Gov. Ned Lamont’s tweet of an 18-second snippet from a satirical nation music that bemoans the problem of rhyming something with Connecticut, whereas mentioning marijuana and web playing as amongst its blessings, has Republican Bob Stefanowski singing the blues.
To be exact, Stefanowski’s gubernatorial marketing campaign launched a letter Tuesday through which he asks Legal professional Basic William Tong to research whether or not the governor’s tweet violates a state regulation regulating hashish promoting or if state cash was used to provide an accompanying video.
The letter raises a number of questions, together with whether or not Stefanowski or anybody on his marketing campaign has listened to the full 3 minutes and 45 seconds of the music, “First Ever Connecticut Nation Music,” or simply the 18-second excerpt.
It is also a reminder of the complications that social media accounts can produce for elected officers, particularly when satire is concerned.
The offending portion, accompanied within the tweet by video produced by the governor’s workplace, comes practically 3 minutes right into a tune.
Singer-songwriter Rusty Gear outlines the reason why Connecticut ought to be immortalized in nation lyrics, aside from “cuz it’s actually arduous to rhyme.”
Again house we thank the governor for the blessings that we acquired.
We will gamble on the web and it’s cool to smoke some pot.
And so y’all come go to my state And thoughts your etiquette.
I assure you’ll be welcome in Connecticut.
In his letter to Tong, Stefanowski asks whether or not “taxpayer {dollars}” had been used to provide the 18-second video or whether or not its reference to marijuana being authorized in Connecticut may very well be construed as a violation of the portion of Public Act 21-1 regarding promoting.
The regulation prohibits hashish promoting on TV, radio, billboards, print, social media or different digital means except 90% of the viewers can fairly be anticipated to be 21 or older.
“The Governor’s Workplace and any state companies answerable for this video ought to instantly open up to the general public, the quantity of taxpayer {dollars} spent to provide the video selling drug use in Connecticut,” Stefanowski wrote. “If the Governor needs to speak about Connecticut etiquette, maybe he ought to begin by avoiding utilizing his platform with out regard for the under-age viewers he influences.”
Max Reiss, the communications director for the governor, stated no state funds had been spent however acknowledged that the governor’s workplace workers did produce the video that matched footage of Lamont with the portion of the music thanking the governor for blessings that embody marijuana and playing.
“It’s a cute music. It’s satirical,” stated Home Minority Chief Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, however he added he was shocked to see a gubernatorial tweet in regards to the “blessings” of authorized playing and marijuana.
“It’s getting a visceral response from individuals, and I can perceive why so,” stated Candelora, who voted towards the legalization of leisure marijuana. “I actually don’t know what they had been considering.”
The lawyer basic’s workplace had no touch upon whether or not the workplace had the jurisdiction or experience to find out whether or not the governor’s tweet may very well be confused with an advert, whether or not it really promoted pot use, or if the governor’s 90,500 followers on Twitter might fairly be anticipated to incorporate 9,050 individuals underneath the age of 21.
As an alternative, Tong instructed Stefanowski, who has beforehand requested the lawyer basic to research whether or not the firing of a Black commissioner was discriminatory, to cease utilizing requires an investigation as a political punchline.
“This isn’t the primary time Bob Stefanowski has requested the Workplace of the Legal professional Basic to research his political opponent. Bob Stefanowski is a candidate and these repeated requests — in the course of an energetic marketing campaign — are inappropriate and unethical,” Tong stated. “I’ve made that clear to him beforehand. I can’t enable my workplace, and our investigative authority, to be weaponized by a political marketing campaign. As Legal professional Basic, I characterize the Governor in his official capability, with out regard to the Governor’s occasion affiliation. Had been Mr. Stefanowski the Governor, I’d take the identical place as I do now.”
The governor’s marketing campaign reacted as critically to Stefanowski’s letter as Stefanowski’s marketing campaign reacted to the governor’s tweet.
Jake Lewis, a spokesman for Lamont’s marketing campaign, stated Stefanowski was making an attempt to distract voters from inspecting his variations with the governor on abortion, gun management and different points.
“It’s disappointing that Bob is mendacity however not shocking given how a lot he’s making an attempt to distract from his excessive positions like opposing gun management measures, supporting the NRA, fundraising with ultraconservative anti-choice and anti-LGBT Governors, and supporting the anti-choice judges Trump placed on the Supreme Courtroom,” Lewis stated. “That is simply one other problem the place Bob is out of contact with the vast majority of Connecticut.”
Lamont signed the measure a 12 months in the past, making the possession of 1.5 ounces of marijuana authorized as of July 1, 2021, a step in a journey that started with the decriminalization of small quantities of hashish in 2011 adopted by legalization of medical marijuana in 2012.
“The conflict on hashish, which was at its core a conflict on individuals in Black and brown communities, not solely brought on injustices and elevated disparities in our state, it did little to guard public well being and security,” Lamont stated after the invoice’s passage.
So, is the legalization of leisure marijuana a brand new problem in Connecticut’s race for governor?
Stefanowski’s marketing campaign had no quick touch upon whether or not Stefanowski was against the invoice Lamont signed.
Gear couldn’t be reached about his intentions or inspiration for the piece. The state workplace of tourism had solicited concepts for selling Connecticut, but it surely didn’t run a contest for the first-ever Connecticut nation music, stated David Lehman, the commissioner of financial and neighborhood growth.
Earlier within the tune, Gear embraces Connecticut’s declare to be the gateway to New England, albeit in a gently mocking approach unlikely to be lionized by the tourism people.
Within the basement of New England Connecticut stands tall.
And appears down on Rhode Island for being ornery and small.
However songs about my state are arduous to seek out; No one sings ‘Connecticut on my thoughts.’
