Politics Cantwell’s PAC Pledge Hedge
The State GOP did a good & overdue hit piece on Cantwell yesterday. They point out that despite Cantwell’s no PAC $$$ pledge, she does in fact, get help—through the Democratic Party—from PACs. For example, Washington GOP Chair Diane Tebelius points out that: “Cantwell’s recent TV ad was funded by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee which received over $177,000 dollars in PAC money in the current 2005-2006 cycle.”
Tebelius also points out that the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) sends money to the state party organizations on behalf of candidates. Tebelius says in the GOP press release: “Voters need to know how much of the $3 million dollars of PAC money taken by the DSCCÂ in 2006 is now being used by the Cantwell campaign?”
I think these are fair questions, given that Cantwell makes a big deal about not accepting PAC money.
Although, one of Tebelius’s bombs backfires. Her press release says: “While Cantwell Accepts No Money From AT&T’s PAC, She does accept donations From AT&T’s executives. Two vice presidents for congressional affairs at AT&T gave a total of $3,500. A lobbyist who lists AT&T as a client gave an additional $3,250. Cantwell serves on the Senate Commerce Committee, which is poised to take up legislation vital to the telecommunications industry.”
It’s true that Cantwell is on the Commerce Committee—which took up the recent omnibus Telecom bill. Perhaps, the most heated controversy in that bill was the net neutrality amendment which AT&T lobbied against. (Indeed, in addition to its own lobbying, AT&T even funded a separate astroturf lobbying group called Hands Off the Internet, to kill the net neutrality amendment. That’s how important offing this amendment was to AT&T.) Anyway, the point is: Cantwell voted for the amendment…that is: Against AT&T. Sorry, Diane.
Although, again, I do think Tebelius’s first two questions are good ones. I’ve got a call into the Cantwell people to see what they say.
Amazing how you want Cantwell to be ethically pure and empty her gun of bullets in a definitely dirty gunfight where the opposition even used backdated Safeco stock options to finance their candidate.
So, do you push puppies on to train tracks as well? Or tell passing strangers that Big Dig company-made tunnels underwater are 'safe'?