Dems Playing Both Sides of Foreign Donations

This may be a case of “those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Last week, a group of 16 Democratic senators, led by Al Franken (pictured) of Minnesota, sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission cheering the FEC’s move to consider a new rule governing foreign companies’ purchase of political ads, The Hill reports.

Democrats’ activism on the issue stems from recent reports that businesses based overseas are providing money to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its political ads on behalf of Republicans.

But every senator who signed the letter except Franken has received donations from subsidiaries of companies based overseas.

Those 15 include Barbara Boxer of California, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Patty Murray of Washington, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.