Originally posted at Blue Indiana
As I have noted numerous times, I think that the recent development of the Ellsworth Watch website for Southern Indiana is suspiciously connected with the launching of an online campaign by the National Republican Congressional Committee against Rep. Brad Ellsworth (IN-08) and many of his freshman Democratic colleagues. More than the fact that I disagree with the sentiments of the "independent" view of the site, (which while it claims to be a voice for the district, is definitely not in touch with the views of the voters who elected Brad), I am just bothered by the fact that they can't seem to tell the truth.
Below you will find just a few of the claims they have made recently, and what my research has turned up as to the truthfulness of their assertions.
Claim: Ellsworth voted to protect hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden earmarks, including a Tropical Rain Forest in Iowa. (House Roll Call 71)
Truth: While Republicans did absolutely nothing in their time as the majority in Congress, Rep. Ellsworth in just a few short months has taken action on the issue. Ellsworth voted to bar funding for earmarks from the Republican congress.
CongressDaily noted that, "the bill contains no new earmarks, and bars agencies from funding earmarks contained in the previous year's bills." [National Journal CongressDaily, 1/30/07; HJ Res. 20, Vote #72, 1/31/2007]
In addition, Ellsworth voted in favor of new rules to reform the earmark process. The rules required legislation to be accompanied by a list of earmarks and their sponsors. Members would have to provide information about the recipient and purpose of an earmark. [HRS 6, Vote #9, 1/5/07]
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Claim: Ellsworth voted against a bill that would have encouraged biofuels research and development of all alternative fuels, instead of a select few. This proposal would have been very beneficial to local economies, especially in coal-producing communities. (House Roll Call 91)
Truth: The claim that Ellsworth voted against promoting sensible energy policy is simply not true. In fact, Ellsworth voted for legislation to authorize funds for biofuel research and development of alternative fuel sources. [HR 547, Vote #92, 2/08/07]
In addition, while Republicans were busy protecting the pockets of Big Oil, Ellsworth further showed his commitment to developing alternative energy sources by voting for a bill to repeal $14 billion in subsidies and tax breaks for big oil companies in order to invest in clean, renewable energy resources and alternative fuels. [HR 6, Vote #40, 1/18/07]
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Claim: Ellsworth voted against the interests of America's small businesses and their ability to create jobs and provide affordable health care to their workers (House Roll Call 17)
Truth: First of all, Rep. Mike Pence (a pro-business Republican, mind you) also voted for this measure. Furthermore, Ellsworth has voted to provide $1.3 billion in tax breaks for small businesses, including a one-year extension of increased limits for expensing business-related purchases and a modified and extended credit for hiring certain disadvantaged employees. [CQ Weekly, 2/16/07; HR 976, Vote #102, 2/16/07]
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Claim: Ellsworth voted for the Pelosi-Murtha "slow bleed" strategy to choke-off funding for American troops in harm's way. (House Roll Call 186)
Truth: While Republicans have overwhelmingly voted to rubber-stamp President Bush's failed Iraq strategy, Ellsworth voted to hold the Bush policy and the Iraqi government accountable. The bill funded the war spending sought by the administration and gave the Iraqi government incentive to become responsible for their own security. The bill supported our troops by requiring the president to ensure troops have adequate training, equipment and rest before being sent to Iraq, or to explain publicly why he is disregarding those requirements. [Los Angeles Times, 3/24/07; House Appropriations Committee; HR 1591, Vote #186, 3/23/07]
In addition, Rep. Ellsworth commented in an article this morning that made his position very clear:
Ellsworth does not favor a "publicized timeline" for a withdrawal and made a failed attempt to remove the deadline portion from the House's $124 billion supplemental spending bill, he said.
In the end, however, Ellsworth decided to vote for the measure because it also included funding for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.
"I was not going to leave them high and dry," Ellsworth said.
Funding the troops and giving them the equipment they need is a priority of Rep. Ellsworth, and he recognized this bill as the best way to do that. Plain, easy, and simple to understand.
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Claim: Ellsworth showed a commitment to raising taxes immediately after being sworn-in: His first vote elected Pelosi Speaker and his second vote made it easier to impose massive tax hikes on the American people. (House Roll Call 4)
Truth: A little searching brings up the fact that Ellsworth has voted to cut taxes on small businesses by $1.3 billion. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/17/07; HR 976 , Vote #102, 2/16/2007]
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Claim: Ellsworth failed to take a stand on corruption and voted behind-the-scenes to allow FBI bribery suspect Congressman William Jefferson to sit on the Homeland Security panel and have access to top US secrets.
Truth: Um, what?
However, in 2005, Republicans voted to gut House ethics rules by making it harder to launch investigations into members such as disgraced then Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay. [H. Res. 5, Vote #6, 1/04/05; Washington Post, 1/05/05]
Indiana Republicans Reps. Mark Souder, Steve Buyer, Dan Burton and Mike Pence all voted in favor of protecting DeLay and his ilk. (Hint: What do those Reps. all have in common?)
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The message here is clear: This site is a blatant GOP attempt to sling mud at Rep. Ellsworth, and it isn't going to stick, if for no other reason than they have already resorted to lying and half-truths to make their ridiculous assertions. This isn't an "independent" look at anything other than the latest Republican talking points, and the people of Indiana's Eighth District are not falling victim to these attempts to tell them that the work Rep. Brad Ellsworth is doing for them isn't exactly the sort of things he promised to do.
So shame on you Ellsworth Watch, although I can't imagine you are the type that embraces the idea of apologizing. You can hide behind your mask of online anonymity and spread this filth if you want, but you will very quickly find that the people don't like being misled as to what their government is doing. For an affirmation of that, you only need to look so far back as last year, when the people of Southern Indiana overwhelmingly let the GOP know they were tired of their political games.
Have any of you noticed these types of "local" or "grassroots" websites popping up in your competitive districts?