Did Carnahan even read the 1,200 page bill he voted for? That seems like a fair question, and one the voters in his district deserve to know the answer to.

But according to FOX News, when a reporter called to find out, Rude Russ’ staff hung up—twice. See the clip below:

Carnahan is completely out of touch with his district. Now, he is stubbornly (and rudely) refusing to answer any questions from families, businesses, or even the media. The people of Missouri’s 3rd District deserve better.

The full interview with David McArthur of McArthur’s Bakery, which is based in Carnahan’s district, can be seen here.

• The National Republican Campaign Committee is running hard-hitting radio ads in the 4^th Congressional District (audio here)
• The Marshfield Mail reports that local electric cooperatives predict skyrocketing electricity prices due to cap-and-trade
• The Buffalo Reflex criticizes Skelton for voting with Nancy Pelosi on this “nonsensical legislation”
• The Missouri Farm Bureau condemns cap-and-trade’s “hefty price tag”

Just as Skelton abandoned his district, national Democrats have deserted him now that the pressure is on.  The Washington Post is reporting that a coalition of liberal interest groups has launched deceptive television ads to whitewash the dire costs of the cap-and-trade legislation on behalf of 17 Democratic members of Congress across the country– Skelton is not among them.  He is receiving no help whatsoever.

The message from Pelosi to Skelton is clear: thanks for your help, but now you’re on your own.

JEFFERSON CITY—On Friday, Nancy Pelosi and Democrats in the United States House of Representatives will likely force vote on legislation that includes a massive hidden energy tax on Missouri families, farmers, and businesses. Buried in the 1,200+ page bill is language creating a “carbon cap-and-trade” scheme, which will drive up the price of energy, kill jobs, and act as a new tax on everyone who flips a light switch or drives a car. The Wall Street Journal today called it the “biggest tax in American history.”

“As our state faces the highest unemployment in a quarter-century, this massive energy tax comes at the worst possible time. We need to be creating jobs—not sending them overseas; lowering the cost of energy—not raising it; and reducing taxes—not increasing them,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “Missouri’s Republican representatives will stand united against Nancy Pelosi’s harmful new job-killing, price-raising tax. I sincerely hope that the Democratic members of the delegation—Russ Carnahan, Lacy Clay, Emanuel Cleaver, and Ike Skelton—will recognize the burden this legislation places upon so many Missouri families and businesses.”

“By supporting the cap-and-trade energy tax, Democrats will be directly attacking Missouri’s two largest industries—agriculture and tourism—along with every business in the state,” said Smith. “And if Democrats say yes to Nancy Pelosi, they will be turning their backs on families across Missouri who will see their energy rates skyrocket and their jobs disappear.”

Earlier this week, the Missouri Public Utility Alliance estimated that electric bills could increase by 82% by 2030, but the group stresses that this optimistic estimate.

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“If there was a ‘commonsense solution’ that would ‘decrease dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, and curb pollution’ without increasing energy prices, don’t you think someone would have found it by now?” asked Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “Make no mistake about it: Robin Carnahan and those running TV ads to help her candidacy support a destructive new energy tax on Missouri’s families and businesses, but she is trying to cloak her position in vague, overly-broad rhetoric. Missourians are dedicated to implementing new energy policies, but we will not support any proposal that burdens citizens with new taxes or excessive costs.”

This is not the first time Carnahan has attempted to shield her position from the public. Last week, when asked about President Obama’s dangerous pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility, Carnahan said that we should “get past” the issue.

“Her naïve and unrealistic statements—supporting a make-believe energy policy that appeases everyone and urging Americans to ‘get past’ Guantanamo Bay without actually solving the problem—exhibit a startling lack of understand of today’s most important issues,” said Smith. “It is clear that Robin Carnahan is not ready for the United States Senate.”

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Robin Carnahan’s on the energy tax proposal, according to the St. Louis Beacon: “On energy legislation, Robin is hopeful that the Congress will get this finished and get it right this year. She hopes they can work together to find a commonsense solution to promote alternative energy and help decrease dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, and curb pollution – without sticking consumers with the bill.”

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“Robin Carnahan is hiding behind a radical environmental organization determined to burden Missourians with a stealth energy tax under the guise of a carbon cap-and-trade scheme,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “The League of Conservation Voters might take down their false attack ad if pressured by Carnahan. But her refusal to condemn this group or their ads can only lead to the conclusion that she too supports massive new hidden job-killing taxes on Missouri’s families and businesses.”

Despite their hollow claims to the contrary, the League of Conservation Voters is clearly engaging in Washington-style attack politics aimed at Roy Blunt’s campaign for U.S. Senate.  From the St. Louis Beacon: “But a League spokesman said the ad buy — which so far is close to $100,000 — is aimed at Blunt’s current job, not his hoped-for-future one. The ad is running on TV stations in St. Louis, Kansas City and Blunt’s home turf in Springfield, Mo., said league spokesman Josh McNeil.”

“Perhaps Robin Carnahan’s surrogate spokesman Josh McNeil is in need of a lesson in Missouri geography,” said Smith. “Despite his disingenuous claim that the attack ad is only intended to reach voters in Roy Blunt’s home district, the League of Conservation voters is spending $100,000 to air it in places like Kansas City and St. Louis—well outside of the 7th Congressional district’s boundaries. It is obvious that this Washington group is doing Robin Carnahan’s dirty work for her.”

Tom Carnahan is the president of the Wind Capital Group, one of the state’s largest wind energy developers, and he serves as the treasurer of Robin’s state campaign committee.

By his own admission, Tom Carnahan’s business is heavily dependent on federal tax credits for survival—and if elected, Robin would have the power to support lucrative deals that benefit his livelihood.  In a St. Joseph News-Press article, Carnahan called the tax credits “vitally important to the wind industry,” and admitted that he lobbied members of Congress for the credits (St. Joseph News-Press, January 25, 2008).

“Without federal tax credits, Tom Carnahan’s business would cease to exist,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “Robin Carnahan is seeking a position that would give her the power to literally make or break her brother’s business.  This is a clear conflict-of-interest, and one that she must immediately address.”