Posted on 05/19/2008 8:34:16 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
Florida District 22 congressional candidate Lt. Col. Allen West (R-Plantation) is demanding that Congressman Ron Klein (D-Boca Raton) “come clean about his use of taxpayer funds to pay for campaign-style mailings.”
“This is government waste at its worst. Ron Klein’s only commitment is to staying in office,” said West. “This is a clear abuse of the trust placed in Mr. Klein by the voters of FL 22. Karen Thurman, chair of the FL Democratic Party, said it best: “The people of Florida are suffering...Your campaign coffers are not.”
The mailing that started it all was a recent targeted direct mailer that tried to paint Klein as a champion of veterans. Klein’s name was mentioned 15 times “and contained blatantly political statements,” said West. When asked about the cost of the piece, Klein’s office responded only that that the government spent $71,000 on Klein mailings in 2007.
In 2003, Mr. Klein stated that ‘the right of the press to let the public know what we, the elected officials, are doing cannot be sacrificed.’
“We call on him to honor that now,” said West.
West added, “When you combine this with personal earmarks totaling more than $12 million, Mr. Klein has proven that he cannot be trusted with taxpayer money. Mr. Klein has raised more than $2 million for his campaign. That is obscene. But to play fast and loose with campaign finance laws and waste taxpayer dollars, while complaining about federal budget deficits, is at best irresponsible. He owes the voters—ALL of the voters—in this district an apology, an accounting, and an explanation.”
Klein, in turn, has issued the following statement about West’s allegations:
"Our approved Congressional mailings are a critical way for Congressman Klein to communicate with his constituents. Before a single postage stamp is licked, every mailing is carefully scrutinized and approved by an independent Congressional commission, comprised of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. The commission's charge is to ensure that mailings are not, in any way, partisan or campaign related. This is an important part of Congressman Klein's commitment to talking with his constituents about the latest issues in Washington and hearing their responses."
Allen West Ping!
Klein is a scumbag...right in the same league with Little Bobby Wexluh.
Yep!Sho' nuff. I'll approve yours this time, you approve mine next time.
Thanks for the ping.
Here’s a video about Klein and tax dollars being spent on his own campaign...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yTK0cl2MA4&NR=1
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.