The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Republican Congressman Doug Lamborn. He gets the award for the following.

Colorado Springs - Rep. Doug Lamborn left two voice mails at the home of a couple who questioned his acceptance of campaign contributions from the gambling industry, saying there would be "consequences" if the couple did not respond.

Jonathan and Anna Bartha wrote a letter printed in the Aug. 24 Woodmen Edition, a community newspaper.

The couple raised concerns about Lamborn's receipt of $1,000 from International Game Technology PAC and a $500 contribution last summer from Marc Murphy, an executive of Bronco Billy's Casino in Cripple Creek. IGT makes gambling equipment.

Jonathan Bartha, 34, is employed by Focus on the Family. His wife, a board member of Falcon School District 49, worked for two months

In his messages, Lamborn said he wanted to appeal to the couple as "brothers and sisters in Christ" and implored them to call him back to discuss their "blatantly false" letter.

"We felt very threatened and intimidated, and quite frankly, scared," Anna Bartha said. "It was just not anything we would ever anticipate an elected official would pursue or a way that an elected official would conduct himself."

The messages from Congressman Lamborn can be read here. The Bartha's letter to the editor is also available.

We are conservative Republicans and believe in the individual freedoms granted to us by our Founding Fathers. However, there are moral limits that caring individuals can embrace without sacrificing the value of personal fiscal responsibility.

Recently, we have discovered that earlier this year 5th District Congressman Doug Lamborn accepted a $1,000 campaign contribution from International Game Technology PAC. IGT is one of the largest manufacturers of gambling equipment in the world. Last summer, Congressman Lamborn also accepted a $500 campaign contribution from the operator of Bronco Billy's casino of Cripple Creek.

As a congressman who ran of a platform of fiscal responsibility and traditional family values, we're hard pressed to understand why he has accepted money from an industry that tears at the social fabric of our country.

Congressman Lamborn also showed a lack of discretion earlier this legislative session when he voted against Sen. Wayne Allard's (R-Colo.) bill to stiffen penalties against the practice of dog fighting. (He was the only member of the Colorado delegation to do so.) This bill passed by an overwhelming margin and has been signed into law by President Bush.

Evidence of assertions in our letter:


$1,000 IGT contribution (http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/2007_H6CO05159)

$400 contribution from Marc Murphy of Bronco Billy's Casino (http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_ind/CO0420745/H.R.137)

Title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting, and for other purposes. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR00137:@@X)
Jonathan and Ann Bartha

As the Denver Post points out, the Congressman did take these contributions.

Federal records show that Lamborn received a $1,000 check Jan. 30, 2007, from the IGT PAC. Records also show receipt of $500 from Murphy last summer.

Lamborn said he has returned both contributions, but he could not say when that was done.

Nancy Brown, a spokeswoman for Jones Vargas, a law firm in Reno, Nev., that represents IGT, said the company's PAC sent a $1,000 contribution to Lamborn in January. She said Lamborn returned the check, although she could not provide the date of the return.

Federal records do not show that the check was returned.

So to date, the only one proved to be lying is Lamborn. If he returned the money, where is the proof.

Another Republican congressman trying to intimidate people back in his district. Haven't the Republicans learned anything from the 2006 debacle? You're a disgrace Congressman Doug Lamborn, and in addition I make you today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Note- Where is the conservative blogosphere on this story? I guess they rather put their heads in the sand about corrupt GOP politicians, and instead mock a Presidential candidate's statements, ones unlikely to ever take effect. While I don't totally agree with James Joyner, he made some good points in regards to former Senator John Edwards' remarks.

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