Strike a nerve much? Congressman Ken Calvert was so hurt, hurt and SHOCKED yesterday by challenger Bill Hedrick’s statement reminding south county voters of Calvert’s longstanding, hogwild advocacy of offshore drilling, that he has responded today with a pearl-clutching wail that would make Blanche DuBois blush. (reprinted over the flip)
Of course Hedrick’s e-mail was completely factual, which is why it hurts so much. If we want to avoid more catastrophes like the Deepwater Horizon spill, and make sure they never happen on Orange County shores, it’s important to know which politicians grease the wheels that enable loosely regulated offshore drilling. (*cough*Calvert*cough*)
Today Ken pays lip service to “legitimate regulatory questions,” but while his 18-year career is peppered with legislation urging more offshore drilling, guess what it’s NOT peppered with? Anything smacking of REGULATION. In fact he’s never met a regulation on big businesses (like oil) that he didn’t strive to weaken.
Oh, have I mentioned that Calvert WROTE the “MORE Act” (HR 797,) taking President Obama to task for not including our lovely California coasts in his modest offshore drilling proposals, and demanding that drilling be allowed all the way up to the beach? Oh right, I DID mention that. Never mind.
It brings on a fit of vapors, for poor Ken, to think that Bill’s e-mail educating voters on this issue included appeals for funds. That’s just richly, richly ironic, coming from the man known as the “most corrupt in Congress” for his habitual use of earmarks to raise the value of his real estate holdings, and who has been DROWNING the district in taxpayer-funded glossy mailers ever since he got scared of Bill.
Calvert also faults Bill for failing to mention the eleven oil workers killed in the Gulf accident (as though that showed insensitivity on Bill’s part, and would not have just been characterized as “using those deaths to raise funds.”)
You know what – I think Ken is right there! Bill should apologize for not mentioning those eleven dead oil workers. I think it would honor their memory better to make sure advocates for unregulated offshore drilling like Mr. Calvert are taken out of power. Something maybe like “Sorry I forgot to mention: Calvert’s irresponsible policies killed eleven workers.” Or something.
Anyway, it’s politicians like Calvert that ENABLE the inevitable environmental cataclysms like the Deepwater Horizon incident and its eleven fatalities. If that’s what San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano voters want to see on their beaches, then by all means just keep re-electing your 9-term backbencher. But this year you have a choice:
(Calvert’s statement, and more, over the flip)
Rep. Calvert Calls Hedrick Fundraising E-Mail Despicable, Calls for an Apology
Riverside, CA – Today, Congressman Ken Calvert issued the following statement in response to Democratic Congressional candidate Bill Hedrick’s attempt to raise campaign funds off the Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico:
“I think it is despicable to try and raise campaign money off an accident in which eleven hard-working people were killed. President Obama and others have asked the American people to offer their thoughts and prayers to the affected families, while sadly Bill Hedrick is asking people for money for his campaign. Every American agrees that the Deepwater Horizon accident raises legitimate policy and regulatory questions, but using the accident for political gain is beyond the pale. I think Bill Hedrick owes the families of those killed in this accident and everyone in our community an apology.”
Yesterday, 44th Congressional District Candidate Bill Hedrick sent an e-mail titled “Don’t Drill California” (a copy is attached) in which he discusses the Deepwater Horizon accident without mentioning the tragic loss of life and makes four separate appeals for campaign contributions.
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Paid for by the Ken Calvert for Congress Committee
PO Box 20123
Riverside, CA 92516
Peronally I think Hedrick should take a cue from Alan Grayson, who last year showed exactly how Democrats With Guts should apologize for telling the truth:
i love the Streetcar reference
Bill’s response to Ken’s response is more measured and statesmanlike than I would have done, no surprise:
Candidate Bill Hedrick Responds to Ken Calvert Attack
RIVERSIDE, CA – Today Democratic candidate Bill Hedrick released a statement in response to opponent Ken Calvert’s attack regarding Hedrick’s statement on the BP Deepwater Horizon spill:
“Congressman Calvert is right that the recent oil spill and the deaths of 11 hard-working Americans is a tragedy. However, we must remember that it was Congressman Calvert’s policies – policies that he continues to support – that allowed this tragedy to occur in the first place. He must be held accountable for his unconditional support of offshore drilling, and his work to expand it to California’s coast.
When I am in Congress, I will make protecting our environment a top priority and work to ensure that another disaster like this never occurs again. If Ken Calvert goes back to Washington, he will keep working to put unsafe oil drilling projects off the coast of San Clemente just as he has been for the last 18 years.
Our families can’t afford that risk.”
We all agree that the oil spill in the gulf is a major disaster and that this will force needed changes in the way offshore drilling is regulated. The enviormentalists have banned drilling on land throughout the US, why are they not held accountable for some of this? It will be years before our country can lessen their dependance on oil, until then I guess Hendrick would rather we continue to support terrorist countries by paying them billions for their oil. We are so over taxed that the typical US worker’s wadges can not afford the expensive energy alternatives. Now the liberals are going to add to our tax burden by spanking us for having our own insurance! Sorry Mr. Hendricks, socialism is not the answer.
google him. trust me. look at donations, look at police reports, look at how much he made off of land deals affected by laws he passed. please, you know not who you are voting for.
Mahalo ke Akua people are FINALLY seeing this Teflon Don for who he is. Please God do not let people just blindly vote Republican without googling this guy! I couldn’t believe the tea party people had him on after the hooker police report in Corona. Soooo gullible!
How did he manage to get the district redrawn so that he even covers Orange County? Just google him, please. Look at who he got money from AND who he donated to.