By now it is apparent to most that cronyism is the engine that drives the Bush empire.
In a Halloween article, the Toledo Blade writers identify two Republican lobbyists who hand out donations to influence polices, and in return, seemingly net 6 million in federal contracts for their clients.
What isn't included in the Blade's article is that one of those lobbyists, Tom Whatman, has his hands in the GOP attack against the Reform Ohio Now's effort to clean up Ohio elections after the rumored voter disenfranchisement and vote stealing that occurred in the 2004 election.
Let's follow the money:
- The GOP attack group, expertly named Ohio First to muddle the issues involved, has an Ohio First Voter Education Fund, where a Google-based search for that fund name links from the contribution page to Ohio First's home page, PROTECTYOURVOTE.ORG
- PROTECTYOURVOTE.ORG is registered to Lynaugh Brandon (a convenient reversal of the name Brandon Lynaugh -- remember it because it shows up later.)
- Note that the domain of the registrant's email, blynaughAT1spp.com, records only one of the three associated domains while the same initials are suggested in each:
www.1spp.com - http://www.1spp.com
www.onespp.com - http://www.onespp.com
www.strategicpublicpartners.com - http://www.strategicpublicpartners.com
- And who might just be the president of Strategic Public Partners? President of Strategic Public Partners who hosts the form accepting donations for the Educational arm of the Ohio First group attacking Reform Ohio Now (the grassroots organization trying to clean up Ohio election law)?
Tom Whatman
Yes, that Tom Whatman. The lobbyist whom the Blade exposed on Monday as the channel for 6 million dollars in federal contracts to clients.
- Remember Brandon Lynaugh? He just happens to be the Vice President of the same Strategic Public Partners.
- There is a third connection with Strategic Public Partners and Ohio First Voter Education Fund. Darrin Klinger is listed as the Secretary for Ohio First Voter Education Fund on papers of incorporation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. He is the President of Whatman Associates. (Note: He also served as Governor Bob Taft's personal aide and was a Field Representative for the Ohio Republican Party. Klinger took a leave of abscence from his position of V.P. of Political Affairs for Strategic Public Partners to work as the Executive Director of the 2004 Ohio Bush campaign.)
- One last tidbit. A wholly different non-profit, Citizens for Tax Reform, includes Thomas B. Whatman, former executive director of the Ohio Republican Party who is now a Washington consultant. "Citizens for Tax Reform -- whose honorary chairman is Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell -- is seeking a vote on its proposed constitutional amendment in November."
Also posted at the ePluribus Media Community site.