Most people are familiar with the phrase, “Put your money where your mouth is.”  It means to do something instead of just talking about doing something.  People generally detest those who are guilty of talking out both sides of their mouths, a behavior of those who are two faced or who struggle with telling the truth.

Iowa’s most outspoken liberal congressman, Democrat Bruce Braley, is guilty of both.

In a recent op-ed in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Braley lambasted Mitt Romney for betting against American workers.  Braley, a trained trial lawyer, is echoing the Obama campaign’s attacks on Romney’s business dealings.  Braley also called Romney a hypocrite for saying that he will get tough on China while at the same time holding investments in Chinese companies.

Braley would seem to be the perfect attack dog for the Obama campaign if only he wasn’t guilty of doing exact same thing for which he is attacking Romney.

While Braley is talking reviving manufacturing in the United States, he is investing in Chinese auto, communications, and chemical companies.  Braley is invested in Brilliance China Automotive, a maker of cars and minibuses, China Zenix Auto, a company that makes wheels for commercial vehicles, and China Zhengtong Auto, a luxury car dealership that doesn’t sell American brands.

Braley did support the government bailout of the auto industry, but the cash for clunkers program he also supported helped foreign car companies more than it helped the U.S. auto industry.  The top-ten vehicles that were traded in as part of the program were Ford, General Motors, or Chrysler products.  Seven of the top ten sellers were Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, or Hyundais.  So much for that American autoworker that Braley is always “fighting” for.

Braley’s hypocrisy is not just limited to auto related companies and manufacturing.  Braley also bragged in his op-ed about the Obama Administration’s support of the wind industry and other forms of green energy.  Once again he’s saying one thing and doing another in his personal investments.

Braley holds investments in China National Offshore Oil and ChinaCoal, the second largest coal mining company in the country, which is also state owned.  Not only does that not fit with Braley’s green energy ways, but he also might have some explaining to do in Marshalltown, where the building of a $2 billion coal fired electricity plant was halted and local jobs lost.  If it’s a good investment for Braley’s personal finances, it should be a good investment for a community like Marshalltown.

Braley’s congressional financial disclosure shows that he is invested in the following Chinese entities.

Beijing Enterprises
Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited
China Bluechemical Ltd
China Coal Energy Company Limited
China Construction Bank
China Development Bank Corp.
China Life Insurance Co.
China Lumena New Materials Corp.
China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd.
China Merchants Holdings International
China Minsheng Banking Corp.
China Mobile
China Modern Dairy Holdings
China National Offshore Oil Co
China Overseas Land & Investment
China Pacific Insurance Group
China Resources Cement Holdings
China Resources Power Holdings
China Shipping Development Co.
China Taiping Insurance Holdings
China Telecom Corp
China Yurun Food Group Limited
China Zenix Auto International
China Zhengtong Auto Services

These investments are through the following funds, which are included on Braley’s disclosure.

Ivy Funds Pacific Opportunities Fund
Davis New York Venture Fund
Lazard Emerging Markets Portfolio Retail
Europacific Growth Fund
Pimco Funds Total Return FD
Thornburg International Value Fund Holdings

Braley’s hypocrisy isn’t a surprise.  This is the same Congressman who campaigns on reducing the national debt, but then votes to double the size of it and supports new entitlement programs along the way.  What is surprising is how he disqualifies Romney for the same transgressions he is guilty of himself.

What’s disturbing is how he misleads his constituents and that he can actually keep a straight face while spewing his hypocrisy.

Related articles

• Braley not honest with workers (thegazette.com)
• Braley Admits Taking Lobbyist Money in Violation of Campaign Promise (theiowarepublican.com)
• Braley Deceives the Press on 1st Day of General Election (theiowarepublican.com)