Blackwater isn't doing its own political dirty work this time, they're depending on a wannabe used car salesman.
Marshall Adame, Democratic Congressional candidate in NC-3, received the following letter today from Jim Edwards, the chief staff officer of the Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association. Like his ally at the mercenary company itself, Mr. Edwards apparently has more time on his hands than he has sense.
Mr. Adame:
I am NOT a contractor for Blackwater, I do not deploy to places where others fear to tread and yet I'm very familiar with Blackwater, their personnel, and more importantly their high-level, ethical business practices.
I am the CEO of this country's largest trade association of its genre' and am pleased to call Blackwater a member.
I am also a political activist, control this association's fiscal policies and make recommendations to members vis-a-vis voting for candidates.
I would strongly encourage you to re-visit your thoughts and feelings about Blackwater.
Regards,
James L. (Jim) Edwards, CAE, ARM, AU
Chief Staff Officer
Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association
PO Box 1088
Harrisburg, NC 28075
704-455-2117
I'll write more on this over the next few days, but in the meantime please join me in offering a few suggestions to Mr. Jim Edwards. Help me strongly encourage him to re-visit his thoughts and feelings about Marshall Adame. Strongly encourage him to apologize to Marshall Adame for the intimidating letter he wrote. Strongly encourage him to hire PR counsel to manage the damage that will come from his threatening to use the resources of his organization against a political adversary.
I wonder if the members of Edwards' organization all agree that he should be using his office to make political threats? I wonder if those members will be happy to see the names of their companies plastered all over the blogosphere? I wonder if Mr. Edwards would like to end up on the front page of newspapers all across the land at a time when his members' businesses are in the toilet? Do the Independent Automobile Dealers in North Carolina side with our men and women in the armed forces . . . or do they side with mercenary armies?
Remarkably, Edwards himself was a former Army captain and Vietnam veteran. Like the mercenaries he's defending, the appears to have lost his way.
Organizations that do business with Blackwater are war-profiteers in every sense of the word. The only difference is that some get paid a fortune for their collaboration, while others, like the Carolinas Independent Automobile Dealers Association, get nothing but membership dues.
Please contact Mr. Edwards at director@theciada.com