What You Don’t Know About Paul Gosar Will Hurt You

Who Paul Wants to Work For: Meet His Special Interest Team

PRESCOTT, AZ – With only 21 days until the election, Paul Gosar continues to avoid facing the people of District One. His appearances, only in front of friendly crowds (and typically behind closed doors), let him hide from the public’s scrutiny. Letting folks know where he stands really isn’t his priority – Paul’s far more interested in serving his supporters on Wall Street than Greater Arizona.


Paul has pledged to protect tax breaks for companies shipping American jobs overseas, though he’s twisted himself in knots trying to cover it up. Worse, he’s questioned the constitutionality of Social Security, proposed $73 billion in cuts to benefits for seniors, and suggested that instead of retiring, seniors should just work until they die. Those plans are unacceptable for our working families—but they’re great for the corporate special interests that are spending upwards of $1 million [link] to buy get Paul Gosar elected to Congress:

Americans For Prosperity – Founded by New York City oil billionaire and prize-winning job outsourcer David Koch, AFP spreads its radical ideology, which includes privatizing Social Security, by pouring money into elections. [link] True to their shady ways, they’ve spent an undisclosed amount of money slinging mud at Ann to elect Paul Gosar.

60 Plus – Headquartered right outside Washington, D.C., 60 Plus also lobbies for privatizing Social Security and is known as a front group for big pharmaceutical companies. [link] They’ve spent $348,193 [link] on ads that the Arizona Republic has described as “very misleading” [link] but Paul Gosar is parroting anyway. [link]

FreedomWorks – Washington group FreedomWorks is well-known for its phony grassroots campaigns in favor of privatizing Social Security. [link] Its chairman even accused Republicans who weren’t co-sponsoring a privatization plan of lacking courage. [link] They have endorsed and are raising money for Paul Gosar – an endorsement and stash of cash he has been notably silent about.
 
So who will Paul Gosar be working for? Could it be the people doing the most to get him elected?

“Paul’s hiding from the folks of District One and it’s no secret why. He’s afraid to face the seniors and veterans whose benefits he wants to cut to the bone, not to mention the small business owners and middle-class families whose jobs would be threatened by his outsourcing pledge," said Carmen Gallus, Kirkpatrick campaign manager. "This district deserves a representative who will answer to the people, not to big corporations."

For a full summary of special interest spending for Paul, click here.
 
For today’s Politico article on the influence of outside special interests on this race and others across the country, click here.

Background

Since the Republican primary, Paul Gosar has made a deliberate effort to hide himself from the public and appear only in front of friendly crowds:

Aug. 25 – Ann Kirkpatrick proposes 5 debates [link]

Sept. 8 – Gosar campaign manager J.P. Twist calls Kirkpatrick campaign… to ask for another copy of the debate proposal letter, which had been dropped off in person, sent via certified mail AND emailed directly to him

Sept. 8 – Gosar cancels face-to-face Arizona Republic editorial board meeting [link]

Sept. 25 – First proposed in-district debate goes by as Gosar continues hiding

Sept. 27 – Second proposed in-district debate goes by as Gosar continues hiding

Oct. 2 – Third proposed in-district debate goes by as Gosar continues hiding

Oct. 2 – Ann Kirkpatrick participates in Tea Party forum in Prescott with Gosar, their first appearance together and a real illustration of Ann’s commitment to letting the folks of District One know where she stands [link]

Oct. 4 –Gosar backs out of joint Channel 3 TV appearance
 
Oct. 12 – Fourth proposed in-district debate goes by as Gosar continues hiding