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We issued the following press release today in response to a new negative ad from Bruce Lunsford. Yet again, Lunsford is using an editorial written for him by The Courier-Journal to launch misleading attacks on Senator McConnell. We hope this sets the record straight. Thank you for helping us spread the truth.

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 NOTE: A PDF version of this release is available here.

 

LUNSFORD’S NEW AD MAKES OUR POINTnew TV ad on the air in which he cites four votes Senator McConnell cast against increasing taxes on domestic oil production. As we’ve pointed out repeatedly, Bruce Lunsford supports policies like the "windfall profits tax" that would decrease domestic energy production, making the U.S. more dependent on foreign oil and driving prices even higher at the pump. Even The Washington Post and The New York Times have called Democrats’ proposed windfall profits tax a "gimmick."Roll Call 339, 11/17/2005 – Senator McConnell opposed a windfall profits tax. Lunsford would have voted with Barack Obama and John Kerry in favor of it.

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Roll call 222, 6/21/2007 – Senator McConnell voted for an amendment saying we should not increase taxes on domestic oil production unless it is certified that the tax increases would not raise prices at the pump or make us more dependent on foreign oil. Lunsford would have voted with Barack Obama and John Kerry against this commonsense measure.

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Roll Call 223, 6/21/2007 – Senator McConnell opposed legislation that would increase taxes on domestic oil production. Lunsford would have voted with Barack Obama and John Kerry in favor.

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Roll Call 146, 6/10/2008 – Senator McConnell opposed a windfall profits tax. Lunsford would have voted with Barack Obama and John Kerry in favor. 

 

 

 

Lunsford Reiterates That He Would Vote for Higher Taxes on Domestic Oil Production; Does Not Dispute That His Energy Plan Would Not Open One New Acre to Offshore Drilling

 

Louisville, KY

 

Bruce Lunsford has a

 

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Lunsford’s new ad relies on misguided editorials by newspapers supportive of Lunsford’s higher energy taxes. Interestingly, nowhere in Lunsford’s ads does he 1) dispute that he bragged about creating automatic gas tax increases in Kentucky, or 2) dispute that his energy plan would not open one new acre to offshore drilling.

This is the 2^{nd bit of character assassination posed as a political ad that The Courier-Journal has written for Mr. Lunsford, so it’s worth examining their latest editorial (their 109th negative opinion piece on Senator McConnell since he became Republican Leader):}

accurate. It cannot be denied that Bruce Lunsford has bragged about his role in enacting the automatic gas tax increases imposed on Kentucky taxpayers. Bruce Lunsford does not like the ad, but its accuracy is uncontested. media consultant, spokesman, and web site designer with less than 100 days to go in the campaign as "desperate." Of course, this describes the Lunsford campaign and not the McConnell campaign. The publicly available polling in this race indicates that if anyone has cause for such desperation, it’s Lunsford.article actually said:PolitickerKY.com, Lunsford was asked repeatedly about his position on offshore drilling. He declined to answer the question directly, but referred to the McConnell plan as "propaganda" and said, "Increasing drilling – to keep us addicted to oil – is probably not the long-term right thing to do." He also said that there is "‘plenty of property’ already available." Here is the pertinent section:

Response #3:

plan does not include a call for opening up new acreage for deep-sea oil and gas exploration. Likewise in his 8/4/2008 Herald-Leader column in which he describes his energy plan, he does not include any provisions calling for increased offshore exploration. The Washington Post recently took on three myths used as excuses for opposing increased domestic oil production by Brue Lunsford and radical environmentalists, and their ‘use it or lose it’ proposal was one of them. BluegrassReport.org accused Lunsford of plagiarism in lifting material from the 2006 Florida gubernatorial campaign of Jim Davis. Blueprint for Change" when in fact he lifted, verbatim, large chunks of the plan from the failed 2006 candidacy of Florida gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis.: McConnell’s ad states "Lunsford wouldn’t open a single new acre offshore for drilling." Lunsford’s "use it or lose it" proposal would not open one new acre for production. Those areas have been leased are already open for production, though they may not be producing for any number of reasons, such as the land is still being explored to see if it contains recoverable oil. Lunsford is not saying we should open up any new acreage that is currently off-limits. In fact, we are already drilling offshore and in certain spots in Alaska (note that the CJ ads the ANWR reference – not Lunsford). Again, The Courier-Journal’s own article which they cite says "Lunsford declined to say whether he would vote to lift federal bans on such exploration."Not to beat a dead horse here, but… On July 24, 2008, Bruce Lunsford released his "8 Point Plan for Energy Independence" at a press conference in Louisville. His "comprehensive" : The Courier-Journal’s parsing of Lunsford’s statements would be embarrassing to a credible media outlet. Here is what the : One might fairly describe a campaign that must replace its : It is true, but we’ll get to that. : McConnell’s gas tax ad is thoroughly documented and

A McCONnell job

 

AUGUST 9, 2008

 

Not satisfied with continuing to air a fraudulent ad that absurdly tries to blame his opponent for the run-up in gasoline prices, Sen. Mitch McConnell now has put more flim-flam on TV.

 

Response

 

Sen. McConnell's latest commercial says that Democrat Bruce Lunsford "wouldn't open a single new acre for offshore drilling." That's simply not true, and Mitch McConnell knows it.

 

Response

 

There's a word for a politician who knowingly spreads untruths. That word is "desperate."

 

Response

 

Mr. Lunsford unveiled his energy platform July 24, and this paper's report of that press conference said he declared himself "open to allowing oil exploration in Alaska and offshore areas but believes other steps should be taken before that happens."

 

Response #1

"In a press conference to unveil his energy plan and respond to criticism in television and radio ads from Republican incumbent Mitch McConnell, Lunsford declined to say whether he would vote to lift federal bans on such exploration."

Response #2

The Democratic nominee has been targeted by his opponent, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R- Louisville), in the general election campaign for not advocating for expanded drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the outer continental shelf, among other places - a plan Republicans tout as a principal way to drive up oil supply and lower prices.

Today, Lunsford said some domestic oil drilling should continue, but argued that it was not the best solution available.

"Increasing drilling - to keep us addicted to oil - is probably not the long-term right thing to do," said Lunsford. "It's a little bit like getting your son out of jail for drunk driving and then giving him the keys to the liquor cabinet."

Lunsford was also asked if he supported a specific Republican proposal to drill in oil reserves in ANWR and the outer continental shelf.

To the question, asked several times,  

"This is another classic example of trying to create an issue that is not an issue," said Lunsford.

While he did not specify his stance on the amendment in question, Lunsford said there was "plenty of property" already available for drilling, referring again to the legislation earlier supported by Yarmuth.

Lunsford suggested the support of that policy by

 

McConnell and other Republicans was "propaganda."

: According to

 

Mr. Lunsford said, "I think we have plenty of places offshore, and we have spots in (the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska), but it needs to be done judiciously. But I do think we need to drill for oil. It's one of the many things we can do here."

 

Response:

Response #2:

Lunsford seems to believe that we already have plenty of places offshore open – especially when you read that he refused to answer whether he would open up more. Why does the CJ want to reward his inconsistent policy with their endorsement?

 

The Lexington Herald-Leader's Ryan Alessi reported on July 24, "Lunsford said he'd welcome 'every opportunity' for more oil production, such as allowing more offshore leases and collection of oil shale."

Mr. Lunsford's eight-point "do more, talk less" plan to deal with the oil crisis includes "Requiring Oil Companies To Drill On Currently Leased Land." It points out, "Oil companies are currently sitting on more than 68 million acres of land, both onshore and offshore, that is leased for drilling." Any acre successfully drilled there would be a new acre of production.

 

Response #1

Response #2: Lunsford’s "Do More, Talk Less" slogan sounds suspiciously like the Senate Democrats’ "Act More, Talk Less’ slogan released a week before Lunsford announced his plan. Here is Senator Menendez on the Senate Floor on July 15th:

 

Of course, this isn’t the first time that Bruce Lunsford has "borrowed" from a fellow Democrat. During the 2007 gubernatorial campaign, the Democratic website

The Great Deceiver Bruce Lunsford (D)

is again trying to fool the voters by flat-out misrepresenting his ideas and his vision, this time going on television with his "