HuffPo: Rep. Peter DeFazio Turns The Tables, Confronts Shadowy Conservative Group Running Attack Ads

[True_Blue]

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) is turning the tables on a political group launching attack ads against him in an attempt to bring its shadowy practices to light. On Friday, he went to the Capitol Hill headquarters of the Concerned Taxpayers of America to deliver a letter and speak with members of the organization about making its donors public. But the person who answered the door misrepresented himself and lied, saying he had never heard of Concerned Taxpayers, even though subsequent information shows that he is affiliated with the group.

According to Federal Elections Commission (FEC) filings, Concerned Taxpayers is spending $86,000 for ads to help DeFazio's opponent, Art Robinson. The ads being broadcast in southern Oregon try to portray DeFazio as a puppet of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali.). The Register-Guard in Eugene, Oregon calls this association "a reach":

DeFazio has opposed several of the speaker's top legislative priorities, including the stimulus bill and cap-and-trade climate change legislation, and he came close to revolting against the health care reform bill.

Pelosi regards DeFazio as one of the least loyal members of her caucus, and DeFazio said in an interview earlier this week that he'd favor replacing Pelosi as speaker if the Democrats retain their House majority. But the Concerned Taxpayers of America, whoever they are, understand that Pelosi is less popular than DeFazio in the 4th District, so the ads make them out to be political twins.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/24/peter-defazio-concerned-taxpayers-ambush_n_738532.html

[blue sky at night]

1. wish I could give pete a thumbs up about this....

but old petey sounds like an asshat to me, and I am sick of dems that act and vote with the pukes. In fact, I would say fuck the guy.

[jannyk]

2. DeFazio voting with Repugs?!!? Are you insane??

DeFazio votes against these bills, or abstains, because they do not do enough for the American 'People' and too much for Corporations. He votes his conscience, and for that he will win our votes for as long as he runs.

From Wikipedia:

"DeFazio is the most liberal member of the Oregon delegation. For instance, he voted against the Telecommunications Act of 1996--one of only 16 congressmen to do so. DeFazio particularly objected to a provision that deregulated the cable television industry. According to DeFazio, many of his fellow Democrats later realized "they were idiots" for backing the bill. He was also the only Oregonian who opposed NAFTA and GATT.<2> He is a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and was its chairman from 2003 to 2005."

"DeFazio made headlines in mid-November 2009 when he suggested, in an interview with liberal MSNBC commentator Ed Schultz, that President Obama should fire Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers. "We may have to sacrifice just two more jobs to get back millions for Americans," said DeFazio.<13> The quote made top headlines at progressive news blog The Huffington Post.<14> DeFazio also suggested that a formal call by the Congressional Progressive Caucus for Geithner and Summers to be removed might be forthcoming."

"Somewhat controversially, DeFazio declined to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, voting against the final stimulus package on February 13, 2009. He was one of only nine House Democrats to not vote "yea" on the bill, and one of only seven to vote "nay".<8> DeFazio said that his vote against the bill was due to his frustration over compromises made to win support from moderate Republicans in the Senate, saying, "I couldn't justify borrowing money for tax cuts," in reference to a bipartisan group's decision to cut funding for education and infrastructure initiatives the Oregon congressman had supported in favor of more tax reductions.<9> He also advocated that the U.S. Senate change its cloture rules, doing away with the filibuster that, in the current 59–40 Democratic majority, gives Republicans the ability to block legislation from coming to a vote.<10>"

[blue sky at night]

11. sorry, I have to plead ignorance of Pete...

I only live a few thousand miles away, and I did qualify what I said with "sounds" like...just reading the OP!

[jannyk]

12. And I'm sorry I jumped on you...it was a kneejerk reaction...

and I apologize.
Actually, DeFazio is left of Pelosi, and far to the left of Obama. He's one of the good guys actually fighting to get us little 'people' more than the crumbs!

:hug:

[blue sky at night]

15. found something in another post!

down near the end of the article Pete DeFazio is quoted....he is right on!


http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/09/26/1356287/big-oil-refinery-loads-spark-big.html

[mmonk]

3. I receive correspondence from liberals in Congress.

DeFazio is one of them.

[stevedeshazer]

6. Peter DeFazio is one of the most progressive Democrats on the planet.

Check your reading comprehension.

You get a big fat F.

[Poll_Blind]

9. With all due respect, you have absolutely NO idea what you're talking about.

I won't even bother to add more than that.

PB

[dhpgetsit]

4. +5

Art Robinson is a wacko of the wackiest order.

[SpiralHawk]

5. Out of the Closet with Republicon Occultists

Fer sure.

[stevedeshazer]

7. DeFazio's opponent, Art Robinson, suggests that nuclear waste be stored in foundations of homes.

http://whoisartrobinson.defazioforcongress.org/2010/09/09/art-robinson-nuclear-waste-best-stored-foundation-/



"While ocean dispersal would have long ago turned the radioactive waste disposal issue into a non-problem had pseudo environmentalism not intervened, the best place for that waste is in the concrete foundations and insulation of homes and buildings. Suitably diluted, radioactive substances in our homes would provide a hermetic radiation dose and significantly prolong our lives."

Source: Art Robinson’s Access to Energy newsletter, September 2003.

"All we need do with nuclear waste is dilute it to a low radiation level and sprinkle it over the ocean – or even over America after hormesis is better understood and verified with respect to more diseases."

Source: Art Robinson’s Access to Energy newsletter, April 1997. SCIENCE VS. SCIENTISTS

----

Seriously, this guy is waaaaayy out there.

[Catshrink]

8. They're running similar ads here

I think it's a national thing.

[Poll_Blind]

10. A friend of mine was telling me about this just yesterday. We were driving through Eugene and...

...he said there had been a bunch of ads from or on Art Robinson's behalf (he mentioned radio and bus billboard, FWIW) where Art tries to imply that somehow because he's a scientist, he knows what's better for Oregon than Pete does.

For anyone who knows Pete DeFazio or lives in his district (which I am so happy to), he is like the kind of representative I wish more Americans had. Anyway, somehow implying that Pete is anything less than his own man and looking out for us is so laughable in these parts we figured the Repugs set Art up just to have somebody run.

PB

[gratuitous]

13. So, Concerned Taxpayers of America are ashamed of themselves?

That's my reading whenever someone is asked point-blank who they are, and they deny it. I wonder why Michael Omegna is more ashamed of who he is or what he does?

[Scurrilous]

14. K & R

:thumbsup: