The American Future Fund is going to be running ads supporting Blue Dogs and their efforts to kill the public option:

The American Future Fund, a conservative group, has just announced a national television campaign defending the Blue Dogs, including Peterson. The Minnesota script, which starts, "Is our congressman, Collin Peterson, brain dead?" refers to Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., who recently called the Blue Dogs "brain dead" and beholden to insurance companies.

In fact, the Blue Dog Political Action Committee has raked in more than $1.1 million for the 2010 election cycle, the most of any other leadership PAC on Capitol Hill, according to CQ MoneyLine. About $300,000 of that came from health care interests.

The American Future Fund is a 501(c)4 nonprofit that does not have to reveal its funding source and is not governed by the FEC.  Key players in the group include GOP operatives like media strategist Larry McCarthy, the Ailes Communications veteran who produced the Willie Horton ad for George H.W. Bush.    Last year the AFF ran an ad against Al Franken which triggered a complaint to the FEC from the Minnesota Democratic-Farm-Labor Party, saying the ad constituted electoral advocacy and was outside the bounds of what a nonprofit is allowed to do. The FEC found that there was no violation.

The pro-Blue Dog ads will also run in the districts of Mike Ross and Baron Hill, as well as in Washington DC. Text of the ad:

Is our Congressman Collin Peterson brain dead?  It’s a serious question. One  of the Democratic leaders on health care is Pete Stark, a liberal and close ally of Nancy Pelosi. Stark said that moderates like Peterson were "brain dead" for opposing a government takeover of health care Stark accused Peterson and other moderates of "selling out" for insurance company donations. Sounds like Stark is accusing Congressman Peterson of "bribery."

Tell Congress:  No government run health care.

The ads refer to Pete Stark’s comments saying that Blue Dogs were "brain dead," that they "just want to cause trouble" and are "looking to raise money from insurance companies and promote a right-wing agenda."  The Washington Post recently reported that Blue Dogs were breaking fundraising records this year and that half their donations came from health care interests.  They also found that the typical Blue Dog receives 25% more in health care industry donations than other Democrats, "putting them closer to Republicans in attracting industry support."

Mike Ross came out against the public option last week.  PhRMA has been running positive ads for both Ross and Baron Hill.

Pete Stark is one of the 60 Democrats who signed the letter to Nancy Pelosi, saying he would vote against any bill that does  not have a public option.  Rep. Raul Grijalva and the Progressive Caucus will be whipping this week to see if he and other signatories hold firm.