Wynn Complains of Vast Left Wing Conspiracy

The Washington Post tells us today that Al Wynn has filed charges that Donna Edwards, his opponent for the Democratic nomination for the 4th Maryland Congressional District, "has illegally coordinated her campaign efforts with independent organizations that support her -- charges that she immediately rejected as last-minute electioneering by an embattled incumbent."

"There seems to be a vast, dare I say, left-wing conspiracy designed to circumvent campaign finance laws," he said in a conference call with reporters.

The article tells us:

Edwards, who came within three percentage points of defeating the eight-term incumbent in 2006, has the support of progressive organizations that have targeted Wynn because they think he too often votes with Republicans and accepts contributions from corporate interests.

In a statement, Edwards called the complaint "a desperate 11th hour attempt by the Congressman to deflect from the fact that groups representing the core of the Democratic party and the issues it stands for -- worker's rights, affordable housing, protecting women's right to choose, the environment -- have decided that they want to fire him and are supporting me because they know I stand with them and always have."......

Edwards is a member of the board of the League of Conservation Voters, an environmental group that has been sending mail and making calls in support of her. She was also a founding director of They Work For Us, a nonprofit group organized last year to target Democrats whom the group thinks has strayed from the party's core values. They Work For Us recently bought radio ads attacking Wynn......

Leaders of both groups said that Edwards took leaves of absences to run for office and has had no role in shaping their involvement in the race.

"This complaint is a baseless and inaccurate smoke screen to take attention away from Rep. Wynn's record of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from polluting energy companies and voting for President Bush's energy bill," said Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters.

Steve Rosenthal, president of They Work for Us, said Edwards took a leave from his group Aug. 7 and has had no role since then. He called the complaint "utterly ridiculous."

Comment: Wynn represents one of the most liberal communities in the United States. That community is seeking someone who will provide more leadership in Congress on environmental issues, the protection of democracy in a digital age, and other portions of the liberal agenda. I believe Donna Edwards is that person. I can see why Wynn may feel that all the liberal voters in his liberal district are in a vast conspiracy to defeat him, But that is the way democracy works, JAD