With tropical music and poolside video of Rep. Dan Lungren in his swimming trunks, 3rd Congressional District challenger Bill Durston attacks the Republican incumbent for a special-interest trip to Hawaii.
The following is a transcript of the ad and an analysis by Peter Hecht of The Bee's Capitol Bureau:
ANNOUNCER: For career politician Dan Lungren, taking handouts from special interests is just business as usual. Asked about taking over $25,000 from Big Oil …
LUNGREN (at Elk Grove town hall meeting): Yes, I did. If I could get more, I'd take more.
ANNOUNCER: ABC News caught Lungren red-handed breaking House ethics rules on a luxury vacation paid for by special interests.
LUNGREN (from ABC interview): I'm a California kid. I grew up around pools. We do a lot of business around pools.
ANNOUNCER: Isn't it time to send Dan Lungren on a permanent vacation?
DURSTON: I'm Dr. Bill Durston, and I approve this message.
ANALYSIS: Durston, a Sacramento emergency room physician, was easily defeated by Lungren two years ago. Now he is using the congressman's January Hawaii trip and an unrelated quip about oil contributions in an upstart bid to win the 3rd District seat.
But Durston, a Democrat, takes some liberties. While the ad raises questions about the trip and Lungren's dealings with lobbyists, its assertion that ABC News "caught him red-handed breaking House ethics rules" is incorrect.
Lungren, who has said he cleared the trip in advance with the House ethics committee and federal elections commission, wasn't cited for breaking any rules.
ABC reported that Lungren – as well as Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii – exploited a loophole in congressional ethics requirements to attend and speak at the conference of the American Association of Airport Executives at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort.
House ethics rules prohibit members from taking paid junkets from special interest groups. But Lungren was able to avoid the rules by using campaign funds to pay for the trip he took with his wife.
His hosts then held a $20,000 fundraiser, which easily covered Lungren's $4,900 tab for lodging, air travel and hosting the fundraiser.
Call Peter Hecht, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5539.
