Climate activists are targeting Google for backing Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) over his stance on climate change.
Forecast the Facts, an environmental group, ran a full-page ad in The Reader of Omaha, Neb., on Wednesday calling for Google to pull its support for Terry.
{mosads}The ad quotes Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, who last month criticized the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) for “just literally lying” about climate change. Next to that is a quote from a liberal Nebraska group calling Terry the “No. 1 climate denier.”
“Why is Google supporting Lee Terry’s bid for Congress?” the ad asks. “Tell Google to drop Terry.”
Forecast the Facts cited Federal Election Commission records that Google’s political action committee has given $15,000 to Terry’s campaign since 2008.
This year, Google’s political action committee contributed $3,500 to Terry’s campaign, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Terry is the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on commerce, which has broad jurisdiction over data security, the Federal Trade Commission and other issues.
The chairmanship has made Terry a popular recipient of cash from the tech industry, among other sectors.
Comcast, AT&T, Facebook and the Consumer Electronics Association have all given thousands of dollars this election cycle.