaporize” his opponents, risibly calling it a “threat (that) must be taken seriously,” Lowden and Harris made light and feigned ignorance of the mob trying to, well, vaporize Harry Reid.

The discussion began after Harris mentioned one of those warm and fuzzy Reid ads on the air these days:

Harris: “Harry Reid … you’ve probably heard the ad that he’s running … claims there was a bomb found under the family station wagon. Now I’ve been here all my life … never heard anything about it. I’ve talked to sources. Everybody says that maybe there was a rumor, but nobody’s been able to verify that actually happened. Do you know anything about that?”

Lowden: “I’ve never heard of that either. The only bomb that I’m aware of is the bomb that went off in Ned Day’s car, remember that?”

Harris: “Well, Lefty Rosenthal. They blew up.”

Lowden: “Yes.”

Harris: “I remember Ned Day dying down in Mexico, but I don’t remember him having a bomb in his car.”

Lowden: “Yes, he did too.”

Harris: “Oh. Interesting.”

Lowden: “But I don’t remember Harry Reid’s bomb.”

Harris: “Yeah, so maybe he’s claiming Ned Day’s bomb.”

Lowden: “Maybe.” (laughing)

I don’t know where to start.

First, for someone who has lived here all her life and someone who was a journalist in the early 1980s, neither Harris nor Lowden know about the July 29, 1981, incident in which then-Gaming Commissioner Reid found a crude device under his hood? Perhaps. But there were several media reports about the incident and did either actually think Reid’s campaign would fabricate something so easily checked?

The ignorance is sad and the frivolity is juvenile. It’s especially disturbing because legendary journalist Ned Day was a friend of Lowden, who did not bother to correct Harris’ assertion that he died in Mexico. (It was Hawaii, in 1987.) And that Harris did not know about the bombing of Day’s car, which the columnist wrote about and received much media coverage, is astounding.

Of course, the Reid folks responded in disproportionate fashion: “While I understand it’s difficult for the Republican challengers to run with no new ideas of their own, that doesn’t justify lying about Sen. Reid’s record of serving Nevada,” Reid campaign boss Brandon Hall said. “Sue Lowden should immediately halt her discredited Karl Rove-style tactics and admit to Nevadans that she got it wrong.”

Well. Yes, Lowden should have apologized and been done with it, instead of allowing her campaign manager to use the opportunity to go off on Reid. But lying about Reid’s record of service? There will be plenty of time for that, but that’s not what this was. And Karl Rove-style tactics? This from the team that comes armed with vaporizers and surely will use some tactics that will make Rove blush? Please.

I would like to say I am confident we have seen enough of this kind of foolishness from both sides, that we will see no more ludicrous news releases with faux outrage. But then I look at the calendar.

In the movie, Hart becomes obsessed with his professor, researches everything he ever wrote and knows his record by, well, heart. Maybe Lowden should consider doing the same if she wants to erase any doubts about her becoming a U.S. senator.