News · Press Release

McSally Continues Troubling Pattern of Dodging Issues, Hiding, and Avoiding Transparency

As a newly minted member of Congress, Martha McSally is continuing her bad habit of avoiding the press. Throughout last campaign, McSally continually avoided the media, refused to take position on key issues, and generally left Arizonans in the dark. As a Congresswoman, she is continuing this shameful practice.

“As long as Martha McSally is being paid by the taxpayers of Arizona, she has a responsibility to be open and transparent,” said Matt Thornton of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Voters will not look kindly on being shut out as Congresswoman McSally tries to conduct business as usual in Washington DC.

Rep. McSally Hiding From Constituents & Reporters:

Arizona Republic Shut Out Of McSally Meetings With Constituents, Veterans’ Representative. “To thank them for their service, Maj. Gen. Robert Ashley of Fort Huachuca presented each lawmaker separately with a dinner-plate-size Army seal and letter of appreciation on a visit to Washington. . . . Ashley also met with McSally, but The Republic wasn’t there to observe it. McSally’s office did not make her available to talk or provide access to meetings with constituents.” [Arizona Republic, 3/7/15]

Douglas Dispatch Editorial Slammed McSally For Shutting Out Media, Holding Closed Events. “In three of the four meetings, [McSally] has held since being elected, the media was only spoon fed information about those gathering after the event. This isn’t the type of communication you would expect from a newly elected official who we hoped had a streak of independence outside of Washington politics. It’s difficult to be transparent when sit-downs with constituents are closed to the media. We’re told that people will talk freely if the media is not present. That may be true, but all citizens have a right to know what’s being asked and how the congresswoman truly views an issue. That is difficult to do if the meetings are closed to the media. Several Douglas residents have expressed some frustration about not knowing the Congresswoman was coming to Douglas and not being allowed to talk to her about concerns they may have had. We would hope the next time McSally comes to Douglas more local residents will be provided the opportunity to talk to her and the media will have more access than what has been provided in recent weeks.” [Editorial, Douglas Dispatch, 2/18/15]

McSally Refused To Take A Position On Clean DHS Funding Bill. “McSally won’t say whether she would support a clean funding bill. McSally spokesman Patrick Ptak told the Weekly today that the office is ‘monitoring closely to see how the Senate will act since the House has passed a DHS funding bill and will keep you updated.’” [Tucson Weekly, 2/25/15]

Campaign Flashback:

The Arizona Republic: “Martha McSally won’t answer border questions.” [The Arizona Republic9/30/14]

Stu Rothenberg: “I shouldn’t have to guess, and McSally’s refusal to give an answer raises some disquieting questions about her and her campaign.” [Roll Call11/4/13]

The Tucson Weekly: “For all her talk about leadership, however, McSally has been notoriously slippery on her positions…she said she couldn’t take positions on pending legislation because she didn’t have a staff that could explain the bills to her… When she does take a stand on issues, it’s often in areas where she appears to have reversed an earlier position.” [The Tucson Weekly9/17/14]

Metro Week: “She’s very slippery on some of these issues…She’s taken positions in the 2012 election that she is reversing herself on.” [Arizona Public Media, 8/29/14]

Politico: “McSally declined to say whether she would’ve voted for the deal to reopen the government.” [Politico6/9/14]

Washington Examiner“…McSally doesn’t show much command of political issues. “I’m not an expert,” she said when asked by the Washington Examiner what she thought caused the financial crisis of 2008. Questioned about what she might present as her first piece of legislation if elected, McSally didn’t have an answer.” [Washington Examiner, 4/4/14]

OZY: “Wasn’t Comfortable Talking Policy” and “Avoid[ed] Stating A Firm Position” on Immigration Reform. [Ozy, 2/5/14]

Arizona Capitol Times: McSally Has Been “Reluctant to Take Solid Stances on Current Issues.” [Arizona Capitol Times, 11/26/13]

The Arizona Republic: Facing Questions About the Government Shutdown, McSally “Wouldn’t Take a Stand Despite Multiple Requests.” [The Arizona Republic, 10/7/13]

KVOA: “The moderator did press McSally for an answer on that question. I tried to catch up with her after the debate, but she left before I got the chance.” [KVOA7/26/14]

Tucson Weekly: “Republican Martha McSally has an impressive résumé but has been too slippery on too many issues and we don’t know where she really stands on much of anything besides getting Martha McSally elected to Congress.” [Tucson Weekly, 10/30/14]

 





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