"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Statement from the Harris Campaign: “Koster Sells Out to Sinquefield” | Missouri Political News Service

Statement from the Harris Campaign: “Koster Sells Out to Sinquefield”

October 16th, 2007 by mopns · No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Contact: Christian Badger
(573)442-7980

Columbia— Apparently, Chris Koster has not learned much in his first 77 days as a Democrat. He has allowed himself to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the biggest enemy of public education in this state, Rex Sinquefield and the Show-Me Institute.

Yesterday’s filing of campaign finance reports reveal that Koster has accepted an estimated $100,000 of Sinquefield-tainted money. Koster’s campaign finance reports, now on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission, show that Koster’s campaign accepted direct contributions of $1,275 from at least 76 of the new 100 Sinquefield-funded PACs, and at least $2,500 of indirect contributions through committees.

“My opponent thumbs his nose at Democratic values when he allows himself to be bought and paid for by a conservative ideologue and think tank that trashes public education, praises pay day loan sharks and opposes universal access to health care,” Harris said. “I have a long and strong relationship with educators around the state and have fought tirelessly to protect and fund our public schools. You don’t fix public education by starving it. That is what my opponent supports by standing with ideologues like Right Wing Rex.”

Harris added, “One thing is certain, my opponent has not changed a bit.”

Chris Koster is not fooling anyone – especially Democratic primary voters. He will learn that the hard way at the polls next August.

Chris Koster also has a lot to learn about integrity – which is what Missourians are looking for in their Attorney General. Missourians expect their Attorney General to abide and enforce the law and not to evade it.

Democrats opposed the Republican campaign finance bill and supported contribution limits specifically to curb the influence of power brokers like Sinquefield. Instead of honoring and upholding the law, Koster has spent his time and energy trying to skirt it by laundering contributions from his big-money, right-wing benefactor to pay for GOP hatchet men still on his payroll. Of course Koster, the Republican, showed his true colors when he voted against campaign contribution limits.

Chris Koster should return the illegal contributions he has received and repudiate the political ideology of the far right he claims to have abandoned in his recent conversion.

###

Related: 

Blog CCP:  “Koster should do the right — if painful — thing and return the money with a polite “No, thank you.” After all, he is running for AG, and even if this is technically legal it does not pass the smell test. Not for a Democrat.” Read more…

Comments

comments

Tags: Carnahans' · Decision '08

0 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Jackson // Oct 17, 2007 at 9:46 am

    Interpreting Harris’ diatribe: “I wish I had someone who supported me like that. If I weren’t such a big government clown and against everything free enterprise I might have gotten some of that money too.”

  • 2 Verona // Oct 18, 2007 at 1:01 pm

    Koster accepting the money just goes to show he agrees with the issues the PACs represent. It say nothing about his charactor. The ShowMe institute and Rex are not trying to destroy public education, they are merely trying to fix it! Koster knows this and agrees. There is something wrong with our education system and it needs change. Why not support our politicians who agree with this.
    These sites can gave me a good background for some the ideals about education in Missouri.
    http://www.yourchildyourchoice.com/
    http://www.moschools.org/

Leave a Comment