*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Friday, November 6, 2015
Washington, DC – Concerned Veterans for America, an organization bankrolled by the Koch brothers, has released a new falsehood-packed attack ad targeting Hillary Clinton. The ad attempts to obscure Clinton’s career-long record of fighting for veterans and their families by falsely claiming that she is unconcerned by long-running service delays at the Veterans Administration. In fact, Clinton herself has said she is “outraged” by the delays and is fighting back against GOP attempts to privatize the VA, which would only hamper service further.
“There’s only one reason for the Koch brothers to be attacking Hillary Clinton this early in the race: they’re terrified,” said Adrienne Watson, Communications Director for Correct The Record. “Hillary Clinton has been fighting for veterans for her entire career while the Kochs twist every GOP arm within reach to privatize the Veterans Administration and virtually every other government agency. Clinton is standing in their way, and the Koch brothers will use every dirty trick in the book to try to take her down.”
For more information on the Koch-backed Concerned Veterans for America, see below:
Koch Brothers-Funded Organization
Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) is “backed by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch.” “McCain and Republican candidates on the campaign trail are framing Democratic candidates and President Obama as weak on foreign policy and national security. Meanwhile, super PACs like Concerned Veterans for America, which is backed by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch, are spending millions on new national security-related ads for GOP candidates.” [Huffington Post, 10/20/14]
The Nation: “It has for a long while been clear the group is funded in part, or perhaps even in full, by the Koch brothers.”” Though the group doesn’t disclose its donors, it has for a long while been clear the group is funded in part, or perhaps even in full, by the Koch brothers. Any remaining doubt can now be erased thanks to audio from the secretive Koch donor retreat this summer, obtained by The Undercurrent and reported here.” [The Nation, 9/23/14]
Koch group Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce gave CVA $5.2 million in 2012. “But Concerned Veterans for America’s frequent attacks on the Affordable Care Act align it squarely with other Koch-affiliated groups. Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, a trade association at the heart of the Koch donor network, gave $5.2 million to Concerned Veterans for America, 2012 tax records show.” [CQ Roll Call, 10/5/14]
- CVA has tried to keep its funding secret. “CVA officials have declined to respond publicly about where their group’s funding comes from, other than to say ‘private donors,’ similar to other organizations working on veterans issues. ‘VoteVets is honest about being America’s largest progressive veterans group, and supporting progressive policies,’ group officials said in a release. ‘CVA should be honest about representing the people who support dismantling programs that care for our elderly, our poverty-stricken, our children, and even our veterans.’” [Military Times, 7/15/15]
CVA was “Created” by Koch Brothers’ Network
CVA CEO Pete Hegseth at a Koch brothers summit: “Concerned Veterans for America is an organization this network literally created.” “An ever-present force in this debate was a group called Concerned Veterans for America. Its leader, Peter Hegseth, frequently appeared on cable news segments about the scandal, and CVA was often mentioned on the floor of the Senate. Though the group doesn’t disclose its donors, it has for a long while been clear the group is funded in part, or perhaps even in full, by the Koch brothers. Any remaining doubt can now be erased thanks to audio from the secretive Koch donor retreat this summer, obtained by The Undercurrent and reported here. […] At various points, Hegseth took pains to express his gratitude to the people funding his operation. ‘Concerned Veterans for America is an organization this network literally created to empower veterans and military families to fight for the freedom and prosperity here at home that we fought for in uniform on the battlefield,’ he noted.” [The Nation, 9/23/14; Pete Hegseth remarks at Koch donor retreat, 6/16/14]
CVA CEO Pete Hegseth: “I thank Charles and David” for making CVA possible. “I thank Charles and David […] everyone that puts in the sweat equity that makes this possible.” [Pete Hegseth remarks at Koch donor retreat, 6/16/14]
Push the Conservative Koch Agenda
AFL-CIO: “Unlike veterans groups whose mission is to provide critical services to veterans across America, CVA seems only to be concerned with promoting the Koch brothers’ radical political agenda in Washington, D.C.” “Unlike veterans groups whose mission is to provide critical services to veterans across America, CVA seems only to be concerned with promoting the Koch brothers’ radical political agenda in Washington, D.C. In exchange for the millions in funding they’ve received from the groups associated with the infamous anti-government billionaires, they are also waging a campaign to reform Social Security and Medicare, which veterans and their families heavily rely on, and government spending overall. In Koch-speak, ‘reform’ means ‘cut relentlessly and put the rest toward tax breaks for the wealthy.’” [AFL-CIO Now, 7/17/15]
CVA CEO Pete Hegseth: Concerned Veterans for America played a “central role” in “exposing and driving” the VA scandal. “Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of months, you know about the crisis at the Department of Veterans Affairs. What you probably don’t know is the central role that Concerned Veterans for America played in exposing and driving this crisis from the very beginning.” [Pete Hegseth remarks at Koch donor retreat, 6/16/14]
Conservative Veterans for America prioritized privatizing the VA system. “Last month in New Hampshire, Mr. Bush voiced support for 2014 legislation that allows veterans to see doctors outside the VA system if they experience long wait times or live more than 40 miles from the closest VA hospital. […] The effort to privatize elements of the VA system is a priority of the Koch brothers-backed group, Concerned Veterans for America, which in February called for creating a ‘premium-support private insurance option’ for current veterans and limiting eligibility requirements for future veterans.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/8/15]
Concerned Veterans for America used “problems with Veteran’s Affairs healthcare as a political cudgel against both the Affordable Care Act and vulnerable Democrats.” “Even before this year’s scandal, CVA was using problems with Veteran’s Affairs healthcare as a political cudgel against both the Affordable Care Act and vulnerable Democrats. This ad taken against Representative Alan Grayson is a good example, in which a veteran explains his troubles getting care and then says ‘If you want to know what Obamacare’s going to be like, just look at the VA system.’” [The Nation, 9/23/14]
Stars and Stripes columnist Tom Philpott lambasted CVA for “posing as a vet advocacy group and being rewarded for it.” “In the thick of this is Concerned Veterans for America, posing as a vet advocacy group and being rewarded for it. CVA press releases usually are partisan attacks. Its spokesman, Pete Hegseth, an Iraq war vet and Republican who ran for a U.S. Senate in 2012, is quoted often by major news outlets without mention of press reports associating CVA with the Koch brothers, libertarian billionaires who create public interest groups to oppose big government. That’s fine. That’s protected speech. A CVA spokesman told me last year it won’t reveal donor information. What should upset vets is the use of select facts about VA and its programs to reinforce fears rather than give reliable information. Last week a CVA press release hit a new low in purporting to document ‘lies’ Shinseki told in congressional testimony, dropping any veil of respect for a decorated, combat-disabled soldier with a long and stellar career.” [Tom Philpott, Op-ed, Stars and Stripes, 5/23/14]
Held Events with GOP Presidential Candidates
Marco Rubio headlined the Concerned Veterans for America “Veterans and Military Town Hall” in Exeter, N.H. “Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) is pleased to announce that Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will headline our first Veterans and Military Town Hall event in Exeter, New Hampshire, on June 25. This inaugural policy forum—which is part of our ‘Defend & Reform’ Policy Series—will be held at the Exeter Town Hall and will highlight critical issues facing New Hampshire veterans, military families, and—by extension—all Americans. The CVA ‘Veterans and Military Town Hall’ series will be held in New Hampshire and South Carolina over the summer and fall of this year.” [Concerned Veterans for America press release, 6/3/15]
Ted Cruz headlined the Concerned Veterans for America “Veterans and Military Town Hall” in Milford, N.H. “Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) today announced that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will headline its ‘Veterans and Military Town Hall’ event in Milford, N.H., Monday, Aug. 31 from 9-10 a.m. The policy forum, part of CVA’s ‘Defend & Reform’ Policy Series, will focus on key issues affecting veterans, members of the military and their families, and—by extension—all Americans. The Aug. 31 event will be the fourth ‘Veterans and Military Town Hall’ event CVA has hosted this year.” [Concerned Veterans for America press release press release, 8/11/15]
Jeb Bush headlined the Concerned Veterans for America “Veterans and Military Town Hall” in Columbia, South Carolina. “Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) today announced that former Florida governor Jeb Bush will headline its Veterans and Military Town Hall event in Columbia, South Carolina, on Monday, August 17. This policy forum, part of CVA’S ‘Defend & Reform’ Policy Series, will focus on key issues affecting veterans, members of the military and their families, and—by extension—all Americans. The CVA ‘Veterans and Military Town Hall’ series will be held in New Hampshire and South Carolina over the summer and fall of 2015.” [Concerned Veterans for America press release, 7/28/15]
Rand Paul headlined the Concerned Veterans for America “Veterans and Military Town Hall” in Charleston, South Carolina. “Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) today announced that Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will headline its Veterans and Military Town Hall event in Charleston, South Carolina, on Mon., July 27. This policy forum, the second in CVA’S ‘Defend & Reform’ Policy series, will continue to focus on key issues affecting veterans, members of the military and their families, and—by extension—all Americans. The CVA ‘Veterans and Military Town Hall’ series will be held around the country over the summer and fall of 2015.” [Concerned Veterans for America press release, 7/15/15]
Correct The Record is a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks.
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