ROVE CAMPAIGNS FOR BACHMANN IN DC

10/18/2006

ST. PAUL (10/17/06) – Today, Karl Rove is fundraising for Michele Bachmann in Washington DC. Karl Rove was instrumental in convincing Foley to run for re-election, along with Congressman Reynolds, who knew about Foley’s inappropriate conduct at the time.

The New Republic Online reports that Rove pressured Foley to seek re-election:

“Foley said he was being pressured by ‘the White House and Rove gang,’ who insisted that Foley run. If he didn’t, Foley was told, it might impact his lobbying career.” Foley reportedly told associates that, “the White House made it very clear I have to run,” and promised that serving for two more years would “enhance his success” as a lobbyist. [New Republic Online, 10/12/06]

“Michele Bachmann has always had the support of Washington’s heaviest GOP hitters,” Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said. “Now that Rove and Reynolds are spending their time passing the buck and protecting their ranks, you’d think that Bachmann would want to assure the voters of Minnesota that she does not condone putting political gain before the safety of our children. Instead, she’s welcoming both their support and their tainted money with open arms.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee, chaired by Congressman Reynolds, just released a new ad attacking Patty Wetterling. The NRCC accepted over $500,000 from Foley and his PAC. In fact, they continued to solicit contributions from him after he resigned in disgrace.

“The fact that money raised from a known sexual predator is being used to smear a child safety advocate is a disturbing breach of trust that should not be tolerated,” Melendez said. “Karl Rove, Tom Reynolds and the rest of the GOP leadership need to come clean about what they knew and when. Michele Bachmann owes it to the voters of Minnesota to stop accepting the support of the ringleaders of this cover-up.”