Nashville News Blog

Bob Tuke is is trying to shake down Democrats again today in an email. This time, he castigates Lamar Alexander for cozying up to Big Oil. And what can you do about this outrage?

"Help send a message to Lamar Alexander—we're not going to let you get away with this political peddling—by donating $25 dollars today." Tuke goes on to slap Alexander for "foolish pandering."

What's really foolish is donating to Tuke's campaign, which even the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee isn't giving any chance to win. Democrats are challenging in 17 of 23 GOP-held seats, according to the DSCC, and Tennessee isn't one of them.

Tuke isn't even counted among the "good candidates with an outside chance." Guess that would make him one of those unfortunate bad candidates with no chance. More here. Tuke's latest fund-raising email follows:

Dear Supporter,

Senator Alexander may think we wouldn't notice his election year tricks, but he's wrong.

Earlier this year, Lamar twice towed the Washington-line and voted against tax incentives for alternative energy production – policies that are critical to energy independence, job creation, and our environment. Both of these bills failed, but if passed would have been paid for by repealing tax giveaways to Big Oil.

Now what is Lamar up to? He's introduced the exact same alternative energy legislation – but instead of cutting corporate welfare dollars for Big Oil, Senator Alexander proposes to pass the tab on to our kids. It's his political ploy to talk about passing alternative energy legislation, but preserve tax benefits for Big Oil. Check the public records on the thousands of dollars in campaign contributions he has received from Big Oil. That's just wrong.

Help send a message to Lamar Alexander—we're not going to let you get away with this political peddling—by donating $25 dollars today:

http://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/19051

Lamar's foolish pandering is one of the reasons gas prices have gone through the roof. Instead of putting Big Oil's feet to the fire, he gives them another break by signaling that real progress on alternative energy production won't cost them a cent of their obscene record profits.

It's another example of how Lamar Alexander has gotten very good at the Washington political games, but isn't addressing Tennesseeans' problems. Instead of tackling our energy crisis, Lamar tries to have it both ways - protect Big Oil taxpayer giveaways (and his campaign contributors) and still promote alternative energy. Problem is, it doesn't work. These sort of games keep gas prices high, balloon our deficit, and our children and grandchildren pay the price.

It's past time we stop career politicians like Lamar Alexander. He may think he's pulled the perfect political bait-and-switch, but he's sadly mistaken if he thinks we're going to give him a pass.

Help send Lamar a message that we want real change, and we're going start by sending him home on Election Day.

But I need three things to help to make it happen.

1. Forward this email to your friends and family.
2. Go to your favorite local or national blog and voice your outrage about Lamar's "solution."
3. Contribute $5, $10, $25, $50 or more today so I can get this message on TV.

Thanks for all that you do.

Let's Take the Hill,

Bob Tuke

Paid for by Tuke for Tennessee