It’s not unusual for congressional candidates to return campaign contributions once a donor is exposed as controversial. No one, for example, wants to be connected with taking money from a criminal.
But what if the contentious donor is your party’s leader in Congress?
New Hampshire’s Jeb Bradley (R) may not realize it, but he’s done something very significant by rejecting Tom DeLay’s political contributions.
Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., says he will return $15,000 in campaign funds from former House majority leader Tom DeLay’s political action committee. […]
In a statement to the New Hampshire Union Leader, Bradley said that though the political action committee that gave him money is not under investigation he is returning it to remove any question about the nature of the contribution.
Now, it’s possible Bradley is going to change his mind — or, more likely, one of his GOP superiors will change it for him — but if Bradley does return the money, it establishes a precedent. A Republican incumbent, in a relatively safe “red” district, has concluded that DeLay’s money is tainted. So much so, that he’d rather not have it in his campaign coffers.
This invariably means other Republican House members will face pressure to do the same thing. In fact, it’s already begun.
The Wyoming Democratic Party Wednesday called on Republican U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin to surrender the $22,520 she has received from Rep. Tom DeLay’s political action committee. […]
In a news release, the Wyoming Democratic Party suggested Cubin donate the contribution from DeLay to charity. “Any money Barbara Cubin received from Tom DeLay’s political action committee is tainted by his suspicious campaign finance activities and should have no place in Wyoming politics,” said Wyoming Democratic Party Communications Director Bill Luckett. “Instead of using that money to further her political ambitions, Barbara Cubin should take the high road and give up those funds.”
Cubin, of course, doesn’t quite see it that way, but that’s what makes Jeb Bradley’s decision all the more interesting. Soon, every Republican lawmaker facing a re-election challenge will be asked, “Representative, you’ve taken thousands of dollars from Tom DeLay, who was recently indicted on a criminal conspiracy charge. One of your GOP colleagues has agreed to give the money back; why won’t you?”
Update: It’s happening in Iowa too.
Iowa Democrats are calling on GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle to return $15,000 in campaign contributions he received from U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay’s political action committee for congressional races in 2002 and 2004.
More to come, I’m sure.