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Cronyism: Bush Pioneer Behind Attacks on Reform Ohio Now

by luaptifer

Fri Nov 04, 2005 at 09:13:04 PM EST

By now it is apparent to most that cronyism is the engine that drives the Bush empire.

In a Halloween article, the Toledo Blade writers identify two Republican lobbyists who hand out donations to influence polices, and in return, seemingly net 6 million in federal contracts.

What isn't included in the Blade's article is that one of those lobbyists, Tom Whatman, has his hands in the GOP attack against the Reform Ohio Now's effort to clean up Ohio elections after the rumored voter disenfranchisement and vote stealing that occurred in the 2004 election.

commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!

Let's follow the money:

The GOP attack group, expertly named Ohio First to muddle the issues involved, has an Ohio First Voter Education Fund, where a Google-based search for that fund name links from the contribution page to Ohio First's home page, PROTECTYOURVOTE.ORG

PROTECTYOURVOTE.ORG is registered to Lynaugh Brandon (a convenient reversal of the name Brandon Lynaugh -- remember it because it shows up later.)

Note that the domain of the registrant's email, blynaughAT1spp.com, records only one of the three associated domains while the same initials are suggested in each:
www.1spp.com - http://www.1spp.com
www.onespp.com - http://www.onespp.com
www.strategicpublicpartners.com - http://www.strategicpublicpartners.com

And who might just be the president of Strategic Public Partners? President of Strategic Public Partners who hosts the form accepting donations for the Educational arm of the Ohio First group attacking Reform Ohio Now (the grassroots organization trying to clean up Ohio election law)?
Tom Whatman
Yes, that Tom Whatman. The lobbyist whom the Blade exposed on Monday as the channel for 6 million dollars in federal contracts to clients.

Remember Brandon Lynaugh? He just happens to be the Vice President of the same Strategic Public Partners.

There is a third connection with Strategic Public Partners and Ohio First Voter Education Fund. Darrin Klinger is listed as the Secretary for Ohio First Voter Education Fund on papers of incorporation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. He is the President of Whatman Associates. (Note: He also served as Governor Bob Taft's personal aide and was a Field Representative for the Ohio Republican Party. Klinger took a leave of abscence from his position of V.P. of Political Affairs for Strategic Public Partners to work as the Executive Director of the 2004 Ohio Bush campaign.)

One last tidbit. A wholly different non-profit, Citizens for Tax Reform, includes Thomas B. Whatman, former executive director of the Ohio Republican Party who is now a Washington consultant. "Citizens for Tax Reform -- whose honorary chairman is Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell -- is seeking a vote on its proposed constitutional amendment in November."

Also posted at the Daily Kos site.
Update [2005-11-6 13:3:17 by luaptifer]:11/06/05: corrected implication that federal money reported in Blade article went to Whatman directly. instead, lobbyist Whatman represents clients who received that money. added links, revised wording for precision.

Cronyism: Bush Pioneer Behind Attacks on Reform Ohio Now | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)

Susie Dow's great comment (5.00 / 1) (#1)

on another thread helps paint the picture.

SP2 can also provide direct representation at the federal and state level through our government affairs affiliate Whatman Associates, Inc.

Here's the link to her comment:

http://scoop.epluribusmedia.org/comments/2005/11/4/101110/391/1/

by Cho on Fri Nov 04, 2005 at 09:21:10 PM EST

What is galling (5.00 / 1) (#2)

This is hiding in plain sight. If WE (that's the royal we, luapt, I know you've delved deeply) can dig this up out of public web records, there is no reason for it to be missed!

Connecting the dots was one of the very first games we were taught!

by kfred on Sat Nov 05, 2005 at 10:51:17 AM EST

I don't get it............ (none / 0) (#3)

If you have the right cause, the time and the money to promote it....why do you need to go into make believe land. Let the chips fall where they may....but it seems there is a WIN WIN attitude and take no prisoners. How sad.....this has got to stop! Money can be spent in such better ways as opposed to the power trip scenario! Thank you for writing and digging.........MSM we're coming to get you!

by avahome on Sat Nov 05, 2005 at 10:57:45 AM EST

: avahome, dunno if you recall my dkos diary (none / 0) (#4)

Leftism must die...?
i get it.
think about just why people lie, propagandize, manipulate, lobby, etc. the people who are doing that kind of thing have absolutely no intention of fair play.
their sole aim is the prize and the path that gets the shellgaming CONjobbers like this admin or Abramoff or Delay or Norquist or Synhorst to that prize is the only path that matters.

Leftism must die...unless we start getting real about with who we're trapped in that box of finite resources. that is the corp-machine equivelant of those most voracious carnivores whose only reason to lie down with a lamb...is to whet the appetite.

by luaptifer on Sat Nov 05, 2005 at 04:56:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

If you've arrived at this page from an external (none / 0) (#5)

link, be sure to literally follow the money into the wider network of fund scandal by the Ohio GOP. There you'll find that the Ohio First operatives come from a longer line of fun with money activities, can they keep this scam legal, you think? It's gotta happen sometime...then again, those involved in the Housholder scandal are probably just those who've been caught.

by luaptifer on Tue Nov 08, 2005 at 03:50:26 PM EST

Cronyism: Bush Pioneer Behind Attacks on Reform Ohio Now | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)

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