Cross-posted from bluegrassroots.org
While Change for Kentucky has made a decision to endorse Lt. Col. Andrew Horne for U.S. Senate, the head of the DSCC (Chuck Shumer) seems determined to ignore grassroots progressives in his pursuit of a multi-millionaire candidate to take on Mitch McConnell. Lately, Shumer's eye has fallen upon Bruce Lunsford.
I was curious to see if a New York Senator knows something about Kentucky that we Kentuckians do not, so I did some research. A brief Google search reveals the following information (below the fold) about Bruce Lunsford, the very charismatic and very controversial multi-millionaire that Chuck Shumer is attempting to entice into running for U.S. Senate. Based on this search, it seems unlikely that Kentucky voters will feel Lunsford shares their values. In fact, didn't we just reject Lunsford in the KY-Gov primary? (Maybe Chuck Shumer is incapable of using a search engine?)
Update 1: Some commenters worried that we are trashing DSCC with no proof. I have verbal confirmation but I cannot out the source.
Update 2: PageOneKY will run a story tomorrow confirming the DSCC courtship of Lunsford according to bentleftliberal in comments.
The sad fact is that Shumer has a long reach, and most Democratic Party officeholders are frozen until Shumer makes up his mind. Certain Democratic Party Legislative District (LD) Chairpersons are already telling their precinct workers that Lunsford is their man because he has the cash to pay precinct workers (one LD even tried to convince me of this; he was clearly unaware that I am for Horne all the way. You can be certain that I informed him of the error of his ways.)
Well, we in the grassroots do not fear Shumer, and we have a right and duty to make our choice and then educate others about our decision. Please feel free to widely forward the following research or to perform your own investigations. Shumer's contact info is at the bottom of this note if you want to POLITELY give him a piece of your mind.
- A Brief History of Bruce Lunsford
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
"Lunsford was the founder of Vencor in 1985. He also served as Chairman of the Board for Ventas, Inc. A civil claims suit in 2001 outlined that Vencor knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, the military's health care program. The largest settlement under the civil False Claims Act based on failure to provide adequate health care at long term care facilities - part of the overall settlement with the government - was announced on March 19, 2001 by the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Defense (DOD). Vencor Inc. - one of the nation's largest nursing home chains - and Ventas Inc. - a related real estate investment trust - were ordered to pay the United States $104.5 million. Failure of care claims accounted for more than $20 million of the $104.5 million False Claims Act settlement. The failure of care claims included false claims relating to inadequate staffing, improper care of decubitus ulcers, and failure to meet resident's dietary needs. The remaining portions of the $104.5 million settlement include more than $54 million for improper claims made on Vencor's hospital Medicare cost reports and more than $24 million for over-billing for respiratory care services and supplies. This settlement is the second largest False Claims Act settlement in a nursing home case.
Lunsford ran for Governor of Kentucky in 2003. Part of his campaign was the broadcasting of ads attacking his opponent Attorney General Ben Chandler. In response Chandler ran television ads highlighting the abuse of elderly patients at facilities operated by Lunsford's company. Lunsford dropped out of the race just days before the primary, endorsing unsuccessful candidate Jody Richards.
After the primary, Lunsford endorsed Republican candidate Ernie Fletcher. After Fletcher won the election, Lunsford worked on his transition team. Lunsford also donated thousands of dollars in political contributions to Fletcher and other Republicans such as congresswoman Anne Northup.
Lunsford was also a Democratic candidate for Governor of Kentucky in 2007. His running mate was Greg Stumbo, Attorney General of Kentucky. Lunsford lost the primary to Steve Beshear."
- Bruce Lunsford, Why The Silence?
http://www.bluegrassreport.org/...
After serving on Fletcher's transition team, Lunsford remained silent about the hiring scandal, prompting Mark Nikolas to write,
"...his silence will only increase the much talked about speculation that Lunsford was merely a shill for Senator Mitch McConnell and entered the race simply to injure Chandler, spending millions of his own dollars to tarnish his reputation as an independent and tough attorney general, while forcing Chandler to spend several millions defending himself, just to get to the general election battle against Ernie Fletcher.
In fact, Lunsford never hid his past support of Senator Mitch McConnell or the presence of McConnell's wife, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, on the board of Lunsford's company. McConnell even took part in Lunsford's news conference endorsement of Fletcher, admitting that he had acted as the intermediary between the two of them. Lunsford even commented at the news conference that he "always liked" McConnell."
- More On Lunsford's Love Of The Republican Party...
http://www.bluegrassreport.org/...
"Check out who else Lunsford has financially supported in the past 11 years -- nevermind the past 40:
Lamar Alexander for Senate (R-Tenn) -- $1,000 (5/1/02)
George W. Bush for President -- $1,000 (4/7/00)
McConnell for Senate -- $250 (10/27/99)
Northup for Congress -- $1,000 (7/9/98)
Northup for Congress -- $250 (4/24/98)
Bluegrass Committee (Sen. McConnell's PAC) -- $2,500 (3/16/98)
New Republican Majority Fund -- $5,000 (7/30/97)
Bunning for Senate -- $1,000 (7/10/97)
Bluegrass Committee (Sen. McConnell's PAC) -- $2,500 (7/10/97)
1997 Republican Senate-House Dinner -- $5,000 (6/10/97)
National Republican Congressional Committee -- $2,500 (6/10/97)
National Republican Senatorial Committee -- $2,500 (6/10/97)
National Republican Senatorial Committee -- $5,000 (3/31/97)
Northup for Congress -- $1,000 (1/29/97)
Northup for Congress -- $500 (10/24/96)
Northup for Congress -- $500 (7/10/96)
1996 Republican House-Senate Dinner -- $5,000 (6/13/96)
Bunning for Congress -- $250 (6/4/96)
Republican National Committee -- $2,500 (5/3/96)
Ron Lewis for Congress -- $500 (4/12/96)
Republican Party of Kentucky -- $2,500 (10/4/95)
Lamar Alexander for President -- $1,000 (9/26/95)
Bob Dole for President -- $1,000 (3/24/95)"
- Bruce Lunsford? Surely, you're joking?
http://bluegrassroots.org/...
Lunsford even gave Anne Northup $3,600 when she was running against John Yarmuth. Unbelievable! "DINO-tastic!"
- Labor Puts Out Ad Against Lunsford
http://www.politicstv.com/...
Labor leaders were furious with Lunsford. At the link above is a video ad they ran against him.
- Can Bruce Lunsford Win The Republican Primary?
http://www.ditchmitchky.com/...
Ditch Mitch even suggests Lunsford might be better suited to run as a Republican given his past support of the Republican Party.
- Bruce Lunsford Gave To NRSC To Boost Jim Bunning Over Scotty Baesler
http://www.ditchmitchky.com/...
"Bruce Lunsford gave a total of $10,000 to the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRSC) in 1997, at the same time Jim Bunning was setting up a campaign that would eventually defeat Democratic Congressman Scotty Baesler in one of the closest races in Senate history. Lunsford is still being mum on whether he will run for the Senate. But if he decides to run as a Democrat instead of a Republican, I’m sure Scotty Baesler will be one of many Democrats anxious to hear why..."
- Top 10 Reasons To Vote Against Bruce Lunsford
http://www.bluegrassreport.org/...
The link above has a paper that "a contingent of organized labor passed out (4-16-07) at the gathering of candidates' supporters at the KET studio for the Democratic gubernatorial debate."
- An Analysis of Bruce Lunsford's Personality
http://www.uow.edu.au/...
Lunsford has great "personal magnetism and persuasive presence." While
"to the nurses, to citizens groups involved, to their lawyers, to the relatives of many patients, and to ordinary shareholders he is evil, unprincipled, ruthlessly uncaring, and dishonest... to those who have come in contact with him, even those who were deceived and who lost large sums - he is a great guy - an unlucky genius who suffered at the hands of a capricious government. But for government ineptitude all would have been well. They can't wait for him to get back into business and most would back him with their money again."
Folks,
I can personally attest to Lunsford's charisma, having met him at a Louisville DFA meeting and at the state CFK meeting where CFK leaders ended up endorsing Miller for Governor. When in his presence, it is easy to forget his business history, his donations to conservative Republicans, etc. He is extremely charming. But does raw charm and big money mean that he shares our values? I think actions speak louder than words.
I thought you all might want to send communications to Shumer at the following address or phone, and let him know that grassroots progressives already have a candidate, and our guy is named Andrew Horne, not Bruce Lunsford. PLEASE BE POLITE, but firm.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
http://www.dscc.org
Phone (202) 224-2447
Fax (202) 969-0354
Email: info@dscc.org
Thanks for all you do!
Mike Bailey, co-organizer
Change for Kentucky
Democracy for America's KY state-level affiliate