Air America Scandal Raised In Congressional Race

GLASS HOUSES

'Air Enron' Becomes Congressional Campaign Issue




Can Air America Radio's sleazy transfer of $875,000 in taxpayer-funded community center grants to its own coffers resonate with voters 3000 miles away? If a local connection can be established, perhaps.

With each side making ethics allegations against the other, an April 11 California special congressional election to replace scandal-tainted Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham is quickly turning heated.

Now, Al Franken, Air America, Michelle Malkin and yours truly are central to the latest campaign controversy in Southern California's 50th Congressional District.

Beginning with Democrat Francine Busby's attempts to tie Republican opponent Howard Kaloogian, a former state assemblyman, to the scandals that brought down Cunningham, Kaloogian (seen above) is fighting back.
In a release sent to the media and supporters, he blasts Busby's (left image) increasing ties to Air America Radio:

On the front page of her website, Democrat Francine Busby writes that she will serve with "honesty and integrity" and attacks Republicans:

"The scandals of Duke Cunningham have shown all of us what corruption in Washington looks like: close relationships between government contractors and members of Congress, lobbyists writing legislation, backroom and anonymous budget deals and a general disregard for spending taxpayer money honestly."

Yet, Busby doesn't seem to think the rules should apply to her. In fact the Democrat now finds herself in the middle of the growing "Air America Scandal."

Over the past several months, Busby has used the far-left, extremist radio network, Air America Radio, to promote her campaign.

She's made appearances on Air America's marquee national program: The Al Franken Show.

She's made multiple appearances on one of Air America's affiliates, KLSD. That same station promotes Busby's campaign events both over the airwaves and on their website.

For the uninitiated, Kaloogian then lays out the Air Enron scandal basics:

That's right - Air America Radio network received $875,000 in improper and apparently illegal loans from a charity that was supposed to help inner-city kids and senior citizens. The money in question - $875,000 that went to Air America - is TAXPAYER money.

And that 'seed capital' is now being used to the benefit Democrat Congressional Candidate, Francine Busby in her campaign for Congress.

And:

If you wish to learn more about the Air America Scandal, I encourage you to check out the reports filed by The Radio Equalizer (Brian Maloney) and Michelle Malkin's blog.

A check of Busby's website and blog today didn't reveal a response to the allegations, if one appears later, it will be added here.

However, this may be the passage from Busby's site that motivated Kaloogian's letter:

The most important part is, of course, the political climate. The stink of Duke Cunningham’s scandals is stuck on the Republicans candidates running to replace him both because of the actual monetary ties between Duke and his would-be successors and because the Republican candidates way of ‘conducting business’ is similar to their political hero’s.

Across this district, we are hearing again and again that voters do not want more of the same Duke Cunningham style of pay-to-play politics and Francine is committed to bringing change to the representation for the Fiftieth District and to Congress.

Hey, if either candidate could get Al Franken to finally address Air Enron in detail, we'd be most appreciative!

If neither candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in April's special election, a runoff will be held in June.

Keep an eye on this one, as a great deal of money will be spent on what is very much an early sneak peek at November's national races.

Right From Left has details on others in this race.

Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of what you ultimately order, help to support this site's efforts. Thanks again for your help!

Air America Scandal image: Darleen Click, Infidels by Pete at IHillary.