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Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Politics makes for strange bedfellows

There's an interesting discussion going on at http://pawatercooler.com/ about well-known Pennsylvania Republicans donating money to Democratic politicians.

That's no misprint. Republican leaders are giving money to Democrats.

And you wonder why Pennsylvania's Republican Party is in shambles, having lost a U.S. Senate seat, a half-dozen Congressional seats, the governship and majority control of the state House in the past six years. Take a look in the mirror folks. We have met the enemy and it's us.

Here's some of the discussion from the PaWaterCooler site:

For a Republican to give money to a Democrat is a bad thing. (tm)

This topic has been hashed over in the Pennsylvania blogosphere. Endlessly… mostly surrounding the back and forth battles between Montgomery County businessman Bob Guzzardi and Montgomery County businessman Bob Asher (and his surrogates).

Mr Guzzardi gives money to advance his agenda of “good government”… while I disagree with giving money to Democrats, rather preferring to work through the party endorsement and primary process, I certainly support his right to distribute his money as he sees fit. (Something like 80% (480K vs 120K) went to Republicans, however).

In any case, the talking point is “Giving Money to Democrats is a Bad Thing.(tm)”
Well.
The Pennsylvania Future Fund, whose chairman is
Bob Asher (and a board member is outgoing Montco commissioner Tom Ellis), is doing a bad thing.

On the 8th of May, the fund gave Philadelphia Democrat Michael Nutter $5,000. While Al Taubenberger’s chances in an 80% Democrat registered municipality may be small, does Nutter really need $5 grand from Republicans?

Bob Asher is also on the Republican National Committee, as Pa’s national committeeman, and a former GOP state chairman, as well as former Montco GOP Chair.

Perhaps giving money to Democrats isn’t a problem. Maybe it’s the amount. Or… the lesson here is that Guzzardi should start a PAC and insulate his money.

In any case, I trust that Ron Harper will extend Montcowatch to the Pa Future Fund.

All I can say is that with GOP leaders like the ones mentioned above, who needs enemies? The Democrats just have to sit back and watch as Republicans stab each other in the back.

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