Democrat Dirty Laundry: Carol Shea-Porter Has A Loose Definition of Lobbyist Money

Carol Shea-Porter Has A Loose Definition of Lobbyist Money

Despite Her Denial, Shea-Porter Accepts Millions In Lobbyist Money

SPIN CYCLE: Shea-Porter Claims She Won’t Accept Lobbyist Money

“I don’t accept any business PAC money; I don’t take any corporate PAC money; I don’t have any lobbyist money — at all, at all.” (Erin McPike, “GOP: Shea-Porter Misled Constituents About Lobby Dollars,” Congress Daily, 9/09/2009)

RINSE CYCLE: Apparently, Carol Shea-Porter Sets Her Own Guidelines

In a story in Washington-based Congress Daily this week, the National Republican Congressional Committee accuses Shea-Porter of misleading the public when she reportedly said during the August recess:

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The NRCC points out that Concord lobbyist Jim Demers contributed $750 to Shea-Porter last year and $250 in the current cycle.

Shea-Porter spokesman Ellen Fleming, dismissed the attack.

“James Demers is a friend, he gave as an individual, and he’s not registered as a federal lobbyist and does not work on federal legislative issues,” she told Congress Daily.

The NRCC also noted that Shea-Porter received “a million dollars” from lobbyists funneled through the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Fleming countered that Shea-Porter “has said that the DCCC is her team, and she reserves the right to take money from members of her team. She has stated this from the very beginning.” (John Distaso, Granite Status Column- Manchester Union Leader, 9/10/2009)

 “Republicans see a road back to relevance in the Northeast, and it runs through Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter‘s New Hampshire district.  With the lawmaker already in their sights, the GOP was quick to pounce when Shea-Porter drew a line in the sand over campaign fundraising during the August recess.

“I don’t accept any business PAC money; I don’t take any corporate PAC money; I don’t have any lobbyist money — at all, at all.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee pointed out a contradiction: contributions from James Demers, a registered lobbyist in New Hampshire and founder and president of The Demers Group.

Demers, a former congressional candidate, contributed $750 to Shea-Porter’s campaign last year and has chipped in $250 this cycle.  Her spokeswoman, Ellen Fleming, dismissed the attacks. “James

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An NRCC aide said Shea-Porter went a step further by flatly saying she took no money from lobbyists “at all.”

“We’re talking about honesty and transparency, but she’s selling fool’s gold,” the aide said. “Despite the fact that she took money from a lobbyist for Shea-Porter for Congress, there’s only one degree of separation from her accepting a million dollars from lobbyists funneled through the [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee].”

Fleming fired back that Shea-Porter “has said that the DCCC is her team, and she reserves the right to take money from members of her team. She has stated this from the very beginning.” (Erin McPike, “GOP: Shea-Porter Misled Constituents About Lobby Dollars,” Congress Daily, 9/09/2009)

To read the full article, click here: http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090909_2157.php

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