Curtain Goes Up on Glass-House Attack

[kskiska]

By Dana Milbank

Well, isn't that special.

On Thursday, the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign sent an e-mail to 6 million people with an Internet advertisement attacking Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) over his special-interest money. The ad, subtly titled "Unprincipled," took on Bush's likely opponent for his claim that he will kick out "the special interests."

The ad accurately points out that Kerry has raised $640,000 from lobbyists, "more special-interest money than any other senator." And it fairly questions whether Kerry is disingenuous to accept money from those he would vanquish.

But the Center for Responsive Politics, which calculated the figure Bush cited about Kerry ($638,358 raised from lobbyists since 1989, to be exact), has some bad news for Bush, too. The president raised $842,262 from lobbyists in the current election cycle -- almost four times the $226,450 Kerry raised. And if you take away the funds Kerry collected for the presidential campaign, he is no longer the Senate's top recipient of special-interest funds.

Does Bush have a glass-houses problem here?

"The point is that rails against special interests from his very own glass house as the number one recipient of special-interest money in the Senate over the last 15 years," Bush campaign spokeswoman Nicolle Devenish said.

Keep an eye out for more Internet attack ads from both sides. The new campaign finance law deters candidates from making television attack ads by requiring the candidates to appear in the ads and approve the message. But Internet ads are exempt.

Other stories…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42569-2004Feb14?language=printer

[xray s]

1. Kerry's response is already running

Wasting no time...

http://www.johnkerry.com/

[Jimb100]

2. A Pox on both their houses

I believe its entirely right for the Bush team to point out the hypocrisy of Kerry's position. Not that Bush is any better but the 'you're as bad as I am' argument shouldn't win points with anyone.

Until special interest financing and guarantees of after-service employment are eliminated, we will have a government of, by and for the highest bidder.

I am certain that if the founding fathers could have foreseen this development, they would have written prohibitions into the constitution.

But who would have guessed?

[displacedtexan]

3. Emily's List equals Enron?

$1000 from individuals representing orgs like Emily's List, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or the Sierra Club, does not, IMHO, equal the untold millions funneled to republicans (especially *), which have reaped billions in paybacks.

Just my opinion, mind you.