The Obama re-election effort continues to steamroll over the political reputation of Boulder Congressman Jared Polis. Last week, President Obama blistered insider trading in Congress in the State of the Union, of which Congressman Jared Polis is accused of doing. This week, Obama's campaign Policy Director, James Kvaal, rubs further salt in the wound, slamming politicians writ-large for doing exactly what Jared Polis is accused of doing — making investments based on confidential Congressional information.
Kvaal opens the Obama campaign email saying:
Right now, members of Congress can make personal investment decisions based on confidential information they get in the course of regulating industries and doing their work.
It's kind of unbelievable that this isn't already illegal.
Having the President of your own party highlight allegations against you can't feel very good.
Polis has been engaged in a heated back-and-forth with Peter Schweizer, an investigative reporter who wrote a book called "Throw Them All Out" where he accuses a bipartisan troupe of Congressional representatives of insider trading, including Polis. (Read more about his allegations against Polis here)
60 Minutes followed up on Schweizer's reporting, airing coverage of the allegations on November 13. Through the book and reporting, Schweizer hoped to see something along the lines of the STOCK Act, which would ban insider trading in Congress.
It wasn't until 3 days after the 60 minutes piece that Polis signed on as a co-sponsor of the STOCK Act. Curious timing, eh?
Continued coverage of these allegations is not good news for Jared Polis.
With the Obama campaign using these allegations against members of Congress to boost the President's re-election prospects, Jared Polis better watch out.