Saint Paul [07/30/08] – The Al Franken for Senate campaign today released its first :60 radio ad, a statewide spot highlighting Senator Norm Coleman’s involvement in the growing scandal surrounding indicted Senator Ted Stevens.

Listen to the ad here.

The script is below.

“Awfully Fishy”
:60 Radio

ANNCR:
Here’s a story that’s awfully fishy.

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was just indicted on seven counts of corruption — lying about the gifts he’s received from an oil company.

Who else is getting reeled in to the scandal? Norm Coleman.

Coleman took three fishing trips to Alaska…each worth six thousand dollars…all paid for by Senator Stevens and his friends.

The Star Tribune writes that on these invitation only junkets, big fish like Coleman were, quote, the lure for captains of industry, defense contractors and lobbyists.

No wonder Coleman has voted to give billions in tax breaks to Big Oil.

Coleman took thirty thousand dollars in contributions from Senator Stevens and he’s also taken thousands more from the Alaskan oil executives convicted of bribing public officials and Coleman refused to return it.

Fishing trips to Alaska.

Lobbyists.

Big Oil.

Greed.

Minnesota shouldn’t let Norm Coleman off the hook on this one.

Coleman Has Taken $30,000 From Stevens’ PAC. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Coleman’s campaigns and PAC have taken $30,000 from Stevens’ Northern Lights PAC. His 2002 campaign took $10,000, his 2008 campaign took $10,000 and his PAC took $10,000. [Center for Responsive Politics]

Stevens And Convicted Veco Executive Bill Allen Bundled Money For Coleman. According to National Public Radio, “The experience of Norm Coleman shows this process in action, and the risks of these relationships: In the summer of 2002, Stevens and Allen worked together to pump more than $100,000 into hard-fought Senate races. Coleman, in Minnesota, got close to $25,000 from Stevens — including a bundle of contributions from Alaskans dominated by Allen’s company.” [National Public Radio, 10/15/07]

Coleman Took $6,000 From Veco Employees, Including Convicted Executives Bill Allen And Rick Smith. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Coleman’s campaigns have taken $6,000 from employees of Veco, including $1,000 from CEO Bill Allen and Vice President Rick Smith. [Center for Responsive Politics]

Coleman Participated In Stevens’ Fishing Trips Three Times. In October 2007, National Public Radio reported, “Coleman won, and a few months later Stevens invited him to Alaska for a fishing trip. Coleman took his son, and returned for three straight years. Cultivating a close relationship with Stevens, who controlled billions in federal spending, was an important part of Coleman’s job. But accepting these free trips carried a risk, says Merideth MeGehee at the Campaign Legal Center … Federal election law allowed political committees to pay for Coleman’s flights to Alaska. Senate ethics rules let him accept free flights from Anchorage to the fishing tournament, and to stay free at a private riverside home. Federal law, however, does require political committees that pay for such trips to register with the Federal Elections Commission. The committee Stevens’ allies set up to pay for Coleman’s first trip to Alaska didn’t — and that may be a violation of campaign finance laws, according to a former FEC general counsel and other experts.” [National Public Radio, 10/15/07]

Star Tribune: “Senate’s Big Fish Are Lure At Alaskan Tourney; Lobbyists Came To Schmooze At The Annual Event.” In July 2003, the Star Tribune reported, “Seven senators and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans were among the dignitaries who came to the two-day tournament. They came, ostensibly, for the world-class fishing. But the Kenai Classic, in its 10th year, is about baiting and setting of all kinds of hooks. The VIPs were essentially the lure for about 75 captains of industry, defense contractors, lobbyists and other players willing to pay $6,000 per couple for the privilege of fishing and mingling with the power elite at the invitation-only event. VIPs fish free.” [Star Tribune, 7/6/2003, (emphasis added)]

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 16:08 and is filed under Press Releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.