Politics

GOP senator: I’m being targeted by an ‘environmental jihad’

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Michael Bastasch DCNF Managing Editor
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Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson fought back against an ad campaign launched by environmental groups that labeled him as “anti-science,” accusing the League of Conservation Voters of being on an “environmental jihad.”

“The League of Conservation voters is not an organization with a balanced approach to a cleaner environment,” Johnson wrote in a fundraising email to supporters. “They are an extreme left group on an environmental jihad.”

“The League of Conservation Voters is one of the many attack dog groups used by President Obama, the Democrats and the extreme left to weaken, defeat and silence conservatives,” Johnson wrote. “They use TV ads — filled with smears — because they work.”

The LCV launched a $2 million ad campaign against Johnson and other congressmen who they claimed represented “anti-science, anti-climate wing of Congress,” the group’s spokesman told The Hill newspaper.

In an effort to attract young voters, LVC’s two-week TV and online ad campaign targets Johnson and Republican Reps. Mike Coffman of Colorado, Rodney Davis of Illinois and Dan Benishek of Michigan, all of whom are in competitive districts. However, Johnson doesn’t face reelection until 2016.

“The American people are tired of Washington politicians ignoring basic scientific facts and standing in the way of action on climate change,” said LCV president Gene Karpinski. “This ad campaign shows that members of Congress won’t be able to sweep their extreme, anti-science voting records under the rug.”

LVC’s ad campaign comes amid other liberal groups raising awareness about global warming and urging action on the issue.

The former Obama campaign group Organizing for Action, has been active in pushing the president’s new plan to tackle global warming as well as calling out Republicans who question the science behind rising global temperatures.

OFA planned climate rallies across Washington, D.C. on Tuesday; however, the Washington Free Beacon reports that no one showed up to one rally in Georgetown.

OFA staff told Politico that the events were user generated on the website, but “in the interest of consolidation, activists were diverted to other nearby events and the event was scrubbed from the site before yesterday.”

Despite that one hiccup, OFA volunteers delivered “Climate Denier Awards” — unicorn trophies — to members of Congress they branded as “climate deniers.”

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