DRACULA-GATE!

DRACULA-GATE!


From Man-Horse Nuptials To Fevered Talk Of ‘Death Threats,’ Hayworth Enters Meltdown Mode



STARRING:
Former Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth as Dracula

Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods As Van Helsing

A Confused Horse In A Wedding Dress

TRANSYLVANIA, AZ – This week, a new scandal has dominated the campaign – a scandal so scary, so dark that it threatens to “suck your blood.” Welcome to “Dracula-Gate.”To recap: Last week, in an obvious metaphorical reference to Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel, Dracula, former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods quipped of former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, “Someone needs to drive a wooden stake through this guy's heart.”

Congressman Hayworth’s response was a bizarre, rambling rant that came off stronger than garlic:“‘This cavalier death threat that he issued is over the top,’ Hayworth said. ‘If Grant Woods had a
shred of decency he would apologize for what amounts to a death threat,’ he said.” (Politico, 4/6/10)

Despite acknowledging that Woods’ quip was a metaphor – not to be taken literally – Congressman Hayworth renewed his manufactured outrage again just today, attacking Woods for making “violent remarks.” (AZ Republic, 4/7/10)

Confused? No worry, this is just another example of ever-increasing bizarre behavior from Congressman Hayworth, showing that his campaign-trail meltdown is now in full effect.

Congressman Hayworth has stumbled out of the starting gate since formally announcing his campaign to great fanfare.

First, Congressman Hayworth peddled conspiracy theories about the President’s birth certificate in multiple national cable TV interviews.

Then he publicly warned of a coming epidemic of man-horse nuptials (a threat he inferred from a non-existent quote in a Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling).

The next day, his chief campaign consultant quit.

Two weeks later, he failed to reach his highly publicized March fundraising goal. And just last week, a poll came out showing him down 15 points in the primary.

In response to the controversy surrounding “Dracula-Gate” and Congressman Hayworth’s series of campaign missteps, McCain 2010 Communications Director Brian Rogers released the following statement:

“Congressman Hayworth’s bizarre, unbalanced statements show that the pressures of this campaign are getting to him. From his bizarre rants about man-horse nuptials to fevered talk of perceived ‘death threats’ from highly regarded public figures, it’s clear that Congressman Hayworth has entered full-on meltdown mode. But no matter how wheels-off Congressman Hayworth’s public pronouncements get, they won’t distract Arizonans from his disappointing record as a Washington big-spender, or his
ethically questionable behavior during the Jack Abramoff scandal.” – McCain 2010 Communications Director Brian Rogers



What They’re Saying About “Dracula-Gate” And Congressman Hayworth:



Grant Woods: “I Do Think J.D. Sucks, But He's No Dracula.”

“Senate Republican challenger J.D. Hayworth reportedly is demanding that former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods
apologize for threatening his life -- by saying in Newsweek that ‘someone needs to drive a wooden stake through (Hayworth's) heart.’ … Woods laughed about Hayworth's overwrought reaction. ‘I am a Dracula fan. I do think J.D. sucks, but he's no Dracula,’ Woods quipped to AZ/DC.” (Dan Nowicki, “Hayworth Wants Apology
From Woods For 'Death Threat',” The Arizona Republic, 4/6/10)

• Woods: “I can't tell if he's completely nuts or just ignorant… Most people learn what a metaphor is before they can graduate eighth grade. . . . Another thing: most people don't make death threats through Newsweek.” (Dan Nowicki, “Hayworth Wants Apology From Woods For 'Death Threat',” The Arizona Republic, 4/6/10)

The New Republic: “You See, Mr. Hayworth, In The Popular Culture, There's This Evil Figure Called ‘Dracula.’” “J.D. Hayworth believes a John McCain supporter has called for his assassination… I'm pretty sure that was a metaphor. You see, Mr. Hayworth, in the popular culture, there's this evil figure called "Dracula." He can only be killed by driving a stake through his heart. Generally speaking, driving a stake through the heart is not considered an efficient way of killing regular people.” (Jonathan Chait, “J.D. Hayworth Prowls The Night In Search Of Blood,” The New Republic, 4/6/10)

Phoenix New Times: “No, J.D., Unless You Are In Fact A Vampire, Interpreting An Innocent Reference To Pop-Culture As A Death Threat Is What's ‘Beyond The Pale.’” “What do you call a vampire who's running for the U.S. Senate?

Don't bother asking Senate hopeful J.D. Hayworth because the guy's apparently humorless, can't take a joke. Hayworth seems to think that a vampire quip made by former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods was a death threat, and is demanding an apology. …
‘If Grant Woods had a shred of decency, he would apologize for what amounts to a death threat,’ Hayworth continues.

‘For Mr. Woods to issue a death threat in a national magazine like Newsweek is way beyond the pale.’ No, J.D., unless you are in fact a vampire, interpreting an innocent reference to pop-culture as a death threat is what's ‘beyond the pale.’” (James King, “J.D. Hayworth Interprets Grant Woods Vampire Quip As Death Threat,” Phoenix New Times, 4/6/10)