Statement from Bradley on Harper's Article

[im10ashus]

Yesterday I posted this in GD:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2000612&mesg_id=2000612

Here is Congressman Bradley's response to Harper's article:

"In regards to an article written by Ken Silverstein posted on Harper's Washington Babylon on August 28, I have never read such an inflammatory piece in all my life.

"It is interesting that Mr. Silverstein spent significant time examining my pre-Congressional years, but failed to mention that in addition to owning several small businesses, I also served my local community as a member of the Planning Board, Budget Committee, and was a little league baseball coach. I also spent 12 years in the New Hampshire legislature and served as Chairman of the Science, Technology and Energy Committee where I was the author of the nation's first clean air bill to address the four major pollutants. I also chaired the Legislative Ethics Committee. Perhaps these facts were unimportant to Mr. Silverstein?

"If Mr. Silverstein had looked closer at my record, he would note that I have continually voted against large government subsidies for oil corporations and Midwest ethanol producers. As Mr. Silverstein contends, I did support legislation that encourages the construction of new oil refineries because the number of domestic oil refineries has decreased by 50% since 1980, diminishing our ability to refine crude oil and raising gas prices. Magnified by Hurricane Katrina, our refining capacity is stressed to the limit and there is a great need to increase our refining capacity so that Americans can get some relief at the pump.

"Mr. Silverstein fails to mention my support for two pieces of legislation that address gas price gouging, choosing instead to cite non-germane procedural motions in order to further his own agenda. Moreover, in citing my opposition to Rep. Markey's Amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act, it would seem that Mr. Silverstein would prefer that Congress fund energy efficiency and conservation programs at the expense of funding the safe storage of nuclear waste.

cont'd...

http://www.politicsnh.com/?q=node/380

Harper's shoots back:

Congressman Bradley responded to yesterday's story with an hysterical press release that included a wealth of misinformation and completely avoided the issue I raised—namely, that his vast wealth should be put in a blind trust.

Given his fervent tone, I must ask Congressman Bradley: Why did your office spurn repeated calls seeking comment and instead reply with a press statement? My guess is that Bradley, an ardent practitioner of the political bob and weave (as will be seen below), didn't want to have to respond to follow-up questions that undermined his cover story.

In his statement, Bradley accuses me of failing to take note of his many achievements, including his past work on a local Planning Board and his time as a Little League baseball coach, saying, “Perhaps these facts were unimportant to Mr. Silverstein?” I don't see such information as necessarily being “unimportant,” but I do consider it thoroughly irrelevant to a story about the Congressman's stock market investments. I also left out that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals recently lauded Bradley for saving the life of an 11-pound lobster named Larry; this is important biographical information to be sure, and may bring hope to millions other of alliteratively-named lobsters, but it doesn't have much to do with the fact that Bradley has taken actions in Congress that have made an impact on his stock portfolio.

Misdirection is Bradley's favorite tactic. “Mr. Silverstein,” he wrote, “criticizes my vote in support of Rep. Waxman's amendment that would penalize contractors who overcharged the government. I scratch my head on this and wonder if he wanted me to vote against this measure?” Bradley can understand straightforward English prose so he surely knows I didn't criticize his 2004 vote in support of Waxman's amendment, which targeted Halliburton. I was simply calling attention to the fact that he had voted for Waxman's amendment after he dumped his Halliburton shares, while, a year earlier (when he still held Halliburton stock), he had voted against a different anti-Halliburton measure that would have required normal competitive bidding procedures for all subsequent government contracts relating to Iraq's oil industry.

cont'd...

http://www.harpers.org/sb-inward-bound-1156876163.html

[Warpy]

1. One of the best things about Harper's are the occasional

brawls between wounded officials and the editorial staff.

The latter always win.

[im10ashus]

2. I love that they follow through as opposed to letting the story die.

I was wondering if he would respond. Geez, I hope Larry the Lobster knows what a friend he has in Bradley. B-)