Facts Are Stubborn Things

Our friends at Sonoran Alliance did a nice little interview with Sean McCaffrey, Executive Director of the AZGOP.

While Sonoran Alliance was breathless in their praise of McCaffrey, there are a few observations that deserve to be mentioned.

Observation #1:

SA: Do you work much on fundraising?

SM: The chairman is the lead person for fundraising.

Looks like someone fleeing from a sinking ship. When was the last time the Executive Director didn't work on fundraising? And, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't McCaffrey's fundraising skill touted as one of the main reasons for hiring him?

Here is what Sonoran Alliance posted when McCaffrey was hired.

Sean is also a former Senior Political Analyst and Political Communications Director for the Business-Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) in Washington, DC, providing political consulting services to a majority of Fortune
500 companies, the national business community and leading national associations and organizations. His record-setting political fundraising operation also brought in $10.4 million for more than 100 pro-business congressional candidates
in the 1996 election cycle.

Hmmm…McCaffrey goes from being “record-setting” fundraiser to letting the Chairman take the lead on fundraising? That just doesn’t make sense until you see that according to the FEC website, the AZGOP has raised a paltry $274,000 from January 1, 2007 until May 31, 2007. Ahhhh, now it makes sense. Who wants to be responsible for the worst fundraising numbers in two decades?

Under current management, the AZGOP has raised about ½ of what it raised during the same time period in 2001, 2003, and 2005.

Observation #2:

SA: That sounds like a full plate. Anything else that you are working on?

SM: We have set up two separate accounts - one each for the upcoming state senate and state house races. Since the money is in separate accounts we can track that it will go into those races. In years past there had been some question of what exactly happened to funds that were raised for and meant to be used for
legislative races.

According to the FEC website for the May report, it appears that quite a bit of money raised for the Legislative Salute dinner that is supposed to go into “two separate accounts” actually went into the federal operating account. There are quite a few $250, $500, $2500 and $5,000 checks deposited into the federal account around the time of the dinner. Coincidentally, those are the cost of tickets to the dinner.

Here are some of the more interesting contributions on the FEC report:

Daimler Chrysler PAC: $5,000
Cigna PAC: $ 500
Susan Mardian: $5,000
Stan Barnes: $4,000
Jerry Simms: $2,500
Ronald Simms: $2,500

There is a whole other list of individuals at $250 and $500 that contributed on the day of the dinner. If I were a legislator who raised money for “two separate accounts”, I would be asking a lot of tough questions of Pullen and McCaffrey. It sure looks like they are using money intended for legislative races to help them keep the lights on.

Observation #3:

SA: Speaking of seasons do you have any special events planned for the Fall?

SM: We are trying to get Fred Thompson.

SA: Is that for Trunk-N-Tusk?

SM: Yes. In the Fall. For the final dinner of the year we have
Senator McCain booked, depending on his schedule.

SA: Anyone else or any other events?

SM: We are also trying to get Congressman Mike Pence to visit. And we are working on getting Michael Steele, Chairman
of GOPAC, to visit for a VIP reception at the end of August. We are also talking with Pat Toomey, former Congressman and President of the Club for Growth.

O.K. Does anyone really believe that McCain is “booked” to do an event with the AZGOP? Randy Pullen has been relentless in his attacks on McCain.

After the McCain event doesn’t happen, the are “trying to get Fred Thompson”, “trying to get Congressman Mike Pence”, “working on getting Michael Steele”, and last but not least “talking with Pat Toomey”.

It looks like a lot of “trying” and “talking” but not a lot of getting. Here is my prediction. They have attacked everyone who could help them dig out of this mess. It is only going to get worse – much worse.