I Received A Very Disturbing Message Today from NRCC Chair Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-32)

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It is a bright and colorful trifold pamphlet that starts out with a picture of a fake newspaper with the fake headline

"The Largest Tax Increase in American History:
House passes budget that will raise taxes by 1.5 trillion over the next ten years"

Then there is a note:

"A Democrat (sic) budget that triples the national
debt and increases the tax burden on
families and employers is change in the
wrong direction. Future American prosperity
requires fiscally-responsible policies
in Washington today. Instead of
spending, taxing, and borrowing more
money, Congress should promote
economic recovery by curbing spending,
controlling debt, and continuing tax relief
to create jobs."

- Pete Sessions


Open the page and it gets even worse. This has some of the worst clip-art I have ever seen in my life.



Stacks of change that look like AT&Ts reception bars, a tear-a-page calender that has April 15th and little pieces of currency, a stack of bills with a belt squeezing it too tight, and a Microsoft Excel graph that looks like it was made by Bush, himself.


He then has the usual shit Republican talking points and introduces it by saying, "I believe this is how the Democrat (sic) fiscal year 2010 budget bankrupts American prosperity:

:puke:


Blah, Blah, Blah,

Then, here is the closer:

"House Minority Republicans have offered fiscally-responsible, common sense solutions that end the spending binge in Congress and implement pro-growth fiscal policies to put our nation on the path to prosperity.


Now, having lived in Mr. Sessions district since its inception (Delay Gerrymander Bullshit of 2002,)


I am used to getting political advertisements from him. I was inundated by them in every election he has run. (Especially Frost/Pete of '04!)


What makes this one different? It wasn't paid for by "Sessions for Congress, Roy Bailey, Chairman."

It says clearly on the back of the pamphlet, This mailing was prepared, published, and mailed at taxpayer expense. It is provided as a service to 32nd Congressional District constituents.

[Deja Q]

1. Hey, when Congressional (R)s were the majority for Bush (R), did the deficit and debt shrink to $0?

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2. I think it grew

:dunce:


Rather than the same bullshit arguments that we hear every day from them on the TV News shows, CSPAN, this "constituent service" was created, printed, and mailed to my home using my money.

[dalaigh lllama]

3. What the...

That's a rather blatant misuse of taxpayer money, is it not? Anyone you can report this to?

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4. FEC, I believe

I think that this is very thinly-veiled electioneering, especially considering his dual role as a Rep., and as chair of the NRCC.

[and-justice-for-all]

5. Tell Pete to look in the mirror...

and he needs to re-evaluate where this deficit started and at what amount. Bush was already in the trillions with his lack of restraint and his warmongering which congress gladly hand him, does Pete have anything to say about that shit?

Unlike the repukes, who spend/borrow with no intention or plan to pay it back, some of us know that money is not FREE nor does it grow on trees. In order to pay any of it back, ever, there has to be a tax increase somewhere.

Repukes have never showed any fiscal responsibility...Middle Occupation anyone? and the endless failed policies of shrub that cost us.

[Hippo_Tron]

6. If it's a franked envelope then it's an illegal use of a frank

However, it may just have the appearance of a franked envelope and was actually paid for by the NRCC. I once received a DSCC fundraising letter with Ted Kennedy's signature on the envelope that appeared to be franked at first glance, but was not. Is there a stamp on the envelope or just the Congressman's signature in place of a stamp?

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7. This is a franked piece of mail

Signed where a stamp would go,

Pete Sessions, MC

[Hippo_Tron]

10. It may be that so long as he doesn't mention a candidate or solicit funds

It is still legal. Congress is a political body and thus you can use official materials to trash the other political party and the other party's leadership. You just can't overtly use it to campaign against your opponent or solicit funds. I think also this activity has to cease within X number of days of your next election.

Still, I would save it and call someone at the House Ethics Committee about it.

http://ethics.house.gov/ContactUs/Contact.aspx?Section=Mail

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11. I will forward a scanned copy to Ethics.

It seemed overly political to be franked. Especially considering who it was from.

[Fleshdancer]

8. If you get a chance, take pictures of it and upload them to photobucket

people need to see this crap.

[Canuckistanian]

9. A violation of the Hatch Act?

Seems pretty clear to me.

[agentS]

12. It's bad enough they sent you this crap

it's even worse that they can't spend 5 minutes making it at least visually pleasing.
Worst.clip-art.ever.- these are not the words you want to have associated with flyers you send out.