( A classic Ronald Reagan ad from back when cigarettes cigarette companies were safe before the warning labels made them more dangerous for a politician to accept donations from.)
The Ventura County Republican Central Committee has solicited and accepted a large donation to fund their campaigns this fall from a tobacco company.
Do you think they will end up regretting taking this money or is it a fair way to raise the money they need to fund their programs including getting out the vote, educating members, registering voters, and helping their candidates?
I don't think this was a smart move. Tony Strickland has plenty of people that support him on the central committee. They must realize they just handed Hannah Beth Jackson and Ventura County Democrats a campaign issue and a theme that will be used over and over until November.
There is many special interest groups that offend voters but this seems like an especially noxious source of funding.
On the front page of The Star you can see the most emailed stories. This story is on the list. I don't think it is going away.
Do you agree with my political analysis?
UPDATE: This story remains on the front page of The Star under the most emailed stories.
Tobacco firm funds county GOP $50,000 from Altria to aid Strickland's campaign By Timm Herdt Sunday, June 8, 2008 The nation's largest tobacco company has donated $50,000 to the Ventura County Republican Central Committee as the local party gears up to help GOP candidate Tony Strickland in what is expected to be a multimillion-dollar campaign this fall in the 19th Senate District.The donation was solicited by county Chairman Mike Osborn and committee member Dean Kunicki as part of an aggressive attempt to raise money for the coming campaign season, which will be highlighted by what has been targeted by both parties as the key legislative race in California.
The contribution accounts for 88 percent of the $56,800 the county party had raised this year through the most recent reporting period. Most of the rest, $6,000, came from the state Republican Party.
On May 19, two days after the reporting period closed, the county party received an additional $30,200 from Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill.
"I've been knocking on lots of doors, looking for people who want to see us be successful," Osborn said.
The $50,000 contribution came from the Altria Group, parent company of Philip Morris USA, which makes half the cigarettes sold in the United States. Osborn said he has no concerns about accepting such a large sum from the tobacco industry.
Tax increase on cigarettes
The role of tobacco money in politics has long been controversial, and many candidates decline to accept contributions from the industry. However, health groups in Sacramento say the influence of tobacco money in politics is on the rise.
"There's an alarming trend of the tobacco industry increasing its influence by ramping up its political contributions," said Jim Knox, vice president of the American Cancer Society Action Network.
Knox noted the tobacco industry played "a major role in killing healthcare reform in California last year. They don't issue press releases, they don't testify at hearings, but they're hard at work in the halls of the Capitol."
Last year, tobacco companies, led by Altria, contributed $246,000 to members of the Legislature at the same time they were ramping up their lobbying efforts.
Lobbying reports filed with the state show the industry -- mostly through the Altria Group -- spent $887,000 on lobbying expenses in Sacramento in the last quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, the period in which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's universal healthcare plan passed the Assembly and then died in a Senate committee.
Part of the financing of the healthcare plan was to have been a $1.75 per-pack tax increase on cigarettes.
Altria owned Kraft Foods
Osborn said he sees no downside in the local GOP accepting such a large contribution from a tobacco company. "They have rights just like everybody else," he said. "Everybody's interested in good government."
Asked why he would take so much money from the makers of Marlboro, Osborn responded: "You say Marlboro,' I say Nestle's chocolate.'"
Until last spring, Altria also owned Kraft Foods, the parent company of Nestle. Altria spun off Kraft Foods last year and is now exclusively a tobacco company.
Under California's campaign finance law, political parties play an extremely powerful role in campaigns for state office. While contributions to candidates from individuals and corporations are strictly limited, political parties can accept unlimited contributions and donate unlimited amounts of money to candidates.
Last year, for instance, the county GOP Central Committee took in slightly more than $100,000 and contributed $60,000 to former Assemblyman Strickland's campaign. Nearly all the money the committee took in last year came from Republican legislative leaders in Sacramento and from the state party.
Most important battleground
Osborn said the new contributions will be spent on party-building activities and also for direct contributions to candidates. Given that Strickland faces the most contentious race of any local Republican candidate, he will likely again be a chief beneficiary.
The 19th Senate District race, which pits Strickland against former Democratic assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, is expected to be the most important legislative battleground in California this fall. That's because it's an open seat to replace termed-out Sen. Tom McClintock; voter registration between the two parties in the district is close, and Republicans are fighting to keep Democrats, now just two votes shy, from attaining a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Strickland said raising money "from a lot sources" is Osborn's responsibility as county party chairman. He said he is hopeful the county committee will continue to financially support his campaign and he will have no problem accepting the money.
"I fully anticipate that my opponent will get money from the state Democratic Party, and Altria gives more money to it than it gives to the Republican Party," he said.
Campaign finance reports show that over the last two election cycles Altria contributed $1.2 million to the state Republican Party and $510,000 to committees that in turn contribute to the state Democratic Party and directly to Democratic issues and candidates.
Strickland's campaign has directly received $6,850 from tobacco companies, more than half of it from Altria. That places him in the top 10 among legislative candidates statewide.
According to the American Lung Association's Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing, 44 percent of California legislators received campaign contributions from tobacco companies last year.
'Pressure is on us now'
Jackson, a former member of the Assembly, said she is not surprised by the tobacco industry's interest in the Senate race.
"What does surprise me is that they're doing it so early and being so open about it," she said. "Clearly, they've signaled their attempt to determine the outcome of the election."
The Legislature each year considers a number of laws that directly affect the tobacco industry, Jackson noted.
"We have banned tobacco in various places because of public health concerns," she said. "That affects the demand for their cancer-causing products."
Jackson said she will not accept any contributions from the tobacco or oil industries.
Bill Gallaher, chairman of the county Democratic Central Committee, called the tobacco contributions "distasteful."
The fact that outside interests are entering Ventura County politics in such a big way, Gallaher said, is an outgrowth of the Democrats' success in overtaking Republicans among registered voters in the county.
"We knew the price we'd pay for being successful," he said. "The pressure is on us now. It's an important race in the 19th District, and they're pulling out all the stops."
The county Democratic Party has historically not been adept at fundraising. In all of last year it raised only $6,015.
Gallaher said he would like to be more successful at raising money, but that Democrats would be more discriminating about the source of contributions.
"It's kind of like what your momma told you," he said. "You're judged by who your friends are."
Nothing wrong with kissing Alcohol, Tobacco & Gambling in the kitchen as long as you can stand the heat during the campaign.
California's gonna see a lot more of these three sluts teaming up to rent legislators: until BigTobacco is able to buy enough votes to make no-stamp cigarette sales legal on tribal lands. Once that happens there'll be no-stamp liquor and then a move to allow tribes to purchase casino properties outside their lands.
Looks like the Osborn/Kunicki/Henry/Gibson machine is in full swing.
To me this really shows what scumbags and hypocrits the Stricklands and every member of the VCRCC really are. They really stand for family values! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, if a chunck of this money is used for an agressive voter registration campaign the smart move comes into question. Otherwise, it is pretty transparent and leaves TS really exposed.
According to the article in yesterday's Star, some of the tobacco money actually goes to the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates. This was very interesting to me.
According to the article in yesterday's Star, some of the tobacco money actually goes to the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates. This was very interesting to me.
Here is a modest and reasonable proposal from an ex-smoker.
Consider: Enough legislators (both parties) are already bought and paid for by this industry to keep the state and federal government from outlawing all cigarette advertising and event sponsorships, eliminating tax credits for tobacco growers and processors and greatly increasing federal and state taxes on all tobacco products to pay some of the health care related costs associated with smoking, chewing or sniffing tobacco.
However, there may still be an option open to citizens using public information and the right to freedom of speech:
Distribute the the names (on a quarterly basis) of any and all officials and candidates at local, state and federal levels who take a dime of this blood money at every PTA meeting, church assembly, cancer and heart association meeting for further distribution and publicity and (through hospitals and clinics) to the families who have lost or are watching a member lose the battle lung or heart disease because they smoked.
Do this and odds are you will greatly reduce the number of lackeys for these merchants of death in
government.
Here is my prediction for a coming headline and story in the Star, "Ventura County GOP Accepts One Million Dollar Donation From Iran". The Ventura County GOP has received a check for a million dollars from Iran. Mike Osborn and Dean Kunicki have been doing aggressive fundraising for the VCRCC. They recently received 50k from big tobacco. When asked about the donation from Iran Osborn said, "Hey, we prostituted ourselves so much already, what difference does it make anymore. Ventura County Republicans will vote for whoever I tell them to vote for as long as I have the funds to send them many mailers." When asked why they now have a large picture of the late Ayatollah Khomeni hanging in their office Kunicki said, "Hey, whoever sends the check gets their picture put up, what's wrong with that." Shortly after receiving the check the VCRCC sent out a press release praising Iran for their moderating influence in the Mideast. Only time will tell if my prediction comes true.
I'm an ex-smoker and I think your proposal has merit. People have the right to smoke and people also have a right to information. I'm more than a litte dissappointed that Philp Morris is operating under the name Altria.
By the way, the movie "Thank you for Smoking" is very funny and pertinent.
Katie, I don't think Strickland is overly interested in new GOP registrations. I received four mailings from the Strickland campaign in the two weeks before the primary. Each one touting Tony's phony credentials as an environmentalist, an alternate energy pioneer, a family values champion, etc etc. I'm a non-partisan voter. That may be an indication of what Strickland's campaign efforts will look like: a barrage of glossy mailings designed to pull one over on the DTS's and NP's.
It'll work unless he's faced with a negative attack by Jackson. For all practical purposes Tony's the front runner and he's only gonna lose if voters feel he's lying to them. A negative attack that exposes those lies is appropriate.
Disappointed in Philip Morris operating under the name to Altria? You shouldn't be. Philip Morris knows all about the advantages of smart packaging.
It is very common in situations like this. For example, in the musical "Damn Yankees," the devil operates his business buying souls to send to hell under the name Mr. Applegate. Another fine job of packaging to help sales and avoid controversy!
gs- Those mailings the two weeks before the primary were practice runs for November.
Returned, undeliverable were crossed off the mailing list to maximize the mailing efficiency.
Stricklands are working 24 hours a day (or their staffs in their "spare time") to clean the mailing lists and produce computer-sorted call sheets and walk sheets with "strong supporter", "leaning Strickland", "undecided", "HBJ supporter", "high propensity", "Smoker", "over 60", "under 30", "born again", "NRA", "anti-immigration", "anti-tax" etc, etc. etc.
GS,
Send in the mailers in a digital format and I will post them. Same goes to anyone getting mail from any VC campaign.
Follow the Money,
Which local Democrat takes tobacoo money? Does the local Democratic Party take their money?
A Republican school board member asks a cigarette company for cash?
That isn't what people elected him to do.
Maybe if he wasn't so busy taking money from cigarette companies he wouldn't need to hire a lobbyist to represent his board.
I think Dean Kunicki puts his Republican partisan activities before he puts his duty to local children.
There will always be special interests. There should be in a democracy. But we as voters have a duty to know who they are giving money to and why.
Why exactly did they choose Strickland, Osborn, and Kunicki? What policy do they agree with the tobacco industry on? They should explain and let voters have their say.
Brian,
To quote from the article in The Star, "Over the last two election cycles, Altria contributed $510,000 to committees that in turn contribute to the State Democratic Party and directly to Democratic issues and candidates."
It didn't say which candidates, but I'm sure Hannah-Beth Jackson wouldn't turn the money down if it came her way.
Are you saying if both parties do it is is the right thing to do?
Hannah Beth Jackson already said she would turn down tobacco money.
No, it's not necessarily the right thing to do, but, up to now, everyone is pointing at Strickland and the Republicans as the only ones doing it. Clearly, that's not the case.
That is because locally it is the first time I heard about tobacco money and a local party. I cannot do much about Sacramento politicians but if my local party was taking tobacco money I would push them to return it.
Would you do the same?
It depends...
I will ask if the Democrats take tobacco money and ask them to pass a resolution promising not to take or solicit tobacco donations.
Want to work together and get the Republicans to do the same thing?
So what if Tony Strickland, Mike Osborn and Dean Kunicki get money from gambling interests, tobacco companies, oil companies, adult entertainment businesses etc? We republicans need that money to elect people who will promote family values in Ventura County.
Did anyone see the plethora of letters to the editor in today's Star regarding this issue? They all expose Hannah-Beth Jackson and the Democratic Party's blatant hypocrisy in the matter, as well as the Star's own bias in running the by-line about Strickland taking the tobacco money while burying the fact that the Dems took this money too deep in the article.
Don't make me laugh! All those letters were part of an orchestrated campaign by Osborn and Strickland. What was really sad and pathetic about those letters was that none of them said it is wrong to take money from tobacco companies, companies that kill a million people a year and drive up our healthcare costs, companies that market to children. Instead all the pathetic letters from groveling republican lemmings said "They did it too!" It is like a murderer saying other people murder, so that makes it okay for me to do it! Vote out all Republicans in 08!
Osborn and Stickland orchestrated these letters? Please...
If these letters were in support of Hannah-Beth and her liberal, tax everyone as much as possible, insulated from the public, record of non-achievement, living off the public trough - record as a legislator, you'd be saying it was the voice of the people.
Go Tony!!!
Go Tony alright. All the way to hell for taking $50,000 from the company that is responsible for killing over 200,000 Americans every year from lung cancer. Yes, GO TONY!
As much as you'd like to make it an issue of Liberal vs Conservative, Somebody...it's NOT! The issue is about one candidate deliberately seeking his 30 pieces of silver for selling out the families & children of CA and another who refuses to accept blood money.
One of the letter writers, Samantha Harrison, was/is on the Republican Central Committee and was/is an employee of the Stricklands. I am sure others are related to the Stricklands as well. Pretty Transparent!
Hey Somebody, check your facts before you blog because you really sound stupid. When talking about big fat hogs eating at the public trough the top three are hogs Tony Strickland, Audra Strickland and Tom (I took $300,000 in tax free taxpayer money to line my pockets) McClintock. These three losers have never done anything for the people they represent. They spend all their time figuring ways to make their bank accounts grow at taxpayer expense. The get lemmings like the Christian Coalition to back them and privately they laugh at these lemmings. Vote out all three of these hogs in November!
What ever happened with McClintock's real estate gift from the taxpayers of CA? Here's a guy who's done nothing but build a career as a professional legislation blocker and looks for loopholes to game the system and fatten his wallet...at the expense of CA's families.
Say, doesn't Barack Obama smoke too? Very consistent, Democrats. Your candidate for the SD-19, Hannah-Beth Jackson (aka, Taxan Jackson) is taking money from big tobacco while criticizing Strickland for doing the same thing. The hypocrisy continues, I guess.
Jackson takes no tobacco money. That is false and ridiculous, just like Tony Strickland.
Did you read the letter in today's Star (Jackson Doublespeak)? That one sure hit the nail on the head.
She can deny all she wants, but the public knows the truth.
Did you read the letter in today's Star (Jackson Doublespeak)? That one sure hit the nail on the head.
She can deny it all she wants, but the public knows the truth.
The Republican defenders refuse to address the central point. Is it moral to take money from tobacco companies?
I believe CALPERS refuses to invest in tobacco. But why does tobacco invest in our local candidates?
What do they want from Tony Strickland? More smoking in more places? Less taxes on their products? Vending machine sells?
He should send out a press release telling us where he stands with them and where he disagrees with them.
Fake letters. Fake candidate. Real big money taken form tobacco.
I am not impressed that Republicans won't call a moral wrong a wrong but instead are using moral relativity to defend what most of us think is immoral.
Isn't that what conservatives are often upset about?