Who’s behind ads attacking Haaland?

MAIL FOR CD1 Democrats includes a blatantly misleading mailer from “Forward Not Back” attacking congressional candidate Deb Haaland, supposedly from (the) left, as a puppet of political elites. One example: Haaland is accused of “living in housing owned by her political donor.” Sounds terrible, right? Until you learn her “political donor” is her significant other with whom she lives and who had the nerve to contribute to her campaign, thus transforming him into her evil “donor” for this dishonest political mailer.

Similarly, she “failed to address a sexual misconduct claim involving a political official.” As an active Democratic woman who chaired state Democrats that would be just horrible! But the individual who made the claim earlier this month in a press conference and in the news never actually bothered to report it to Haaland! That is noted in the news stories.

Forward Not Back has a website with just one page and no attribution or contact information whatsoever. So what is a voter to do?

Look on Open Secrets: According to FEC data compiled on opensecrets.org, Forward Not back is a Super Pac based in North Carolina with $1 million in the bank as of April 30, $550,000 of which has been raised from just five big money donors in New York, Chicago, Alabama and Kansas.

Search the Internet: Despite appearing to attack Haaland from the left, this super PAC is part of a network of five super PACs that have only attacked strong Democrats and supported Republicans and conservative Democrats, according to an investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times. and additional coverage in Splinter . ... Don’t trust me, but don’t be fooled by blatant political manipulation by wealthy donors hiding behind misleading ads. And pay attention if this group or its allies and donors turn out to be supporting a candidate in CD1: You may need to know who he or she is really representing if they get to Congress.

I’ve known Haaland since we were in law school at UNM together from 2003-06. ... I know her to be honorable, determined and a real advocate for women, Native Americans, working people and an honest political system. She’s the real deal. Don’t be suckered. AARON B. EZEKIEL Albuquerque