Are Liberals Shaking Down Defense Contractors?

Gary L. Bauer
American Values

Hagel's nomination is in trouble, and uber-lobbyist Tony Podesta has been called in to rescue it. If that name sounds familiar it should. Tony Podesta is John Podesta's brother. John Podesta was Bill Clinton's White House Chief of Staff, ran Barack Obama's transition team and now leads the left-wing, Soros-funded Center for American Progress.

Breitbart.com reports that Tony Podesta's lobbying firm is making calls to defense contractors to raise money for ads backing Hagel's nomination.

Let's imagine how that conversation might go. "You know, budget cuts are on the table and if you don't chip in to defend the president's nominee, your company may not get that contract renewed." Just one more example of the left's hardball tactics.

But wait, there's more. The Daily Caller reports that Bill Benter, a big donor to Media Matters and the left-wing, anti-Israel group J Street, is also part of the pro-Hagel ad campaign.