Posted on 06/21/2002 1:49:11 PM PDT by Coleus
Ex-GOP Chairman is among Torricelli donors
By BRIAN P. MURPHY
PoliticsNJ.com
HOBOKEN, June 21 - Chuck Haytaian, the former Republican State Chairman and Assembly Speaker, has contributed $2,000 to the re-election campaign of Democrat Bob Torricelli, according to a campaign finance report filed by Torricelli's campaign committee.
Haytaian, who now works as a consultant and lobbyist, says that the $2,000 contribution was made at the request of one of his clients, Oxford Health Plan.
"It's a part of doing business in New Jersey," Haytaian told PoliticsNJ.com. "Bob Torricelli has always been a good friend, and was a good friend back when I was Assembly Speaker."
"Lots of people contribute to Bob Torricelli because they know he has fought for lower taxes and to make health care and college tuition more affordable," says Ken Snyder, Torricelli's campaign manager. "We assume he was enamored of Bob's record."
Haytaian says that he has spoken with the Republican Senate candidate, Douglas Forrester, and has pledged a campaign contribution to his campaign.
"Bob Torricelli is a good person, Doug Forrester is a good person," Haytaian said. "I'm semi-retired now and pretty low key. I don't do a lot of anything in politics anymore, so it's no surprise that I'd donate to both sides."
Haytaian's contribution came from his consulting and lobbying firm, The Haytaian Group. Federal law permits campaign contributions from an unincorporated partnership like Haytaian's company, and Torricelli's campaign clearly notes on their contributor form that they do not accept corporate contributions.
Haytaian spent fourteen years in the State Assembly and was Speaker from 1992 to 1996. He was an unsuccessful candidate for United States Senator in 1994, losing narrowly to incumbent Frank Lautenberg. He was GOP State Chairman from 1995 to 2001. Earlier this year, he worked as a paid consultant to Jim Treffinger's campaign for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination.
Brian Murphy can be reached at brianmurphynj@aol.com.
Some often ask me why I won't support any more republican state legislative candidates, well, this is one of the reasons why, they are all two-faced, liberal RINO's. Also, many worked AGAINST Bret Schundler because he was a reformer and not from the "good old boys" network. They doubled the state's debt in 8 years, increased the budget from 15 Billion to 24 Billion and made it impossible in NJ to own and carry a gun. And, it was co-Senate president John O. Bennett who threw a monkey wrench into the passing of the parental notification amendment this past year.
Hmm. I thought straw man donations were illegal.
Is this legal?
Man you guy's have got to get real. This is done all the time. Republicans give to Democrats, Democrats give to Republicans, Corporations give to both. Like it or not. Don't like it change it.
He wasn't just any Republican giving to a Democrat because it was good for his business. He was also the FORMER CHAIRMAN of the STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY. You would think he would have some sense of loyalty to the PARTY HE WAS THE LEADER OF!!!
Most NJ elected Republicans are like that. However, there is one good and decent Republican running in NJ who needs our support. That is Scott Garrett. Please go to his website and help out.
It's no accident that RINO's decry the existence of conservatives and wish we'd go away. We need to take the party over starting at the grassroots local level, work our way up and purge the party of anyone who is a RINO.
So then either do something yourself or except it as a fact of life, give your hard earned money to the guy or gal you like. But stop calling people traitors, because you disagree with they're political views. That is not real world. Do you mean to tell me George W. Bush never, ever gave money to a Democrat running for office? I'd think you would be surprised.
Yes most politicians are like that. Now support the guy you want. If Garrett is a Conservative support him, though in NJ that's like having the plague.
Oh, I'm active all right, in the pro-gun, pro-life, anti-UN movements and am on the inside in the republican party trying to change things from within.
I am sure that the President has supported a democrat or two in his day. I would not find this shocking at all. It's politics. Whether he did personally or had an organization do it makes no difference. Maybe one day someone will have the nerve to ask him.
Oh, I'm active all right, in the pro-gun, pro-life, anti-UN movements and am on the inside in the republican party trying to change things from within.
Good for you. If this is what you wish and believe, take no prisoners. Revolution from within is sometimes a good thing. Good Luck!
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