Posted on 06/06/2014 8:18:10 AM PDT by Sybeck1
On Thursday, the Tea Party Express sent out an email to supporters from the organization's chief strategist, Sal Russo. "URGENT: We are heading to Mississippi," it began, in large bold letters. "We just got off the phone with the McDaniel campaign and they need our help!" (The McDaniel campaign, of course, is the campaign of Mississippi state senator Chris McDaniel, who faces a runoff against incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran after Tuesday's primary.) That alleged phone call drew some attention. Federal law can prevent outside groups like Tea Party Express from coordinating with candidates for office, leading the National Journal to ask, "Did a Tea-Party Group Just Illegally Coordinate With Chris McDaniel?" Experts we spoke with said no largely because the Tea Party Express is raising money on the promise of campaign work in Mississippi that so far has been essentially non-existent. Since May 16, the Tea Party Express has sent at least ten emails that mention McDaniel's race.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Living in Desoto county, we don’t have Supertalk like the rest of the state. I am listening now on my phone. They seem to be 100% Cochran on that station. They are just building fodder for Childers in the fall.
But the TEA Party is dead. The MSM has told us so dozens of times in the last two years, with the Washington Post singing soprano.
The GOPe wins either way. It’s why they will support the dim if Cochran loses. Maybe not overtly, but they will vote for him to be sure. And McDaniel better not count on any useful money or support from them if he wins. It would be tough to make sure there weren’t any moles.
Read it quickly, but couldn’t really tell what the take-away message was. Tea Party Express was using McDaniel’s name to raise money, but not actually helping McDaniel? Or Tea Party Express was violating campaign laws by co-ordinating with a campaign as an outside group? Seems like the WP admits the latter did not happen, therefore the most they can accuse the TPE of is raising money under the false premise that it would help the Mississippi candidate.
Did I read it correctly?
Read it quickly, but couldn’t really tell what the take-away message was. Tea Party Express was using McDaniel’s name to raise money, but not actually helping McDaniel? Or Tea Party Express was violating campaign laws by co-ordinating with a campaign as an outside group? Seems like the WP admits the latter did not happen, therefore the most they can accuse the TPE of is raising money under the false premise that it would help the Mississippi candidate.
Did I read it correctly?
The Tea Party Express PAC raised $10 million in the 2012 cycle, more than three-quarters of it from donations of less than $200. But the group made only $259,500 in campaign contributions and $686,124 in independent campaign expenditures in that election, public records show. In the meantime, one of its lead organizers, political consultant Sal Russo, handled the bulk of the groups fundraising, travel, consulting, direct mail and ad production earning his California consulting firm Russo Marsh & Associates a cool $2.3 million, according to Political MoneyLine.
Frankly, the only TP-affiliated type group that I've seen that has a decent admin/other rakeoff is Club for Growth, and the same sources on the internet claim it's president has over $1M in compensation. This isn't what I'd call grass roots.
The best solution is to give directly to candidates.
Candidates are actually pretty good at spending donated money on their campaigns.
Listen to some joker named JT now (I only listen to Memphis radio. Is he a Cochran tool?
“And McDaniel better not count on any useful money or support from them if he wins. It would be tough to make sure there werent any moles.”
He will get money. To have him in their pocket, they will have to throw money at him.
Don’t be suprised if this happens and he says NO.
Gov.Palin, please pick up the red phone!
Dear Dems: We are the TEA movement. Deal with it.
I agree. I’d never give to Tea Party Express or any of the other groups (with the exception of maybe CFG, but the CEO’s salary is a big, big problem for me)
All these official, semi-official and regional groups are a big unknown to me. They remind me of Alan Gottlieb and his multiple issue funds accumulations groups - mostly, in my opinion, to enrich him.
I don’t walk lock step with any person or any groups and just don’t feel comfortable donating to anyone but the candidates themselves and its generally easier to communicate with candidates.
Tea Party Express <> the TEA Party.
Do not trust RINO Russo.
Doesn’t the NATIONAL Republican Party coordinate to help RINOs? I’m confused.
JT got all tore up because Chris wouldn’t come on his show while Chris was doing another event.
Phil Bump...is his boyfriend’s name “Grind”?
Me bad
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