In light of the recent grand jury indictment of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the issue of political campaign contributions have come into the spotlight once again. Although most information in regards to political contributions are open to the public, a vast majority of the people never check the records to see where candidates get their money during a political campaign.Therefore, it is the job of political activists such as myself, to expose questionable contributions when we see them.
One specific political action committee (PAC) that has come under scrutiny is Tom Delay's Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC). In September, Jim Ellis, who is the head of Delay's ARMPAC, was indicted along with political consultant John Colyandro on first degree felony charges that stated the two laundered a $190,000 corporate check into various campaign contribution funds during the 2002 elections.
The two were also charged with a lesser felony charge of unlawfully making a donation to the Republican Party and criminal conspiracy in relationship to the $190,000 transaction.
The Austin American Statesman goes on to say, "State law forbids spending corporate money in connection with a candidate's campaign. It also bans corporate donations to political parties during the final 60 days before an election.
Just weeks before the 2002 election, Colyandro, who was executive director of the political committee created by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, sent a blank check to his counterpart, Ellis, in Washington.
Ellis, who runs DeLay's Washington-based Americans for a Republican Majority, negotiated an exchange of corporate money for campaign donations with Terry Nelson, the deputy chief of staff with the Republican National Committee, according to the indictments. Two weeks after the corporate check arrived in Washington, an arm of the RNC sent the same amount in campaign donations to seven Texas legislative candidates."
Okay, so lets now have a look at the list of candidates that ARMPAC contributed to in 2002. The one name that gets my attention right off the bat is none other than current Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Ed Bryant, who was also a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002. Delay's PAC donated a whopping $5,000 to Bryant's failed Senate campaign that year. (ARMPAC also donated to $1,000 to Bryant's re-election to the House in 2000)
Yes you read that correctly. Ed Bryant accepted $6,000 in donations from Tom Delay's PAC whose head is now under federal indictment for money laundering. (Not to mention Delay himself is under indicment)
My question is, what did Ed Bryant do or promise in return for this money from Delay?
Not a very wise decision, huh? One might would think this would serve as a wake up call to Bryant to handle his contributions and associates more carefully.
However, that doesn't appear to be the case. According to more contribution records, just this year Bryant accepted $2,100 from David Gregory's King Pharmaceuticals, a company that has been under investigation in the past for funnelling dirty money to Republican politicians in the state of Tennessee.
In fact, while out of office in 2003, Bryant acted as David Gregory's attorney in the hearings before the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
A closer look shows that Ed Bryant has a very close, long running relationship with the Gregory family and King Pharmaceuticals.
Below are past donations to Ed Bryant from the Gregory family:
- GREGORY, JOHNBRISTOL,TN 37620
KING PHARMACEUTICALS
4/5/2005
$2,100 - GREGORY, JOHN MBRISTOL,TN 37620
KING PHARMACEUTICALS
4/24/2002
$2,000 - GREGORY, JOHN MBRISTOL,TN 37620
KING PHARMACEUTICALS
5/6/2002
$1,000 - GREGORY, JOSEPHPINEY FLATS,TN 37686
KING PHARMACEUTICALS
6/30/2005
$2,100 - GREGORY, JOSEPHPINEY FLATS,TN 37686
8/29/2002
$1,000 - GREGORY, JOSEPH RPINEY FLATS,TN 37686
KING PHARMACEUTICALS
5/1/2002
$1,000 - GREGORY, JOSEPH RPINEY FLATS,TN 37686
KING PHARMACEUTICALS
5/1/2002
$1,000 - GREGORY, LUCINDAPINEY FLATS,TN 37686
6/30/2005
$2,100
Again the question must be asked, what did Bryant do or promise in return for this money from the Gregorys?
Is it just me or does Ed Bryant show very bad judgement when it comes to his political allies?
Bill Frist (who is currently under federal investigation for potential insider trading), Tom Delay, and John Gregory just to name a few.
This is not the type of judgment we need in our next U.S. Senator. There is already enough political cronyism in Washington D.C. as it is. We need someone who is honest and trustworthy who will reflect well on Tennessee. Ed Bryant clearly does not fit that mold.
Harold Ford Jr. represents a fresh start for Tennessee in the U.S. Senate. A new attitude, a new style, and a new vision is just what we need in our next U.S. Senator.
Harold Ford Jr. is ready to make Tennessee as proud of him as he is proud of Tennessee.
