Back in January, we took note of a story in Politico about political action committees (PACs) set up to raise funds for a variety of conservative Republican candidates and causes. The problem with the committees profiled in this story is that the overwhelming majority of funds raised by them appeared to be paying for staff salaries and overhead–with only a small percentage of moneys raised actually going to fund the public-facing political activities of the group.
One of the so-called “ScamPACs” mentioned in that story was the Stop Hillary PAC, whose chairman is none other than former Colorado Sen. Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch: the same Ted Harvey currently at the center of a major controversy that has riven the Colorado Republican Party, as the failure to hire Harvey as executive director by GOP chairman Steve House resulted (at least in part) in the legally dubious confrontation between House and Attorney General Cynthia Coffman that has dominated political headlines in Colorado for the last two weeks.
Well folks, it looks like Harvey, while he waits for the infighting on his behalf within the Colorado GOP to resolve itself, is keeping plenty busy sending out fundraising emails for the Stop Hillary PAC! Apparently, a damning national news story about PACs that spend an average of 12% of their take on actual programmatic work hasn’t even slowed him down. From Harvey’s missive to Stop Hillary PAC supporters just this week:
Friend we’re launching a critical goal to reach 1 million Americans strong against Hillary.
**If just 786 donors step up in the next 24 hours, we will be able to reach 1 million Americans strong against Hillary BEFORE our June 30th deadline.**
Click this link to donate $15 or $35 securely and help us recruit 20 more Americans to our movement to Stop Hillary?
Your donation of $15 or $35 will go directly towards our efforts to build an army 1 million strong against Hillary Clinton — before she can win the nomination.
But as we prepare for what is sure to be one of the biggest political wars ever waged — I am certain I cannot do it without the support of patriots, like you, who love and stand ready to defend America…
As we noted a couple of days ago, had Harvey been hired as executive director of the Colorado GOP, his role as chairman of the Stop Hillary PAC may have presented a whole new set of election law problems. But beyond that, the stigma of bringing on a “ScamPAC” artist to run the state Republican Party would have been exceedingly bad for the party’s image and fundraising. Bad enough that we would fully accept that as a justifiable reason for House to not hire Harvey, which House ultimately chose not to do despite Harvey’s very public presumption that it was a done deal.
Unfortunately for Steve House, as we now know, Ted Harvey…has powerful friends.
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It's nice to know that Ted kept his day job, especially since the ED position didn't pan out for him.
I really wish Ted luck in draining the wallets of his prey. Better still if he can get that percentage of productive expenditures down to as close to zero as possible while he's at it.
Buy a nice, expensive car! Get a fast boat! Take a cruise! Spend, Teddy, Spend!
You obviously have very fertile hunting grounds, and we certainly don't want you to leave anything for effective GOP campaigns 😉
Agreed…..let's hope none of it trickles down (their favorite phrase) into opposition research and attack ads.
And along with the fast car, fast boat, and other toys, there may also be lawyer retainers if Ted faces testifying before a grand jury about the Out-House scandal….. 🙂
Harvey may be making money, but it doesn't look like it's from the PAC. If the FEC filings are correct and he doesn't have a back-end deal with the vendors, he's only pulling down a grand a month. Maybe that's why the state party job is so important to him.
Back-end deal with the vendors. You mean a Bill Cadman type deal, right?
I wouldn't doubt it for a minute.
Damn, Pcat, did you see the text of the note Harvey (or someone on the STOPHILLARYPAC) wrote to the Federal Election Commission? It was fricking hilarious, almost incoherent, and deeply disturbing.
A select quote:
I really like that "blatant act of partisan shutuppery". But WTF does it mean?? Is this supposed to shame the FEC bureaucrats into allowing an issue committee to raise unlimited funds for its staff and overhead and fleece its donors?
And yeah, I'd think twice before I let that guy be executive director in my organization.
So this is the guy Coffman wanted House to hire? So much so that she was willing to just bring up House's alleged affair in a meeting aimed at getting House to resign for not playing along with the hire? And what about Tanc? Why was he so anxious to get Harvey what he wanted? When is some enterprising MSM reporter going to ask Coffman what she knows about this PAC and Harvey's role in it.
It's fine with me if Harvey wants to beat down Ms. Clinton. I'm backing Bernie 100%, and if you haven't heard of him, I suggest you guys read up on him. You'll find him even better than Ms. Clinton, and does have a great shot of overtaking Clinton within the next few weeks in the polls. His campaign based on the truth and consistency is what's reawakening disaffected and disinterested voters who are tired of the status quo.
Ms. Clinton remains dead last next to Webb on the second choice list.
Pols, just saw this error:
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Yeah, I got that yesterday as well. But it went away once the screen refreshed. Notice it's not in your initial comment.
Bonus points for "riven."
Harvey seems kind of a weasely, but that never means anyone can't be an effective politician. What I don't undersatnd is why he doesn't run for higher office. Colorado elected officials don't get paid great – but at the higer levels it's possible to make a living.
Maybe he runs for US Senate?
Hell- apparetly if he runs for President he can start his own Super PAC and keep all the money.