From the office of Congressman Bill Sali

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cronies of former President Bill Clinton have decided to target Congressman Bill Sali by calling Idahoans and lying to them about Sali’s voting record. Clintonites form the backbone of the group calling itself “American Family Voices.” The group is among those making weekly calls to Idahoans and leaving phone messages with gross distortions about Sali’s voting record.

“In a way, I’m honored that the Clintons would target me. That shows I’m doing a good job in Congress fighting for lower taxes, cutting government and reforming the way business is done in Washington, D.C. It’s no wonder they don’t like me,” said Sali. “On the other hand, I don’t like the fact that this group is lying to Idahoans. The Clintons and their cronies made political careers by using dishonesty and nuanced wording to trick people. It’s a free country. It’s their right to say what they want. I just wish they would be truthful with people instead of resorting to the old Clinton tactic of parsing every word.”

In its phone message to Idahoans on Friday, American Family Voices charged that Sali “voted for a $13 billion Christmas present for the oil industry in the way of tax giveaways.” The message, as usual, gives no other details to help constituents know what legislation it is talking about, hoping to spark outrage.

Sali has never voted for a $13 billion “tax giveaway,” as the group charged. Sali did vote against the Energy Bill, an 822-page bill which passed Congress in December, because it will result in higher energy prices while doing nothing to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign oil. That bill raises taxes for oil companies (repealing tax breaks oil companies currently received). The bill also bans the use of incandescent light bulbs, places new mandates on appliances, which will result in costlier appliances and does nothing to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign oil.

American Family Voices’ leadership includes its president, Mike Lux, who is a former Clinton aide serving in several capacities during the Clinton presidency, Bernard Craighead, who worked on Clinton’s 1992 campaign, Joe Velasquez, who was a former deputy director for political affairs for Clinton, and David Wilhelm, who is a former Clinton campaign manager. Others involved in American Family Voices include Leo Hindery, Jr., who is an economic advisor to Sen. John Edwards’ presidential campaign and Democratic consultant Amy Pritchard and Victoria Duffy Hopper, a Los Angeles-based fundraiser, pro-abortion advocate and wife of actor Dennis Hopper.

Said Sali, “It is a sign of desperation that the operatives for politicians who have never had the popular support of Idahoans have been recruited to discredit me. If Bill Clinton would like to come to Idaho to run for office, I’ll be glad to take anyone’s wager on the likelihood of his success. Robocalls are, of course, made from a good safe distance.”

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