Greenberg again attacks Bean on financial ties, economy

Republican challenger Steve Greenberg continues to criticize U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean's ties to troubled financial companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - this time in a new TV ad.

In a spot set to start airing this week on cable stations in the suburban 8th District, Greenberg blames Bean, a two-term Democrat from Barrington, for the nation's economic woes, saying she and others in Congress did a poor job regulating the now-infamous firms at the heart of the mortgage crisis.

Greenberg, a first-time candidate from Long Grove, is trying to persuade voters the campaign contributions Bean has received from the financial industry and finance-related legislation she's supported make her at least partially culpable for the current economic woes.

Federal Election Commission records show Bean, a member of the House's financial services committee, has received campaign cash from political action groups representing Freddie Mac and other firms in the financial sector during the current campaign.

Bean spokesman Jonathan Lipman called the attacks "baseless."

"He's accused Congresswoman Bean of everything short of causing the Chicago Fire," Lipman said in a one-paragraph, e-mailed statement. "If he's not prepared to talk about his extreme positions on issues like choice, social security, and global warming, then he should stop talking."

Lipman declined to comment further.

The TV spot, also viewable at youtube.com, is Greenberg's second of the campaign. The first ad also sniped at Bean and focused on economic matters.

In contrast, neither of Bean's two network TV pieces has mentioned Greenberg. They're available at youtube.com, too.

Greenberg campaign manager Collin Corbett declined to say how much the GOP hopeful's new ad cost.

Bean's TV spots have been on network television throughout the Chicago area and each have been in the six-figure price range, her spokesman said.

The 8th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.