Al Green, Bill Owens and the NRCC

Nathaniel Sillin, regional press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, just sent this email out to the press:

I’m so in love with you… whatever you want to do… it's alright with me… I’ll never be untrue… let’s stay together… or at least that’s what Bill Owens and his House Democrat colleagues sang to President Obama on Friday during their taxpayer funded retreat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Yup, that actually happened. American Idol – Congress edition. Friday afternoon House Democrats recorded a rendition of Al Green’s love song – Let’s Stay Together and gave it to the President before he spoke to the gathering. Enterprising reporters should ask Owens if part of his official office budget - taxpayer money – went to fund a recording of House Democrats serenading the President with a love song.

Sillin also included this comment: “Bill Owens may think it’s fun and games to serenade the President with love songs, but it’s no laughing matter. Owens’ blind support for President Obama and his job-crushing policies shows just how drastically out of touch he is with the values and needs of his constituents.”

You can read into that however you want, but I did exactly what Sillin suggested and contacted Owens' office to find out if "part of his official office budget" went toward making that recording.

"If the question is did Bill use office budget money to record an Al Green cover song, the answer is no," was the prompt response I received from Owens spokesman Sean Magers.

Not only that, but Owens didn't even go on the retreat, according to Magers.

"Bill has better things to do with his office budget -- like return it to the treasury -- which is why he returned more than 15 percent ($230,000) of his budget last year to pay down the deficit," Magers said.

So there's that. But I will say this: The press releases put out by the Democratic and Republican congressional campaign committees are always fun, and Sillin did include this link to "Let's Stay Together" as performed by Al Green. Enjoy!