Monday, February 23, 2009
Politics / Woods Freeman Says His Republican Contributions Are 'Old News'
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Comments (14)
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You mean someone disagreed with Phil when he was Mayor?? To hear ya'll tell it, that was the golden age of Metro...
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Does anyone think King Bredesen gives a rip about "reconciling" with this moron? 'Ol Breddy probably couldn't pick him out of a line-up on the street. What an ego on this Freeman guy!
Sorry, Bill. Not old news to any Democrat in this state. Must call bullshit on this one.
You gave $5000 to the Republican nominee for Governor in 2002 and $5000 to the Republican nominee for Governor in 2006. You gave $10,000 to the RNC. You gave $4100 to Bob Corker. You gave $1250 to Lamar Alexander. Both were Republican nominees to the Senate. You gave $1000 to Bill frist's PAC -- designed to beat Democrats.
Doug Horne is a businessman. Check his FEC report. He is credited with more than $270,000 in contributions to candidates and to the Democratic Party. Not one single dollar of Doug Horne's money was given to a Republican or to the RNC. He's just as successful a businessman as you.
Do the right thing and resign before you get started. You are an insult to every real Democrat in Tennessee.
Kudos to Woods for getting this knucklehead on the record saying, "Fuck Bredesen." So three Bredesen haters, Chipper, Odom, and Freeman, are running the TNDP now. If anyone doubted that Bredesen is done with this party, they shouldn't now.
Listed here are the "party hacks" as descibed by Chip Forrester's defenders and their personal contributions to the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates, according to the FEC. These are the most prominent of the people who supported Bone and opposed Forrester. These are the people Chip's supporters fault for not doing enough for the Democratic Party.
Remember, these are personal contributions. Out of their own pockets. For the elected officials, the contributions out of their campaign committees are not listed. Nor the totals from the fund-raisers they host. Nor the totals from their personal contributions to state-level candidates (Governor and general assembly). Just FEC listed contributions.
And, Mr. Freeman, these people gave to Democrats, not Republicans. No b.s. "it's just business" from any of them.
Doug Horne $270,146
Phil Bredesen 105,250
Charles W. Bone 76,628
Byron Trauger 66,050
Charles Robert Bone 47,050
Will Cheek 38,950
Bob Thomas 34,096
Houston Gordon 33,800
Jim Cooper 16,290
Dick Lodge 14,500
Stuart Brunson 12,250
Randy Button 11,550
Bill Fletcher 10,550
Bill Mason 6,850
Mike Kopp 6,600
Gray Sasser 6,450
Dave Cooley 6,300
Bob Clement 6,000
Bart Gordon 4,750
John Tanner 4,250
Beecher Frasier 3,400
Krissa Barclay 1,750
Kent Syler 950
Will Pinkston 750
I looked at every single contribution here. There is ONE contribution of $250 to a Republican in a non-competitive district. That's it.
But these are the people that Forrester and Freeman have given the finger. The people they "don't need." They have called these good Democrats "hacks" because they supported Bone and opposed Forrester.
And now, a guy who has given significantly to Republican nominees in competitive and important Tennessee races is named treasurer.
Democrats out there, if you are not outraged, tell me why? Members of this list, can we really expect any one of you to give any money to the TNDP now? Should we? Should you?
Way to go TennRod. Meantime, here's a question for Freeman and Chip: Now that Freeman claims he's reconciling with Bredesen, does that mean he's going to agree to the closing of the wealthy tax loophole he enjoys? If not, then why? Seems like a guy who's busy dashing off $10,000 checks to the Republican Party can at least afford to pay his fair share of taxes. And where is Chip on this topic? Does Chip think it's a good idea for Tennessee's health care and public schools to be sucking hind teet while Freeman is off underwriting the next Republican campaign to fuck Democrats. Here's an idea, Chip: Why don't you grow a pair of gonads, get a fucking clue, and quit while you're ahead? Nobody thinks you've got shit to offer other than a goofy demeanor and one screw-up after another. This Freeman thing is just the tip of the iceberg.
“I’m a businessman,” he told Pith this morning. “You occasionally have to give to the other party, but the bulk of my contributions have been to Democrats.”
Er, no, you don't. In fact--and here's a news flash--you don't HAVE to give anything at all! Amazing! If you have differences with the Democratic candidate, you can keep your checkbook closed.
Unless, of course, the whole point of your giving is to receive some sort of quid pro quo, some kind of "favor" from said elected officials that will personally benefit you or your business. In which case, you should't be in politics at all. We tend to throw people like that in jail.
While I think they both should resign, who else would work with CF but BF? All the prominent fundraisers who could be treasurer aren't in his camp so he went and chose a Republican. Politics are really weird in Tennessee these days.
Jeff,
Thank you for verifying that this Freeman is indeed the same Freeman who donated to the Republican Party. There were several addresses listed, and you beat me to the call, but I am glad you made it.
Southern Beale wrote, "Unless, of course, the whole point of your giving is to receive some sort of quid pro quo, some kind of "favor"
SB--That's EXACTLY what it sounds like.
I am *almost* missing Sasser.
So now what? As Democrats, how do we progress from here? Freeman is unacceptable in his current position.
Crapola. Please forgive the double post, but the first time it had me as anonymous, and I don't post as "anonymous," so I rewrote my post, only to see both appeared.
My apologies for two posts saying the same thing in a row.
It's been a long time since I posted here, and obviously it didn't remember my personal info during the first post.
Sorry.
Well, Sharon asks the million-dollar question. Freeman must go, of course. I don't see how Chip can hope to function as chairman.
Seriously, how do we transition from Chip to another chairperson who can somehow bring together the folks who year after year have contributed and kept the doors open, the lights on, the party functioning (see above list) AND the bloggers, twitterers, organizers, next generation types who need and deserve to be full partners in the Democratic Party in Tennessee?
We have a Democratic Governor, a majority in the Congressional delegation, and a virtual draw in the State House. That should be considered a pretty good base to build upon. I think it's clear that Forrester can't do it.
So let's get those people who have worked a lifetime for the Democratic Party togetehr with those who we would hope are willing to do so and find someone else to take over, NOW, while we have the time to get serious about 2010.
And, further on Freeman, it is now revealed that he gave $10,000 to the Tennessee Republican Party Federal Account in 2006 (this is separate from the $10,000 to the RNC in 2004). He was out to beat Harold Ford, Jr., no matter what.
Because he and Corker are in the same "business." That's what Freeman himself tells us.
Again, what does it say about a man who gives campaign contributions to help his business? It tells me he is unethical, corrupt and worthy of indictment.
