WHO IS RODNEY GLASSMAN? Glassman Embraces Earmarks, Pork Barrel Politics Of The Past

WHO IS RODNEY GLASSMAN?Glassman Embraces Earmarks, Pork Barrel Politics Of The Past

PHOENIX, AZ -- U.S. Senator John McCain’s re-election campaign today continues its series of daily “Who Is Rodney Glassman?” fact checks outlining for voters the Democratic Senate candidate’s out-of-the mainstream liberal views. Today’s issue: Glassman’s support for corrupt and wasteful earmark spending.

Voters in Arizona and across America have sent a clear message this year: Stop the spending. Big-spending Democrats and Republicans have been roundly defeated for their records of embracing the corrupt and wasteful earmark spending process.

Yet as candidates from both parties have increasingly pledged not to take earmarks and end the practice, Rodney Glassman has doubled-down on the pork barrel politics of the past. Glassman has based his campaign in large part on attacking Senator McCain for his long and sometimes lonely fight to stop earmarks and wasteful spending, and
promised to increase, not cut, federal spending.

McCain 2010 Communications Director Brian Rogers today issued the following statement on Glassman’s embrace of earmarks and wasteful spending:

“While Arizonans are saying loud and clear, ‘Stop the spending,’ Rodney Glassman is promising to spend billions and billions more. Glassman’s support for the earmark spending that’s landed Members of Congress in jail and piled huge debts on future generations shows just how out of touch he is. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising from a candidate who embraces everything from ObamaCare to the failed
$814 billion ‘stimulus,’ but there’s no question it’s the wrong direction for our state. Arizona deserves a Senator who will stand up to the big spenders in Washington, not join them.”

-- McCain 2010 Communications Director Brian
Rogers

FACT CHECK: AS VOTERS REJECT BIG SPENDERS ACROSS AMERICA, RODNEY GLASSMAN EMBRACES PORK BARREL EARMARK SPENDING

Across The Country, Voters Are Rejecting Politicians Who Engage In The Practice Of Pork Barrel Earmarking:

ABC News: Candidates “Expert At Playing The Earmark Game … Bringing Home The Bacon” Losing All Over The Country In 2010.

“There has been much said about the anti-incumbent wave sweeping the country, but there may be something more interesting -- and unusual -- going on: an anti-appropriator wave. From the dawn of recorded time, or at least since the late Sen. Robert Byrd steered money to his first West Virginia highway project, getting a seat on the House or Senate Appropriations Committees was a virtually assured ticket to reelection. You get on the committee, you steer millions, or, more likely, billions, of taxpayer dollars to projects back home and you get reelected. But take a look at some of the most high-profile members of Congress who have already been kicked out by voters in primaries this year:

Sen. Robert Bennett R-Utah,; Sen. Arlen Specter D-Pa.; Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.V.; and Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Mich.

All senior members of the Appropriations Committee who were expert at playing the earmark game and had reputations for bringing home the bacon. And there's more. Other top appropriators have been defeated in their efforts to seek higher office, including Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., who lost his bid for the Republican Senate nomination; and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who was trounced in the race against Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Even the top appropriator of all -- House Appropriations Chairman David Obey -- is heading out the door. The Democrat was not defeated but decided against running in the face of a strong challenge from a former professional lumberjack and reality-TV star. Seriously.” (Jonathan Karl and Z. Byron Wolf, “Appropriators Beware: Primaries Spell Defeat for Some,” ABC News, 8/6/10)

Christian Science Monitor: “Once A Selling Point For Lawmakers, Congressionally Directed Spending -- Otherwise Known As Earmarks Or ‘Pork Barrel’ Projects -- Is Becoming A Liability … In Campaign 2010.”

“Once a selling point for lawmakers, congressionally directed spending -- otherwise known as earmarks or ‘pork barrel’ projects – is becoming a liability for many incumbents in Campaign 2010. With the federal deficit at $1.5 trillion, some voters are balking at politicians touting their record of bringing home the bacon. Earmark fatigue figured in the recent primary defeats of three-term Sen. Robert Bennett (R) of Utah and five-term Sen. Arlen Specter (D) of Pennsylvania. Both Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada and Sen. Patty Murray (D) of Washington face close races that are shaping up as a referendum on earmarking.” (Gail Russell Chaddock, “'Pork Barrel' Spending: A Big Liability For Lawmakers In 2010 Election?” Christian Science Monitor, 8/19/10)

· Steve Ellis, Vice President, Taxpayers for Common Sense: “Earmarks used to be a pure bonus for lawmakers … But because of more voter concern about corruption, deficits, and government spending, it’s shifted from being benign and positive to a negative in a number of cases.” (Gail Russell Chaddock, “'Pork Barrel' Spending: A Big Liability For Lawmakers In 2010 Election?” Christian Science Monitor, 8/19/10)

The Hill: “Appropriators From Both Parties Have Become The Hunted, Losing Primary Races To Challengers More Hawkish About Reforming The Provisions Lawmakers Insert In Spending Bills To Steer Money To Specific Projects In Their Districts Or States.” (Walter Alarkon, “Voters Give Pork Pushers The Chop,” The Hill, 5/12/10)

Glassman Promises To Win Earmark Spending, Attacks Sen. McCain For Fighting Earmarks And Pork Spending:

Glassman Attacks Sen. McCain For Fighting Earmarks And Pork Barrel Spending. “Glassman slammed McCain for not being responsive to requests for federal help for local projects and accused him of neglecting the state. McCain has a national reputation for fighting earmarks and pork spending. ‘Where has he been the past 28 years?’ Glassman said.” (Dan Nowicki, “Democrat Rodney Glassman Set For Senate Run,” The Arizona Republic, 4/7/10)

Glassman Says Sen. McCain “Built A Very Strong Reputation By Giving Speeches In New Hampshire About What He Does Not Do For Arizona.” (“Exclusive Phoenix.org Interview Of Senatorial Candidate Rodney Glassman,” Phoenix.org, 5/31/10)