U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, in her role as head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, tried to tap an odd donor recently while dialing for campaign dollars to retain the Democrats' Senate majority.
Koch Industries, and its owners, brothers Charles and David Koch, have been targets for Democrats' scorn for their http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayersupport of conservative political causes. The brothers are the favorite moneyed villain of the left.
Yet Murray apparently made a recent fund-raising pitch to a Koch executive, seeking a five-figure contribution, Koch Industries said today in an open letter posted on its website.
The letter, from Koch executive Phillip Ellender, expresses surprise at the appeal coming after months of Democratic "disparagements and ad hominem attacks" on Koch.
The company also posted Murray's voice message.
Is the DSCC that desperate for cash???
Koch Industries, and its owners, brothers Charles and David Koch, have been targets for Democrats' scorn for their http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayersupport of conservative political causes. The brothers are the favorite moneyed villain of the left.
Yet Murray apparently made a recent fund-raising pitch to a Koch executive, seeking a five-figure contribution, Koch Industries said today in an open letter posted on its website.
The letter, from Koch executive Phillip Ellender, expresses surprise at the appeal coming after months of Democratic "disparagements and ad hominem attacks" on Koch.
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
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
Is the DSCC that desperate for cash???
