March 15, 2010 11:26 PM UTC

Who is pulling Jane Norton's strings?

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• by: Alan

(Saved us the trouble of a “New Advertiser” diary–click their ad to the right, and send an email to ads@coloradopols.com to get your own – promoted by Colorado Pols)

As Coloradans of both parties gather this week in the first step toward selection of nominees for the state’s highest offices, ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest online progressive advocacy organization, launched a new website called PuppetJaneNorton.com and called on Coloradans of all political persuasions to hold former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton accountable.

“Jane Norton’s longstanding ties to Washington D.C. lobbyists are a major problem in her campaign,” said ProgressNow Colorado Executive Director Bobby Clark. “Conservatives and progressives alike are wary of her connections to lobbyists for health insurance companies, defense contractors, and even foreign dictators. Whose interests would she truly represent in Washington?”

The new website, https://puppetjanenorton.com, features an animated “Puppet Jane” and links to information about certain campaign donors, longtime associates, and family members involved in lobbying on behalf of corporations and foreign governments. Included are well-known Washington D.C. insiders such as former chief of staff for disgraced Rep. Tom DeLay Susan B. Hirschmann, Benjamin Ginsberg, lawyer for the Bush 2000 Florida recount and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, and Charlie Black, Jane Norton’s brother-in-law, and consultant for clients ranging from African dictators to mercenary contractor Blackwater.

Recently, conservatives in Norton’s own party have questioned Norton’s pervasive ties to lobbyists and other Washington D.C. insiders. Many grassroots conservatives complained that Norton was ‘forced’ on them by party insiders when her candidacy was announced last fall. (Colorado To The NRSC: Stay Away, PPC 8/28/2009).

“While we don’t often agree with our conservative friends on the issues, we share growing concern that Jane Norton is the choice of Washington D.C. lobbyists and political insiders, not the people of Colorado,” said Clark. “We call on the public to sign our petition at PuppetJaneNorton.com, asking Norton to reject the influence of lobbyist donors and family members, and put Colorado’s best interests first.”