After a stop in Lee’s Summit, today Roy Blunt shows us just why he canceled all those debates.
County Chairman Steve Bough issued this statement:
“Congressman Blunt has shown that he refuses to be honest with Missourians. As a congressman, he did special favors for tobacco companies after he divorced his wife and married a tobacco lobbyist, he got his son hired as a federal lobbyist and he pulled strings to help an undocumented worker who was employed as his housekeeper. Now he refuses to even answer questions about his actions. That is not leadership; that is embarrassing.
Now is the time to speak with your neighbors about Robin Carnahan. The choice is clear – a senator who does special favors for tobacco companies or someone who will fight for Missourians. Please plan on voting for Robin next Tuesday.”
Congressman Roy Blunt Caught Lying About Employing an Illegal Worker, Is He Asking Others to Help his Cover-Up?
Blunt Campaign Lies, Desperately Tries for Cover-Up
Jefferson City, Mo. -Yesterday, Congressman Roy Blunt was caught lying to Missourians about an illegal worker who did housework for Blunt and his first wife Roseann. After the Missouri Democratic Party released official state documents revealing that Blunt knowingly employed an illegal worker and tried to use his Washington connections to expedite her case, the Kansas City Star reported that the woman in question, Dora Narvaez, confirmed to the Star that she did in fact work for the Blunts. The Blunt campaign, however, lied and said that never worked for Blunt. [KC Star, 10/19/10; AP 10/19/10]
Even after documents were released that clearly show Blunt was knowingly employing an illegal worker and after the Kansas City Star confirmed that the woman was a housekeeper for the Blunts, Congressman Blunt continued to lie to Missourians.
Since Blunt began doubling down on his newest lie, Narvaez has refused to speak to the press.
“It is one thing for Congressman Blunt to blatantly lie to Missourians about his record and his under-the-table business, but it’s another if he and his henchmen start pressuring others to change their stories,” said Missouri Democratic Party Communications Director Ryan Hobart. “The documents don’t lie, and the housekeeper Blunt illegally employed has confirmed she worked for Roy and Roseann Blunt.”
CONGRESSMAN BLUNT’S COVER-UP
THE LIE: “Never Employed”
AP: “Blunt spokesman Rich Chrismer says the woman merely helped at some church events, and was never employed by the Blunts.” [AP, 10/19/10]
THE TRUTH: Woman Says She “Worked as a Housekeeper;” Blunt’s own letter says she did work for his family.
KC Star: “A woman who identified herself as Narvaez spoke briefly with The Star. She said she had worked as a housekeeper for the Blunts for several months in 1990.” [KC Star, 10/19/10]
Letter from Roy Blunt to INS Commissioner Gene McNary: “Dora Narvaez has done some work for Roseann [Blunt].” [Secretary of State Roy Blunt official letter, 8/21/90]
See documents showing Congressman Blunt hired an illegal worker:
Then-Secretary of State Roy Blunt’s Official Correspondence Read Here
For 14 years, Congressman Roy Blunt has been part of the waste, corruption and sticking it to the middle class that represents the very worst of Washington.
BREAKING: Newly Uncovered Documents Show Congressman Blunt Hired Illegal Worker, Used Washington Connections to Try and Expedite Worker’s Case
Hypocrisy at Work: As Blunt Runs Immigration Ad on TV, New Documents Show He Used Official Office to do Favors for Illegal Worker
Saint Louis, MO – Today, the Missouri Democratic Party will unveil newly uncovered official documents and information revealing that Congressman Blunt hired an illegal worker and tried to use his Washington connections to grant her expedited citizenship.
As I write this post, I await the righteous indignation of Missouri Republicans, who will feign outrage that I dared to strike a low blow at U. S. Senate candidate Roy Blunt, a man who has devoted his adult life to defending what he describes as “Missouri values.”
The post in question, which I put on The Turner Report late Wednesday night, has fewer words than probably any I have ever published.
The words didn’t really matter. The story was in the pictures.
After trying to maintain the high road in a 22-year journalism career and continuing to do so in my decade as a blogger by keeping politicians’ personal lives out of my stories, I decided it was time to break away from that lofty, but misguided rule.
As Roy Blunt tries to sell himself to Missouri Tea Party enthusiasts as a man who has fought the establishment during his 14 years in Congress and has never succumbed to the temptations of the Beltway, the two pictures tell a much different story.
The first picture came from a Christmas card, Congressman Blunt sent me during his early years in Washington. It is one of those family photos that politicians (and many others) like to send during the holiday season. It features Blunt with his wife at the time, Rosann, sons Matt (the future Missouri governor at that point) and Andrew and daughter Amy.
The second picture features a dressed to the nines Roy Blunt with his much younger second wife, Abigail Perlman, who is wearing an off-the-shoulder formal as they attend a Washington party.
Blunt’s second marriage to Ms. Perlman would normally not be enough to push me into breaking my long-standing rule. Though it’s a sad commentary, many men of Blunt’s age feel the need to trade in the loyal wives who stuck with them as they climbed the political ladder for younger models.
This situation, however, is more than just a repeat of that pathetic model. Ms. Perlman, despite her beauty, is not just some bubbleheaded babe who distracts a powerful politician from his impending mortality. She is also the lobbyist for Altria, a company that has poured hundreds of thousands into the Blunt campaign chest, into his Rely on Your Beliefs PAC, and into the Missouri campaigns of Blunt’s son, Matt.
And in 2002, as it has been well documented, including during his U.S. Senate race with Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, Blunt, at the time the newly minted Minority Whip, attempted to slip into the Homeland Security Bill legislation that would benefit the tobacco company Ms. Perlman represents.
It has been written many times over the years that Blunt inserted the wording to the bill to help “his girlfriend” or “the woman he was dating.”
And while those assertions have never been questioned (Blunt has continued to insist the pro-tobacco legislation would have helped improve U. S. security), one fact has been conveniently left out of the reporting- at the time Roy Blunt, the bastion of Missouri values, was helping his lobbyist girlfriend, he was still married to another woman.
Court records show that Blunt and his first wife were not divorced until April 24, 2003. Blunt filed for divorce Aug. 8, 2002, during the time the legislation was being considered by the House. The Homeland Security Bill passed in November. Online court documents show that a legal separation was granted for the Blunts on Dec. 19, 2002, because the court found there was “a reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved and it is not irretrievably broken.”
It obviously doesn’t help the preservation of your marriage when you are dating a younger woman, a lobbyist at that, and secretly inserting last minute amendments that would have done nothing to aid a country engaged in a war on terrorism, but would have done much to improve the bottom line of the company your girlfriend represents.
So when it came down to it, the decision process was not a difficult one. I could write two thousand words saying the same thing, but all it takes is two pictures to tell Missourians that Roy Blunt has succumbed to the sweet siren song of Washington, D. C.
He may speak Missouri values, but the evidence indicates those are just a memory.
Blunt Takes Heat for Trying to Insert Tobacco Measure into a Homeland Security Bill
Jefferson City, Mo. – In 2003, CBS News exposed Congressman Blunt’s controversial move to insert a secret provision benefiting tobacco giant Philip Morris into a Homeland Security Bill. Blunt was publicly criticized for his actions, his ties to the company’s lobbyists, and the fact that Philip Morris was one of his largest campaign contributors giving $140,000 to his campaign and political committees over the years.
Read More About Congressman Blunt’s Secret Deal, As Reported on CBS Here:
* House Majority Whip Roy Blunt is coming under fire for trying to help tobacco giant Philip Morris in last year’s homeland security bill.
* At issue is a measure to stop the smuggling of contraband cigarettes that Blunt, R-Mo., tried to quietly slip into the 2002 bill creating the Homeland Security Department. Blunt pushed the provision at the request of Philip Morris, to which he has close personal and political ties.
* The provision was yanked out of the bill as soon as Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., found out about it, according to a report in Wednesday’s Washington Post.
* Democratic Party officials accused Blunt of exploiting his position to benefit a contributor.
* “This is another example of how House Republican leaders have tried to turn our homeland security agency into their own ‘Department of Political Security,’” said Kori Bernards, a spokeswoman for the House Democrats’ campaign committee.
* Missouri Democratic Party spokesman Mike Kelley called Blunt’s actions an ongoing effort “to benefit contributors and his family at the detriment of his constituents.” Kelley was referring to Blunt’s youngest son, Andy, a lobbyist who represents Philip Morris.
* Blunt also reportedly has a close personal relationship with a Phillip Morris lobbyist named Abigail Perlman. Blunt would not discuss their relationship, telling the Post, “I am just going to talk about policy here.”
* Phillip Morris and its employees have contributed more than $140,000 to Blunt and his fund-raising committees, Federal Election Commission reports show. Blunt, the third-ranking House GOP leader, has been a rainmaker for his colleagues, raising an estimated $6 million for candidates in the 2002 election cycle. (CBS News, 6/12/2003)
You can revisit other Friday Flashbacks (All the News Congressman Blunt Hopes You Forget) at: http://www.missouridems.org/friday_flashbacks.php
For 14 years, Congressman Roy Blunt has been part of the waste, corruption and sticking it to the middle class that represents the very worst of Washington: http://www.theveryworstofwashington.com
For more information about the Missouri Democratic Party visit www.MissouriDems.org and follow us on Twitter www.Twitter.com/MoDemParty .
–
Ryan Hobart
Communications Director
Missouri Democratic Party
Work: 573-636-5241
Cell: 913-205-9177
E-Mail: rhobart@missouridems.org
Website: www.missouridems.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/modemparty
Being proud of the people that represent you, I think is the one of the strongest reasons I continue to be actively involved in the political process. Having leaders that reflect my values and my beliefs is important to me, and this election is a sterling example of why “character counts”. The distinction between the 2 candidates for Senate in Missouri could not be more clear. On one hand you have a person of impeccable character and a reputation of fighting for Missourians, and on the other you have Roy Blunt.
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.”
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.
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.
On 45th Anniversary of Medicare, Coats, Vitter, Johnson, Boozman, Blunt, Norton, Buck, Angle, Paul All Want To End Medicare For Seniors In Their States
As Americans across the country celebrate the 45th anniversary of Medicare being signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is attacking nine Republican Senate candidates who want to take Medicare away from their would-be constituents. Medicare, which provides quality health insurance to those 65 and over, has been one of the most successful and popular government programs in American history. While Democrats will fight to preserve Medicare, these nine Republicans candidates will fight tooth and nail to abolish it should they win this November.
“On the 45th anniversary of Medicare, Republican Senate candidates are running to take it away,” said DSCC National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy. ”Fortunately, voters will have a choice this fall, between Democrats who will fight to preserve Medicare, and Republicans who will fight to abolish it.”
NINE REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT
SHARRON ANGLE WANTS TO END MEDICARE FOR 348,168 NEVADANS
Angle On Medicare: “We Need To Phase It Out.” In October 2009, the Review-Journal reported, “As for Medicare, she (Angle) said the entitlement program popular with seniors will eventually grow too costly to maintain… ‘We need to phase it out,’ she said.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/21/2009]
RAND PAUL WANTS TO END MEDICARE FOR 752,776 KENTUCKIANS
Paul: Medicare Is Soviet Union Socialism. A Courier-Journal review of Paul’s prior statements found he had compared Medicare to Soviet socialism. “Advancing his belief that health care prices should be set by the marketplace, Paul also has attacked having government set Medicare reimbursements for doctors,” the Courier-Journal said. “The fundamental reason why Medicare is failing is why the Soviet Union failed — socialism doesn’t work,” Paul said on Kentucky Tonight on June 16, 1998. “You have … no price fluctuation.” [Courier-Journal, 6/21/2010; Kentucky Tonight 1998 archives]
DAN COATS WANTS TO END MEDICARE FOR 996,966 HOOSIERS
Coats: I Want To Work With Rep. Ryan On His Ideas for Entitlement Reform. In July 2010, Coats praised Rep. Paul Ryan’s ideas for entitlement reform and vowed to work with him on passing them if elected. He said, “Paul Ryan has come up with some very sensible ideas, I have talked personal with Paul I have read his materials and there are many many things in there that I agree with and want to work with him on. UUhh it basically says we are out of money and we are deeply in debt. And if we are going to have a future in this country for our children and our grandchildren and going to have jobs available and be the country of opportunity and be the country that can lead the world and the economy we have to come up with some reforms. And Paul has come up with some very constructive ideas and so have other republicans.” [Greg Garrison Show, 7/12/10]
o Ryan Plan would Eliminate Traditional Medicare. “The Ryan plan would eliminate traditional Medicare, most of Medicaid, and all of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), converting these health programs largely to vouchers that low-income households, seniors, and people with disabilities could use to help buy insurance in the private health insurance market.” [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/07/10]
DAVID VITTER WANTS TO END MEDICARE FOR 677,880 LOUISIANANS
Vitter Endorsed Plan to Privatize Medicare. In September 2009, Vitter endorsed a report from the conservative Pelican Institute that promoted ending the employer-based health insurance system. According to the Times-Picayune, “U.S. Sen. David Vitter has endorsed a new study from a conservative think tank that calls for scrapping the nation’s employer-based health insurance system in favor of individually owned policies and converting the Medicaid program into vouchers for private insurance.” Vitter called the report “an important contribution to the debate.” [Times-Picayune, 9/15/09]
RON JOHNSON WANTS TO END MEDICARE FOR 900,715 WISCONSINITES
Johnson: Rep. Ryan Has Laid Out “Common Sense Approaches” on Entitlement Reform In May 2010, Johnson praised Rep. Paul Ryan’s privatization plan. He said, “You know, in his “Roadmap for America,” [Paul Ryan] starts laying out some possibilities, I think some common-sense approaches, on you know, recognizing the fact that, I mean, when these programs were implemented, life expectancy was far shorter. You know, so, life expectancy has gone on. So I mean, you have to recognize that reality and start making adjustments to the program to figure out how you can keep these things sustainable so they’re around for people.” [Johnson Wisconsin Eye Campaign 2010 Interview, 5/26/2010]
JOHN BOOZMAN WANTS TO END MEDICARE FOR 527,051 ARKANSANS
Boozman Voted to Replace Medicare With a Private Program. In April 2009, Boozman voted for a GOP alternative budget by Rep. Paul ryan that called for “replacing the traditional Medicare program with subsidies to help retirees enroll in private health care plans.” [Star Tribune, 4/03/09; Vote 191, 4/02/09]
ROY BLUNT WANTS TO END MEDICARE FOR 992,968 MISSOURIANS
Blunt Voted to Replace Medicare With a Private Program. In April 2009, Blunt voted for a GOP alternative budget by Rep. Paul ryan that called for “replacing the traditional Medicare program with subsidies to help retirees enroll in private health care plans.” [Star Tribune, 4/03/09; Vote 191, 4/02/09]
Blunt: Government Should Never Have Gotten In The Health Care Business. During a radio appearance on The Eagle 93.9, Blunt suggested that government should never have gotten in the health care business, citing Medicare and Medicaid as examples of government intervening in the health care business “in a big way.” HOST MIKE FERGUSON: What is the proper role of government, and what are the potential impacts of the direction that we’re going right now? BLUNT: Well, you could certainly argue that government should have never have gotten in the health care business, and that might have been the best argument of all, to figure out how people could have had more access to a competitive marketplace. Government did get into the health care business in a big way in 1965 with Medicare, and later with Medicaid, and government already distorts the marketplace.” [The Eagle 93.9, 7/10/09; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7/10/09]
· Blunt: “Medicare Has Never Done Anything To Make People More Healthy.” During a July 2009 campaign event in Hannibal, Blunt said Medicare had never done anything to make people healthier. BLUNT: “We’ve had Medicare since 1965, and Medicare has never done anything to make people more healthy. If there’s any opportunity for more healthy activity, it’s going to be, again, a private, competitive industry…” [Becky Thatcher's, Hannibal MO, 7/25/10; Missouri Democratic Party; Fired Up Missouri, 7/29/09]
JANE NORTON AND KEN BUCK WANT TO END MEDICARE FOR 606,009 COLORADANS
Norton: Government Shouldn’t Be In Health Care Business. In January 2010, Norton called on supporters to sign an online petition “if you agree that the government shouldn’t be in the health care business.” “Health care needs real, common-sense reforms. A government mandated, and government controlled, health care system is not the solution… If you agree that the government shouldn’t be in the health care business, show your opposition by signing this petition today.” [www.janenorton.com, Accessed 1/5/10]
Buck Questioned Federal Government’s Role in Running Health Care Programs. As reported by Politico, “At a March forum, Buck said. ‘The idea that the federal government should be running health care or retirement or any of those programs is fundamentally against what I believe. And that is that the private sector runs programs like that far better.’” [Politico, 6/28/10]
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