In a diary published yesterday:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
I provided the complete email as given by Kansas State University to internal department heads in regards to the apparent violation of Kansas State Law (http://kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/...) and University Policy (http://www.k-state.edu/...)
Tonight, after K-State managed a blowout win over Big12 opponent Oklahoma State University, Coach Snyder was asked the question: "Do you want the ads to come down". After a defiant early answer, snapping that he had 'already answered this question' and that he had 'made a mistake', Bill Snyder responded that 'yes' he wanted the ads to come down.
Now, Kansas Republicans and Democrats are angry - and some aren't going to take it.
November 2, 2014
Senator Pat Roberts campaign manager lies about the University’s request to pull the controversial Snyder video
On Thursday October 30th, Kansas senator Pat Roberts campaign team ran a T.V. political ad with a narrator asking, “Who is Coach Bill Snyder supporting for the U.S. Senate?” Snyder replies, “My good friend Pat Roberts.”
The ad illustrates Snyder’s friendship with Roberts by posting old pictures of them together in happy times, but taken from years past. The narrative switches to Roberts voice as he embellishes their friendship even more.
The next day, the October 31st edition of K-State Today’s faculty newsletter includes a reminder that Kansas State University does not endorse political candidates. See statement below as copied from the publication.
Reminder from President Schulz about university policy:
By Kirk Schulz
“As we get closer to Election Day, I've been getting some questions about university political activities. I just want to remind everyone that Kansas State University does not endorse political candidates, and employees do not speak for the university when they endorse candidates. Employees should also avoid using their university-affiliation in any endorsements or statements.”
Once President Schulz learned the Roberts campaign was running a political advertisement featuring Coach Snyder, which violates university policy, he sent an internal email to some members of his staff which was somehow obtained by the press.
Today, I confirmed the email which appears below is authentic and was written by President Schulz. It appeared in the dailykos blog found on the internet. Full story can be read here with a click:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
(snip prior diary excerpt)
Please note that President Schulz directed Sue Peterson, the university’s Director of Governmental Relations to ask the Roberts campaign to withdraw the video and not use it any further, “They declined to honor our request,” writes Schulz.
Kansas First News contacted the Roberts campaign for a clarification on what has been requested by President Schulz.
Pat Roberts campaign manager Corry Bliss responded to Kansas First News and said:
“Considering this ad has been on air for nearly three full days, the timing of this leak is peculiar. Unfortunately, we can’t speak to the content of this email because contrary to its claim, we haven’t been contacted by the University. What we do know is that unlike Greg Orman who tries to hide his friendship with liberal billionaires like George Soros, Pat Roberts is proud to have the support of his friends like Bill Snyder, Bob Dole, Mitt Romney and many others.”
Mr. Bliss lied to the Kansas First News team about the campaign not being contacted by Sue Peterson, because I have verified that indeed the Roberts campaign was not only contacted, but asked to withdraw the ad and the video.
But Bliss, then sprinkled in another political attack on Roberts’ opponent Greg Orman for good measure which is what the Roberts campaign has been doing from the very beginning.
As I tuned in to tonight’s game on ESPN-ABC Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State, the Roberts-Snyder video appeared for all to see and it made me very sad for Kansas State.
It told me that Mr. Roberts, a Kansas State University graduate was willing to shame his alma mater, for his own personal best political interests while disregarding a request from our university President to pull the ad.
Mr. Roberts apparently believes the wishes of our University president to cool off the situation and follow university rules and policy, are not important.
Roberts continues to open the wound among Kansas State alumni who are angry, upset and feel betrayed by their university for the way Mr. Roberts has conducted himself by dragging Coach Snyder into Roberts sinking ship.
We are the victims of Roberts’ big outside money trying to buy Kansas. But, we still have our only option left to vote Mr. Roberts out of office for his outlandish behavior during his campaign against Mr. Orman; Orman has run a clean race without the vicious negative attacks.
Larry Weigel, the author of this piece and a Manhattan, Kansas resident is also a former president of the Kansas State University Alumni program.
Kansas State University Representatives refused to confirm to KAKE news in Wichita the veracity of the letter - however, numerous individuals who have the letter are active Kansas State University members, and their credibility is unimpeachable. The Kansas City Star was able to confirm much of this story earlier today through other university sources:
http://www.kansascity.com/...
The radio ad ran again within minutes of his angry request to have the ad removed; a nice bit of fun for the Roberts campaign, who has pushed one of the most popular figures in the state into the difficult ethical situation of determining whether or not his violation of Kansas Ethics law will result in fines.
6:49 AM PT: Update
The Topeka Capital Journal provides transcripts of the press conference last night.
http://cjonline.com/...
"I made a mistake," the veteran coach said. "I'm not going to delve into exactly how everything happened, but I made a mistake and I embarrassed the university and that's my responsibility and that was my error.
"I'm not going to speak to it anymore right now, but that's my fault and nobody else's."
Pressed on the matter at the end of his news conference, Snyder became terse.
"I have spoken about the issue," he said. "I apologized. I made a blunder, major mistake. I hurt the university. I accept responsibility for it."
Asked then if he wanted Roberts' campaign team to remove the ad, Snyder repeated the question before answering "yes" twice.
The Roberts Campaign has so far failed to remove the ad, which played as recently as this morning in the Kansas City Metro Market.