NOTE 1: I do not normally do this but I am asking that you please SHARE THIS THREE PART SERIES with friends in any way you can. Facebook, e-mail, however. I believe exposing corruption is necessary.
NOTE 2: I support the Tea Party Movement 100% and the original goals set forth: a) to promote fiscal responsibility b) to promote government accountability and c) promote government transparency.
NOTE 3: I support Sharron Angle and pray she is able to defeat Harry Reid on November 2nd.
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ShamWow!!! You know the product. It is the towel sold on infomercials that will suck up Lake Tahoe with one 12 inch by 12 inch piece. It seems like an amazing product and there are people who swear by it. But I bet most of us, when we hear ShamWow, immediately think of Vince Shlomi. Shlomi is the 40 something, spike haired pitch man who sells the towels. Most know of the infamous story of Vince getting beat up by a hooker he hired. The photos were blasted all over the internet. So you have a great product being promoted by a not so honorable pitch man. It can taint the product and make it less appealing. It can call the product into question – guilty by association. To be honest I am shocked that the ShamWow folks didn’t drop this guy immediately.
In politics we have our own version of ShamWow. It is known as the Tea Party Movement. This is a great “product”. Unfortunately the Tea Party Movement has its own Vince Shlomi’s. Those who make the Movement less palatable. Those who talk the talk but in reality don’t walk the walk. Those whose walk is based in the almighty dollar. Be clear – their desire for money has nothing to do with Capitalism but is based in scamming those who desire real change, i.e. greed. They ask for money to promote “the cause” but in reality it is to line the pockets of the leaders and promote only change that benefits them.
Here is where I will get myself into trouble with some. The most egregious “Vince Shlomi” in the Tea Party Movement is the Tea Party Express. They are the largest, best known and most popular of all of the Tea Party Movement groups. Many of us, me included, have participated in their rallies. But again, their vision is NOT the same as the Movement. Their vision is about lining their pockets at the expense of good people who truly want to make a difference.
This is the first of a three part series I am writing to discuss the Tea Party Express and their less than ethical behavior. I ask that even if you are a believer in the Express you read this with an open mind. Remember I too was an Express supporter – until reality smacked me in the face. The three articles will be:
Part 1 – The groups and businesses associated with the Tea Party Express and their Principals
Part 2 – The individuals associated with the Tea Party Express and their “extended families”
Part 3 – Tying it all together
So let’s start by looking at the groups:
CLUE #1: Pay attention to Sal Russo and Russo, Marsh and Rogers, Inc.
The Groups:
Our Country Deserves Better PAC, Sacramento, Ca. – OCDB PAC was developed in 2008 to oppose the election of Barack Obama. Originally Sal Russo intended to let it die after the 2008 election. It is now one of the largest Conservative PACs. According to FEC filings in a 5 month period (July 2009 – November 2009) the PAC raised $1.33M. Of that $857K (64.4%) was returned to the parent company Russo, Marsh and Rogers or their associates.
Tea Party Express, Sacramento, Ca. – The TPX was started in August of 2009 (the first TPX bus tour). It was the brainchild of Joe Wierzbicki and the Our Country Deserves Better PAC. Wierzbicki is a Principal in Russo, Marsh and Rogers.
Russo, Marsh and Rogers, Inc., Sacramento, Ca. – The main company. Republican Party – affiliated public relations firm. RM&R trades under the name King Media Group. Both operate from the same postal address. Though they have differing phone numbers the FAX numbers are identical.
According to an FEC report dating from July 1, 2009 to November 19, 2009 (the development and execution period for the first Tea Party Express Tour) Russo, Marsh and Rogers charged the Tea Party Express/Our Country Deserves Better PAC $782,154.34 in services and fees.
King Media Group LLC, Sacramento, Ca. – An advertising and consulting firm. This is a mirror company to Russo, Marsh and Rogers, Inc.
According to an FEC report dating from July 1, 2009 to November 19, 2009 (the development and execution period for the first Tea Party Express Tour) the King Media Group charged the Tea Party Express/Our Country Deserves Better PAC $168,438.20 in services and fees.
Russo, Watts and Rollins, Sacramento, Ca. – Russo Watts & Rollins is a Republican political consulting firm. The firm was formed by Sal Russo, Doug Watts and Ed Rollins.
Move America Forward / PAC, Sacramento, Ca. – Formed in 2004 by Russo, Marsh and Rogers, Inc. , Howard Kooligan and Melanie Morgan. It is a non-profit, pro Iraq war organization. First formed as Move America Forward, then they added the Move America Forward Freedom PAC (2008). As a non-profit organization they are not required to reveal its funders to the public. The MAF website was originally registered to RM&R.
Betty Presley and Associates, Inc. – A CPA and campaign finance Management Company. It is owned and operated by Betty Presley who is also the Treasurer for both the Our Country Deserves Better PAC/Tea Party Express and the Move America Forward PAC.
According to an FEC report dating from July 1, 2009 to November 19, 2009 (the development and execution period for the first Tea Party Express Tour) Betty Presley and Associates, Inc. charged the Tea Party Express/Our Country Deserves Better PAC $13,438 in services and fees.
Republican Liberty Caucus / PAC, National – It is considered the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. It also operates a political Action Committee, RLC-USA PAC. It was formed in 1992.
National Tax Limitation Committee, Roseville, Ca. – Anti-tax group formed in 1975 Lew Uhler.
According to an FEC report dating from July 1, 2009 to November 19, 2009 (the development and execution period for the first Tea Party Express Tour) the National Tax Limitation Committee charged the Tea Party Express/Our Country Deserves Better PAC $1000 in services and fees.
American Conservative Union, Alexandria, Va. – Conservative lobby group formed in 1964.
Eusatrix Corporation, New York and Sacramento, Ca. – Public Relations and Political Consulting firm founded in 2007 by Republican phenom Kelly Eustis.
According to an FEC report dating from July 1, 2009 to November 19, 2009 (the development and execution period for the first Tea Party Express Tour) the Eusatrix Corporation charged the Tea Party Express/Our Country Deserves Better PAC $14,650 in services and fees.
This may all seem a little dry but the truth is a pattern is developing. Over the next two installments you will be able to see that almost all of the money spent by the OCDB PAC/Tea Party Express is sent to companies owned and operated by staff of Russo, Marsh and Rogers or one of their associated companies. The buck stops here and it seems to always get traced back to RM&R.
