When you can get a group of leftist environmentalists to entertain your musings on the Republican Primary for Governor, you know you’re saying something right. When you can get them to sign your petition to get a Republican on ballot, now you’re doing something right. I know, I know; getting a group of left wing liberals beet-faced angry can also be an indicator (put your tomatoes down, please) of success. Yet, do we strive to be angry? Perhaps we can glean things from our progressive neighbors (readership brings arms into throwing position) and find out what makes them tick. Liberals are also our fellow Virginians and neighbors (tomato pelts Dylan in the face) Ouch! I mean, they’re smart people maybe we can learn from them (tomatoes fly from all directions, Dylan runs off stage).
Ralph Northam is in for a real fight this season, and he knows it. He’s already dropping anecdotal bombs on Twitter; posting perfunctory liberal sentiments such as “Guns Kill People” and “An Equal and Just VA.” In many ways this matchup is reflective of the Republican race: it will be a referendum on last year’s Presidential candidates. Anyone who remembers Hillary, contorting uncomfortably in her own skin to convince Matt Lauer and America she was “A True Progressive” this time last year, as Bernie was nipping at her heels, gets it. Seriously, Northam… is this who you really are?
Forget that he’s received money from hunting and fishing special interests; Ralph’s going to need every cent of that $3.2 million, as he’s struggling to avoid Virginia campaign laws already. Anybody know how much Ralph has taken from Dominion Power and the fossil fuels lobby? A little over $207,000. That’s over 200K from the ‘polluters’! Do you know who else knows that? The liberals and environmentalists I spoke to at yesterday’s ACL Pipeline protest. They are aware of Northam, his record of big money from several industries they abhor, and Tom Perriello is indeed a threat.
Ladies and Gentleman! Out of the Blue Corner, weighing in at $600,000 from Wall Street investors and venture capitalists, representing the ‘party of the little guy’ …. Raaaaaaaaalph Noooooortham! Perhaps that was a little over the top, I mean I’m sure the Republican money leader has far more than that from the fat cats of the industry… right? Not quite.
Ed Gillespie has actually received far less from the Wall Street investment crowd. In fact, only $147k last year from the entire financial industry, which includes Mom & Pop insurance offices. While Northam has received thousands from Capital One and Towne Bank, Ed has yet this season to receive a single donation from a commercial bank. Northam, on the other hand, has $270k from millionaire investors since 2016 including $15k from Armada Hoffler and Bruce Thompson. That’s just a little red meat for my VB friends, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Millionaire investors Michael D. Bills and Edward H. Rice, who have given over $800,000 exclusively to Democrats since 2014, donated $220k to Mr. Northam. Bill’s wife Sonja Smith tried to influence Republican primaries through a phony ‘family values’ PAC to the tune of $671k. Former co-founder of Facebook-turned-investor Sean Parker has given $200k to the Northam campaign. Why does this matter? Am I just being a ‘player hater’ chugging down the green “haterade’? People should be able to spend their money as they want, right?
Yes, I believe people should be able to spend their money however they want. Want to know who doesn’t believe that? The Democrat party. They have professed ad nausea time and time again to be the party of the working class, the defender of the poor. Yet most of his rich benefactors aren’t even working! Those include a large swath of Northam donations VPAP categorizes as “non-wage earners” such as $400,000 from his father, former Judge and DA Wescott Northam. Suzanne W. Mathews, who has given over $1.6 million to Virginia Democrats, contributes $20k. So did fellow non-wage earner Andria McClellan. Jane P. Batten, who contributed $10k to Northam, has given $150k to Democrats save one man: Will Sessoms received $500.
Nary is there a time a Democrat won’t denounce the Citizen’s United decision if its mention is uttered within earshot. Grant it Virginia has some of the most lax finance laws in the country, and Mr. Northam has received over $150k from the SEIU and AFL-CIO, and that’s expected. Yet he has also received $40k from Macon Brock of Dollar Tree, $25k from Total Wine and More, and $43k from the commercial seafood industry which continues to overharvest our Chesapeake Bay.
When I mentioned the energy industry, I included Norfolk Southern in those figures because their modus operandi here in Virginia is transporting coal. Not only has Northam received over $100k from Norfolk Southern, every top-level executive has personally given him $7k or more including the CEO’s wife, Susan Goode.
Mr. Northam has received so much money from millionaires and special interests, it’s exhausting to list it all. Bluestem Asset Mgmt. for one has interests in renewable energy and local Charlottesville charities, so this is in no way an indictment of their practice. As I had mentioned when I started this series, follow the money isn’t about what’s happened, it’s about predicting what will happen. Millionaires and special interests are smart, and they don’t give to candidates who will oppose their interests.
I grew up in Virginia, right here in Hampton Roads, my parents use to tell me they were too poor to even order a pizza when my sister and I were born. Again, there is nothing wrong with having money or spending money the way you see fit. Just don’t ever lecture Virginia families on income inequality when your war chest has more money than all four Republican competitors combined. Not a good look for you, Doctor.
