In 2008 Cassidy Stated “I Would Have Voted For” Wall Street Bailout, But In 2010 He Said He Opposed the Bailout
Trying To Mask Cassidy’s Record, His Spokesman Now Says, “His Verbal Support Was ‘Different Than A Vote'”

New Orleans, Louisiana – Hypocrisy Red Alert: as a candidate for Congress in 2008, Bill Cassidy stated without equivocation that he would have voted for the Wall Street bailout, which Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter both opposed. But in 2010, he told voters and the press that he opposed the bailout, and in a truly stunning attempt to mask his record, he now says through a spokesman that his explicit endorsement of the unpopular Wall Street bailout…doesn’t mean he would have actually voted for it.

Cassidy endorsed the unpopular Wall Street bailout during an October 2008 debate for the sixth-district congressional seat he now holds. When asked by the debate moderator to take a position on the bailout, otherwise known as TARP, Cassidy stated: “I would have voted for that bill. And it was for jobs. It was for small businesses, and it was for retirees.”

But in 2010 Cassidy said that he actually opposed the Wall Street bailout, at best a shameful flip-flop and at worst a flat-out lie.

And when the Washington Examiner asked Cassidy about his endorsement of the bailout in 2008, Cassidy’s spokesman responded by bizarrely standing by Cassidy’s 2008 debate endorsement, while implying that Cassidy might not have actually voted for the bailout had he been a member of Congress:

“A spokesperson for Cassidy said he stands by that statement today, but that his verbal support was ‘different than a vote.'”

That’s right. “His verbal support was ‘different than a vote.” Even Bill Cassidy’s own spokesperson admits his candidate can’t be trusted.

The fact of the matter is Bill Cassidy endorsed the Wall Street bailout in 2008, then lied to voters and the press in 2010 by falsely saying he opposed it, and is now trying desperately to dance around the issue in an attempt to further obscure his record and boost his political interests.

This also isn’t the first time Bill Cassidy has run away from his record. As numerous media reports have detailed, when he was a state senator Bill Cassidy tried to enact legislation amounting to “Obamacare lite” before voting to shut down the government in order to delay Obamacare reforms.

“Even Bill Cassidy’s own spokesperson admits his candidate can’t be trusted. Bill Cassidy endorsed the $700 billion Wall Street bailout in 2008, then seemingly lied to voters and the press in 2010 by falsely saying he opposed it, and is now trying desperately to dance around the issue in an attempt to further obscure his record and boost his political interests,”said Campaign for Louisiana Communications Director Andrew Zucker. “He can try running, but for Bill Cassidy there’s no hiding the fact that he endorsed the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, which did nothing for Louisiana families and was rejected by both Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter. Bill Cassidy’s transparent attempt to rewrite history and confuse Louisianians about his support for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout is the latest example of how he simply he can’t be trusted to fight for Louisiana families.”

BACKGROUND

IN A 2008 DEBATE, CASSIDY ENDORSED THE $700 BILLION BAILOUT OF BIG BANKS

2008: Cassidy Would Have Supported $700 Billion Financial Institution Bailout Bill To “Keep The Economy Afloat And Save Jobs.” “Cassidy said he would have supported the [financial] bailout bill, because it was needed to keep the economy afloat and save jobs.”  [The Advocate, 10/17/08]

Video: 10/13/08: Cassidy Said He Would Have Voted For TARP, Which He Said Was For “Jobs,” “Small Business,” And For “Retirees.” When asked for his position on the recently passed TARP financial bailout legislation, then State Sen. Cassidy said “I work in [inaudible] care hospital and I’ve worked there long enough to see several recessions. And I’ve seen in recessions that people lose jobs, people lose insurance – now I will treat anybody that comes to my hospital but I can promise you I’d rather they keep their job and keep their insurance and stay in the private sector. Make no mistake about it – we have a recession coming and government has to have the tools to address that. Yesterday a fellow walked across the street and said ‘hey, I’m praying for you.’ I said I appreciate that man this has been a little bit of a strain. And I said how can I pray for you. He says ‘my business cannot borrow money. We have a book it business now but we don’t know where it’s going.’ This is not about billions, this is about people in Baton Rouge keeping their jobs, keeping their benefits, able to expand their business and employ other people, and retirees keeping their ability not to go back to work. Now the bill had problems, but having said that, sometimes you gotta accept problems for the greater good. I would have voted for that bill. And it was for jobs. It was for small business, and it was for retirees.” [Louisiana 6th District Congressional Debate, 10/13/08, video]

Full Debate Video: http://c-spanvideo.org/program/Louisiana6

Cassidy segment at 19:21-20:30

2010: Cassidy Said He Opposed Financial Industry Bailout. Cassidy responded “No” to the following statement: “Supports taxpayer bailouts of the financial industry.” [Louisiana Family Forum 2010 Voter Guide, Accessed 8/1/13]

The Advocate: Cassidy Opposed Using Federal Money To Bail Out Wall Street Investors. In October 2010,The Advocate reported: “Cassidy opposed using federal dollars to bail out Wall Street investors and to stimulate the economy.” [The Advocate, 10/29/10]

2013: Cassidy’s Spokesman Said That He Stood By His Statement In Support Of TARP But That His Support Was “Different Than A Vote.” “‘The bill had problems, but having said that, sometimes you have to accept problems for the greater good,’ Cassidy said during the debate. ;’I would have voted for that bill. And it was for jobs. It was for small business, and it was for retirees.’ A spokesperson for Cassidy said he stands by that statement today, but that his verbal support was ‘different than a vote.’ ‘There are so many more issues that are prevalent in people’s minds,’ the spokesperson said.’” [The Examiner, 11/11/13]

THE TARP BAILOUT WAS REJECTED BY SENATORS LANDRIEU AND VITTER

Senator Mary Landrieu Voted Nay On TARP. [HR 3435, Roll Call Vote 213, passed 74-25, 8/1/08]

Senator David Vitter Voted Nay On TARP. [HR 3435, Roll Call Vote 213, passed 74-25, 8/1/08]

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