Did ACU Ask $2-million for “Pay to Play”?
The American Conservative Union asked Fed Ex for a check for $2 million to $3 million in return for the group’s support in a bitter legislative dispute, then the group’s chairman flipped and sided with UPS after FedEx refused to pay.
In a nutshell: UPS is highly unionized and operates under one set of rules very favorable to unionization, FedEx operates under a different and less favorable set. FedEx operates with a teamwork mentality. At UPS, it’s us versus them. UPS wants the same law applied to FedEx, its only major competitor.
For the $2 million plus, ACU offered a range of services that included: “Producing op-eds and articles written by ACU’s Chairman David Keene and/or other members of the ACU’s board of directors. (Note that Mr. Keene writes a weekly column that appears in The Hill.)”
The conservative group’s remarkable demand — black-and-white proof of the longtime Washington practice known as “pay for play” — was contained in a private letter to FedEx , which was provided to POLITICO.
This story surfaced earlier in the week on some conservative Websites, but is on Yahoo News today. Now Keene and ACU are saying that Keene was operating independently and not representing the ACU. Here’s a pdf of the letter the ACU never sent.
Here’s a letter the ACU and other so-called conservative groups sent to the chairman of FedEx. In essence, they are backing union work rules for Fed Ex. These great “conservatives” would sell us out in a minute to line their own pockets.
Here’s the brownbailout website the “conservatives” don’t like.
For those of you who are not aware of David Keene, in addition to serving as President of the ACU, his primary income comes from being a managing associate of the Carmen Group, a Washington, DC lobbying group. He has made large contributions to former Republican Senator Arlen Specter, a true conservative if there ever was one. Keene has made millions “influence peddling” as a GOP insider since the 1980.
Another major player in the Carman Group is Victor Kamber, big force in the Democratic Party and long-time labor activist.
Keene is the poster boy for what’s wrong with the GOP and the conservative movement. The longer you look at Keene’s photo, the more you’ll feel the need of a bath with lots of soap.
Could the UPS truck have a delivery for David Keene?
Hat tip: Politico.
[1]
Is ACU registered as a lobbying firm? Don’t lobbying firms do this all the time?
[2]
It appears the ACU is more or less for sale. Along with everyone else.
[3]
Yahoo -
The ACU is supposed supposed to be conservative. Why would it side with a highly-unionized company (and Democrats in Congress) to force union-friendly legislation that would favor UPS over Fed Ex?
It’s like you donating to Bill Nelson the next time he runs.
A number of conservative blogs are calling for Keene’s resignation. To quote Martha Stewart, “That’s a good thing.”
[4]
I know.
I’m saying I’m sure everyone does it. Just another “brick in the wall”, dood.
[5]
Homie looks like Dennis Prager.
[6]
And my point is that the influence these “Washington Insiders” have is what has destroyed the GOP.
I hate Democratic startegists as much as you do, but one thing I do admire about them is that no matter how nutty their cause is, they are willing to sink with it. On the GOP side, people like Keene, Mike Murphy and Kevin Madden always appear as though they are for sale to the highest bidder.
[7]
KnightHawk -
“Homie looks like Dennis Prager.”
Only sleezier.
[8]
Obama will probably start up a presser pretty quickly now. I bet even he didn’t know Fedex was conducting business unfairly by operating as a non-union shop like UPS.
Question is, does Obama simply replace the CEO with one of his own or does he create a new “Delivery Czar” and let that person take care of it?
BTW, now that I know Fedex isn’t a union shop while UPS is. . . .
[9]
Tony -
You can never have too many czars? After all, it’s only money.
[10]
BC, I was reading about the Walpin firing over at HotAir. HERE
One of the commenters there mentioned the senility test Glenn Beck gave Walpin on air, so I had to go and find it. I must have missed that show. Anyway, here it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-8gZ8BrIA0 .
[11]
I saw this on New Majority. Absolutely disgraceful. Now wonder despite lip service, the GOP did nothing to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. They are just as interested in keeping power concetrated in DC as the Dems.