In a new mail piece sent out to voters in the 50th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) accuses Democratic opponent Nick Leibham of wanting "to serve pork to special interests on a silver platter."
 
The mailer claims that "Leibham is on the record, even in the last month, supporting taxpayer-funded giveaways for special interests and big business," citing as evidence Leibham's support for the recent Wall Street bailout package, the final version of which contained millions in pork barrel spending.
 
Inside the mail piece, Bilbray accuses Leibham of supporting numerous earmarks that wound up in the legislation, including $192 million in "a special giveaway to rum producers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands."

But Leibham Campaign Manager Alex Evans said the congressman has it wrong.
 
"Those earmarks were put in to satisfy Republicans after Bilbray voted against the rescue bill the first time," Evans said.
 
Evans added that Leibham has repeatedly stated that the bill was by no means perfect, but that the alternative of doing nothing was unacceptable and that’s why he ultimately endorsed it.

UPDATE: Bilbray campaign manager Kurt Bardella countered that the bill's earmarks were a key reason for opposing the legislation.

"Having pork in a bill like that undermines the credibility of calling it a crisis," Bardella said.

In addition, Bardella argued, the fact that the markets have not responded to the federal cash infusion goes to show "that throwing more money at the problem isn't going to solve it."

"At some point you have to address the actual problems and the system breakdowns that created this environment," Bardella added, "and that wasn't done [with this bill]."

ELSEWHERE on PolitickerCA.com:

• Retired general tries to set record straight for Bilbray
• Leibham pollster explains why Democrats can win CA-50