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September 19, 2008
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September 19, 2008
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September 19, 2008
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September 19, 2008
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September 19, 2008
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Welcome to the Truth about Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown is the Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives in the 4th Congressional District, but don't ask him to take a stand on something. His official campaign website features very carefully-worded stances on the issues and employs platitudes in place of substance.
Ask him a question on gay marriage, and chances are that all you'll get is some kind of reference to his time in the Air Force. Listen to what he says one week, and you'll probably get something entirely different the next. Try to grasp his commentary on the Constitution, and you'll simply cringe. Instead of taking a strong stand, Charlie would rather talk about his campaign motto, "Patriotism before partisanship."
Barack Obama has the same strategy for getting into office: issue vague statements on patriotism that make people feel good, and try to hide just how liberal you really are. Maybe afraid that people would see the similarities, Brown only officially endorsed Obama after the McClintock campaign produced a photo of him wearing an Obama sticker at an event. Wishy-washy Charlie Brown... trying to have it both ways.
Charlie Brown supports gay marriage, seeks amnesty for illegal aliens, opposes any new drilling for oil in American territory, believes global warming is a national security threat, and has been a consistent part of the radical anti-war movement. But Charlie is so afraid of the issues, it takes work to find out just what he believes beyond campaign slogans and character attacks.
Wishy-Washy Brown is a project that will expose Charlie Brown's true liberal stances on issues. "In His Own Words" puts together and picks apart what Brown has said over the years.
"Who is Charlie Brown?" reveals just who supports him, and how radically liberal his friends are.
"Comparing Charlie Brown and Tom McClintock" pits Brown's positions against those of State Senator Tom McClintock -- and the results aren't pretty.
Explore this site, and you'll find that Charlie Brown is like John Kerry and Barack Obama combined... except without Kerry's time in office and Obama's famed charisma.
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Media Hits Brown Hard on Anti-War Activity
Publish On 09-19-2008 , 11:02 PM
Following a September 16th press conference with the McClintock campaign, the media has been extensively reporting on Charlie Brown's lengthy and radical anti-war activity. The conference revealed video evidence that proved Brown lied about his participation in an anti-war rally in which a soldier was hanged in effigy.
Click here for KFBK's radio story on the Brown team's attempt to crash the press conference.
Legislative and political newspaper Roll Call joined in as well:
California: Brown Hit for Anti-War Rally Appearance
By David M. Drucker
Roll Call Staff
September 18, 2008
State Sen. Tom McClintock has launched a broadside attack against retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charlie Brown in their race for the open 4th district, accusing the Democrat of embracing anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and participating in a protest where a soldier was hung in effigy.
Brown, hoping to outlast McClintock in the solidly Republican 4th district after nearly knocking off retiring Rep. John Doolittle (R) last cycle, responded with a call for his GOP opponent to stop the partisan attacks and join him in supporting veterans.
McClintock held a news conference Tuesday demanding that Brown come clean about his role in a 2005 anti-Iraq War demonstration in Sacramento. McClintock’s campaign also went up with a district wide radio ad featuring the mother of an Iraq War veteran who chides Brown on his participation in the rally.
“Hi, I’m Deborah Johns, proud mother of a United States Marine. My son has served three tours of duty in Iraq, and everyday I’m reminded of what it’s like to have a child in harm¹s way,” Johns says as the ad opens.
“That’s why I was so upset to see Charlie Brown at an anti-war protest where a soldier was hung in effigy,” Johns continues in the ad. “That’s no way to support our troops. Showing up in uniform sends the wrong message to our veterans and only helps groups like CODE PINK promote their left-wing agenda.”
At the demonstration in question, the owners of the home where it was held hung a soldier in effigy to symbolize the troops who had died in Iraq for a war that the they deemed to be unjust and unnecessary. Brown has claimed that he was wearing a camouflage jacket at the rally, but McClintock’s ad argues otherwise.
Brown, in a statement released by his campaign, doesn’t directly address all of the charges the McClintock campaign makes in this radio ad.
But Brown does criticize McClintock, saying he has voted against veterans and soldiers at war “time and time again,” while encouraging him to donate 5 percent of every campaign dollar that he raises to veterans’ charities, just like he has.
“Rather than join me in a bipartisan effort to provide real, immediate help to veterans, [McClintock] would rather spend thousands of dollars on negative attack ads,” Brown said. “This is exactly what’s wrong with politics in Washington and why so many people are frustrated that our problems never get solved.”
McClintock also hit the 4th district’s radio airwaves this week with an ad on fiscal issues.
Original article here (subscription needed).
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Cal-Tax Calls on Brown to Stop Deceptive Attack
Publish On 10-08-2008 , 1:39 PM
MEMO
Fm: Bill George, McClintock for Congress
To: News Media
Re: Charlie Brown’s Mailer Distorts the Truth
Cal-Tax calls on Brown to Stop Deceptive Attack
Charlie Brown is distorting the record and making wild accusations in an effort to discredit Tom McClintock’s record. Trailing by 8 points in the most recent poll, Brown is fabricating claims in a desperate attempt to deceive voters.
The mailer claims “McClintock voted to make it easier to raise taxes, leaving citizens at the mercy of reckless spending by the state legislature,” and using a quote from the California Taxpayers Association. Cal-Tax wrote a letter to Brown saying “Senator McClintock routinely earns perfect scores on Cal-Tax’s voting records, illustrating that he doesn’t just talk about protecting taxpayers, he backs up his words with a solid voting record. We call upon you to immediately cease using Cal-Tax’s name in this deceptive attack ad.” The full letter is attached below.
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Partisan Democrat Charlie Brown Silent on Pelosi, Rangel Ethics Charges
Publish On 10-08-2008 , 2:24 PM
“This has gone on long enough. Elected officials are guardians of the public trust, and must be above any perception of wrongdoing.” Charlie Brown, 4/11/06
Democrat Charlie Brown was quick to point the finger at Republicans he claimed were engaged in unethical behavior. But partisan Democrat Brown remains silent as evidence mounts that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directed almost $100,000 from her Political Action Committee to her husband’s business. Pelosi has also contributed $12,000 to Brown’s campaign for congress.
“As we saw in his refusal to return tainted campaign cash to Democrat Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Charlie Rangel, Brown talks a good game about ethics but fails to utter one word criticizing Democrat big wigs when they are ethically challenged,” McClintock for Congress Communications Director Bill George said. Brown has held on to $11,500 in tainted campaign cash sent to him by Rangel. “Charlie says he’s independent, but while other Democrats call for reform Brown ducks the issue and keeps the cash,” George said.
Congressman and Democratic Senate candidate, Rep. Mark Udall of Colorado called on Rangel to step down as Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee in light of his three ethics investigations for questionable practices. Iowa Rep. Dave Loebsack gave up his $5,000 in Rangel contributions. Newspaper editorial boards all across the country have called on Rangel to resign and for Democratic candidates to give back his contributions. “Charlie Brown should join Udall's call for Rangel to resign. Charlie should return the money he's received from his fundraising accounts. And he could make a few pithy quotes about Pelosi’s ethics in shoveling money to her husband,” George said. “As Charlie said, ‘this has gone on long enough.’”
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Brown Afraid of Mama Pelosi?
Publish On 10-16-2008 , 12:41 PM
Remember the 2006 race between Charlie Brown and John Doolittle? The primary argument of the Brown campaign was that Doolittle was corrupt. Virtually every word that came out of Brown's mouth somehow tied back to all the bad things Doolittle had allegedly done in office.
In the last few weeks of the campaign, Brown began focusing on the allegations that Doolittle had unethically gotten a job for his wife Julie through connections to corrupt lobbyists. The dust had barely settled on the accusations before Brown was making lofty pronouncements on ethics in Congress:
"The case against Doolittle was also strengthened last week by released documents showing that Doolittle solicited a job for his wife from Abramoff. The lobbyist hired Julie Doolittle, and ultimately paid her up to $66,000. Records pertaining to Abramoff's employment of Julie Doolittle were previously subpoenaed by the Justice Department."
"Through an unusual fundraising agreement, Doolittle personally benefits from up to 15 percent of funds raised through 'commissions' paid to Julie Doolittle. This direct benefit from special interest fundraising is just one of the reasons why Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) have named Congressman Doolittle one of the 'Most Corrupt' Members of Congress."
-Brown campaign press release, 10/16/06
"Why did Jack Abramoff continue to pay your wife's consulting firm $5,000 a month for almost one full year after the event she was hired to produce was cancelled?"
-Brown campaign press release, 11/02/06
Cut to October of 2008. Serious allegations arise that Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been shoveling money -- nearly a hundred thousand dollars -- to her husband's firm through her PAC, "PAC to the Future." The Washington Times, the Associated Press, and numerous other major publications cover the story.
Tom McClintock's campaign pointed out that Brown has been oddly silent about Pelosi's ethical transgressions. Not a word from Brown on the issue, even though he should be an expert in speaking on accusations of corrupt elected leaders with his '06 campaign.
No press releases needed. Just a willingness to say, "I hold Pelosi to the same standard I held John Doolittle. This is what my whole campaign is about: getting beyond partisanship and not applying a double standard based on which party someone is in."
But Brown refused to rise to the occasion. Why not? Because Pelosi donated $12,000 to his campaign? Because he is afraid of crossing the woman whom he is hoping to make his boss? Because the "patriotism before partisanship" campaign theme is actually just rhetoric and not something he cares about when push comes to shove, or when he himself has to put it into practice rather than demanding others do so?
Does wishy-washy Brown only want to talk about corruption when it benefits him and his party?
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Charlie Brown's $195 Million Credit Union Discrepancy
Publish On 10-16-2008 , 12:47 PM
Local Blogger Winston_Niles posted this story on placeropolis.com discussing Charlie Brown's unfortunate appearance on KFBK radio. Credit also goes to Brown for being so obviously and amusingly caught off guard.
10/14/08
Charlie Brown's $195 Million Credit Union Discrepancy
Posted by: winston_niles
As issues go, the economy is the 800 lb. gorilla in this Congressional race, and many Californians will cast their vote for the most qualified and trustworthy financial expert. Dire warnings from the Federal Reserve Chairman about the next Great Depression have a way of focusing the mind.
The election is 21 days out, and absentee voting is underway. Charlie Brown's formidable Congressional opponent Tom McClintock is respected nationwide as a brilliant economics expert and strong fiscal conservative.
Charlie has several debates with McClintock and at least a few radio interviews under his belt. The whole point of these appearances is to get to know the candidates better. Few voters would send a rank amateur in financial matters to Congress right now. The stakes have never been higher (at least not in the last seven decades). The millions of Americans who opposed the $770 billion bailout are especially wary.
And yet, 4th District Congressional candidate Charlie Brown barely mentions his sole financial credential - approximately four years of experience as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Sierra Central Credit Union. According to the following quote on the Charlie Brown for Congress website, he was quite the crusader...
"He’s remained true to his values. In 1996, Charlie was elected Chair of the Supervisory Committee of a local Credit Union. Responsible for fiscal oversight of an institution rife with waste and abuse, Charlie didn't turn a blind eye. He stood up for the fiscal responsibility that his members deserved."
Throughout the campaign, up until the 10/9 Bruce Maiman interview on KFBK, Charlie's website stated that it was a $5 million credit union. That night, a caller identified as Greg called in to the radio talk show to ask Charlie to explain a $195 million discrepancy. The call went like this:
(Caller) Greg: "Charlie, I want to ask you a little bit about your financial experience... We're going through a financial crisis right now, right? And I see on your website ... It says on your website it was a $5 million credit union. Well, you know what? I did some research, and it wasn't $5 million, it was $200 million... Where's your math? It was a $200 million credit union at that time, and since you left their Supervisory Committee, it has grown, it's tripled to a $600 million credit union. So that's why I'm curious as to the veracity, and the accuracy of your website."
Charlie: "Well, I guess... you know, while I was there, the assets I was aware of were $5 million, it has grown tremendously since then..."
(Interrupted by caller)
(Caller) Greg: "No, no, no that's not true. When you left it, when you left that Supervisory Committee, it was $200 million, that's a hundred and ninety-five..."
(Interrupted by host Bruce Maiman)
Bruce: "Who says... who says - I know, Greg? I know that the website says $5 million, who says it's $200 million??"
(Caller) Greg: "Pardon me?"
Bruce: "Who says it's $200 million?"
(Caller) Greg: "Those are the facts, Bruce."
Bruce: "Where are those facts?"
(Caller) Greg: "The facts are available. Charlie, what credit union was it?"
Charlie: "Uh...Sierra Central?"
(Caller) Greg: "Sierra Central Credit Union, it's based in Yuba City, I've been a member of that credit union for a long time. I know what the facts are, and Charlie, I can't understand what's on your website."
Charlie: "Uh, they were not, they did not have $200 million in assets when I left it."
(Caller) Greg: "Yes they did. And it's $600 million now, which means they tripled in growth since you left. What's that about?"
Bruce: "When did you leave Charlie?"
Charlie: "Uh, let's see - woulda left it right around 2000?"
Bruce: "So, between 2000 and 2006-2007, and there's been tremendous growth, has it not? Could that have anything to do with it Greg?"
(Caller) Greg: "Well, Bruce, here's my point. With the financial crises we have going on right now, it's a federal crime to make false assertions about a financial institution that might cause it harm."
Bruce: "Greg, from what I understand, the credit union says there's never been any fraud or abuse."
(Caller) Greg: "And you know what? The current management of the credit union has been absolutely stellar. Charlie left under some duress, after the current management came in, and it's grown tremendously, and yet Charlie says it was a $5 million credit union when in fact it was a $200 million credit union."
Charlie: "I think you must have it confused with the Golden One or something and need to..."
(Caller) Greg: "No, no, no, don't be giving me that stuff Charlie! I've been a member of that credit union for a long time."
Bruce: "Greg, where can we get that information, other than Charlie Brown's website?"
(Caller) Greg: "Go to www.sccu..." (Interrupted by Bruce) .... Call their CEO!!!"
Bruce: "O.K., you know what, let's do this. Greg, let me put you on hold for a minute, and can you give that information to Kendall, and then I can check on that later?
.... If we're going to talk veracity here, let's have some facts backed up that we can check."
The name of the credit union has never been on the "Charlie Brown for Congress" website, which seems strange. The description of his reign as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee lacks any specifics. It seems logical that if Charlie was the crusader who cleaned up a financial institution rife with waste and abuse, he would chronicle his successful reform measures.
Instead of compelling evidence, the reader is left with vague, unverifiable claims... "he didn't turn a blind eye" and "he stood up for the fiscal responsibility that his members deserved."
Perhaps Charlie is hoping that no one will check the facts. And he might have gotten by with it, if not for caller Greg.
A little research into Sierra Central Credit Union's history makes two things clear. Charlie Brown can't keep his numbers straight, and Sierra Central Credit Union is much better off without him.
Sierra Central Credit Union had approximately $29 million in assets when it was formed in 1981. By 1999, SCCU had approximately $242 million in assets.
These numbers raise serious doubts about Charlie Brown's competence.
Charlie Brown was Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of a credit union for several years, and he can't remember that this financial institution had over $200 million in assets? Indeed, he swears up and down it was only $5 million.
During Charlie's tenure as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee at SCCU, things went badly. Membership dropped, growth stagnated, and several key staff members left the credit union, creating a nine-month long leadership void.
It's becoming clear why caller Greg kept emphasizing the fact that SCCU grew rapidly after Charlie left. It looks as though there's a connection.
In January of 2000, SCCU's Board of Directors made a hiring decision that led to a finance management Dream Team: John Cassidy, Jim Almon, and Ron Sweeney. Their first move was to "identify problems" and begin building a new leadership team. It appears that it was during this process that Charlie left the credit union's Supervisory Committee.
These changes led to "what some still call a miraculous recovery," with an explosive growth in assets that has continued to present day.
After the Bruce Maiman show, the "$5 million" reference disappeared from the Charlie Brown for Congress website, but everything else about the credit union remained.
It might be time for 4th District voters to begin taking a long, hard look at Charlie Brown and demanding the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He is asking us to place the future of our economy in his hands. That's a lot to ask, for a man who can't remember the difference between $5 million and $200 million.
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