A pair of stories in today’s Vermont press reveals quite a bit about political money in our state — particularly Republican money. The Vermont Press Bureau’s Peter Hirschfeld (who was a very busy boy yesterday) writes up the first conservative superPAC-style foray onto our airwaves; and the Freeploid’s Sam Hemingway explores the parlous state of the VTGOP’s coffers and how it’s whoring itself out for a little pocket change from the Romney money machine.
First, Hirschfeld’s happy news that a newly-registered PAC called “Vermonters First” has already laid down $70,000 for a two-week ad buy on behalf of — but not coordinated with, no, not at all, heaven forfend — Randy Brock. The new PAC’s treasurer is “longtime Republican operative” Tayt Brooks, who says the group is designed to counteract the “kind of one-party rule out there.” He doesn’t place the blame for that where it belongs: with a Republican Party that’s moved far to the right of the electorate and put together a bound-to-fail 2012 ticket.
As for which “Vermonters” are bankrolling Vermonters First… Brooks won’t divulge that information. He will have to file a fundraising report with the state on September 15, which should be entertaining. We’ll see how much of the money is coming from those Vermonters he claims to be putting First.
Hirschfeld has his suspicions:
Mike Schrimpf, communications director for the Republican Governors Association, wouldn’t say whether his organization – which spent nearly $1 million to try to get Brian Dubie elected in 2010 – is behind the PAC.
The $70,000 is just the first salvo, of course. If Brooks manages to tap into the torrent of conservative money coursing around the nation, he could easily close the huge (and widening) money gap between Brock and Shumlin. Which explains the seemingly inexplicable: Brock’s aggressive run to the right in the bluest of states. It was his only hope of getting a little rub from national big-money conservatives.
Thanks to our two-fisted AG BIll Sorrell for issuing the opinion that opened the door to big-money PACs — just in time to have one of them salvage his re-election bid with almost $200,000 in ad buys.
Meanwhile, as for the VTGOP and the Brock campaign, they continue to go begging for funds.
The Freeploid serves up a reminder of the VTGOP’s role of money-launderer for the Romney forces:
The Vermont Republican Party suddenly has $5 million in its federal campaign fundraising account, but the money might as well not be there as far as statewide and local candidates on the GOP’s ballot in November are concerned.
That’s because the money is simply being parked in the VTGOP’s account until “Romney Victory Inc.” decides where to spend the money. And it almost certainly won’t be around here:
Vermont, regarded as a sure bet for President Barack Obama in the fall elections, is an extremely unlikely recipient for the funds, said Jack Lindley, chairman of the Vermont Republican Party.
Poor, poor Angry Jack. Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.
Well, he is getting a slow drip in exchange for temporarily holding the moneybags: Romney Inc. is giving the party $20,000 a month for the use of its account. Peanuts by Romney standards, but crucial to a state party that, according to Hemingway, only had $22,811 on its books before Romney Inc. stashed its five mill there.
That $20K per month will pay the rent and keep the lights on for a VTGOP that can’t afford a single paid staffer, but it won’t help the party’s financially-strapped gubernatorial candidate.
Randy Brock, the party’s gubernatorial nominee, said he wishes the state GOP could send some of the money his way, but understands that isn’t likely to happen.
Brock’s first two campaign finance reports showed an underfunded effort that’s spending money on “consultants” at an unsustainable rate. Hemingway’s story gives a hint as to what we can expect from Brock’s next finance report, due next week:
“It’s very tough out there raising money,” Brock said.
Don’t worry, Randy. Tayt’s got your back.
Props to Hirschfeld for writing this story.
It should be noted that if you don’t include the Romney Victory Fund $, the VT Republican Party only raised $2,245 in federal money in the month of July, plus $2,000 they transferred from their non-federal account as permitted by the FEC.
Total raised in July: $4,245.00
Total spent: $21,353.10 in federal funds + 1844.83 in joint allocated funds = $23,197.93
You should see what the VT GOP is paying their consultants.
The full FEC report is available here:
http://bit.ly/P1FUzw
If anyone has noticed the VT GOP adopting the National Republican Party’s narrative of fear and prejudice, this may shine a light on the reasoning.
We should ask–Hell, I’ll ask now–Herr Brock & Vt. GOP, how do you stand on all these salacious pornographic obsessions your national leaders seem to have about RAPE, CONCEPTION, ABORTION, INCEST, BIRTH CONTROL, GAYS, and WOMEN IN GENERAL?
Don’t you think all this ‘redefining’ of RAPE might possibly be causing a backlash or ‘regression’ out there among men who are finally STARTING to realize that VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GAYS is, in fact REAL VIOLENCE? And, how do you folks stand on the idea of Instigating or INCITING violence against women and gays? I mean, there are supposed to be LAWS about the instigating of violence, aren’t there? And please, don’t refer me to the PATRIOT LAWS.
I’ll give you an example, Vt. GOP:
Reuters…30 minutes ago…AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LEGITIMATE RAPISTS FORM PAC GROUP; ENDORSE ROMNEY/RYAN
Buck Fuck, spokesman for the newly formed PAC Group, the American Society Of Legitimate Rapists, said today his group stands “firmly behind“ the Romney/Ryan ticket.
“Hey, me and the guys were networkin’ in the parkin’ lot a the Strip Club the other night and came ta this consensus? thing. That the Republicans got the right ideas about women and gays and rape. I mean Fuck Women! Fuck ’em all! This country will be better off with these bitches on their backs. Plus, we been networkin’ hard on this gay shit. We went through three cases a beer on it. Some of our boys have been in the slammer, and they know all about takin’ it up the ass. And that’s what we decided that Muslim Obama is doin’ ta America. Cause he’s a fag. But that wife of his, boy, I’d like ta…… Now, as far as this incest shit goes, hey, what the fuck, my 14 year-old daughter was hot, and I didn’t want her turnin’ inta no dike. So… And since the National Republican Party has clearly proved that rape don’t lead ta no pregnancy, well, that means our group can now claim we’re leadin’ that there fight on population control, which is gonna help prevent that there Global Warmin’ all the wimps and fags go on about. That means we won’t need any abortions or those goddamn Planned Parenthood bitches, who are probably all faggot dykes and ought ta be shot. After we fuck ’em, that is. Hey, look at that one over there. I gotta go. But I’ll be right back. Gotta do my political activist shit. She might be one a them lesbians. It don’t take me long. There’s beer in the bed a the pick-up. But don’t spill any on the mattress. And remember, what I’m gonna do now…hey, where’d she go?…oh, I see her…what I’m gonna do is what the whole goddamn Republican Party says is the way ta put the hard-on back on America. We’ll show these Muslim fags. I don’t need bombs. I’ll use my dick. Then we’ll bomb ’em. Then we’ll get hard again. I think the Republicans call that RECOVERY, or some such shit. See, women is good for somethin’, I guess. Instead a havin’ a bunch a kids they can’t even feed half the time, and then steal a guy’s beer money. Man, that’s low. Bitches! Gotta go…I mean it now…Gotta…where the fuck she……………”
DO YOU VERMONT REPUBLICANS ENDORSE THE ABOVE THINKING? IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR NATIONAL LEADERS DO. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SENT TO PRISON FOR LESS. (Where they get it up the ass)