Another day, another email to Dan Froomkin (WaPo).
I won't claim credit, but in his column today, he mentioned the main points of the email I sent him yesterday (including the same WashTimes cite!):
Interestingly, however, Thernstrom was until very recently a Republican. (And according to the Washington Times, nominally independent commissioner Russell Redenbaugh was a Republican at one point, too.)
The commission's rules state that not more than four members shall at any one time be of the same political party.
So how, um, convenient that the two commissioners had such propitious changes in their political affiliation.
Today's email after the break....
Hi Dan -- Thanks for staying on the USCCR fishy-business.
Do you know upon what basis "political affiliation" is determined? Is it merely a matter of self-identification, or is some tangible evidence required? Voter registration? If so, what about states like MN where we don't register a party choice? Is it possible to find out the voter registration of non-elected public servants?
According to opensecrets.org, Commission members have made the following contributions to political organizations and candidates:
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
THERNSTROM, ABIGAIL M MS LEXINGTON,MA 02420
4/20/2000 $1,000 Bush, George W
7/9/2004 $500 Bush, George W
Total: 2000-2004 $1,500 (All Republican)
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
TAYLOR, ASHLEY L MR JR RICHMOND,VA 23226
9/30/2004 $290 Sears, Winsome E
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
REYNOLDS, GERALD A FAIRFAX,VA 22033
4/23/1998 $250 Glenn, Dylan C
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
REDENBAUGH, RUSSELL PHILADELPHIA,PA 19106
11/1/1990 $500 Specter, Arlen
11/2/1990 $250 Weldon, Curt
11/13/1990 $1,000 Rappaport, James W
11/13/1990 $1,000 Rappaport, James W
3/14/1991 $1,000 Republican National Cmte
6/26/1991 $500 Republican Federal Cmte of Pennsylvania
10/16/1991 $500 Thornburgh, Dick
10/16/1991 $250 Republican Federal Cmte of Pennsylvania
11/1/1991 $500 Allen, William Barclay
11/1/1991 $500 Allen, William Barclay
5/18/1992 $1,000 Bush, George
4/25/1994 $250 Specter, Arlen
3/5/1997 $5,000 Freedom & Free Enterprise PAC
10/30/1998 $1,000 Freedom & Free Enterprise PAC
Total: 1990-1998 $13,250 (All Republican)
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
==
(In the interest of fairness: MFBerry 1999 Net: $225 Ralph Neas, although if memory serves MFB has publicly asserted that she's been a registered Independent since before her first appointment to the Commission.)
Thanks again for your attention to this example of executive manipulation of the tools of gov't. -- much appreciated!
Fact is, the USCCR web site still says Thernstrom's political affiliation is Repug. ISTM that Congress has oversight of the Commission, even though Pres appointments don't require Senate confirmation.
I can understand if people think this issue is pretty low on the priority list, but at least one of Bush's new appointments is blatantly illegal and he shouldn't get away with it.