Will Dennis Richardson's 76 Donors Stand By Him?
Kari Chisholm
Last week, Representative Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) equated a vote in Oregon's Legislature with the mass murder at Virginia Tech.
It seems that he's so blinded by his hatred for gay and lesbian Oregonians that legislation to provide equal rights to them is as "tragic" to him as an insane gunman mowing down innocents. As Joan McCarter pointed out on the front page at DailyKos.com, this is "Grotesque Politicization".
In 2006, Richardson raised over $65,000 - even though his opponent, Richard Koopmans, filed a statement that he wouldn't raise or spend more than $2000. (And Richardson, by the way, won that race 70% to 30%.)
Who did he raise that money from? And will they stand by him and his comments? On the jump, I'll post the list of every single one of his 76 donors who gave over $200 (not exactly a grassroots group, y'know).
In the comments, post contact info for these donors (almost entirely organizations) --- and tell us what you find out when you call them. (Politely, please. They're probably just as appalled as we are.)
$7,578 OREGON HEALTH CARE ASSOC
$6,000 COALITION FOR A HEALTHY OREGON
$3,000 OREGON RIGHT TO LIFE
$2,000 OREGON BEER & WINE DISTRIBUTORS ASSOC/OREGON BEVERAGE PAC
$2,000 OREGON MEDICAL ASSOC
$2,000 OREGON SOFT DRINK ASSOC
$2,000 PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC
$1,500 CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE GRAND RONDE
$1,500 IDAHO POWER
$1,000 APERIONAUDIO.COM
$1,000 CHIROPRACTIC ASSOC OF OREGON/ICE PAC
$1,000 CREDIT UNION LEGISLATIVE ACTION FUND
$1,000 JOHNSON & JOHNSON
$1,000 MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNITIES OF OREGON/PARKPAC
$1,000 MERCK & CO
$1,000 NIKE
$1,000 OREGON ASSOC OF REALTORS
$1,000 OREGON FOREST INDUSTRIES COUNCIL
$1,000 OREGON LOCAL GROCERY CMTE
$1,000 OREGON MANUFACTURED HOUSING ASSOC
$1,000 OREGON RESTAURANT ASSOC/ORPAC
$1,000 OREGON TRUCKERS ASSOC/OREGON TRUCK PAC
$1,000 PACIFICORP
$1,000 REGENCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF OREGON
$1,000 RURAL HEALTH COALITION PAC
$800 OWNERS OPERATORS OF OREGON PAC
$650 NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES
$550 HEALTH CENTER PAC
$500 24 HOUR FITNESS
$500 ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OREGON-COLUMBIA CHAPTER/AGC
$500 CITIGROUP
$500 CONKLING FISKUM & MCCORMICK
$500 CONTRACTORS BONDING & INSURANCE CO
$500 ELI LILLY
$500 GEORGIA-PACIFIC
$500 HAYDEN FAMILY DENTISTRY
$500 MORTGAGE INDUSTRY FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT PAC
$500 NW NATURAL/NATURAL GAS PAC
$500 OREGON AFSCME COUNCIL 75
$500 OREGON AG-PAC
$500 OREGON ASSOC OF HOSPITALS & HEALTH SYSTEMS/HOSPITAL PAC
$500 OREGON AUTO DEALERS ASSOC
$500 OREGON BUSINESS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
$500 OREGON CONCRETE & AGGREGATE PRODUCERS ASSOC
$500 OREGON DENTAL ASSOC/DOPAC
$500 OREGON FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSOC
$500 OREGON OPTOMETRIC PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL
$500 OXLEY, GARY
$500 PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH & MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA
$500 SANOFI-AVENTIS US LLC
$500 SAPERSTEIN, RALPH
$500 THE 409 GROUP
$500 UNITEDHEALTHCARE SERVICES
$500 WASTE MANAGEMENT/WMX TECHNOLOGIES
$267 PORTLAND BUSINESS ALLIANCE
$250 COMMUNITIES FOR OREGONIANS WITH DISABILITIES
$250 HANENBURG, TOM
$250 HARBERT, HENRY L
$250 JOHN POWELL & ASSOCIATES
$250 NATIONAL ASSOC OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL ADVISORS/NAIFA
$250 NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOC POLITICAL VICTORY FUND
$250 NW GRASSROOTS & COMMUNICATIONS
$250 OLESON, BOB
$250 OREGON ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY/FORESIGHT OPHTHALMOLOGY
$250 OREGON CONTRACTORS ASSOC
$250 OREGON HUNTERS ALLIANCE
$250 OREGON MORTGAGE BROKERS PAC
$250 OREGON NURSERIES PAC
$250 OREGON NURSES ASSOC/ON PAC
$250 OREGON REGISTERED DENTAL HYGIENISTS ASSOC
$250 QWEST COMMUNICATIONS
$250 RIGGS, DOUGLAS J
$250 WILLIAMS COMPANIES
$200 AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF OREGON/ACEC OREGON PAC
$200 MOORE, LUZ A
$200 OREGONIANS FOR FOOD & SHELTER/FIRSTVOTE PAC
Again, if you call, be polite. Get a hold of the government relations office - or the executive office.
Ask 'em if they also believe that a vote in the legislature is equivalent to the mass murder at Virginia Tech. And ask 'em if they're planning on supporting a politician who thinks it is.
Let us know what you find out.
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connect with blueoregon
10:33 p.m.
Apr 25, '07
Oregon Health Care Association 11740 SW 68th Parkway Suite 250 Portland, OR 97223 Phone: 503-726-5260 Fax: 503-726-5259
Coalition for a Healthy Oregon 1462 Commercial St., NE Salem, OR 97301 Phone: (503) 485-0660 Contact: Cindy Becker, Executive Director
10:34 p.m.
Apr 25, '07
Another thing: there are 3 Republicans who voted "aye" on both of these bills, Burley, Berger and Jensen. I wonder how they feel about a leader of their caucus comparing their vote to the decision to murder 32 people.
Apr 25, '07
Looks like your union boys gave money to Richardson. Nurses and AFSCME. I guess you should rip on them too, eh?
Kari, you put on weight?
Apr 25, '07
I'm pretty sure that all of these guys will stand behind him, and that Oregon Right to LIfe and these other groups don't care what you think. Call it a hunch...
10:42 p.m.
Apr 25, '07
NW Grassroots & Communications 7555 SW Hermoso, #200 Portland, Oregon 97223 phone: 503-702-5120 phone: 503-597-3866 fax: 503-597-3868
Aperion Audio 18151 SW Boones Ferry Road Portland, OR 97224 Phone: 503.598.8815 Fax: 503-598-8831
Oregon Beer & Wine Distributors Assn. Inc. Paul R. Romain Executive Director 707 SW Washington St., Ste. 927 Portland, OR 97205 Email: [email protected] Phone: 503-228-2337 Fax: 503-224-6148
Portland General Electric William Valach Director, Investor Relations 121 SW Salmon St. Portland, OR 97204 E-mail [email protected] Phone 503-464-7458 FAX 503-464-2236
10:51 p.m.
Apr 25, '07
Looks like your union boys gave money to Richardson. Nurses and AFSCME.
They're not "my" union boys. Believe it or not, I'm not the grand puppeteer of Oregon politics. Frankly, I'd like to hear what they have to say about donating to him, too.
Apr 25, '07
Associated General Contractors 9450 S.W. Commerce Circle, Suite 200 Wilsonville, Oregon 97070 Legislative Affairs Manager Jessica Adamson 503-682-3363 or 800-826-6610
Apr 26, '07
Nike?!!?!
12:51 a.m.
Apr 26, '07
The remainder of the $1000 givers...
OREGON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Address: PO Box 351 Salem, OR 97308 Phone: (503) 362-3645 Fax: (503) 362-9615
EMail: [email protected] Home Page: http://www.oregonrealtors.org
Oregon Forest Industries Council PO Box 12826 Salem, Oregon 97309 (503) 371-2942<span class="green_subhead"> For Media and Legislative Contacts:</span> Ray Wilkeson, Public Affairs Director
Oregon Manufactured Housing Association (800) 458-6449 [email protected]
Oregon Local Grocery Committee Address 8565 SW SALISH LN STE 100 WILSONVILLE OR, 97070 Treasurer Mr. E. Joe Gilliam Home Phone deleted here but is public record Work Phone (503)685-6293
Oregon Trucking Association 4005 SE Naef Rd Portland, OR 97267 Phone Number: 503-513-0005 Fax Number: 503-513-0008 Treasurer Mr. Robert E. Russell
Pacific Power (Oregon Pacificorp) 825 NE Multnomah, Portland, OR 97232 toll free at 1-888-221-7070 [email protected]
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon P.O. Box 1271 Portland OR 97207-1271 (503) 225-5336 (Portland) 1 (800) 452-7390 1 (800) 382-1003 (TTY Line)
Chiropractic Association of Oregon Plaza 205 10570 S.E. Washington St. Suite 201 Portland, OR 97216 New Phone#: (503) 256-1601 New Fax#: (503) 256-1602
Credit Union Legislative Action Fund Address PO BOX 1900 BEAVERTON OR, 97075 Treasurer Ms. Pamela P. Leavitt Work Phone (503)641-8420
Ernie Knewitz of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., +1-908-927-2953, [email protected] (hey, he writes the press releases)
Manufactured Housing Communities of Oregon 1-800-488-6426
Merck & Co., Inc. One Merck Drive P.O. Box 100 Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100 USA Phone: 908-423-1000 Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM ET
Nike World Headquarters One Bowerman Drive Beaverton, OR 97005-6453 Phone: 1-800-344-6453 Monday through Friday 6 a.m. - 4 p.m. PST
Apr 26, '07
I'm rather distressed to read about the support coming from the Oregon Beer & Wine Distributors Assn. Inc. having given them so much business over the years.
i suspect the contact should be promain@teleport.com, not teleprot.com
Apr 26, '07
Looks like your union boys gave money to Richardson. Nurses and AFSCME. I guess you should rip on them too, eh?
Kari, you put on weight?
I think Mark doesn't understand how liberals work. We believe in a fair system where everyone is held accountable. Unlike, Mark... and his "boys" (gay pun intended), who never doubts that every single right-wing child molester is entirely innocent and the victim is at fault. Isn't that right?
Apr 26, '07
Frankly, I know both Koopmans and Richardson personally. Don't give me this garbage about how "I don't understand liberals." AFSCME and ONA gave plenty of money to other Republican candidates, too. Koopmans didn't raise any money because he wasn't in it to win it. And, he was trying to protect his minor criminal record.
But, maybe you're right. I just don't understand liberals. I can't imagine why many of these good decent companies and interest groups, many of which employ thousands of people in Jackson County, would be supportive of a man who represents their values.
I look at that list and see a diverse group of interests. You make connections with no association. Dennis is a good and decent family man who would never make such comparisons. They know that and so should you.
Why don't you go after real dirtbags like Sal Esquivel instead of decent people like Dennis Richardson.
Apr 26, '07
Mark -
Perhaps the reason there isn't a call to go after Sal Esquival is due to his lack of published newsletter equating the VaTech tragedy to the passage of legislation regarding gay rights.
Even if he is a decent individual in his personal life - his political protestations are despicable and he needs to be held accountable for them. So, if you'd like to start a post on Mr. Esquival - have at it.
This is about Representative Richardson doing something that deserves an expalanation, and making sure his donors (like Nike, who has a very active LGBT employee group) know to question him as well.
Apr 26, '07
[Off-topic and childish namecalling deleted. -editor.]
Apr 26, '07
[Response to off-topic and childish namecalling deleted. -editor.]
Apr 26, '07
[Off-topic and childish namecalling deleted. -editor.]
Apr 26, '07
hey moderator, are you going to liberalincarnate get away with that crap? I'd rather let everything go on the blog, but if there are going to be rules about who can post and what can be posted those rules need to be applied consistently.
[No, we're not. Thanks for the heads up. -editor.]
1:47 p.m.
Apr 26, '07
We did give Sal Esquivel a good challenge in 2006..he beat the Democratic challenger, Mike Moran by only 800 votes. Sal has been running to the center and a little left ever since.
Apr 26, '07
uhmmmm....what was this thread supposed to be about again? Take it outside, please. I'll try and get hold of some of these organizations after work and report back.
Apr 26, '07
Having worked on the same floor as Sal during the 2005 session he strikes me as an honorable, if conservative, R. I get the feeling that he wouldn't, for example, buy into negative ads being run in his name. He's a Medford native and frankly, although I would certainly prefer to see a D of course, if we had 29 Sals as the Rs, we wouldn't be in as much trouble as we are.
Apr 26, '07
Liberalincarnate,
You are way out of line. I didn't say anything anti-gay. I simply said that the attack on Richardson was not warranted as I believe he does NOT make a comparison between VATech and the gay discrimination bill. I happen to like Dennis personally and think he represents his district well.
I will say that I stood with Basic Rights, Jeffrey Foust and those who opposed Measure 36 in 2004--an issue I did not side with my party on. You have no right to call me anti-gay or anything. You are pathetic.
10:06 p.m.
Apr 26, '07
This blogger from Virginia Tech is as bothered by Richardson's remarks as...well...as one would expect. He calls the comments "unconscionable, atrocious, and just plain wrong." Dennis Richardsn has a long record that establishes him pretty clearly as a bigot. Maybe when one belongs to one group the GOP hates (Richardson is a trial lawyer), he must be extra hateful and irrational toward another (gays and lesbians).
I wonder if any of Richardson's patrons--and, damn right, I do include AFSCME and the Nurses in that--see it that way? Or his colleagues who didn't vote his way on the civil rights bill.
Apr 26, '07
Strictly, Richardson did not compare the mass murder to gay civil rights. He juxtaposed them and let readers make the link if they were so disposed. I don't know if he hates gays, but this and his previous newsletter, which I received for some unknown reason, demonstrate that he doesn't care much that gays face discrimination in Oregon.
12:05 a.m.
Apr 27, '07
Yeah, but I think juxtaposing two one-day events side-by-side and putting them under a headline of "A Tragic Week..." implies that both are "tragic". Perhaps not exactly equally so, but at least reasonably equivalent.
He certainly included no qualifier like "Somewhat less tragic, but still awful..." or something like that.
Again, I'll keep saying this: I disagree with his views on equal rights - but that's hardly the point. Would any of us argue that any bill passed by the Oregon House be even remotely as evil as the cold-blooded murders of 32 people?
11:39 a.m.
Apr 27, '07
so has anyone called anyone? I spent some time doing all the $1,000 donors, but I haven't contacted any of them yet.
Apr 27, '07
Torrid,
If you want to see financial support for Richardson withdrawn, I think it would be more effective to work toward embarrassing the funders publicly than in calling them to complain. If a group like AFSCME would give him money, although most of its would likely dislike most of Richardson's positions, why would the union care if BlueOregon folks care? Certainly, groups like Right to Life would care even less.
Contributions are all about buying influence. A group needs to perceive a real downside to supporting an elected official before pulling their money. A few phone calls won't do it. A few media stories might.
3:30 p.m.
Apr 27, '07
Tom, before one can properly "complain" IMO, you should first establish that they know what's going on. As indicated here, it's likely that many have no idea what he's written.
In my view the proper first step is to contact them and ask whether they are aware, and then ask whether being aware changes their support or causes them to repudiate what's been said. If either of those are true, I don't believe a media campaign against them is the proper course. That should be reserved for those who are made aware of the issue, pledge to continue their support for Richardson, and do not renounce what was said.
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