Tom Davis contributes to Dem ex-hopeful

The Hill ^ | 5/1/2002 | Allison Stevens

[ltlflwr]

In a move likely to raise eyebrows among House Republicans, a political action committee (PAC) controlled by the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee has contributed $3,000 to a former Democratic House candidate in Arkansas.

Fundraising reports revealed that Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia contributed $3,000 last Dec. 16 to Judy Smith, who lost to then-Rep. Jay Dickey (R) in 1998. She ran again in the 2000 primary against then-state Sen. Mike Ross (D), who went on to defeat Dickey in the general election.

Smith has not filed to run again in Arkansas’ 4th District, where Dickey has mounted a comeback bid for his former seat.

Davis has contributed $62,000 to Republican candidates through his personal leadership PAC, the Federal Victory Fund, since 2001. A Davis spokesman declined to comment on the contribution to Smith.

Financial contributions across party lines are rare, especially for members of the party leadership. Of the 130 leadership PACs tracked by the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), only Davis’ had contributed to a member of the opposite party.

The CRP also reported that Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) contributed $5,000 to a Democratic candidate this year, but a spokesman for the CPR said the report was erroneous. The center also incorrectly reported that Wisconsin Rep. Tom Petri (R) contributed $1,000 to a Democrat.

CRP spokesman Doug Weber said contributions from one member to a candidate of the opposite party are “quite rare.” He added that although congressional leaders tend to frown on the activity, some members see no problem contributing to moderates from another party in uncontested races.

Others may also contribute to a primary candidate from another party in an attempt to bolster a candidate’s chances against a more formidable general election opponent.

“If you look down the list of leadership PACs,” he said, “it’s very unusual.”

[ltlflwr]

PING!

[stainlessbanner]

Davis of Virginia contributed $3,000 last Dec. 16 to Judy Smith

Why could Davis do this? Just curious...

[ltlflwr]

Supporters of my father's campaign should go to http://frankcreel.org.

[ltlflwr]

Why could Davis do this? Just curious...

That's a good question. I've searched everywhere for his explanation but haven't found it yet. His spokesperson declined to comment as of this article's date.

[muleboy]

Looks like Tom Davis got taken for 3 grand.

GOP/Conservatives think Liberals are stupid, and DEM/Liberals think Conservatives are evil.

I think they have it backwards.

[rightwing2]

Why could Davis do this? Just curious...

The truth is that my Congressman Tom Davis has a very long history of endorsing Democrap candidates, campaigning for them and contributing to their campaigns. The worst incidence of this was when he endorsed, contributed to and campaigned against the Democrap candidate for Lt. Governor (by the name of Beyer I believe) in 1993, who subsequently won and ran against Gilmore for Governor in 1997. Davis later worked to encourage a third party candidate to defeat Ollie North for Senate in 1994 resulting in the re-election of Chuckie Robb to the US Senate. I raised these concerns about Davis' appointment to be HRCC chair with House Majority Leader Dick Armey at a meeting at Congress in July 1999. Armey assured me that Davis did not have the final say in HRCC contributions so he could not give any HRCC money to liberal pro-abortion Republican primary and general election House candidates without the prior approval of the House GOP leadership.

[MissAmericanPie]

Kinda lends credence to the claim that both parties are the same, doesn't it.

[Corin Stormhands]

The worst incidence of this was when he endorsed, contributed to and campaigned against the Democrap candidate for Lt. Governor (by the name of Beyer I believe) in 1993, who subsequently won and ran against Gilmore for Governor in 1997.

I think you mean he campainged for Don Beyer. Beyer was the incumbent and was challenged by conservative Republican Michael Ferris. A lot of the "rank-and-file" GOP abandoned Ferris because they thought he was too conservative. Even at that, it was a close race for Lt. Governor (George Allen won in a landslide).

[Rensselaer]

"Why could Davis do this?"

After losing the primary, Judy Smith endorsed the Republican in the general election. She is an African-American, former state legislator. She has a variety of debts left over from her campaign.

I'm sure Davis is trying to create a Republican. It's not a bad move - Smith is conservative on social issues. This is an effort to increase GOP presence in the African-American community, and perhaps gain a credible candidate for the future.

[Ligeia]

“it’s very unusual.”

This is an understatement. Outrageous is more like it. Davis should be removed from his leadership position. One thing we don't need is people like Tom Davis in charge of the RNC purse strings on Capitol Hill. I hope the Republicans on the Hill vote him out. Like now.

[stainlessbanner]

RPI alum?

[rightwing2]

I think you mean he campainged for Don Beyer. Beyer was the incumbent and was challenged by conservative Republican Michael Ferris. A lot of the "rank-and-file" GOP abandoned Ferris because they thought he was too conservative. Even at that, it was a close race for Lt. Governor (George Allen won in a landslide).

That's right. I meant to say that Davis campaigned FOR Don Beyer who served from 1989-1997 as Virginia's Democrap Lt. Governor. Ferris was not too conservative and would have made an excellent Lt. Governor and possibly even a future Governor. Ferris campaigned for Bush for President in 1999-2000 and hosted a presidential debate in DC with Bush, Keyes, Forbes and the rest of the contenders that I attended. At this debate, Bush came within about 20 feet of shaking my hand.

[rightwing2]

This is an understatement. Outrageous is more like it. Davis should be removed from his leadership position. One thing we don't need is people like Tom Davis in charge of the RNC purse strings on Capitol Hill. I hope the Republicans on the Hill vote him out. Like now.

I agree with you completely. A leftwinger like Davis should never have been appointed to chair an important committee like the HRCC. Moderate GOP Congressman John Linder did a much better job, but was unfairly blamed for the GOP electoral debacle in 1998. We should all call Speaker Hastert, Dick Armey, and Tom DeLay to express our anger at Davis' financial support of Democrap candidates.

[Corin Stormhands]

Ferris was not too conservative...

Not for you. Not for me. But he was painted as such by the media and by the RINOs.

[Rensselaer]

I think folks need to learn a bit more and think a bit more before going off on Davis like he's the anti-Christ. Judy Smith is a black woman state legislator who endorsed Republican Jay Dickey in a very close race, even though she had been his opponent just two years earlier. Doing so probably ruined her career - at least in the Democratic party. Moreover, she did it on her own, with no promises or pleas from Republicans. She was left with campaign debt, and the traditional Dem sources won't give her a dime now. Davis wants to demonstrate that black Democrats (or any Democrats) who stray from their party's orthodoxy won't be left out in the cold if they fail. It's good, smart, outreach politics.

[sultan88]

Well, it is plain as day that Tom Davis is in bed with another GOP imposter, one John (Big Bad Jawn) Warner!

[muleboy]

Doesn't Davis have enough sense to make a payoff for an endorsement with "walking-around" money and keep it off the books?

This doesn't look like a compassionate-conservative outreach. It looks like a payoff, unethical interference in another party's affairs, and damned stupid.

Come November I would not be surprised to find that the $3000 wasted on Smith might well have made a difference in a competitive race, perhaps even Dickey's.

[conservative_2001]

"The worst incidence of this was when he endorsed, contributed to and campaigned against the Democrap candidate for Lt. Governor (by the name of Beyer I believe) in 1993, who subsequently won and ran against Gilmore for Governor in 1997. Davis later worked to encourage a third party candidate to defeat Ollie North for Senate in 1994 resulting in the re-election of Chuckie Robb to the US Senate."

No, that was John Warner. I lived in Davis' Congressional District during these years and remember the instances quite well. John Warner was the traitor who opposed Farris and North.

Davis supported Oliver North and definitely didn't support Beyer. Remember that Davis in 1993 was plotting a run for Congress in 1994, so no way would he have endorsed a Democrat for office just 1 year before that.

[JusticeLives]

"Kinda lends credence to the claim that both parties are the same, doesn't it."

Keep a keen eye on politics for awhile and you'll see it's a Good Cop, Bad Cop game that keeps Americans THINKING there's 2 major parties, when, in fact, it's more like a band of thieves protecting their pecking order of power whether they like each other or not. It's more like an attempt to stay in office as long as one can until their own scandal is exposed and then the game changes to bribery and blackmail so one doesn't lose office and on and on and on again it goes...

ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY

...and I thinks I'm going to check out 3rd parties, like the Constitution Party, Libertarian Party, etc.

WE NEED some fresh blood (no pun intended) in our .gov as far as I'm concerned.