Though U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) has attempted to score populist points by calling Wall Street bankers “the heart of our economic crisis,” records reveal that Murray has taken over $500,000 in campaign cash from the securities and investment industry, including $28,000 from scandal-plagued Goldman Sachs.
Murray’s Democrat colleague, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), facing harsh bipartisan criticism for her own hypocrisy, announced today that she will “donate all of [her] contributions from Goldman Sachs this cycle to charity.”
The announcement underscores the fact that when it comes to Wall Street, Murray’s words don’t match her deeds. With public polls showing her vulnerable in this November’s election, Murray has hypocritically clung to her own Goldman Sachs campaign cash, even as she continues to slam the securities and investment industry.
“If Senator Murray truly believes her own rhetoric, why is she holding onto hundreds of thousands of dollars from Wall Street bankers, including approximately $28,000 in Goldman cash?” asked National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokeswoman Amber Marchand. “As Murray plays a populist for the cameras but acts like a practiced politician behind closed doors, Washingtonians can see through her hypocrisy, and they will hold her accountable this November.”
Background Information:
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) Has Accepted Over $500,000 From The Securities & Investment Industry. (Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 4/28/10)
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) Said “Wall Street Greed” Was “At The Heart Of Our Economic Crisis.” “MURRAY: ‘This committee will come to order. This morning, this subcommittee will hold its first hearing of the 111th Congress, and I can’t think of a more timely subject for us to examine than the current economic crises and its impact on homeowners across the country. There is no question that a perfect storm of Wall Street greed, irresponsible mortgage lending, and uninformed decisions by borrowers are at the heart of our economic crisis.’” (Senate Committee On Appropriations, Subcommittee On Transportation, Housing And Urban Development, And Related Agencies Holds A Hearing On The Role Of The Federal Housing Administration In Addressing The Housing Crisis, 4/3/09)
