[img_assist|nid=1440|title=U.S. Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas)|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=304]The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday on a new independent political groups' efforts to discredit U.S. Rep. David Dreier's (R-San Dimas) claims that he is a moderate Republican.

According to the Times, the group Courage Campaign has launched an Internet-based ad campaign linking Dreier to the policies of the largely unpopular Bush administation, calling Dreier a "Bush rubber stamp."

Dreier appears safe from any serious challenge in the upcoming Congressional elections; he has a serious fundraising advantage over his Democratic opponent, Russ Warner, and he's currently sitting for his 14th term.

In spite of that, the paper reports that Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs as saying that Dreier could be vulnerable to defeat.

"This is goign to be a huge change year," said Jacobs, a blogger, entrepeneur and former California chairman for Howard Dean's 2004 White House run.

Dreier's folks, however, are dismissive of the ad and the Courage Campaign's message, calling it an "amateurish smear job," according to the Times. Read the full story here.