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October 07, 2008 07:05 PM UTC

Devastating New Schaffer/Marianas Ad, Massive Buy

  • 23 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

It’s the one you’ve been waiting for:

UPDATE: Press release from Campaign Money Watch refutes recent claim by Bob Schaffer that his “investigation” resulted in the closure of any Saipan garment factories:

Schaffer recently told The Denver Post’s editorial board that he helped shut down a sweatshop in the Marianas, citing a visit he made during a 1999 “fact-finding trip” to the islands arranged by Abramoff’s firm. However, a Campaign Money Watch investigation found that closures of sweatshops on the islands were the result of a court settlement stemming from a class action lawsuit pursued by a coalition of human rights and labor groups. There are no news accounts that suggest Schaffer – or any other member of Congress – played any role.

Full release follows.

Campaign Money Watch launched the following ad in Colorado to highlight U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer’s (R-CO) ties to jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the money he’s taken from Northern Mariana Islands sweatshop owners Abramoff’s firm once represented.

After a couple of flubbed attempts to highlight the Abramoff/Mariana Islands scandal by independent groups in the last few weeks, Campaign Money Watch knocked it out of the park with this very clear and unapologetic spot. And this isn’t some small-budget job meant to stir up earned media controversy with just enough airtime to get it on the radar: it’s allegedly a $1 million dollar buy. Every voter in Colorado will see this.

As we noted yesterday, there’s a conference call coming up in an hour with reported new information that refutes claims Schaffer has made in his defense about his involvement with CNMI labor practice investigations. If the new disclosure is significant, a fresh ball of damaging press will get rolling only a few short weeks before the election.

And as we first speculated in April, Bob Schaffer’s self-incriminating praise for the now-outlawed labor and immigration policies of the Northern Mariana Islands, the defense of which was the centerpiece of jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s crumbled empire, may catalyze the end of his political career.

A PRESS RELEASE FROM CAMPAIGN MONEY WATCH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

CONTACT

David Miller, Communications Manager

(202) 448-6154

Watchdog Group Calls Out Schaffer For Sweatshop Claims, Releases Hard-Hitting Ad On Marianas Junket

           Washington, D.C. – Campaign Money Watch, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group, sent a letter to U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer today demanding that he supply evidence or admit that he lied about a previous claim that he helped close a sweatshop in the Northern Mariana Islands.

The organization also released a new television ad that highlights Schaffer’s ties to both sweatshop owners and jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

           “Bob Schaffer ought to come clean about his role in keeping the sweatshops in the Northern Marianas open,” commented David Donnelly, the group’s director. “He took a luxury trip to the islands and returned to Congress to do convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s dirty work.”

           Schaffer recently told The Denver Post’s editorial board that he helped shut down a sweatshop in the Marianas, citing a visit he made during a 1999 “fact-finding trip” to the islands arranged by Abramoff’s firm. However, a Campaign Money Watch investigation found that closures of sweatshops on the islands were the result of a court settlement stemming from a class action lawsuit pursued by a coalition of human rights and labor groups. There are no news accounts that suggest Schaffer – or any other member of Congress – played any role.

           The group’s new ad, “Investigator,” shines a spotlight on Schaffer’s trip to the islands, his later defense of the sweatshop practices, and the donations he received from sweatshop operators. It calls on Schaffer to help end the corrupting influence of money in politics and support comprehensive campaign finance reform.

           Both the ad and a background document that debunks Schaffer’s claim can be viewed online at http://www.campaignmoney.org/s…

           “The story of how Congress turned a blind eye to the situation in the Marianas is a chilling example of the consequences of a pay-to-play system in Washington that breeds corruption,” said Donnelly. “If Bob Schaffer wants to make up for his mistakes, he should start by supporting comprehensive reforms that would end big money’s grip on Washington.”

           Campaign Money Watch is a project of the nonpartisan Public Campaign Action Fund. The organization works to hold politicians who are against comprehensive campaign finance reform accountable for where they get their political donations.

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23 thoughts on “Devastating New Schaffer/Marianas Ad, Massive Buy”

    1. Maybe this doesn’t get the message across as its a long story to tell in 30 seconds, but while I admit to not reading everything, is there an explanation of the whole thing that makes the episode something worthy of a congressman?

        1. fair game.  But don’t worry – we won’t hear anything about Capn Bootyplunder ever again after November.

          “Dirty political campaign” ?  Are you kidding ?

          1. is the rotten shame that Schaffer skated by for so long without accountability for his role carrying water for the sweatshop owners on Abramoff’s behalf.

            I’m not surprised reefsaver is so concerned about “the kids” when one is ridiculed for racist and thuggish behavior that reflects poorly on his candidate father, but couldn’t give a shit about “the kids” sold into indentured servitude and sex slavery on a U.S. protectorate which was that same candidate’s responsibility to oversee. That’s family values for you.

            1. …in combatting human trafficking for many years and supports underpriveleged children and students in four different countries. What do you have invested in helping people besides your mouth RedGreen?

              Have you ever been to a clothing factory in the Mariannas Islands, or are you just imagining what goes on there? If you haven’t been there, then shut up. If you have, show me proof of these violations and that Schaffer had anything to do with any of it.  

              2. If you want to stake your position on the fact that there were no human rights problems in the factories in the Marianas, that’s something.  There have been several reports purporting to document the violations, as well as the testimony of federal officials, but of course you are free to disagree and take the position they are all wrong.

                As far as proof that Mr. Schaffer had anything to do with what went on in the islands, his trip there and the hearings in which he discussed the situation are matters of public record, so the existence of those is pretty hard to question.

  5. There’s nothing there. Do the people who put together this ad think we’re idiots?

    Udall took campaign donations directly from Abramoff’s firm Preston Gates.

    Udall’s campaign is the slimiest and most dishonest I have ever seen. It’s ironic, since Mark Udall’s father, Morris Udall,  was the victim of this kind of slimy  politics when he was running in the Democratic presidential primary in 1976. I’m not so sure Mo Udall (RIP) would be too proud of his son right now.  

    1. But can you, on a calm level, explain how this is conduct becoming a congressman?  

      Presume everyone here grants that B.L.M.U. is the worst person on the earth, is there a way to put the facts together that makes sense?  I understand if you’re only looking to change the subject, but I personally haven’t heard it yet.

      1. People are just eating whatever (invective) they are fed. (Invective). Unless you’ve been the the Mariannas, and were there during that time frame, how do you know what was going on there? A lot of people there may actually like having a job.

        There is no news, no proof, no nothing in that ad. It’s (invective). And boring. Where’s all the devastation I was promised?

        Calm enough?

        1. Wasn’t she the one who shared a hut with Ginger?

          Schaffer made demonstrably untrue claims about his “investigation” and this ad (and press releases) call him on it — with proof.

          You really feel comfortable with a glib liar about thoroughly documented human rights and workers rights abuses at the top of your state’s ticket? That says it all, my friend.

        2. Unless you’ve been the the Mariannas, and were there during that time frame, how do you know what was going on there? A lot of people there may actually like having a job.

          Perhaps.  All I’m asking is for a clear explanation.  If the answer is that there were no human rights violations in the islands, that will work.  If so, then Mr. Schaffer’s trip was a junket like many before and since have taken.  But it doesn’t sound like that’s what you’re actually saying, and I don’t think you’re really saying with a straight face that first-hand knowledge is necessary to understand these concepts.

          As far as the actual devastation, I don’t care that much about it.  I’m just surprise that no one has given a sober explanation of what happened.  

          1. I’m just surprise that no one has given a sober explanation of what happened.  

            The same could be said about his trip to Iraq to secure an oil contract with local officials, even when the State Department made it clear that they wouldn’t condone it. In fact they said it would be undermining the diplomatic mission.

            Personally, I feel his Iraq trip is much worse than the Marianas trip for that reason.

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