Call to Investigate Coordination Between Karl Rove’s Front Group and Congressman Blunt’s Campaign
Karl Rove’s Out-of-State Group Spending Big Oil Cash on Blunt’s Behalf
Jefferson City - Today, the Missouri Democratic Party will file a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against Karl Rove’s front group Crossroads GPS and U.S. Senate Candidate Congressman Roy Blunt. The complaint centers around illegal coordination between Congressman Blunt’s campaign and Karl Rove’s special interest front group who is currently running political attack on Blunt’s behalf.
Both Congressman Blunt’s campaign and Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS front group may have committed numerous violations of federal election law including (see full FEC complaint attached):
Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Made, and Blunt May Have Accepted, an Illegal In-Kind Contribution
Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Failed to Register as a Political Committee with the FEC
Blunt and Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Failed to Properly Report Coordinated Communications
The Missouri Democratic Party is calling on the FEC to investigate the above violations, assess any fines necessary and enjoin Roy Blunt and Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS group from further violations.
“It is one thing for Karl Rove and Congressman Blunt to use their shady out-of-state political tricks to try and deceive Missourians,” said Missouri Democratic Party Communications Director Ryan Hobart. “It is absolutely unacceptable for Congressman Blunt and Karl Rove to try and find a backdoor to let out-of-state Big Oil and special interest cash fund inappropriate political attack ads here in Missouri.”
Congressman Blunt recently brought Karl Rove out to Missouri for an elite special interest fundraiser. During his time in Missouri, Karl Rove recorded a web ad for Blunt - paid for by the Blunt campaign. Rove’s web ad was focused on health care - the very same issue that his front-group, American Crossroads, is now spending nearly $1 million on in TV ads across the state. [Kansas City Star, 11/30/02; CQ Today, 8/31/04; Real Clear Politics, 7/1/10]
Karl Rove founded American Crossroads and he has been actively raising funds for the organization, and because Congressman Blunt and Karl Rove continue to maintain their close political ties the Missouri Democratic Party believes there was coordination between the two individuals that could violate federal law. It has been reported that Blunt and Rove spoke about political strategy on a weekly basis when Congressman Blunt was in the GOP leadership and Rove served in the White House. [Politico, 5/20/10; New York Times, 5/23/10; Kansas City Star, 11/30/02]
Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Statement on Offensive Blunt Ground Zero Ad
Statement from Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Craig Hosmer regarding Congressman Roy Blunt’s offensive new ad that exploits the tragedy of 9-11:
“Congressman Roy Blunt will say and do anything to get elected, and this time he got caught crossing way over the line of decency. For Congressman Blunt to exploit the victims of 9-11, by using a smoldering photo of Ground Zero, in order to distract from his record of bailouts, waste and corruption is the very worst of Washington politics as usual. His ad is offensive to all Americans, and Congressman Blunt should immediately apologize for his shameful behavior.”
The Ultimate Washington Insider
Here is an email I just got from the DNC…..just reinforcing what we already know.
Reporters have called Republican Congressman Roy Blunt the “ultimate Washington insider” — and a quick look at the contributions he’s accepted from special interests make it easy to see why. He’s pulled in millions from big banks and oil interests — including those he’s responsible for overseeing. And, as the Republican Whip under Tom Delay, he helped craft the failed Bush agenda in Congress. But those aren’t the things he’s talking about in this election. In fact, he’s been avoiding saying much of anything about his 14-year Washington record of wasteful spending, corruption and sticking it to the middle class.
That’s why we’ve put together five facts Missouri voters need to know about Congressman Blunt before making their decision in November. Can you help by forwarding these facts to five fellow Missourians?
Five facts about Congressman Roy Blunt:
1) He accepted a $1,000 contribution from Halliburton’s PAC after the oil spill began — even though, as the second-highest-ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, he is responsible for regulating the company.
2) He’s been named as one of “the 13 Most Corrupt Members of Congress” in a report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
3) Challenged by his opponent to return more than $25,000 in big oil donations, he refused — and has said in the past that he “doesn’t know” how much he’s pulled in from oil and energy interests.
4) He has received almost $3.6 million from banking, securities, and other financial special interests in his career — and opposed Wall Street reform legislation that will help protect consumers from these industries’ risky practices.
5) He said it would have been “best” if the federal government had never gotten “into the health care business” by providing Medicare, Medicaid and coverage for veterans — programs upon which hundreds of thousands of Missourians rely.
We need your help getting the word out. Will you forward these facts about Congressman Blunt on to five friends?
In an effort to avoid owning up to his ties to special interests and the Bush agenda, Congressman Roy Blunt has been ducking opportunities to address his Washington record with constituents this election season. By spreading the facts about Congressman Blunt, you can help make sure he and his questionable ethics don’t represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate.
Nine Years Later
H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act.
Congressman Cleaver’s Statement on Today’s Vote in the House
Education in America has changed since I sat in a classroom in Waxahachie, Texas,” said Congressman Cleaver,” Growing up, it was common to have teachers who stood at the front of the classroom with only a two-year degree under their belt. Today, most teachers hold a full four-year degree, and over half have earned master’s degrees. Our teachers are as educated as they have ever been, and they work equally as hard. The average primary or secondary school teacher works over 50 hours a week, including time spent helping kids find the right bus, directing fundraisers, and advising student clubs. They are a precious resource and an unflagging force, laboring daily for the public good.”
“As the economic crisis eroded the coffers of state and school districts, many of our teachers found their jobs in jeopardy. In the last few months it became clear that budgetary concerns in state and local governments all over our country threatened our schools. But last week my colleagues in the Senate approved a measure to infuse our cash-strapped states with the funds necessary to keep our teachers in the classrooms and off the unemployment lines,” said Cleaver.
Robin Carnahan’s Statement on Today’s Vote in the House
“This was the right thing to do. Today’s vote was about supporting those who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe and educating our kids and the fact that Congressman Blunt twisted arms to give $700 billion of our money to bail out Wall Street, but didn’t bother to even show up and vote on this is another example of how he’s become the very worst of Washington.”
The Republicans can’t Defend Extending Bush Tax Credits for the Wealthy.
John Boehner was on Meet the Press yesterday. He attempted to defend extending the Bush tax credits for the wealthy. MTP ran a clip of Alan Greenspan explaining that although he generally likes tax credits, the Republicans, by not paying for the tax credits would further damage the economy by extending them for taxpayers making over $200,000.
I’d attempt to explain Boehner’s arguments in favor of the tax credits, but I can’t. I have no idea what he’s talking about.
I have a degree in finance and a law degree. What he’s saying makes absolutely no sense. It consists of poorly delivered talking points and bouts of anxiousness.
Is anyone else scared to death of the prospects of this person as the Speaker of the House? Spread the word and remind people of how we got here in the first place; poor fiscal skills by a party that is only looking out for the wealthiest of the wealthy.
Last night at the primary watch party, Congressman Cleaver reminded everyone that while primaries can leave people within the party bruised, bloodied, and irritated that we needed to “de-irritate” and focus on the tough but important races we have November.
It was worth repeating.
In the next couple of weeks, we will outline the competitive general races in Jackson County and how you can get involved.
Call to Investigate Coordination Between Karl Rove’s Front Group and Congressman Blunt’s Campaign
Karl Rove’s Out-of-State Group Spending Big Oil Cash on Blunt’s Behalf
Jefferson City - Today, the Missouri Democratic Party will file a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against Karl Rove’s front group Crossroads GPS and U.S. Senate Candidate Congressman Roy Blunt. The complaint centers around illegal coordination between Congressman Blunt’s campaign and Karl Rove’s special interest front group who is currently running political attack on Blunt’s behalf.
Both Congressman Blunt’s campaign and Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS front group may have committed numerous violations of federal election law including (see full FEC complaint attached):
Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Made, and Blunt May Have Accepted, an Illegal In-Kind Contribution
Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Failed to Register as a Political Committee with the FEC
Blunt and Rove’s Crossroads GPS May Have Failed to Properly Report Coordinated Communications
The Missouri Democratic Party is calling on the FEC to investigate the above violations, assess any fines necessary and enjoin Roy Blunt and Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS group from further violations.
“It is one thing for Karl Rove and Congressman Blunt to use their shady out-of-state political tricks to try and deceive Missourians,” said Missouri Democratic Party Communications Director Ryan Hobart. “It is absolutely unacceptable for Congressman Blunt and Karl Rove to try and find a backdoor to let out-of-state Big Oil and special interest cash fund inappropriate political attack ads here in Missouri.”
Congressman Blunt recently brought Karl Rove out to Missouri for an elite special interest fundraiser. During his time in Missouri, Karl Rove recorded a web ad for Blunt - paid for by the Blunt campaign. Rove’s web ad was focused on health care - the very same issue that his front-group, American Crossroads, is now spending nearly $1 million on in TV ads across the state. [Kansas City Star, 11/30/02; CQ Today, 8/31/04; Real Clear Politics, 7/1/10]
Karl Rove founded American Crossroads and he has been actively raising funds for the organization, and because Congressman Blunt and Karl Rove continue to maintain their close political ties the Missouri Democratic Party believes there was coordination between the two individuals that could violate federal law. It has been reported that Blunt and Rove spoke about political strategy on a weekly basis when Congressman Blunt was in the GOP leadership and Rove served in the White House. [Politico, 5/20/10; New York Times, 5/23/10; Kansas City Star, 11/30/02]
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