Columnist Jeff German: GOP operative discloses bag of political tricks

IF YOU'RE A POLITICAL junkie, you'll love following the antics of Republican Party operative Chuck Muth.

The outspoken Muth, who chairs the Nevada Republican Liberty Caucus, has an opinion on nearly every political issue.

And he's rarely afraid to speak it.

Lately, Muth, the point man in the GOP's workers rights initiative, has been giving advice to party regulars and candidates over the Internet on a daily basis.

Last week's most noticeable e-mail from Muth was slugged "hot campaign tip."

Some will call it an invitation to GOP candidates to play dirty tricks. Others will say it's merely an attempt to educate the novice about age-old hardball tactics.

However you describe it, rarely is such advice put in writing.

Muth, a former Nevada GOP communications director, begins the electronic letter by suggesting that time, not money, is a candidate's "most precious" resource.

"With that said," Muth tells his readers, "you should recognize that time is equally important to your opponent. So here's a little tip you should share with your entire campaign and every one of your volunteers.

"If your opponent shows up on the doorstep of one of your supporters, the supporter's first and natural reaction will be, understandably, hostile. The supporter's impulse will be to confront your opponent on issues and challenge their unenlightened views. Some might even be tempted to set the hounds loose and run your opponent out of the neighborhood.

"While such a confrontation might give your supporter a few moments of satisfaction," Muth writes, "it won't help your campaign much. Instead, advise your supporters to respond to such an opportunity in a completely different manner.

"Invite the opposing candidate into the house. Put on a pot of coffee. Grab a slice of pie from the fridge. Whip out the old family album. Tell the opposing candidate you haven't (decided) who you're going to vote for and just keep asking one question after another.

"Every minute your opponent spends chatting with one of your supporters is a minute he or she won't have available to talk with a real undecided voter," Muth explains.

"For that matter, why wait for such an opportunity? Get your people to start calling your opponent on the phone and commence with the longest and friendliest conversations possible. Have them engage your opponent at public events. Monopolize his time as often as possible.

"Time is working against you," Muth concludes. "If you're smart, you'll do what you can to make sure it's working against your opponent as well.

"Remember, all's fair in love and war."

Make that politics, too, Chuck.

No one has ever doubted Richard Moreno's courage to fight.

But even the toughest fighters know when to call it quits.

Moreno, a former tavern owner and County Commission candidate, confirms he recently settled his four-year legal battle with Alliance Gaming Corp.

But beyond that, Moreno isn't talking.

The agreement reportedly includes a confidentiality clause that prohibits him from discussing the deal in public.

Moreno had accused Alliance's subsidiary, United Coin Machine Co., of derailing his bid for a County Commission seat in 1994.

Three weeks before the election, United Coin sued Moreno, claiming it owed him $325,000 from a faltering slot machine venture at one of his taverns.

The suit was exploited in campaign literature by his opponent, Erin Kenny, who went on to win the race by a mere 130 votes.

Moreno countersued United Coin, but it was too late to stop the political fallout.

In the past several years, however, Moreno has fought the mighty slot route operator in court with a vengeance.

Before the settlement, he was said to be close to proving United Coin had filed suit in 1994 to ruin his budding political career.

Now that the case is over, we may never know how close.

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