Stabenow misleading donors
National Republican Senatorial Committee
For Immediate Release: Contact: Brian Walton
Thursday, March 30, 2006 202.675.6037
Stabenow’s Distortion: Third Time’s A Charm
Two Days Left to Come Clean, Senator
WASHINTON, DC—Today, the National Republican Senatorial Committee issued the following statement after Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), for the third day in a row, sent a fundraising e-mail to supporters in which she claimed to stand up to special interests, but neglected to mention that she has accepted thousands of dollars in campaign donations from them:
“For the third straight day Debbie Stabenow is raising money through distortion of the truth,” said NRSC Spokesman Brian Walton. “Stabenow claims she has ‘stood up’ to the insurance industry, yet BlueCross BlueShield is currently her second largest contributor – is that ‘standing up’?”
In her fundraising pitch, which counts down the days until the end of the 1st quarter FEC filing period, Stabenow opined: “My opponents are well-organized and well funded, with large contributions from the pharmaceutical industry, big oil companies and the insurance industry. I’ve stood up to this administration and these powerful special interests again and again…” (Stabenow Fundraising E-mail, March 27, 28 and 29, 2006).
But was Stabenow “standing up” to trial lawyers when she accepted nearly $1 million from lawyers and law firms for her campaign? Was Stabenow “standing up” to the insurance industry when she was BlueCross BlueShield’s number three recipient of contributions over a 15-year period? Was Stabenow “standing up” to the insurance industry when she accepted over $40,000 from one of the nation’s largest insurance companies?
According To The Non-Partisan Center For Responsive Politics, Stabenow Was The Number Three Recipient Of Contributions From BlueCross BlueShield From 1990 Through 2004, Receiving $65,700. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed March 30, 2006)
According To The Non-Partisan Center For Responsive Politics, Insurance Company BlueCross BlueShield Is Stabenow’s Second Largest Contributor This Cycle, Giving $41,350. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed March 27, 2006)
Since 2001, Stabenow Has Taken Almost $1 Million From Lawyers And Law Firms. Lawyers and law firms have contributed $990,381 since January 1, 2001. Lawyers and law firms represent Stabenow’s number one industry that she receives campaign contributions from. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed March 27, 2006)
