Letter to Congressman Bobby Bright on Recent Illegal Anonymous Attacks

October 30, 2010

Rep. Bobby Bright
Bobby Bright for Congress
444 South Hull Street
Montgomery, AL  36104

Dear Congressman Bright:

As you may know, during the last week several anonymous mailings and automated calls have gone out to voters in the Second District falsely attacking me. These mail pieces and phone calls all lack the legally required disclaimer required by the Federal Election Commission and are thus illegal.

I am writing to ask that you publicly denounce these anonymous illegal tactics and call on whoever is responsible to stop.

While candidates must be held accountable for their record and public statements, I think we both can agree that, even in the heat of the campaign, it’s imperative that all sides follow the law.

There is no place for anonymous smear tactics in politics. In fact, you insisted yourself in the 2008 Clean Campaign Pledge that your campaign offered, that candidates should “DISAVOW PUBLICLY any material and advertising that are not factually accurate or that fail to disclose the identity behind such campaign activities and the source of funding.”

These false anonymous tactics are both factually inaccurate and fail to disclose the identity behind the attacks and the source of funding. In short, they are anonymous lies, made in the final days before an election by an individual or organization that is afraid to take responsibility for its actions. It is the sort of political stunt that the people of our state despise.

One mailer attacks me for spending money from a so-called “slush fund” that, as you know, was actually used to pay for improvements to city parks, roads, and community centers. At the time, you said that City Council members “should be spending every penny of it” and added “You can pave a lot of streets with $500,000 if you use it.”

The most recent anonymous automated call today attacked me for passing a tough immigration ordinance that you praised.

You and I both care deeply about the future of our country. I also know that we are both working hard to earn the trust of the voters of the Second District. I would hate for this campaign to be marred by tactics such as these.

I am in the process of filing an official complaint with the Federal Election Commission which will start an investigation into these unlawful activities.

I hope you will join me in publicly disavowing these unacceptable and illegal tactics immediately.

Sincerely,
 

Martha Roby

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