Congressman Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) must feel mighty honored today. It's not everyday that another sitting Congressman copies your work and passes it off as his own. Yet, that's just what former Army Ranger and NC Third District Congressional Candidate Joe McLaughlin is accusing Rep. Walter Jones, Jr. (R-NC, left) of doing.
According to an e-mail from the McLaughlin campaign:
Not only does Walter Jones no longer speak for the people of eastern North Carolina, he no longer speaks for himself. Allow me to explain.
Most of you who live in the district received a mailer from Walter Jones a few weeks back ... In Congress, the ability to send out mail to inform your constituents about important issues is called “franking privilege” but frankly, this mailer crossed the line.
The full-page mailer was termed an “Immigration Update”, but it was clearly a re-election mailer. However, there was a major problem with the mailer, besides the fact that your tax dollars were used to send it: it was plagiarized!
McLaughlin's e-mail continues:
... the quote on the mailer attributed to Walter can be found word for word in the opening paragraph of a weekly column by Congressman Cole (in photo, left)published on his website on May 29th of this year.
McLaughlin then argues that the reason Jones plagiarized Cole's mailing was because:
...Walter has voted to use taxpayer money to provide housing for illegal aliens, it’s not surprising that he would need to plagiarize the words of a Congressman who actually has a conservative record on fighting illegal immigration.
...he is wasting your taxpayer dollars on political mailers that he has plagiarized from a real conservative Republican.
McLaughlin included both the Jones and Cole mailers in his email. After looking closely, your blogger agrees.
Just above Jones signature is this statement, that first appeared on the Cole mailer:
America is a nation of laws, and those laws must be obeyed. It must be a top priority for our nation to secure our border and stop the flood of illegal immigration.
Katy's Conservative Corner is currently trying to reach a spokesperson from Congressman Cole's office, but due to the weekend, will probably not hear from them until Monday. At that time, this story will be updated to include any comments that Congressman Cole might wish to make.
McLaughlin (in photo, left) closes his email by urging Jones to admit his mistake and pay for the mailing himself, by reimbursing the United States Government.
Was the mailing more of a re-election piece than a Congressional update? Should Mr. Jones have used taxpayer monies to pay for this? Do you think he used words that were not his own? Let us know by leaving your comments! View the attachments and links, below.
For More Information:
Congressman Cole's Website, including original wording of mailer
Download jonesmailerback.jpg (Download the reverse side of the Jones mailing, read the very bottom, just above his signature, and judge for yourself).
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