Chgo Sun-Times: Turning Big Dem Contributor into 'Staunch Republican'

NewsBusters.org ^ | 7/17/07 | Warner Todd Huston

[Mobile Vulgus]

Why is it that every time the MSM writes a story about a supposedly "staunch Republican" who is vocally supporting the opposing Party, we have to wonder of its veracity? Maybe it's because there always seems to be a few little problems with the claim of "staunchness" on the part of the MSM's favored Party hopper du jour? And in this case, the Chicago Sun-Times story titled "GOP lawyer sold on Dems" by Jennifer Hunter, we have no better assurances than we ever do that the claimed "staunch Republican" is either very "staunch" or very "Republican."

Sun-Times writer Hunter dug up a supposedly "staunch Republican" named Jim Ronca, a trial lawyer from Pennsylvania. Mr. Ronca, claims Hunter, is "certain of one thing: He is not going to vote Republican in the 2008 presidential election."

But there is more than that. He also says he'll financially support Democrats, and he makes this announcement as if this is somehow an earth shattering rebuke to the GOP, or so the Sun-Times wishes us to believe.

"I'm not only going to vote Democratic, I'm going to financially support the Democrats," Ronca said after a luncheon forum of the American Association for Justice, featuring Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. Barack Obama, former Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Joe Biden. "The Republicans in Washington are an embarrassment."

Well.... he told them, eh?

So this "staunch Republican" is now going to financially support the Democrats? This seems an about face for a Republican, doesn't it?

Unfortunately for the Sun-Times' attempt to make Ronca seem the dyed-in-the-wool Republican, Mr. Ronca has a long, long history of being a Republican who financially supports Democrats. In fact, a quick review of his public donation record proves that he almost never gives to a Republican at all. Out of the 10 candidates he's donated to, only two of them were Republicans... and one of those was Arlen Spector who hardly counts as a Republican in the first place! (One of the candidates he donated to I could not quickly identify the party affiliation. If anyone knows what party Bruce Bradley was in I'd appreciate the info.)

Some "staunch Republican" Ronca turns out to be!

Here are some of his political donations:

James R. Ronca
Schmidt, Ronca and Kramer

$1,000 Harris Wofford (Democrat, PA) 6/22/1994
$250 Charles Oberly (Democrat, PA) 10/3/1994
$500 Edward Kennedy (Democrat, MA) 11/16/1995
$250 Stewart Greenleaf (Republican, PA) 12/29/1999
$250 Patrick Casey (Democrat, PA) 6/3/2000
$500 Ron Klink (Democrat, PA) 6/13/2000
$500 Ron Klink (Democrat, PA) 9/15/2000
$500 Arlen Specter (Republican, PA) 11/5/2001
$500 Allyson Schwartz (Democrat, PA) 3/30/2004
$2,000 John Kerry (Democrat, MA) 5/27/2004
$500 Allyson Schwartz (Democrat, PA) 8/23/2005
$1,000 Bob Casey (Democrat, PA) 9/13/2006
$500 Bob Casey (Democrat, PA) 9/30/2005
$500 Bruce Bradley (?) 9/5/2006

Wow, thousands to Democrats, and pennies to the GOP. You know, the Party he is supposed to be a "staunch" member of?

Now, one might say that since Rona is a lawyer in Pennsylvania, he would have to support quite a few Democrats. After all, he is surrounded by them in Harrisburg and Philadelphia, right? All right, that might be a fair question. But that does not answer to why he has donated to a Massachusetts leftist (Teddy Kennedy) and supported the horribly leftist presidential candidate for the 2004 presidential election (John Kerry)? Maybe his support of local Democrats can be explained away, but not his support for lions of the left outside his state.

How many "staunch Republicans" do YOU know who would donate to Teddy Kennedy? I'd lay odds that such a creature is far and few between.

So, the claims that Jim Ronca is a "staunch Republican" doesn't hold much water and neither does the Sun-Times' story!

My last question is also a curiosity. We see these stories of so-called Republicans who are jumping ship to support the Dems all the time. Why is it that the MSM never sees fit to publish a story where Dems are jumping ship to go with the GOP? Did they get so discouraged with the Reagan Democrat that they vowed never to write such a story again?

It would seem so.

[Mobile Vulgus]

Never a jumpin Dem, but they can ALWAYS find a jumpin Republican!

[DancesWithBolsheviks]

See Jim. See Jim vote. Vote Jim, vote!
Don’t you wanna be like Jim?

[Dionysiusdecordealcis]

Look, it’s the Sun-Times. It’s a joke paper, a jerk paper, a pile of you know what. It has become nothing but the house-organ for the Dhimmicrats. The Chicago Tribune is almost as bad, both are dying. The Tribune’s give-away Red-Eye tabloid aimed at trying to win back the “youth readers,” is an embarrassment even to skim through—no news whatsoever, just the club and theatre and music and restaurant “scene” for those who are “cool” and a crime report or two, celebrity skin-pix and advertisements.

We do use the free papers they dump on our porch to keep down the weeds in the garden though—spread them out in thick layers, cover with bark mulch and it keeps out the weeds for a while, at least. Garbage keeping out weeds—who’d a thunk it?

[Fido969]

Never a jumpin Dem, but they can ALWAYS find a jumpin Republican!

They're not even real Republicans.

[Clam Digger]

Wow, thousands to Democrats, and pennies to the GOP.

One of whom was Specter, who hardly counts as a republican.

[bolobaby]

“Never a jumpin Dem, but they can ALWAYS find a jumpin Republican!”

That’s because liberalism is a mental disorder for which there is no cure. Sad, but true.

Bush could save a hundred babies from a burning orphanage with his bare hands and this is the line we’d hear from Pelosi, Reid, et al:

“It’s a little irresponsible for our President to be running into a burning building. It’s this type of cavalier attitude that he had when he sent us headlong into Iraq without any thought of the consequences!”

“President Bush may have saved these 100 babies, but what about the 700,000 Iraqis that have died because of his recklessness? He has more blood on his hands than can ever be washed off by a single act of STAGED heroism.”

“That orphanage was set ablaze using gasoline - a petroleum product that is produced by George Bush’s big oil buddies.”

“These orphans were living in a firey death trap thanks to George Bush’s unwillingness to fund programs for the children. He had an obligation to run into that fire because it was his policies that caused the fire!”

“What was the carbon footprint of that fire? I didn’t see George Bush doing anything to reduce the carbon footprint caused by the burning of this orphanage. Instead, he put a personal show of bravery ahead of the best interest of Mother Earth. At least when I set orphanages on fire, I buy offsets for the emissions that the fire creates.”

Etc, etc.

[ishabibble]

Another cotton candy story. Spun out of hot air, with an empty paper cone in the center. Why would this even be considered news, when the “facts” in the story show the lawyer to be a “staunch” Dem supporter.

[sergeantdave]

Nothing more than one of the “but” litanies for rat liars -

I’m a Republican. but...

I voted for Bush, but.....

I’m a conservative, but......

I’m a gun owner, but....

[enough_idiocy]

The media is pathetic. What do they teach these people in school? It’s like they don’t do basic research and fact checking.

[Melchior]

The Sun-Times was forced in 2004 to restate its circulation and, lo, the numbers were down a whopping 23%. Most recently, in June 2007 the paper gave data on its circulation for the six months ending September 2005 and daily circulation was down 8.6%, and Sunday was off by 15%. It is likely that daily circulation is now near the 300,000 mark — a miserable performance and one that reflects most circulation figures for newspapers who write Left-handed.

[TexanByBirth]

Jim Ronca, a trial lawyer from Pennsylvania.

That the only thing I needed to read to know this guy is a RINO and this story is full of crap!

[TexanByBirth]

Jim Ronca, a trial lawyer from Pennsylvania.

That's the only thing I needed to read to know this guy is a RINO and this story is full of crap!

[Verginius Rufus]

Never fear. The Sun-Times just announced that it was going to repackage itself to appeal to working-class liberals. That should solve their circulation problems.

[Krankor]

Here's Click some more info about the Sun Times. Apparently, they recently announced they were going to be a liberal newspaper. Then they said "never mind"
Interestingly, the reporter who wrote the story- Jennifer Hunter- is also the wife of the Sun Times publisher-John Cruickshank Here's her email: jhunter@suntimes.com

[popdonnelly]

The Sun-Times needs to print a retraction. I’m not holding my breath.

[subterfuge]

What do you expect, the guy’s an attorney (pro liar).

[jack_napier]

Those “free, hip” papers asare the only ones in this country with any kind of growth, so all sorts of publications are jumpong in to race to the bottom.

[12Gauge687]

Dio...

I’m with you as a former subscriber to the Trib. The Colonel (McCormick) must be spinning in his grave.

[philsfan24]

this guy is a liberal democrat. no one who supports allyson schwartz can call themselves anything remotely close to a republican.

[detch]

I wouldn’t read Mrs. Cruickshank’s newspaper if it was delivered to my hotel room for free.

I think the staff should prepare to change their professional location, and perhaps their geographical location as well.

The Tribune is also a front for the Democratic party, and folks with a brain are getting tired of the liberal fishwraps.

I pity Mr. Cruickshank. He gets to read her stuff every day, and pretend to be the publisher.

Double yikes...