Colorado & Denver News

by Raj Chohan
DENVER (CBS4) ― Reality Check is the name of a new set of special reports by CBS4 reporter Raj Chohan.

In the July 31 Reality Check, Chohan analyzed Peggy Lamm's attack ad against Ed Perlmutter. His complete notes on the report lie below.

Reporter notes and sourcing:

The new attack ad by Peggy Lamm against Ed Perlmutter has some style and humor, but contrary to its claims, it doesn't always "shoot straight."

"THAT'S PEGGY LAMM. SHE NEVER BACKS DOWN FROM A FIGHT"

First you have to get passed the suspension of disbelief. I mean that's a pretty clean cut crowd to be hanging out at a pool bar shooting stick with Peggy Lamm. Lets get on with the first substantial claim.

"I LED THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CU ATHLETIC SCANDAL."

This is essentially true. I covered the CU recruiting investigation and CBS4 attended some of the independent committee hearings. Peggy Lamm co-chaired the panel, and helped develop the report that identified problems in the football recruiting program and the management culture in general in the athletic department. The investigation was one of the forces that led to a personnel shake up and policy changes at the university.

"I FOUGHT TELEMARKETERS, AND GOT THE DO NOT CALL LIST PASSED"

This is also True. Peggy Lamm worked as a lobbyist on the no call list for Bighorn Action. According to its Web site, "Bighorn Action is the advocacy branch of the Bighorn Center. As a 501(c)4, Bighorn Action influences and implements public policy and legislative lobbying and ballot initiatives".

For an explanation of how the no call list was passed, check out Bighorn Center's Web site.

"SO IN CONGRESS, I'LL TAKE ON THE BIG DRUG COMPANIES AND BIG OIL."

The claim about taking on big oil and big drug companies amounts to campaign promises. Lamm's campaign advisors admit there's nothing in Lamm's legislative background at the state level that demonstrates a history of taking on oil and drug companies. Her campaign emphasizes Lamm's history of fighting for consumers, (the no call list, for example) as evidence that she will make good on these campaign promises. (Source: Jim Merlino, Lamm Campaign, Interview with Raj Chohan July 26)

"SO I'LL DO SOMETHING ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND FIGHT TO GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ"

These again, are campaign promises. For more information on what Lamm has in mind, check out Lamm's Web site.

Here's where the Lamm ad begins its attack.

"UNLIKE MY OPPONENT, I'M NOT AN INSIDER.

Peggy Lamm certainly has established an independent record during her tenure in the Colorado legislature. But to suggest she's any less a political insider than her opponent Ed Perlmutter is a bit of a stretch. She's been a part of Colorado's political landscape for years. She's a member of one of the most influential political families in Colorado. And a simple look at her campaign donor list shows she has individual and commercial interests supporting her campaign. Here's a link to CampaignMoney.com, and Peggy Lamm's contributors in particular.

"HE'S IN THE POCKET OF BIG DEVELOPERS, WALMART, AND THE BIG OIL COMPANIES"

This set of claims needs some unpacking. The Lamm camp makes the claim about big developers because Ed Perlmutter has done legal work through his law firm for companies like Oakwood Homes. Perlmutter also has friends and relatives in the real estate development and homebuilding business. Perlmutter's law firm also has numerous commercial clients including energy companies. As can been reviewed from Perlmutter's donors, a number of real estate and commercial interests including builders and executives from energy companies have contributed to Perlmutter's campaign.

Here's a similar link to Ed Perlmutter's donors.

The argument the Lamm campaign makes is one of guilt by association. They also claim Perlmutter is or was a member of COGA, that's the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. I called Greg Schnacke, exec v.p. of COGA. He said Ed Perlmutter was never a member of COGA, but that Ed did sponsor legislation that COGA supported, regarding the land royalties issue. The bill in question is Colorado Senate Bill 02-141.

What the Lamm ad does not raise, is Perlmutter's legislative history of supporting renewable energy, mass transit and responsible growth. In fact Perlmutter's legislative work earned him an endorsement by the influential League of Conservation Voters. Here's the endorsement from the group's Web site.

WASHINGTON, DC - The League of Conservation Voters (LCV), the independent political voice for the environment, today announced its endorsement of former State Senator Ed Perlmutter for Congress in the 7th District of Colorado, praising his long commitment and proven leadership on an impressive variety of environmental and conservation issues.

"LCV is proud to endorse Ed Perlmutter who we see as an unabashed environmental champion in the United States Congress," said LCV Political Director Tony Massaro. "He knows well that the key to reinvigorating America's economy is the protection of our existing resources and a sustained effort to develop and market new and renewable forms of energy. Ed Perlmutter knows it's American ingenuity and the American work ethic that will solve our energy challenges."

While a legislator, Mr. Perlmutter, a Trustee of the Midwest Research Institute that operates the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, led efforts to approve Colorado's groundbreaking renewable energy initiative as well as helping fashion the approval of a state ballot initiative to dramatically expand the mass transit system in the Denver Metro area. In 2003, he also was at the forefront of the successful effort to defeat "Referendum A," that would have spent billions on counterproductive water projects.

In 2002, Mr. Perlmutter received a 92 percent rating from the Colorado Conservation Voters.

"I am very proud of my long record of fighting for the environment, open space and renewable energy. I plan to take that fight to Congress," said Perlmutter. "We must change our conservation priorities in our Country and have the political courage to do the right thing for our children and grandchildren's future. I am honored to receive LCV's endorsement and I look forward to working with the conservation community when elected to Congress."

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Regarding the Lamm campaign claim that Ed Perlmutter is in the pockets of Walmart. Ed Perlmutter said he's never done work for Walmart. His only connection to Walmart is through his father's cousin, who was part of a land sale in Westminster to Walmart. Again, its a guilt by association argument, and seems unfair to suggest that this family relationship implies Ed Perlmutter is in Walmart's pocket.

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