Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) Takes Billionaire's Money To Oppose Keystone Over the Wishes Of Voters

With all the bashing of the Koch Brothers coming from Senate Democrats its a wonder why they don't criticize Senator Mark Udall (D-CO). The latest poll of Coloradans reports that two-thirds of voters want the Keystone pipeline built, but thanks to California billionaire Tom Steyer donating to his reelection campaign, Senator Udall who represents energy producing state Colorado has decided to oppose the the pipeline.

Steyer, has made no secret of the fact that he would funnel at least $100 million support candidates who make climate change and opposing Keystone, a key issue on the 2014 midterms. Steyer is hosted a “Blue Green Council Dinner” fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at his San Francisco home in February. One of the Democrats showing up to kiss the anti-energy ring was Marc Udall.

No that Udall is getting away with it, American Commitment, a national advocacy group with over 1,800 Colorado members, is launching ad campaign targeting Udall’s opposition to the Keystone Pipeline—and his apparent motivation, San Francisco hedge fund kingpin Tom Steyer's money.

“Mark Udall sold out his Colorado constituents by choosing a San Francisco billionaire over jobs and affordable energy for Colorado,” said Phil Kerpen, president of American Commitment. “Mark Udall is the only energy state Democrat to pick Tom Steyer over the very constituents who sent him to Washington to represent their interests. Mark Udall’s vote against the pipeline last year was a vote against Colorado, and his recent conspicuous refusal to join other energy state Democrats on a letter supporting the pipeline shows Udall continues to choose his billionaire California backer over his Colorado constituents."

The new ad, titled “Colorado Steyer Infection” opens with the narrator outlining Mark Udall’s cozy relationship with Tom Steyer: “California Billionaire Tom Steyer is bankrolling Colorado Senator Mark Udall’s campaign. Steyer even hosted Udall for a fundraiser in his San Francisco mansion.”
Narrator: “But Steyer’s hurt our state. He tried to make millions by diverting water from southern Colorado. When local residents spoke out, Steyer’s partners pushed statewide ballot initiatives to ‘bankrupt’ local opponents and ‘steal San Luis Valley water.’”
Narrator: “Now Mark Udall is helping Steyer kill the Keystone Pipeline…even though Coloradans strongly support it.”
Narrator, quoting a press release shown on screen from union president Sean McGarvey: “Pipeline delay is a victory for Tom Steyer, but ‘a cold slap in the face of American workers.’”
The ad concludes, “Call Mark Udall: Tell him to put Colorado ahead of his billionaire backer and support the Keystone Pipeline.”

The ad is embedded below: