Short version: the FEC dismissed the suit this week. Here's the letter they sent us:And here's the story of the nuisance suit from deranged right wing hack Cleta Mitchell of Republican Party front group Let Freedom Ring, a fascist-oriented "think tank." Their spurious suit claimed we "engaged in the deliberate, willful and intentional violation of the [Federal Election Campaign] Act by specifically requesting that outside organizations make public communications in support of Democratic candidates for Congress." As best as I can tell, the only basis for their claim was that a couple of Inside the Beltway newspapers published a story that Pelosi was concerned that the Democrats were concerned that they were being crushed by outside spending and that they needed liberal groups "to do more-- and quickly." The suit claims Blue America Independent Expenditure Committee made its first buy on October 18, right around the time of the newspaper stories. Our Independent Expenditure Committee spent exactly $83,776.85 this year, on three races, one of which was in the Arizona Democratic primary in support of Randy Parraz ($20,315.00), a race Pelosi couldn't have been remotely interested in. Another was in the race in Alabama's Second Congressional District between Blue Dog Bobby Bright and Republican Martha Roby. We spent $48,364.15 opposing Bobby Bright, the candidate Pelosi was backing. And the third race was in support of Justin Coussoule, the progressive Democrat opposing John Boehner, to the tune of $15,097.70. The DCCC and the DNC made it clear that they had no interest in this race whatsoever. If Pelosi did, it would have taken a mind-reader to have known.You might ask, "how can the Republicans be so hypocritical?" After all, they are the masters of mudslinging and dirty campaign tactics. And these types of suits against grassroots progressives groups is something they do on purpose, not because they think they can win, but just to help drain away resources that could be used opposing anti-democratic, fascist-oriented politicians. But if you wonder about GOP hypocrisy, I hope you watched Rachel Maddow Tuesday night-- IOKIYAR -- when she looked at the Republican response to the great Weiner weiner outrage. I hope you'll click on IOKIYAR and watch the clip. And watch this one as well:Cowardly Democrats have demanded Weiner resign. He shouldn't-- and most people in his congressional district, where I was raised-- agree. But what does it prove to Virginia voters who heard conservative Democrat Tim Kaine demanding Weiner resign? That Kaine will be almost as bad as your garden variety Republican? The GOP is all over this today-- and adamantly refusing to talk about David Vitter's criminal case, since the still-serving right-wing senator paid prostitutes to spank him and change his diapers... forIn any case, if you can help Blue America cover the legal costs for the suit just dismissed... we'd really appreciate it. Put the contribution in the PAC slot . Thanks.

Labels: Anthony Weiner, Cleta Mitchell, FEC, IOKIYAR, Rachel Maddow, Republican hypocrisy