The Conservative Cave

Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: Ballygrl on July 07, 2011, 10:07:40 PM

Title: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Ballygrl on July 07, 2011, 10:07:40 PM
Original Story here:

http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2011/07/07/dscc-chair-patty-murray-tries-to-get-her-some-koch-campaign-cash/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Here's the tape:

http://www.kochfacts.com/kf/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Voicemail-from-Sen-Patty-Murray.mp3

And here's the Koch's response:

http://www.kochfacts.com/kf/letter-to-senator-patty-murray-chair-democratic-senatorial-campaign-committee/

Letter to Senator Patty Murray, Chair Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Senator Patty Murray, Chair
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Dear Senator Murray:

For many months now, your colleagues in the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee leadership have engaged in a series of disparagements and ad hominem attacks about us, apparently as part of a concerted political and fundraising strategy. Just recently, Senator Reid wrote in a DSCC fundraising letter that Republicans are trying to “force through their extreme agenda faster than you can say ‘Koch Brothers.’”

So you can imagine my chagrin when I got a letter from you on June 17 asking us to make five-figure contributions to the DSCC. You followed that up with a voicemail* indicating that, if we contributed heavily enough, we would garner an invitation to join you and other Democratic leaders at a retreat in Kiawah Island this September.

I’m hoping you can help me understand the intent of your request because it’s hard not to conclude that DSCC politics have become so cynical that you actually expect people whom you routinely denounce to give DSCC money.

It is troubling that private citizens taking part in the discourse have become the targets of White House and DSCC fundraising missives, and we would certainly encourage you to rethink that approach. Ultimately, I expect voters will see through that and will weigh the issues on the merits alone. But in the meantime, if you could provide me some insight on what exactly you are asking of us and why, I would be most grateful.

Sincerely,

Philip Ellender
President, Government & Public Affairs
Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: ReardenSteel on July 07, 2011, 10:32:28 PM
Now that is what I call "chutzpah" (sp?).

I've defended the Koch brothers at various times and forums and it never even occurred to me to ask them for money, let alone five figures. But to demonize them and ask for dough... ballsy.

Just one of many reasons I could never be a politician.  :-)

 
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: JakeStyle on July 07, 2011, 11:30:11 PM
There are some great comments on this over at Weasel Zippers (http://weaselzippers.us/2011/07/07/dscc-asks-koch-brothers-for-money/#comments)
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: thelaughingman on July 07, 2011, 11:52:03 PM
That letter is pure gold.  Sen. Murray has never been more politely nor more soundly bitchslapped.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: sybilll on July 08, 2011, 12:11:49 AM
The response at DU should be fun.  They are still butthurt over the fact that the Koch Bros allegedly helped fund the DLC, which gave us all of those Blue Dog Democrats that at least weren't in overdrive to destroy the country.  A refresher:
http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414
I never clicked through the links to see if the allegation was true or not, as the angst of the DUer's was satisfying enough for me. 
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: BlueStateSaint on July 08, 2011, 04:24:50 AM
Senator Patty Murray is often placed in elite company--one of the two stupidest people in both Houses of Congress, IIRC.  This letter either displays "intestinal fortitude," or "incredible stupidity."  Take your pick.  I suppose that it could be both.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Ballygrl on July 08, 2011, 08:22:13 AM
Still nothing about it at DU.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Karin on July 08, 2011, 08:50:55 AM
That letter is pure gold.  Sen. Murray has never been more politely nor more soundly bitchslapped.

Absolutely, I love that letter!  Classic.   :lmao:

I think I saw one DUmmie yesterday vaguely refer to "Koch money swirling around the dem party."  This was in one of the many meltdown threads. 
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: GOBUCKS on July 08, 2011, 10:38:31 AM
Senator Patty Murray is often placed in elite company--one of the two stupidest people in both Houses of Congress, IIRC. 
Yes. The 2008 election was especially bittersweet for Sen. Murray. Seeing Plugs Biden elected Vice President left her as the stupidest person in the United States Senate. She remains grateful that the people of Houston continue to re-elect Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the stupidest person in the entire Western Hemisphere.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Lacarnut on July 08, 2011, 10:46:37 AM
Yes. The 2008 election was especially bittersweet for Sen. Murray. Seeing Plugs Biden elected Vice President left her as the stupidest person in the United States Senate. She remains grateful that the people of Houston continue to re-elect Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the stupidest person in the entire Western Hemisphere.


My vote for dumbest person would be Maxine Waters. That is one ugly stupid b!tch.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: GOBUCKS on July 08, 2011, 10:58:03 AM
My vote for dumbest person would be Maxine Waters. That is one ugly stupid b!tch.
Well, you have a point. Rep. Waters is remarkably stupid, but she's also evil and corrupt.
Sheila Jackson Lee is so stupid, I really believe evil corruption would be way over her head.
Don't forget, she thought the Apollo astronauts planted a flag on Mars.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: jukin on July 08, 2011, 01:31:39 PM
Senator Patty Murray is often placed in elite company--one of the two stupidest people in both Houses of Congress, IIRC.  This letter either displays "intestinal fortitude," or "incredible stupidity."  Take your pick.  I suppose that it could be both.

Fools tread where brave men fear.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: zeitgeist on July 08, 2011, 02:50:40 PM
Yes. The 2008 election was especially bittersweet for Sen. Murray. Seeing Plugs Biden elected Vice President left her as the stupidest person in the United States Senate. She remains grateful that the people of Houston continue to re-elect Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the stupidest person in the entire Western Hemisphere.


Sounds like we need a poll on the dummest Pol. 

(http://i56.tinypic.com/s1oyn9.gif)

Kick for all the lurking dummies who will never see or hear of this back at the hive.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Karin on July 08, 2011, 02:58:13 PM
I'll just be catty and say that she's also one of the ugliest senators.  Has a face like a shovel.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: GOBUCKS on July 08, 2011, 03:04:48 PM
I'll just be catty and say that she's also one of the ugliest senators.  Has a face like a shovel.
Senatrix Murray (remember when they used that title?) is painfully plain-looking woman, which could probably be
improved if she took any pride whatever in her personal appearance. I had an uncle who would say of
very homely women that it took pure contrariness to be that ugly.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on July 08, 2011, 03:22:13 PM
I think we're overlooking an interesting possibility here:

Everyone knows that Obama is beating the bushes to raise a billion dollars for his OWN re-election bid.  Is this little exercise in poor research actually a sign of latent desperation?  That is, could it be that the Obama fund drive is sucking all the oxygen out of the room for the Democrat House and Senate candidates, and they are casting their net so widely and desperately beyond their reliable donor lists that this was the result?  His coattail effect this time around is NOT going to carry them into office by itself, they are going to have to fight real, expensive campaigns for their own seats.

 :popcorn: 
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Lacarnut on July 08, 2011, 03:26:33 PM
Senatrix Murray (remember when they used that title?) is painfully plain-looking woman, which could probably be
improved if she took any pride whatever in her personal appearance. I had an uncle who would say of
very homely women that it took pure contrariness to be that ugly.

H5

Nappohead, Sebo, Shalala and Reno fit that bill also.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Ballygrl on July 09, 2011, 06:28:54 PM
A thread on this at DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1444192
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: BEG on July 09, 2011, 08:10:56 PM
Quote
baycityMI (2 posts)           Fri Jul-08-11 04:27 PM
Response to Original message
25. I don't believe it. this has to be a mistake.
   
If its true, I'm done.



Quote
MouseFitzgerald (72 posts)           Fri Jul-08-11 06:03 PM
Response to Original message
32. The DSCC just got told
   
The DSCC just got put in their place by some of the most horrible human beings on the planet. The democratic party is in so much ****ing trouble.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Chris_ on July 09, 2011, 08:13:19 PM
:rofl: Your tears bring me much satisfaction.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: ReardenSteel on July 09, 2011, 08:16:25 PM
Via Powerline: The DSCC responds to the good humored Koch letter just how you might expect.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/07/desperate-democrats.php

Quote
That prompted an astonishingly mean-spirited reply by DSCC executive director Guy Cecil:

    As a (former?) Democrat, perhaps your time would be better spent looking into their efforts to privatize Social Security or their opposition to expanding the children’s health insurance program. Or maybe, you can post a list of all of the anonymous contributions they have made to right-wing smear campaigns across the country. If you’d like to share voicemails from all the shady groups asking you for millions of dollars, we’d happily listen to those as well. …

    P.S.: I was impressed how quickly you responded, given how often you must be on the phone with Governor Walker of Wisconsin.


Wow. No one is that mean-spirited unless he is seriously out of sorts about the way the political winds are blowing.

Sour... the grapes are so frickin' sour.  :lmao:
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: BEG on July 09, 2011, 08:18:48 PM
Via Powerline: The DSCC responds to the good humored Koch letter just how you might expect.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/07/desperate-democrats.php

Sour... the grapes are so frickin' sour.  :lmao:

Democrats are dicks.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: ReardenSteel on July 09, 2011, 08:31:13 PM
Democrats are dicks.

That sounds like a cool name for a band.  :rotf:

 
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: thelaughingman on July 09, 2011, 10:05:41 PM
Gotta give this some props:

Quote
Buns_of_Fire (1000+ posts)
Fri Jul-08-11 03:16 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. Don't go! That book -- "To Serve The Kochs" -- It's a COOKBOOK!!! nt

I don't care who you are.  That's funny right there.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on July 10, 2011, 09:37:04 AM
Gotta give this some props:

I don't care who you are.  That's funny right there.

The DUers aren't all humorless little Marats.  At least not all the time.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: zeitgeist on July 11, 2011, 01:46:58 PM
A thread on this at DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1444192

I will have to go give that a look later.  great find.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Ballygrl on July 11, 2011, 04:00:36 PM
Quote
MouseFitzgerald  (76 posts) Fri Jul-08-11 06:03 PM
Response to Original message
32. The DSCC just got told
   
The DSCC just got put in their place by some of the most horrible human beings on the planet. The democratic party is in so much ****ing trouble.

:lmao:
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Ballygrl on July 11, 2011, 04:03:36 PM
OMG! what about the tape???????????

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1461701

DSCC Chair Sen. Murray appeal to Koch PAC for contribution was a staff/database error

Quote
stevenleser  (1000+ posts)  Mon Jul-11-11 12:19 AM
Original message
DSCC Chair Sen. Murray appeal to Koch PAC for contribution was a staff/database error

<snipped>
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Ballygrl on July 11, 2011, 04:11:19 PM
The letter sent to Philip Ellender from the DSCC, classless of course to appeal to their base:

Quote
Dear Phil:

Thank you for your genuine, heartfelt concern about our recent solicitation and your request for clarification. Indeed, the form letter and follow-up solicitation you received was a staff error.

However, the bigger and more troubling mistake is the long political history of your employer, the Koch Brothers. As a (former?) Democrat, perhaps your time would be better spent looking into their efforts to privatize Social Security or their opposition to expanding the children's health insurance program. Or maybe, you can post a list of all of the anonymous contributions they have made to right-wing smear campaigns across the country. If you'd like to share voicemails from all the shady groups asking you for millions of dollars, we'd happily listen to those as well.

So, I write to make it clear that your invitation was an error and has been rescinded.

Sincerely,

Guy Cecil

Executive Director

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

P.S.: I was impressed how quickly you responded, given how often you must be on the phone with Governor Walker of Wisconsin.
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: Ballygrl on July 11, 2011, 04:14:47 PM
From the comments section on the DSCC response:

Quote
It is interesting to see how much anger is directed towards the Koch brothers from the left. They all like to complain about the fact that the Koch brothers frequently give THEIR OWN money to causes they support and act like it is somehow a crime. However, the leftists never seem to like to talk about the money that the Koch family gives to charity. I'm guessing the only charity that Patty Murray gives to is her own (a.k.a; the Patty Murray Bank Account charity).

Some examples of Koch family charity...

$100 million dollars to MIT for cancer research
$20 million to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore
$30 million to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City
$25 million to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston
$15 million to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center
$25 million to The Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City

Patty Murray's response to the Koch brothers makes her and the DSCC look petty and small.

Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: delilahmused on July 11, 2011, 06:12:26 PM
Yes. The 2008 election was especially bittersweet for Sen. Murray. Seeing Plugs Biden elected Vice President left her as the stupidest person in the United States Senate. She remains grateful that the people of Houston continue to re-elect Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, the stupidest person in the entire Western Hemisphere.


What about the idiot that thought that island would fall into the ocean?

Cindie
Title: Re: Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers
Post by: GOBUCKS on July 11, 2011, 10:01:22 PM
What about the idiot that thought that island would fall into the ocean?
I realize there is stiff competition for the title.

The congressman was Hank Johnson, from Georgia's 4th Congressional District,
the same district that previously gave a grateful nation Cynthia McKinney.

The island he was worried about was Guam, and he was afraid it would tilt and possibly capsize
due to the weight of the American military presence.

The fact that he had heard of Guam, and knew it was an island, was enough to spoil his effort
to replace Sheila Jackson Lee as DUmbest person in the Western Hemisphere.

There's no chance that Sheila Jackson Lee is aware of Guam's existence.