EDF Spends $350,000 To Defeat Southerland

[Tom Hilton]

EDF sent out an email yesterday gloating about how they have spent over $350,000 to smear Rep. Steve Southerland in order to get him defeated. Over a third of a million dollars - imagine what that money could have done for our fisheries!

This is how the Mexican drug cartels operate - go against them and they not only kill you, they cut off your head and stick it on a pole to serve as a warning to others not to do the same. EDF is sending a message to other Congressmen not to go against their extremist anti-fishing campaign.

Strange that there are limits to how much you can contribute to someone's election campaign but apparently no limits on how much you can spend attacking their opponent when the end result is the same.

EDF has corrupted the entire political process in regards to our fisheries - a sad day in America when an extremist, anti-fishing thug organization is allowed to spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to affect the outcome of a single Congressional race. I consider this to be another example of their undue influence that is undermining what is actually good for America.

EDF is funding front groups such as the Charter Fisherman's Association, the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders Alliance, and the Gulf Fishermen's Association to do their bidding - all of the above have participated in this effort to get Southerland un-elected and should be ashamed of themselves, but I guess greed will make you do things you wouldn't normally do.

People over in Rep. Southerland's district in the Florida panhandle need to get out and vote TODAY to re-elect someone who is actually fighting for our fishing rights and heritage - REP. STEVE SOUTHERLAND.

Capt. Thomas J. Hilton

[CaptBobBryant]

How can they continue to do this as a 501(c3) organization
Tax law specifically FORBIDS this.....seems it is time they lose their tax exempt status

[Tom Hilton]

Ocean Champions is EDF's 501c4 political action arm

[Eggsuckindog]

How can they continue to do this as a 501(c3) organization
Tax law specifically FORBIDS this.....seems it is time they lose their tax exempt status

may thoughts exactly - that would a good case for us to champion after the election, would do more than most of what we do - a new channel for frustration

[mjacks]

Steve Southerland 52.7%

Alfred Lawson, Jr. 47.3%

I guess the "Campaign to Sink Southerland" was a serious waste of $350,000.00! You simply cannot impugn the character of a reputable U.S. Congressman, by employing liars, cheaters and criminals!

Congratulations Congressman Southerland and Thank You from the many thousands of recreational anglers and respectable Charter Captains who are honest, hard working folks who need your continued and very valued support in congress!

[Mackeral Snatcher]

[Gary S. Colecchio]

Steve Southerland 52.7%

Alfred Lawson, Jr. 47.3%

I guess the "Campaign to Sink Southerland" was a serious waste of $350,000.00! You simply cannot impugn the character of a reputable U.S. Congressman, by employing liars, cheaters and criminals!

Congratulations Congressman Southerland and Thank You from the many thousands of recreational anglers and respectable Charter Captains who are honest, hard working folks who need your continued and very valued support in congress!

[lemaymiami]

A rare piece of good news... (I live in the People's Republic of Broward....)

[Tom Hilton]

I find it disturbing that a corporation can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars smearing a Congressman for actually trying to do the right thing for the fisheries here in the Gulf. Just shows how the enviro $$$ have provided them with undue influence on our fisheries management. Strange that there are limits on how much an individual/corporation can contribute to a candidate's campaign, but no limits whatsoever on funneling money into attacking their opposition's campaign. Just ain't right.

Ocean Champions is the political action arm of the Environmental Defense Fund. They focused on trying to get Southerland out of Congress as they held him responsible for getting one of their operatives, BOB GILL, removed not only from Chairing and steering the Gulf Council, but completely removed from the Gulf Council, as the enclosed graphic illustrates.

These extreme anti-fishing enviro corporations, intent on getting their profit-motivated scheme called catch shares implemented in the recreational fisheries here in the Gulf, need to get the HELL out of our fisheries management process. First order of business is to ferret out the other EDF operatives still on Council doing EDF's bidding with their votes, and get them removed as well. Enough with the stacking of the Councils and APs with enviro lackies.

Capt. Thomas J. Hilton

http://www.oceanchampions.org/action...utherland.html

[Cyclist]

Just call him PAC man.

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/H0FL02110