So far this cycle the NRA's PAC, the Political Victory Fund, has contributed $399,350 to Republicans running for House seats and $18,950 to Democrats. The Democrats are all from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party:
• John Barrow (Blue Dog/New Dem-GA)- $4,950• Sanford Bishop (Blue Dog-GA)- $1,000• Henry Cuellar (Blue Dog-TX)- $1,000• Pete Gallego (Blue Dog/New Dem-TX)- $1,000• Collin Peterson (Blue Dog-MN)- $1,000• Nick Rahall (Blue Dog-WV)- $3,500• Kurt Schrader (Blue Dog/New Dem-OR)- $1,000• Filemon Vela (New Dem-TX)- $1,000• Tim Walz (MN)- $2,000
The NRA has also donated several thousand dollars to right-wing Democrats who can no longer muster any support from grassroots Democratic voters and are finally retiring-- Jim Matheson (Blue Dog-UT), Mike McIntyre (Blue Dog/New Dem-NC), and Tom Owens (New Dem-NY).There's been a tremendous outcry from Republicans and their media-backers today over the push-back from Gabby Giffords' PAC. The Republican strategy is to refocus the attention from the incredibly effective anti-NRA ads (see the one they ran against teabagger Frank Guinta in New Hampshire above) into a typical right-wing smear of Giffords herself, a former congresswoman who was shot in the head in a mass shooting by an NRA backer/dangerous gun nut. The Beltway eats it up, of course.The other Republican Party front group that endorses a few conservative Democrats from the Republican wing of the party is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Last week they endorsed Barrow, Scott Peters and Nick Rahall. Today they endorsed another wretched New Dem, "former" Republican Patrick Murphy, a perfect patsy for Republicans inside the Democratic Party-- and one they are working furiously to build up so that he can run for the U.S. Senate in 2016-- meaning that Republicans will have two candidates (like they do in this year's gubernatorial race) and Democrats will have no real choice.The Murphy campaign couldn't wait to put out a press release bragging how their anti-working family candidate is only the 4th Democrat endorsed for the Republican-oriented US Chamber of Commerce.
"At no other time in our nation's history has it been more critical that Members of Congress provide leadership that protects and advances the interests of the business community," stated U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue in announcing Murphy's endorsement. "Murphy's record of support on pro-business issues earned this endorsement.""It is truly an honor to receive the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a highly-respected organization that shares my commitment to creating an environment conducive to job growth through common-sense, pro-business solutions," said Murphy. "As a former small businessman, I have brought my private-sector experience to Congress and put smart policy above partisanship to make sure that America and Americans succeed."Earlier this year, Murphy was one of only seven Democrats nationwide to be recognized with the Chamber's coveted "Spirit of Enterprise" Award for his support of pro-growth policies. An August report by National Journal also ranked Murphy's voting record among the top five percent most independent in the entire House of Representatives.
"Most independent" inside the Beltway doesn't refer to independent thinkers like Shenna Bellows (D-ME), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) or Justin Amash (R-MI); it refers to willingness to back Boehner and his crazy right-wing ideas against core Democratic values and principles. The Chamber's Spirit of Enterprise award was given out to 199 Republicans and 7 Democrats, all corporate whores who back the Keystone XL Pipeline and have voted to delay and wreck the Affordable Care Act. That's what Murphy was bragging about. One extreme right wing Republican, Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI), even returned the award is disgust because of the way the Chamber was sold itself to China. "Crony capitalism," explained Bentivolio's chief of staff, Rob Wasinger, "is alive and well at the Chamber of Commerce… The US Chamber is in the pocket of Communist China and big companies seeking cheap labor in the United States. We think it is morally repugnant for the chamber to pursue, as a matter of public policy, initiatives which exploit the poor and oppressed, just so they can keep labor costs down for their fortune 500 member companies."Bentivolio himself was quoted explaining that "The Chamber of Commerce is beholden to special interests and has long since forgotten the main street businesses that struggle everyday to make payroll and keep their company afloat. It is with great pride that I reject their award, and call on them to stand on the side of America, instead of on the side of China and corporate interests seeking to exploit people for profit. I am with main street, not Wall Street."Patrick Murphy didn't reject the award. He keeps putting out press releases bragging about it.Patrick Murphy: Spoiled rich kid, Republican, pretending to be a Democrat
