UPDATED: NRCC beats socialist drum against Kilroy

Republicans continue to beat the socialist drum against Mary Jo Kilroy, the Democratic nominee in the 15th Congressional District.

Today the National Republican Congressional Committee sent a press release claiming to have found further evidence of Kilroy’s ties to socialists, namely a press release for an event she attended in 1997.

According to a version of the press release posted on to an online discussion board at the University of Utah, which the NRCC included in its press release, Kilroy attended the “Center for Democratic Values Conference” in 1997, sponsored by the Democratic Socialists of America. Kilroy, then a member of the Columbus school board, argued in favor of public schools at this right-left debate.

For NRCC spokesperson Ken Spain that proves Kilroy is an extremist.

“Mary Jo Kilroy has been peddling her extremist agenda for years, but now she is doing it as a candidate for Congress and under the guise of bringing ‘real change’ to our country. Unfortunately for Mary Jo Kilroy, radical leftist politicians are not the kind of change Ohio voters are hoping for,” he said in a statement.

Wayne State University professor Ronald Aronson headed the Center for Democratic Values and was present at the conference. Aronson said that Democratic Socialists of America was one sponsor of the conference and that CDV worked to promote democratic socialist values.

The conference drew from both right and left, including people from a Michigan labor union, Greenpeace, Ohio State University, Otterbein College, American University, Peter Hart Research, as well as the Democratic Socialists of America. Even David Frum, who was later President Bush’s speech writer, attended the conference representing the right.

Aronson, citing Frum as an example, said the attack on Kilroy is baseless.

“Aanyone who attended the event automatically getting attack is sort of stupid, to say the least,” he said.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee responded by saying Kilroy opponent Steve Stivers (R-Columbus) is red baiting.

"By his bizarre and pathetic invocation of Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare, Steve Stivers is attempting to dupe voters by questioning a highly respected woman's patriotism who has served her community with honor and distinction for 16 years,” said DCCC spokesperson Ryan Rudominer in a statement. “This November, not only will hypocritical former lobbyist Steve Stivers face public trial for shilling for predatory lenders while middle class families are struggling, but also for his shameful character assassination and despicable Karl Rove style political tactics."

The Kilroy campaign could not be reached for comment.

UPDATE: Kilroy communications director Brad Bauman reponded.

"I try not to comment on lies and complete distortions of the truth, but in this case, Stivers has sunk to the bottom of the barrel. He has reached a new low and we are not going to sit by and allow him to question the patriotism of a committed public servant who loves her country dearly. With all that is going on in the financial world I can see why banking lobbyist Steve Stivers is trying to change the subject but it is just sickening," he said.