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The Cincinnati Beacon
Tim Burke: Oh the times, they are a-changin’
Monday, April 16, 2007
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
 Photo courtesy of CityBeat.
Yesterday, we provided exclusive looks at the mailing Jeff Berding sent Cincinnati Democratic Precinct Executives—hoping to sway their vote at the upcoming meeting to determine who will receive the party’s endorsement. Today, we bring you Tim Burke’s companion piece to Berding’s propaganda—including a time-switch plot. Is Burke trying to slide an approval of Berding past dissenters by playing an old switch-a-roo with the clock?
In a letter dated April 12 (click image for larger view), Burke gives the incorrect time for tomorrow night’s meeting of Democratic Precinct Executives: “On Tuesday night, April 17th, all of us who are a member of the Cincinnati Democratic Committee—all of the appointed and elected Precinct Executives in the City—will meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Laborer’s Hall located at 3457 Montgomery Road in Evanston.”
This caused a follow-up email to be circulated to a variety of Party members. Sunday night, concerned Democrats were circulating an email from Burke that had, apparently, not reached all of its intended recipients. (The typos below are original.)
In case you didn’t get this message which should go ot to all PEs- I just received this from Chair Tim Burke:
“Recently you received a letter from me about the Cincinnati Democratic Committee meeting that will take place on Tuesday April 17th at the Laborers Hall at 3457 Montgomery Road in Evanston (across from St. Mark’s Church).
That meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM. My letter said 7:00PM. I was wrong. The meeting is set to begin at 6:30.
I apologize for any confusion.”
TIm
Are all the precinct executives properly informed of the time? Or, is Burke playing the old switch-a-roo on the time to cause confusion—just what he needs, perhaps, to push an endorsement of Berding through the committee when no one is looking.
On the second page of Burke’s letter (click for larger image), he uses a rhetorical device similar to one employed in Jeff Berding’s letter—designed to create a sense of personality, even humility: “Jeff may have some rough spots—we all do—but I’m convinced that we need Jeff back on City Council and we need to endorse all nine of the candidates recommended by the Cincinnati Democratic Committee’s Nominating Committee.” That breakaway interjection, surrounded by the visually notable em-dash, is crafted to pull the reader into Burke’s propaganda. By using the pronoun “we,” Burke attempts to establish a personal connection with his readers. Next, he tries to create a shared sense of humility by using that connection to admit the faults not only of Jeff Berding, but also of himself and everyone who reads his nonsense. Because everyone is not perfect, Burke’s twisted logic suggests, everyone should support Jeff Berding.
Burke knows an anti-Berding faction will be coming to the meeting to be heard. In his letter, he wrote, “We Democrats have a habit of disagreeing with one another, sometimes strongly. One of the recommended candidates, Jeff Berding, has attracted some fire from fellow Democrats. I expect there may be an effort by some to oppose his endorsement. I am writing to you to ask that you support Jeff and all of the recommended candidates for endorsement.”
Tuesday night should be a real test of the Democrats. Will everyone get to the meeting on time to have a voice in Berding’s endorsement? What will they decide?
What will happen if the Democrats do the right thing and give Berding the boot?
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