Will He Finally Explain False Statement, Or Refuse To Be Held Accountable?
Liberal Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) likes to lecture others on the importance of honesty, saying “[l]et’s stick with the facts. Let’s move forward. Let’s be honest. We do that, the country will be a better place.”
But sadly, Tester refuses to hold himself to the same standard, falsely denying in an interview with KRSQ radio in Billings that – after getting himself elected in 2006 on an anti-lobbyist platform – he is now the #1 recipient of lobbyist campaign cash in the 2012 election cycle.
Click Here To Hear Audio Of Jon Tester Misleading Montana Voters
In reality, the Center for Responsive Politics – an independent watchdog, accepted by both parties and the news media as the gold standard in campaign finance reporting – shows beyond a doubt that Tester is the #1 recipient of lobbyist campaign cash in the 2012 election cycle.
Click Here To See This Independent Watchdog’s List Of
Top Recipients Of Lobbyist Campaign Cash This Cycle
Notably, while claiming this fact is “not true,” Tester refuses to explain to voters why he believes this independent watchdog is conspiring to tell lies about his record. Why would this non-partisan group show that Tester has taken more lobbyist campaign cash this election cycle than any other Member of Congress if it isn’t true?
Clearly, Senator Tester is betting that no one will hold him accountable for his dishonest statements to Montana voters, or for his shady transformation from a self-styled everyman who railed against lobbyist influence, saying Montanans “need the greatest representation, not encumbered by high-dollared lobbyists,” and promising, “I won’t sell Montana down the road by cutting deals with K Street lobbyists.”
“Washington has really done a number on Jon Tester, because not only has he transformed himself from an anti-lobbyist campaigner to the number-one recipient of lobbyist campaign cash in Congress, he falsely denies that fact to his state’s voters and thinks they won’t hold him accountable,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond. “If he can spare a few moments between his lobbyist campaign fundraisers, perhaps Senator Tester will simply explain to Montanans why he’s been caught not telling them the truth about his record.”
THE FACTS:
Jon Tester Railed Against Lobbyists To Get Himself Elected In 2006:
Jon Tester In 2006: “We’ll Be Back In This State Every Weekend. Because This State Is Where I’m From And This Is The Greatest State, In The Greatest Country In The World. And They Need The Greatest Representation Not Encumbered By High-Dollared Lobbyists.” (Montana Senate Debate, Butte, MT, 9/23/06, http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MontanaSenateDeb, 39:10)
Tester In 2006: “You’ve Got To Have Somebody Who Will Go To Washington, D.C. And Fight For You. Somebody Who Will Bring Montana Values Back To Washington, D.C. . . . I Will Do That. And In The Process, I Won’t Sell Montana Down The Road By Cutting Deals With K Street Lobbyists . . . .” (Montana Senate Debate, Butte, MT, 9/23/06, http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MontanaSenateDeb. 4:15)
But The Center For Responsive Politics Shows Clearly That Tester Is The #1 Recipient Of Lobbyist Campaign Cash In The 2012 Election Cycle (Click The Screenshot To Access Their Database):
Jon Tester Is The #1 Recipient Of Lobbyist Campaign Contributions So Far During The 2012 Cycle, Receiving $201,878 From The Industry. (Center For Responsive Politics, http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?cycle=2012&ind=K02, Accessed 10/6/11)
Tester Falsely Denied This Demonstrable Fact To Montanans:
CLICK HERE for audio:
Host: Something about you not accepting money from lobbyists and turns out that you have accepted more money from lobbyists than any other Senator.
Sen. Tester: Well I mean, that’s, that’s not true. But by the same token we got to raise a bunch of money. That’s the landscape we are on.
Host: I say take it. I am all for it.
Jon Tester Is A Rubber Stamp For President Barack Obama:
In Both 2009 And 2010, Tester Voted In Support Of President Obama’s Position 97% Of The Time. (Congressional Quarterly Website, www.cq.com, Accessed 8/4/11)
