National Republican Senatorial Committee Lies About Senator Landrieu’s Stance on Internet Tax

Last week, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) created a poorly-produced advertisement targeting Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu in an attempt to question her vote against placing a permanent ban on taxing Internet commerce. Although Senator Landrieu is in favor of instituting a 7-year moratorium on any taxation of Internet commerce (Landrieu is even willing to extend to moratorium to up to 10 years), hardcore Republicans (and their easily-duped flock) have attempted to suggest that Landrieu’s position somehow constituted a vote in favor of Internet taxation. When the Senator responded, the mainstream media accused her of being “irritated,” and perhaps this is accurate, insofar as a blatant misrepresentation of the truth should be cause for frustration and irritation.

The truth is this:

Senator Landrieu did not vote in favor of taxing the Internet. She voted in favor of, once again, extending a preexisting moratorium on taxation, a moratorium that recognizes the rapidity by which the Internet has grown. And any attempt to pin her to a position that she does not hold is a duplicitous lie.

The NRSC recognizes the power Senator Landrieu currently possesses, and they are willing to mislead and misinform voters in order to promote their own disingenuous agenda– an agenda that relies on viral videos to spread patent lies about Landrieu’s real stance on the issues.

Response

Darren Green

October 30, 2007

Lamar,

Your post seems to imply that Republicans are the only ones playing these dirty little tricks when in reality there is plenty of this slash and burn mentality on both sides of the aisle. I am to the point now that I have very little respect for either party.

The most common tactic is to take a vote or quote on a specific bill or issue, present it completely out of context, and leave out significant details that are more critical than the information that is being presented. Here’s an example: I have a bill that imposes stricter penalties for wife beating. You amend my bill to include some new requirements that make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to purchase guns. I vote no on the bill as it infringes on a right that most of my constituents and I strongly believe in. Well, now I’m screwed. The next day my opponents tell everyone back home that I am pro wife beater.

At one time, I was a member of the “flock” of “easily-duped” who literally hated Mary Landrieu, mostly because of what I had heard about her from other Republicans. In fact, I considered canceling my registration for the recent Louisiana Speaks Conference in Baton Rouge simply because she was one of the scheduled speakers. I attended anyway assuming that someone of her obvious importance would most likely be a no show. Much to my dismay, she actually showed up.

I must admit that I was very impressed with her comprehension of the issues that were being discussed. She appeared to have a very good understanding of what happened as a result of Katrina and the dysfunction on all levels that exacerbated the state of affairs. She even had some plausible ideas on how to move the State forward and ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

So…what is my point? Sure, she is a Democrat and leans a little to the liberal side, But at the end of the day that shouldn’t matter. What should matter is that she is busting her ass every day to improve this state for all of us.

Reply

CenLamar