Today, a right-wing smear group calling itself Americans for Prosperity began running television attacks on Congresswoman Giffords in the Tucson media market.

The new ad attacking Giffords appears to show everyday citizens expressing opposition to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.  However at least one of these “ordinary Arizonans” is an elite Republican operative who has been a long-time Kelly supporter.

Jennifer Leslie is Tucson District Coordinator for leading Republican political blog Smart Girl Politics:http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/profile/JenniferLeslie,  http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/group/arizonasgp.

Leslie is featured in the Americans for Prosperity ad criticizing Giffords. But this is not the first time this elite political operative has stepped up to support Kelly.

In April, Leslie attended an event at Kelly’s campaign office and was all smiles with a Kelly campaign staffer.

Leslie is also a “fan” of Kelly on facebook. She took the time to share excitement about filming the ad on Kelly’s facebook page.

Americans for Prosperity purports to be a grassroots citizens’ movement. It is actually the front group for billionaire oil magnate David Koch. Koch is well known for his award-winning success in sending American jobs to China and funneling millions of dollars into campaigns to privatize Social Security.

“After years of gouging Americans with high gas prices, oil billionaire David Koch has plowed his profits into a rightwing smear campaign against anyone who stands up for the middle class,” said Giffords for Congress campaign manager Rodd McLeod.  “Jesse Kelly and his political operatives are embracing a group that sends jobs to China and wants to privatize Social Security.  We can all see who is pulling Mr. Kelly’s strings.”

Over the past 25 years, the Koch Family Foundation has funneled $132 million into right-wing attack groups, including Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks. This election cycle, Americans for Prosperity is running a multi-million dollar TV advertising campaign attacking those who oppose outsourcing jobs and privatizing Social Security and Medicare.

Koch Industries and its subsidiaries have led the way in shipping jobs overseas to China and India; one even had the distinction of winning the 2006 Outsourcing Center and Forbes Magazine ‘Outsourcing Excellence Award’ in recognition of their work effectively sending American jobs to China.

Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only person in Congress with an active duty military spouse. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our military and veterans and creates jobs by investing in solar energy.

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