Democratic State Senator Alan Lowenthal called an informal press conference in Long Beach Wednesday to address the recent television ads purchased by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which accuse Lowenthal of being anti-business.
Lowenthal responded to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s ads—which feature a scowling Lowenthal and claims that his bills are “job killers”—by showing off his supporters from the Long Beach business community. On hand were Betty Jo Toccoli, President of the California Small Business Association, Luis Navarro, owner of Lola’s Mexican Cuisine and Rand Foster, owner of Fingerprints. All of these business owners endorsed Lowenthal for Congress.
“I was really taken back when a generic ad from Minnesota began to attack me,” said Lowenthal, who is running for congress in the newly redrawn 47th District. “Someone who knows nothing about the Long Beach community and has never been here…began to attack me as anti-business.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce purchased the anti-Lowenthal ad as well as others against other Democratic candidates in eight California districts where both parties are vying for seats that will determine who controls the House this fall. The ad states that Lowenthal has chosen “more government, more taxes, more regulations, and more pain for California businesses.” The ads the Chamber purchased in the other districts are similar and seem to just replace candidate names.
Before the press conference started, Noel Fristch from the Gary DeLong campaign was handing out fliers that listed questions and statistics against Lowenthal’s track record. And there was a terribly awkward moment, when Noel Fritsch and Mike Shimpock introduced each other. Shimpock asked for one of Fritsch’s fliers and said, “Your campaign hasn’t been interested in the truth.”
Lowenthal defended his record with businesses in California, stating that his bills haven’t been ‘job killers,’ but that he believes environmental regulations and economic stimulation could exist together. He cited his support from Maersk Inc. and Long Beach based Telecommunications Company.
However, Lowenthal wasn’t there to attack his opponent, Gary DeLong.
“I think it’s just inexcusable that this outside group has come in to attack me,” said Lowenthal. “And I hope people won’t pay attention to it.”
According to Lowenthal, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $300,000 on the ads in opposition to Lowenthal’s campaign. He called the effort an attempt by outside interest groups to buy a local election.
“I just feel like they’re attacking the chamber endorsement,” Fritsch said in response to Lowenthal’s claims. “Our position is that the chamber endorsement is a clear signal from the business community, including the small-business community, that they know who is going to Washington D.C. to represent their interests.”