Senator Patty Murray Democrat soliciting money for DSCC from the Koch Brothers

[Ballygrl]

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

[ReardenSteel]

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. 

 

[JakeStyle]

There are some great comments on this over at Weasel Zippers

[thelaughingman]

That letter is pure gold.  Sen. Murray has never been more politely nor more soundly bitchslapped.

[sybilll]

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. 

[BlueStateSaint]

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.

[Ballygrl]

Still nothing about it at DU.

[Karin]

That letter is pure gold.  Sen. Murray has never been more politely nor more soundly bitchslapped.

Absolutely, I love that letter!  Classic.   

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. 

[GOBUCKS]

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.

[Lacarnut]

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.

[GOBUCKS]

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.

[jukin]

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.

[zeitgeist]

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. 



Kick for all the lurking dummies who will never see or hear of this back at the hive.

[Karin]

I'll just be catty and say that she's also one of the ugliest senators.  Has a face like a shovel.

[GOBUCKS]

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.

[DumbAss Tanker]

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.

  

[Lacarnut]

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.

[Ballygrl]

A thread on this at DU:

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

[BEG]

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.

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.

[Chris_]

Your tears bring me much satisfaction.

[ReardenSteel]

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

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. 

[BEG]

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. 

Democrats are dicks.

[ReardenSteel]

Democrats are dicks.

That sounds like a cool name for a band. 

 

[thelaughingman]

Gotta give this some props:

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.

[DumbAss Tanker]

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.