Stenberg accuses Bruning of being in politics to enrich himself
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State Treasurer Don Stenberg came out swinging today, taking shots at the GOP frontrunner in the race for the U.S. Senate by accusing Attorney General Jon Bruning of being in politics to enrich himself and awarding a $100,000 grant in an attempt to buy influence with a politically powerful farm group. 
Stenberg’s comments came in response to questions during his press conference to formally announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Ben Nelson, who is retiring. Stenberg and Bruning are leading the Republican pack of five vying for their party’s nomination this spring.
Stenberg once again painted himself as the “genuine, lifelong conservative” in the race, disparaging Bruning for being a liberal Democrat while in law school and then running as a conservative for the Legislature three years later. Although Bruning has said his values and positions changed as he grew older, Stenberg said he didn’t see how someone could change his politics so drastically within a few years.
“Jon Bruning is a conservative of convenience,” Stenberg said.
He also accused Bruning of running for attorney general to “personally enrich himself,” referring to the news a few months ago that Bruning has become a multi-millionaire since being elected attorney general. According to Bruning’s financial disclosure forms, his investments tripled between 2007 and 2011. Stenberg said people should run for public office because they want to be public servants, not to get rich.
“That appears to be why he’s interested in public office,” Stenberg said of Bruning’s wealth.
Asked how Bruning could have gotten richer through his job as attorney general, Stenberg said the office is powerful, with the ability to file lawsuits over environmental, consumer protection and banking issues. So if Bruning approached a company about a business opportunity or investment, it would be hard for them to say “no,” Stenberg said.
While he said he wasn’t accusing Bruning of doing anything illegal, Stenberg said, “I think it’s inappropriate on its face.”
Stenberg was also critical of Bruning’s controversial $100,000 grant to an offshoot of the Nebraska Farm Bureau in December.
“To me it’s a transparent attempt by Jon Bruning to buy influence with the Nebraska Farm Bureau,” he said. But he doubted it would work.
Bruning’s campaign manager, Trent Fellers, said in response, “It’s unfortunate that after three failed runs for the United States Senate Don Stenberg is once again focusing his fourth Senate campaign on negative, false attacks. Jon Bruning is focused on overturning Obamacare, cutting spending, and balancing the federal budget.”
Stenberg is touring the state over the next two days, saying Washington needs a new direction “before the things that make America special are swept away buy this massive debt and irresponsible expansion of government.”
He said Congress is putting unnecessary and burdensome regulations on job creators and turning over much of the lawmaking function over to the “huge and growing bureaucracy.”
“We need a senator who will put the next generation ahead of the next election, and principle above political party and political ambition,” he said. “We need a problem solver, a straight shooter and a proven conservative whose values don’t change with the latest polling data.”
Stenberg said if elected, he will vote to repeal President Obama’s health care reform program, cut federal spending, reduce federal regulations, develop domestic energy and secure borders.
He said he supports term limits and would voluntarily limit himself to two terms.
“I want to go to Washington to serve my state and my country, not to climb the political ladder,” he said.
During the remainder of the campaign he pledged to crisscross Nebraska talking about his ideas.
“I won’t be reinventing myself or the things I believe,” he said. “I am not going to hide behind a slick, packaged campaign or the latest poll-tested sound bites.”
Of Nelson’s recent decision not to run for another term, Stenberg said he would have been a strong candidate. On former Sen. Bob Kerrey considering running on the Democratic ticket, Stenberg said he thinks Kerrey is too liberal and out of touch with Nebraska after having lived in New York for 10 years.
Stenberg said since Nelson dropped out of the race, he’s getting more calls returned and fundraising has substantially improved this quarter.
Reported by Deena Winter, deena@nebraskawatchdog.org
Follow @Deena_Winter
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Tags: Bob Kerrey, Deena Winter, Nebraska Watchdog, Stenberg accuses Bruning of enriching himself, Stenberg Bruning, U.S. Senate race Nebraska
11:19 am on January 10th, 2012
How many times has Don run for Senate? 4? 14? Yikes. If Nebraska Republicans have any interest in moving this seat to the R column they’ll avoid picking a three-tiime Senate loser.
11:34 am on January 10th, 2012
Oh happy, happy! Joy, joy! Let the cannibalism of the NEGOP US Senatorial Candidates begin as they start to devour each other. Hope they don’t choke on the bones (or rhetoric)! Stenberg, aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black? Fellers, you need to learn to lie to cover your boss’s backside better!
1:43 pm on January 10th, 2012
I wish Don hadn’t done this. I remember this issue and this powerful farm group I believe is the Farm Bureau, who I believe that just approved a most unbelievable move in government farm subsides.
That is they decided NOT to take subsides for the ethanol industry. Its an incredible move. No one in this turns down money from the federal government, but this industry did. Now there are other organizations I understand with this farm group and I believe some of them are going to need some funding to explain the reason why they chose this direction.
I hope them much success so as to be an example for all kinds of industry.
1:55 pm on January 10th, 2012
Of course Stenberg will vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, that fossil is already eligible for Medicare so what does he care if half his constituency have NO Health Care coverage? He’s been sucking off the Government teat for his superior to the average American’s Government Employee Health Insurance for how many decades? F*cking hypocrites, both him AND Bruning!!
2:21 pm on January 10th, 2012
Don is and always has been a negative guy. Not the kind of person Nebraskans will send to Washington. At least you can count on Bruning to have a little courage and not look to others for his marching orders.
11:26 pm on January 10th, 2012
It’s clear that Don is desperate and resorting to vicious negative attacks. His negative campaigning not only speaks to the fabric of his character, but how he will represent Nebraska in Washington. Perhaps it’s time for the Republicans in the party to ask Don to step aside and not seek the senate nomination. To me he’s no better than Ben Nelson.
12:30 am on January 11th, 2012
Let these two GOP pukes continue to embarrass their party of hate -or what ever it stands for anymore. I’ll take a Democrat any day.
10:49 am on January 11th, 2012
Don “dead man walking” Stenberg has been running unsuccessfully for US Senate for at least a quarter of a century. He’s doing so again. Maybe Don ought to try working as State Treasurer for a couple of terms since that represents his highest level of incompetence. Even with lots of outside help…since he has so little in-state support…Don will be losing yet another senate primary race. Take the hint Don…just go away.
11:40 am on January 11th, 2012
This is so tired. Don attacking another fellow Republican. Don did this to Hagel in 96, did it to everyone in 2000, did it to Ricketts in 06, now Bruning in 12. Don is an old tired attack dog. It didn’t work then, it won’t work now.
4:26 pm on January 11th, 2012
Deb Fischer looks like the adult in the race when compared to Don and Jon who act like children
5:07 pm on January 11th, 2012
Everyone complaining about Dear Old Don. Eventhough I can’t stand him, he really pegged Bruning on this one. Bruning is a hustler/pimp/fake. Republican should be blocked from elections for a generation so they can figure out how represent voters and not super-pacs.
5:22 pm on January 11th, 2012
Primaries can be tough at times and hard hitting. That’s how it should be as long as candidates stick to facts. I say good luck to all the Republican candidates, keep it clean and stand by your principles. The fact here is that both Stenberg and Bruning agree on many of the same things: less government, lower taxes, pro-life, private sector and less intrusive regulation. These are the things Nebraskans are asking for and they’ll vote for the one who they believe can deliver and who’ll represent Nebraska values. So the next curious question is who can the Democrats put up who’ll deliver what Nebraskan’s overwhelmingly are calling for? Cue the “Cricket” ….