Here's a rumor around flying Ohio today (I got it in two different emails):
The Republicans have chosen the Mary Jo Kilroy, Zach Space and Bob Shamansky races as their National GOTV Firewall efforts.
Matt Kellner, Bush/Cheney 2004 Ohio GOTV Director and now Les Wexner's Political Director, was overheard telling insiders last night that the GOP has rented 3000 rooms in the Central Ohio Area next week for GOTV! Hill Staffers and other GOP political operatives will be flying into Central Ohio from all over the country to participate. Debra Pryce is footing part of the bill as a field organization/GOTV expense.
Whether it's true or not, the Wexner/Pryce connection is real enough.
Wexner heads Victoria's Secret and Limited Brands. And his latest connection with Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) was back on Sept. 29 when he hosted an invitation-only fund-raiser for Pryce, attended by Bush, which raised $650,000.
Here's a telephoto of Bush sneaking into Columbus for the Pryce fund-raiser.
(Note: The same night, Pryce's Democratic opponent,
Mary Jo Kilroy, had a
fund-raiser that raised $18,600--and yet
KILROY IS AHEAD!.
Donate to Kilroy here--obviously, she gives you a LOT of bang for your donation buck!)
But the Wexner fund-raiser is just the latest connection. Remember that Pryce is #4 in the Republican Congressional hierarchy, she was hand-picked by Tom "Forced Sex in Saipan" DeLay, and has held 10 fund-raisers at Jack "Sweatshop" Abramoff's Signatures restaurant.
So no wonder Wexner is cozy with Pryce! It's nice to have friends to help you get away with 15-hour shifts in unsanitary conditions.
So in view of all that, why am I NOT boycotting? Well (apart from the fact that, as a gay guy, why would I buy that stuff anyway?) I just spent an hour surfing the web, and I can't find ANY major clothing retailer that is NOT ass-deep in sweatshoppery. (Maybe you can find one. Good luck.)
So what to do instead of boycotting? I was pondering that question when I recalled that two different friends told me they were hung up on while calling Republican lawmakers offices. Apparently, if you are not a lobbyist with a serious offer, don't tie up the phone lines. And then I thought, why would anyone in the general public waste time calling/writing/emailing a Republican? Other than the entertainment value of annoying them, it's pointless.
And then the revelation: GO TO THE SOURCE! So next time you start to contact Deborah Pryce, FORGET IT. Instead, contact them what brought her to the dance, and ask THEM to pass the question on. Being in sales, I am sure Mr. Wexner will be much more accommodating than Mrs. You-Gotta-Pay-the-Pryce.
EXAMPLE Dear Mr. Wexner. Could you please ask Rep Pryce...During Bush's visit to Columbus for her fund-raiser, he only had a "telephoto opportunity," one photo from which is shown above (see the whole series here). So who are the people in this tele-photo? Or are we allowed to ask?
Extra credit homework:
- Directory. Maybe someone should start a "Which Companies to Contact to Get Through to This Slimy Republican Lawmaker" directory.
- Photoshop Assignment. Anybody want to put Deborah Pryce's head on a Victoria's Secret model's body? (Hey! I'm gay so you can't call me sexist. Nya nya nya!)
Sample head: