Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) alleged that a "vendetta against Elmo" is motivating Republican attacks on the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
"I believe they use deficit reduction as an excuse to carry out political vendettas," said the California Democrat. "We fund fifteen percent of public broadcasting, but now they want to zero it out. A vedetta. Against Elmo."
The remarks come in the wake of a spending cut proposal introduced by House Republicans targeting PBS for elimination along with other programs.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) recently sought to explain conservative efforts to defund the organization.
"Make no mistake, public broadcasting's furry friends are political animals," he said taking aim at the "Muppet Lobby" in a statement. "Elmo has been particularly busy. Elmo has testified before Congress about the need for more funding for the arts and participated in other press conferences to increase spending on public broadcasting. Elmo even went on the lecture circuit last year with Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genochowski to promote government-funded broadband Internet."
According to the South Carolina senator, "Inside the Beltway, Sesame Street turns into K Street and Elmo is a lobbyist."
Boxer also suggested Republicans hold "vendetta[s]" against health care and clean energy.
"I believe they use deficit reduction as an excuse to carry out political vendettas," said the California Democrat. "We fund fifteen percent of public broadcasting, but now they want to zero it out. A vedetta. Against Elmo."
The remarks come in the wake of a spending cut proposal introduced by House Republicans targeting PBS for elimination along with other programs.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) recently sought to explain conservative efforts to defund the organization.
"Make no mistake, public broadcasting's furry friends are political animals," he said taking aim at the "Muppet Lobby" in a statement. "Elmo has been particularly busy. Elmo has testified before Congress about the need for more funding for the arts and participated in other press conferences to increase spending on public broadcasting. Elmo even went on the lecture circuit last year with Federal Communications Chairman Julius Genochowski to promote government-funded broadband Internet."
According to the South Carolina senator, "Inside the Beltway, Sesame Street turns into K Street and Elmo is a lobbyist."
Boxer also suggested Republicans hold "vendetta[s]" against health care and clean energy.
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