MATT DRISCOLL: THE GAME OF POLITICS >>>

A surefire tell that it’s an election year is the political endorsement. When politicians start sending out press releases to hack journalists like me touting groups or organizations (big and small) that have “endorsed” their candidacies, well, you know the time honored game of politics is in full swing. It’s an ugly and vile sport, full of treachery and deceit, but hell â€" someone’s got to play. Better the shameless, publicity fiend politicians than you or me. We’ve got decency.

This morning State Senator Mike Carrell’s campaign for reelection got a boost when the National Federation of Independent Business Washington Safe Trust sent out a notice endorsing the 28th District Republican, who represents Lakewood, Dupont, University Place, Fircrest, and all godforsaken points in between. Based on the length of the NFIB Washington Safe Trust’s name, the endorsement must be important.

For the record, the NFIB is a national lobbying group that represents small business owners and has offices in all fifty states. Safe Trust is the political action group of NFIB/Washington. Members of NFIB Safe Trust Washington typically enjoy missionary position sex and the show Deal or No Deal.

The NFIB’s rationale for the endorsement is simple. It’s based on Carrell’s voting record on 15 bills during the 2007 and 2008 sessions that the NFIB Washington has identified as “important to small business.” Incumbents with an 85% or better pro small business voting record (in the eyes, and according to NFIB Washington Safe Trust) automatically received an endorsement.   

And that, ladies and gents, is how Mr. Carrell earned the nod. For a list of the bills the NFIB Washington Safe Trust have identified as “important to small business” click here.

Perhaps more interesting than the endorsement itself, was the list of NFIB gathered statistics provided in the press release. According to the NFIB, 75 percent of voters trust small-business owners more than doctors or lawyers.

Unfortunately, politicians were not part of that poll.