Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launches automated calls criticizing Buchanan

In a new series of automated phone calls launched today, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) again calls on citizens to tell Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, to “come clean” about ethics violations.

The Committee aired radio ads targeting Buchanan in mid-June, shortly after his former business partner was ordered by a judge to pay a fine of $67,900 to the Federal Election Commission — over contributions made to the Republican’s 2006 and 2008 congressional campaigns.

According to a complaint filed by the FEC last December, a Jacksonville Hyundai dealership owned by Sam Kazran (and, at the time, by Buchanan) reimbursed employees’ contributions to the campaigns, to the tune of almost $68,000. According to the FEC, the fine was the result of an “extensive and ongoing scheme” to funnel “secret, illegal contributions” to Buchanan.

At least 14 lawsuits have named Buchanan in recent years, and some of his former employees have alleged that they were pressured into donating to his campaigns. In one instance, a group of his employees helped generate $110,000 in campaign contributions in a span of just seven days.

Below, the full text of the automated phone call:

Hi, this is Clare calling on behalf of the DCCC.  Have you heard the latest on Congressman Vern Buchanan’s ethics problems?

His old business was caught illegally funneling $67,900 in campaign donations from his employees to Vern Buchanan’s own campaign to help him get elected.  The Federal Election Commission called it an “extensive and ongoing scheme” of “secret illegal contributions.”

Call Congressman Vern Buchanan at (941) 951- 6643 and tell him to come clean.  We don’t need a Congressman like him representing us.

According to a press release, the call is part of the latest phase in the DCCC’s “Drive for 25” campaign to win the House, which works to expose House Republicans who have been caught in ethics scandals.