Two Congressional Republicans today blasted those RNC fundraising mailers that appear made to look like official Census Bureau communications. “Nothing could be more wrong,” said one.
During a hearing of the House Oversight committee, which is looking into the mailers, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) declared: “I am obviously a member of the Republican Party. I have seen the Republican Party send out documents that say ‘census.’ I think it’s wrong, I think it’s deceptive, and I wish they wouldn’t do it. I would hope our party would cease from doing that.”
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) said tactics could “lead to a lower census count,” by confusing people. “Nothing could be more wrong,” he added.
A recent RNC mailer, obtained by TPMmuckraker, said on the envelope: “PROCESS IMMEDIATELY — 2010 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENSUS ENCLOSED,” and, “DO NOT DESTROY — OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.” Inside, a letter from RNC chair Michael Steele told recipients: “I have authorized a Census [note the upper-case ‘C’] to be conducted of every Congressional District in the country. Enclosed is your official 2010 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENSUS registered CODE…” That mailer followed other very similar mailers from the RNC.
In response, an RNC spokesman told TPMmuckraker in an emailed statement last week: “The document clearly indicates that it is an RNC mailer. The purpose of this document is to gather Republican opinion from across the country, while also raising funds vital for electoral success in November.”
Watch…Issa’s comments come after around 11 minutes, and Chaffetz’s come at the 19:11 mark: