November 28, 2007 01:44 AM UTC

Cranberg Donation Bites Polis...Again

• 0 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

Democrat Joan Fitz-Gerald’s campaign for congress in CD-2 took a swipe at fellow Democrat Jared Polis today for taking several campaign donations from people associated with the Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry.

Among the donors who have given to Polis are Republican Alex Cranberg, the foremost proponent of vouchers in Colorado (click below for the full press release from Fitz-Gerald’s campaign). Cranberg’s donation likely cost Polis the endorsement of the Colorado Education Association and has made it hard for him to get away from his prior support of vouchers, which is a no-no in a Democratic primary.

We’ve questioned the Cranberg donation before, and these other donations are also odd. Polis doesn’t need any help, raising money, and he has the personal wealth to fund his campaign anyway. So why risk negative press for a $2,000 check when you don’t need it? For some candidates, the check is worth the bad press, but not for Polis.

Campaign finance reports filed by 2nd Congressional District candidate Jared Polis for the 2nd and 3rd Quarter of 2007, reveal he has accepted at least five donations totaling $6,350 from individuals who also contributed to the Swift Boat and POWs for Truth 527 www.swiftvets.com . This is the same group that thrashed U.S. Senator John Kerry’s record during the 2004 presidential campaign and each contributor has long history of Republican donations.

“How does Jared reconcile accepting money from people, who not only support the war in Iraq, but did everything they could to destroy John Kerry’s honorable record?” said Mary Alice Mandarich, campaign manager for Joan Fitz-Gerald, former President of the Colorado State Senate. “First Jared said he would not accept money from lobbyists, but he did. Then he tried to backtrack on his support of vouchers. Now he goes to Iraq to stop the war, but is funding his campaign from people who are perpetuating it. Jared can’t have it both ways.”

Donations from Swift Boat Veterans include:

Alex Meruelo Donated $10,000 to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and $2,300 to Jared Polis: According to Campaign Finance Reports filed with the FEC, Alex Meruelo of Downey, California donated $10,000 to Swift Boat Vets and POWs for Truth on 11/23/2004. According to Jared Polis’s campaign finance report filed with the FEC he accepted $ 2,300 from Alex Meruelo of Downey California on 8/01/2007. [SBVT Campaign finance data from the FEC, accessed 10/19/2007, Polis October Quarterly FEC filed 10/15/2007]

Alex Cranberg, A Swift Boat Veteran for Truth Contributor, Gave $2,300 to Polis: According to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2nd quarter of 2007 Alex Cranberg of Denver, Colorado and Aspect Management Corporation gave $2,300 to Jared Polis on June 1, 2007. Cranberg is also on record with the FEC as giving $2,500 to the 527 Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth on 08/25/2004. [Polis July Quarterly FEC filed 7/13/2007, SBVT Campaign finance data from the FEC, accessed 10/19/2007]

Lee Beaman, A Swift Boat Veteran for Truth Contributor, Donated $1,000 to Jared Polis: According to campaign finance reports filed with the FEC, Lee Beaman of Nashville, TN contributed $1,000 to Jared Polis in August of 2007. Beaman has a long history of contributing heavily to Republican candidates and causes including $3,500 to Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth ($2,500 on 9/4/2004 & $1,000 on 10/10/2004 according to reports filed with the FEC. [Polis October Quarterly FEC filed 10/15/2007, SBVT Campaign finance data from the FEC, accessed 10/19/2007]

Lee Beaman Has Donated over $436,061 to Various Candidates Since 1993: According to campaign finance data from OpenSecrets.org Lee Beaman has contributed heavily to Republican candidates and causes making net contributions of $439,061 since 1993. [OpenSecrets.org, accessed 10/17/2007]

William Fickling Jr., A Swift Boat Veteran for Truth Contributor, Donated $500 to Jared Polis: According to campaign finance reports filed with the FEC William Fickling Jr of Macon, Georgia donated $500 to Jared Polis in July of 2007. William Fickling Jr of Macon, Georgia also donated $2000 to Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth ($1,000 on 8/23/2004 and $1,000 on 10/25/2004) according to reports filed with the FEC. [Polis October Quarterly FEC filed 10/15/2007, SBVT Campaign finance data from the FEC, accessed 10/19/2007]

William Fickling Jr. Has Donated over $10,800 to Various Candidates Since 1994: According to campaign finance data from OpenSecrets.org William Fickling Jr. has contributed $10,800 to mostly Republican candidates since 1994. [OpenSecrets.org, accessed 10/17/2007]

Arthur Gray Jr. Donated $250 to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and Jared Polis: According to Campaign Finance Reports filed with the FEC, Arthur Gray Jr. of Haverhill, NH donated $250 to the Swift Boat Vets and POWs for Truth on 10/02/2004 and $250 to Jared Polis on 08/27/2007. [SBVT Campaign finance data from the FEC, accessed 10/19/2007, Polis October Quarterly FEC filed 10/15/2007]

“These contributions raise serious questions. Why would all these people, who are the polar opposites of the Democrats in the 2nd Congressional District which voted nearly 60 percent for Kerry in 2004, donate to his campaign? Furthermore, why would Jared ask or accept a contribution from them knowing what they believe? Does he support Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and what they did to John Kerry?” asked Mandarich. “We call on Jared to return these tainted donations.”