How To Run A Dirty Re-Election Campaign-- Meet John Kline and Diana Bratlie

John Kline has a record

You may remember Mike McIntee as the innovative Minnesota artist who created the videos for our Blue America campaign song last year, Have You Had Enough? This year Mike is volunteering for the Steve Sarvi campaign. Sarvi is running against one of the worst of the extremist Republican radicals, John Kline in a district just south of the Twin Cities. And he's up to his old tricks again. Kline, who's hallmark is dirty and deceptive campaigning, has hired one of Minnesota's most notorious dirt tricks operatives, Diana Bratlie. And Mike has done an entertaining and informative video about what Bratlie's been up to. It's worth watching:



Note at the end of the clip Mike explains that when he asked Bratlie why Kline refuses to hold public forums with voters and answer questions, she says "since Kline has a record, he doesn't have to do that." Since Kline is one of the Texas Tea Party clowns who is shilling for Big Oil in DC this week (instead of facing his constituents back home), we decided to take a look at his record. Let's start by asking ourselves if his constituents know that he has taken $118,705 in campaign "donations" from Big Oil-- which just may have something to do with the fact that he has rubber stamped every single bill, without exception, that Big Oil has wanted, bills which have led directly to skyrocketing fuel prices. ($36,800 of that has come from Koch Industries, one of the most venal Republican oil firms that rewards oil industry shills who sell out their home districts; they're one of his top donors for his entire shameless career in Congress.) I mean we are talking about a guy who has participated in 30 rolls call votes regarding renewable energy and who voted against renewable energy all 30 times-- a startling record for that $118,705!

John Kline's voting record is breathtaking-- even compared to other rubber stamp Republicans. When you look at the substantive roll calls that have divided the two parties, he's tied for the second worst position at the very bottom of the Republican barrel. His score is .047 (out of 100)-- identical to lunatic fringe extremists like Tim Walberg (R-MI), Mike Pence (R-IN), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Thelma Drake (R-VA), Trent Franks (R-AZ), and even worse than voting records by nationally recognized disgraces like Mean Jean Schmidt, Marilyn Musgrave, Tom Feeney, Scott Garrett and John Doolittle. Who has a worse voting record than John Kline? Lynn Westmoreland, the maniac who went on the Colbert Report 2 years ago, bragged about cosponsoring a bill to have the Ten Commandments posted in every classroom and, when asked to name the ten...

Colbert: What are the Ten Commandments?

Westmoreland: You mean all of them?–Um… Don’t murder. Don’t lie. Don’t steal Um… I can’t name them all.

As for Kline's specific voting record, the one that makes him immune from questions from his constituents:
Iraq War- voted with Bush and Cheney 59 times out of 59 roll calls; worst record in the entire House.

And when he came to the well-being of our active duty service men-- providing them with armored vehicles and health care and things like that? There have been 22 roll calls since Kline got to Congress and he's voted against our service members all 22 times.

Veterans? 23 roll calls, 23 votes against veterans.

But it isn't only military personnel and veterans he hates. He's voted against senior citizens, the unemployed, farmers, children, and victims of natural disasters, every single time there has been a vote. And it shouldn't surprise you to find out he's voted against women's choice every single time that has come up as well-- 13 roll calls since he was first elected.

So if he votes against everything and everyone, what does he support? Glad you asked? He has a 100% voting record in support of tax breaks for the wealthy, tax breaks for Big Oil, tax breaks for big corporations, and for people who commit hate crimes. And that's the voting record Diana Bratlie thinks he doesn't need to explain to voters in Minnesota! Perhaps you want to check out Steve Sarvi's record.