Politico notes that Arizona House Speaker Andy Tobin (R-Paulden), who is in a three-way primary for the chance to challenge Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (D-CD1) this fall, used the specter of Benghazi in a fundraising email yesterday.
Tobin’s pitch comes against the advice of House Select Committee on Benghazi chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), who says he has “never sought to raise a single penny on the backs of four murdered Americans.”
Appearing on “Morning Joe,” the South Carolina Republican was asked by co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski whether he would ask members of the GOP not to ask supporters for campaign cash by appealing to the September 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya.
“Yes, and I will cite myself as an example,” Gowdy said. “I have never sought to raise a single penny on the backs of four murdered Americans.”
Gowdy, in a similar statement to one he made on Fox News on Tuesday, said the Benghazi investigation should remain above the political fray.
“There are still, even in a culture of hyper-partisanship, certain things that ought to be above politics,” he continued, “like the murder of our four fellow Americans and like whether or not you can trust what any administration — Republican or Democrat — tells you in the aftermath of a tragedy. That, to me, transcends politics.”
Andy Tobin, the speaker of the Arizona state House of Representatives who is challenging Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick for the congressional seat for the state’s first district, came under fire on Tuesday for a fundraising email he sent to supporters that invoked the Benghazi attacks.
Tobin spokesman Craig Handzlik brushed off the controversy in an email to Tucson Weekly:
“Arizonans and Americans will never get answers on this issue if Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House again,” Handzlik said. “This race will determine if that happens. Our campaign is committed to ensuring there is a check and balance on the Obama administration, which Ann Kirkpatrick is not providing.”
Here’s the text of the Tobin email:
Friend,
Twenty months after the terrorist attacks on Benghazi, which left four Americans dead, the White House is still covering up vital information about what happened that night. If you remember, Barack Obama was in the midst of campaigning for reelection. Coincidence?
Americans were not fooled then and, despite the Obama Administration’s best efforts, we are still not fooled. Rep. Trey Gowdy being named to lead the House Select Committee on Benghazi is a very encouraging development.
Arizona’s 1st Congressional District needs a battle-tested representative in Congress who will faithfully represent your voice, who will fight for your conservative values and who will always seek to uncover the truth.
Please take a moment right now to donate what you can to my campaign!
This article appears in May 1-7, 2014.
Seems to me we’ve already had this discussion at least three times in the last 18 months. Congressional Republicans, and those who aspire to be among that group, aren’t happy with the answers they’ve received, even when it has been their own people giving those answers. Benghazi is the new Birther movement for the GOP in 2014 and probably 2016.
benghazi benghazi benghazi. it gives teabillys boners.
Four dead Americans, four dead Americans, four dead Americans….give Progressive Socialists nice dreams. Hillary Clinton and Obama lovers will soon have a different song to sing.
America did not reapond. Hillary went back to sleep and Obama had a fund raiser to get up for the next day.
The facts are well known. The administration attempted to “spin” the Benghazi attack, just like the Bush administration attempted to spin the Iraqi WMD story, just like the LBJ spun the Gulf of Tonkin incident, just like…….
It might be time to find a more viable topic…..this one is a true “third rail” that can only put the candidate further behind.
I suspect Mr. Tobin’s crass appeal will open checkbooks up and down the vast reaches of CD1. And in the “Pay to the Order of” line will be written ‘Kirkpatrick for Arizona’. Thanks to Andy for demonstrating how ill-suited he is to represent us…. in Phoenix of in Washington.
Whine whine whine, but they did just release 2300 new documents. Too bad you guys can’t get your heads out of your posteriors.
Just dead Americans. Remember when you use to care?
Reminds me of the Waco tragedy.
I hope the “dislikes” to my earlier comment are not by my fellow Republicans because this is a losing issue for any GOP candidate who embraces the philosophy of this candidate. Stick to the issues of the constituency and don’t be so arrogant, it only makes you a loser even if you prevail.
Only a Republican who has nothing else to run on except fear and ignorance would use this ploy, and yet, a select group of Arizonians elected this village idiot to the Arizona House.
To make political capial off the backs of four American Heroes, who were the sacrificial lambs of Republican Cuts to the State Department Security Budget, is absolutely deplorable, and completey disingenuous with decency.
The man has no conscience other than to get elected, and live on public welfare (which he despises so much for the people who need it the most), and he wants to go on to Washington????
The man is politically nothing more than a Neo Nazi masquerading as a Tea Party Conservative to live off the dole.
Arizonians.. vote for him, if you really want Anarchy.
@ Carmine-James Pitaniello: The state dept budget has been in constant decline since 2007, much the same as other govt dept except for entitlements. To state otherwise, especially on the immediate heels of the attack in 2011 is just as irresponsible as, let’s say making this a campaign issue. Here’s a link which might provide a bit of clarity so you can be more sure of your facts: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-c…