Today the Sacramento Bee reported on Dan Lungren’s latest conflict of interest. While Karl Rove’s shadowy front group tries to bail out Lungren in a tough election, the Congressman advocates for unlimited corporate campaign spending. Even worse, if Lungren does win reelection and becomes Chairman of the House Administration Committee, he would have jurisdiction over campaign finance regulation — Lungren would be responsible for regulating the same shadowy corporations that are funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to save him.
This news comes just one week after Karl Rove and Big Oil billionaires invaded our living rooms, laundering over $690,000 through Rove’s shadowy slush fund, American Crossroads, hoping to hijack our election through false and misleading advertisements.
It’s not surprising that Big Oil is protecting Lungren – he’s taken $84,950 from oil and gas companies, then does their bidding in Congress – voting to give Big Oil $2.6 billion in tax breaks.
It’s also not surprising that Karl Rove is working for Dan Lungren, since Lungren’s opposition to transparency paved the way for American Crossroads. Lungren voted against the DISCLOSE Act to require transparency in corporate campaign spending, and applauded the Citizens United Supreme Court decision on the floor of the House. These actions set the stage for American Crossroads to launder billions from the mega corporations who are corrupting our government. Even more egregious, Lungren accepted $15,000 from Citizens United, and is even starring in an incendiary Citizens United film alongside Ann Coulter.
It’s not surprising that Karl Rove and Big Oil want to keep Dan Lungren in Congress. But we have a surprise for them, because Rove and Lungren have forgotten the most important part of our democracy: you – and thousands of voters just like you. We don’t support shadowy corporations polluting our democracy, and we won’t stand by while Karl Rove tries to hijack our election.
You are the strongest weapon we have against American Crossroads, and we need you now. Please, support us in any way you can, and together, we will fight back against Karl Rove and his corporate billionaires, and we will bring the kind of change our country needs.
I contributed to you yesterday through Act Blue. It is hard to combat such a mass of dirty money, but I hope it helps. I urge other readers to do the same, or is they can, give you some time. This is one of our best shots to win a red seat in the country and clearly, the far right is concerned. And ending Lungren’s long, long political career would be oh so sweet.