NRSC Statement On Latest Broken Promises & Hypocritical Conduct From Senator Claire McCaskill

“Senator McCaskill should apologize to the people of Missouri who sent her to Washington to rein-in the size of the federal government, not to max out the government credit card and then get richer off of it,” said Rob Jesmer, National Republican Senatorial Committee Executive Director today.  “This is just the latest in a long line of broken promises to Missourians and hypocritical conduct in Washington by Claire McCaskill.”

“No one should forget that it was Senator McCaskill herself who said that if her walk doesn’t match her talk then don’t vote for her again – we hope Missourians will heed her advice on Election Day,” Jesmer concluded.

BACKGROUND….

FLASHBACK….

McCaskill In 2006: “If My Walk Doesn’t Match My Talk, Then Shame On Me And Don’t Ever Vote For Me Again. But I Want To Be Held Accountable, I Expect To Be Held Accountable.”

FLASHBACK….

Former State Auditor McCaskill Has Called Herself An “Ethics Cop”

McCaskill Has Worked To “Establish Herself As An Ethics Cop In The Senate.” “That the former state auditor has sought to establish herself as an ethics cop in the Senate — she had previously proposed a crackdown on Congressional travel — could make the attacks that much easier for her Republican rivals.”(Jake Wagman, “McCaskill Will Pay $287K For Back Taxes On Plane,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Political Fix Blog, www.stltoday.com, Posted 3/21/11)

“Said Senator Claire McCaskill: ‘Ethics Reform Legislation Is Way Overdue. This Bill Would Go A Long Way Towards Increasing Transparency And Accountability In Congress, And I Believe It Would Be A Step Towards Restoring The Confidence Of The American People.’” (Senator Harry Reid, “Freshman Senators Discuss Democrats’ Efforts To Enact Sweeping Ethics And Lobbying Reform,” Press Release, 7/25/07)

“When U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill Arrived In Washington, She Looked At The Federal Government With The Keen Eye Of An Auditor And The Logical Persistence Of A Prosecutor. This Unique Perspective Drove Her Focus On Government Transparency And Accountability And Has Shaped Her Work In The U.S. Senate Ever Since.” (Senator Claire McCaskill, “Shining A Light On Open Government: McCaskill Continues Work On Behalf Of Whistleblowers,” Press Release, 3/20/09)

FLASHBACK….

In 2006, McCaskill Promised Her Husband’s Business Would Not Be A Conflict Of Interest

2004: “In An Interview, McCaskill Said Shepard Was Getting Out Of Low-Income Housing In Missouri. She Said That Although He May Develop Projects In Other States, No Conflict Of Interest Situations Will Come Up On Her Watch.” (Terry Ganey, “McCaskill Aims To Avoid Conflicts Of Interest,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/27/04)

2006: “U.S. Senate Candidate Claire McCaskill Said Wednesday That She Would Take Steps To Avoid Conflicts Of Interest If Elected And Was Offended That The Question Was Even Raised.” (Matt Stearns, “McCaskill: Conflicts Avoidable,” The Kansas City Star, 10/19/06)

·         “‘I’ll Do Whatever’s Necessary To Make Sure There’s No Ethical Conflict,’ The Democrat Said. ‘I Would Never Not Do That.’” (Matt Stearns, “McCaskill: Conflicts Avoidable,” The Kansas City Star, 10/19/06) 

“McCaskill Was Responding To The Concerns Of Ethics Experts Who Said She Needed A Plan On How To Deal With Potential Conflicts Of Interest Posed By The Business Interests Of Husband Joseph Shepard.” (Matt Stearns, “McCaskill: Conflicts Avoidable,” The Kansas City Star, 10/19/06)

“‘Obviously, I Don’t Think It’s Necessary For Him To Stop Doing His Businesses While I’m In The Senate,’ McCaskill Said. ‘But Any Of The Businesses That Do Have Any Impact In Terms Of The Federal Government Or Any Type Of Interplay With The Federal Government, Obviously We Will Take Whatever Steps Are Necessary To Make Sure That There Is Absolutely No Conflict Of Interest, Including A Blind Trust, If Necessary.’” (Matt Stearns, “McCaskill: Conflicts Avoidable,” The Kansas City Star, 10/19/06)

McCaskill In 2006: “If My Walk Doesn’t Match My Talk, Then Shame On Me And Don’t Ever Vote For Me Again. But I Want To Be Held Accountable, I Expect To Be Held Accountable.” (Claire McCaskill, Interview With David Catanese, KY3 TV [Springfield], May 18, 2006) Video Available Here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/03/22/134766172/sen-claire-mccaskill-haunted-by-own-videotaped-words)

FLASHBACK….

McCaskill And Her Husband “Share Everything”

In 2004, McCaskill Said She And Her Husband “Share Everything – Assets, Children And A House.” “‘My husband and I are a team,’ she said. ‘We are married, and we share everything — assets, children and a house. The money I’ve loaned to my campaign is my money. My family is supportive of my efforts. Some have implied that the assets of my family don’t belong to me. That notion is pretty archaic.’” (Terry Ganey, “McCaskill Campaigns Hard, Stresses Her Qualifications For State’s Top Job,” St. Louis Post Dispatch, 7/18/04)

FLASHBACK….

McCaskill Defended Her Husband’s Business Practices

McCaskill Said It Was “Not Fair And Not True” When Asked If Her Husband “Succeeded In Business At The Expense Of The Taxpayer.” REARDON: “And I understand that, but you’ve said that you have a feeling that republicans, and you are going to be in heated election next year, that republicans, whether its Ed Martin or Sarah Steelman or whoever will face you and the party itself will try many many times to make this about the fact that your husband has been very successful in business. You admit that this is your mistake, but has your husband succeeded, isn’t there the risk because of some other questions out there about his business, granted this is his business, but that he succeeded in business at the expense of the taxpayer.” MCCASKILL: “Well that’s just frankly not fair and not true.” (KMOX’s “The Mark Reardon Show,” 3/30/11)