Tea party members know full well how declare themselves against lobbies and special interests in Washington, but refusing funding from these same lobbies is another story. It’s Tartuffe all over again. A study by the Center for Responsive Politics and iWatch News on 15 tea party members elected in November of 2010 reveals some interesting things.
The study conducted by these two organizations reveals that, in fact, the newly elected tea party-endorsed members are connected to the same lobbies as the Republicans they were witch-hunting. The 15 newly elected Congress members received a modest sum of $3.5 million during the first nine months of this year alone. In total, 700 PACs (Political Action Committees) connected to different Republican pet causes contributed to populist funds. Do as I say, not as I do; it’s a proven formula.
“The lobbyists and other traditional Washington powers know that the newbies will learn fast that they need them, and their rolodexes,” noted Mary Boyle of Common Cause, a group that defends good democratic practice.
The five PACs heading the donations:
-Honeywell International, a Fortune 500 company in the defense sector: 52 donations.
-The American Bankers Association: 31 donations.
-Lockheed Martin, in the defense sector: 30 donations.
-Koch Industries, a company owned by the two Koch brothers, tea party financiers: 29 donations.
-The National Association of Realtors, which represents the real-estate sector: 29 donations.
The 15 Congress members have also accepted PAC donations affiliated with groups supporting conservative causes such as the Freedom Project, which has close ties to Speaker of the House John Boehner. Those who intend to change Washington are quickly realizing that they need a lot of money if they’re going to be re-elected. This is just the system they claimed to want to change. Good principles only last as long as it takes to get elected.
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