Controversial rancher Cliven Bundy recently hosted a reunion to celebrate his reckless and illegal armed standoff with Bureau of Land Management officials last year. The event provided a stark reminder that Congressman Hardy – who defended his old friend repeatedly – still has not distanced himself from Bundy or apologized for his own litany of offensive remarks. In today’s front page National Journal story, Hardy’s top political advisor made it clear just how worried their campaign is when he completely made up that there’s no “valid connection” between the two.
But that’s not true. Congressman Hardy and Cliven Bundy are two peas in a pod – and team Hardy knows it.
The facts:
- Hardy continued to support Bundy’s armed standoff months after it happened.
- Bundy asserted that “the Negro” may have been better off during slavery.
- Hardy stood by his friend after Bundy’s abhorrent racist rant.
- Hardy grew up with Bundy and said he was in touch with him even after the standoff.
- Hardy said he had been meeting with Bundy for years before standoff.
- Hardy said the Federalist Papers are part of the Constitution, and they gave Bundy the authority not to follow laws. The Federalist Papers are not part of the Constitution.
- Hardy compared the Employee Non Discrimination Act to segregation.
- Hardy defended and actually expanded on Romney’s infamous “47 percent” comments.
- Hardy said he didn’t think Nevada’s 4th district was winnable because it was a “minority district.”
“Congressman Hardy’s top political advisor has been caught trying to hide the truth from voters about the troubling connection between Hardy and Cliven Bundy,” said DCCC Communications Director Matt Thornton. “Unfortunately for the Congressman, hardworking Nevadans aren’t going to let him play fast and loose with the facts anymore.”