http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/25/Extortion-Author-Fires-Back-At-Boehner-s-Office-Over-Toll-Booth-Controversy'Extortion' Author Fires Back at Boehner's Office over 'Toll Booth' Controversy
25 Oct 2013, 10:02 AM PDT
Government Accountability Institute (GAI) President and Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large Peter Schweizer fired back at House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) office on Thursday over disparaging comments Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck made about Schweizer and the revelations in his new book, Extortion: How Politicians Extract Your Money, Buy Votes, and Line Their Own Pockets.
On Thursday, the National Journal reported Buck blasted Schweizer over his book’s allegations that Boehner bagged over $200,000 in donations from executives and companies days prior to holding votes on three bills of critical importance to their industries. Schweizer says Boehner used a Beltway tactic known to Washington insiders as the “toll booth” to extract the donations before allowing the bills to “move down the legislative highway.”
Buck lashed out at Schweizer, saying, “He should probably read ‘Congress for Dummies’ before he starts making bogus and salacious claims to sell books.”
In a Thursday night appearance on Lou Dobbs Tonight, Schweizer fired back at Buck.
“He [Buck] started that statement by saying I don’t understand what goes on in Washington. The reality is that I do understand what goes on in Washington,” said Schweizer. “What the Speaker’s office and what his spokesman wants us to believe is that votes are held on certain days and the fact that, say, 35 checks from a single company show up on the contribution list of the Speaker of the House the day before that vote is organized is just coincidence. And that this just happens repeatedly is just coincidence.”
Dobbs, who said he plans to have Schweizer back for a second segment on Extortion Friday night, called the book’s revelations “explosive.”
“This is ugly, nasty stuff,” said Dobbs.
Schweizer also told Dobbs that over half of executives donate to political campaigns out of fear.
“It’s protection money,” said Schweizer. “The sad reality is that the lawmaking and moneymaking are going hand-in-hand in Washington,” said Schweizer.
Schweizer added, “They’re able to use money that they raise, not only to win elections and to gain power, but to go to sporting events, go to 5-star resorts, rent limousines—all the sorts of things they can’t do with regular campaign funds.”
Dobbs said on Friday night he will have Schweizer discuss revelations from his book involving President Barack Obama and the executive branch.
Dobbs joined the likes of Gov. Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, and even the New York Times in recommending Extortion.
“We recommend Peter’s book to you highly--a terrific book,” said Dobbs.
