Washblog || Supreme Court Doorbeller Sighting in Kent

Supreme Court Doorbeller Sighting in Kent

By Dennis Higgins
Thu Jul 13, 2006 at 06:32:46 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Washington Courts

[Front paged NM: The most important issue this election cycle IMO -- the influx of special interest $ into our election process.]

My wife was doorbelled Tuesday night 7/11 by an attractive young woman, a recent graduate from our daughter's high school who said she worked for "Walking for Washington". She was bearing a palm pilot.

"That group is funded and administered by the Building Industry Association of Washington. The BIAW has donated at least $118,000 this year, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. The business PAC United for Washington has donated $10,000. BIAW is the largest donor to United for Washington, having given $20,000 in March. Other recent big donors include $10,000 from Philip Morris and $10,000 from the Washington Restaurant Association PAC. Elliot Swaney, BIAW's political director, told me that donations to Walking for Washington have also come from the Farm Bureau, the Restaurant Association and a timber industry group."
-David Postman in the Seattle Times

They didn't want to talk to me, just my wife. (I'm already on the walking lists as a Democratic donor.)

She stated they are a "non-partisan research group doing a survey, gathering information about supreme court candidates".

She asked:

Do you know who Steve Johnson is? my wife said yes

Would you support him? my wife said no

do you know who John Groene is? my wife said no

Out of these four issues, what is more important: gay marriage, criminal justice, property rights, abortion (pick two)? my wife picked gay rights and criminal justice

Do you support legalizing gay marriage? my wife said yes

She stated "all we ask is that everyone participate in the political process".

Walking home from the bus stop the next evening I saw another doorbeller who was not knocking but just dropping slim jims at selected households. After I turned a corner I went up on a neighbor's porch to see what he was dropping: a two-sided slim jim promoting John Groen for Supreme Court on one side and Steve Johnson for Supreme Court on the other.

We did not get one at my house, apparently because my wife gave an unfavorable response.

So, here's how it works in a nutshell: they send out a pretty info. gatherer with a palm pilot the first day, and drop lit the second day to folks they've just ID'ed (and while the names are still relatively fresh in the minds of their targets).

Slick. Amazing what millions of dollars can do.

Democracy in action? No. Big money in action. Nothing democratic about it. This is what we're up against.

< Now this is strange (4th CD) | Cantwell Saga >

Supreme Court Doorbeller Sighting in Kent | 3 comments (3 topical)

How do we get our democracy back?

We've got to find ways to get this dirty money out of our elections. As Rep. Miloscia says, the influx of special interest $ is the biggest travesty in our state.

The interests of these groups -- developers, tobacco companies, etc. are making money and overturning regulations. They don't care about people and communities, they care about profit. They should not be determining who gets to be the judges in our state's highest court. But that is exactly what they're trying to do. It's sick.

How do they advertise? How do they hook into people's loyalty? By engaging them on issues of social morality.

They don't care about morality. The way the majority of these businesses do business harms community and public health. It's creepy.

by noemie maxwell on Thu Jul 13, 2006 at 11:41:43 AM PST

* 1 5.00 1 *

Walking for Washington

I found out from a former school mate... who didn't know my political leanings, that Walking for Washington is paying their canvasers, at least in Spokane, under the table.

by Nomad on Fri Jul 14, 2006 at 11:13:29 AM PST

* 2 none 0 *

United for Washington

Nothing seems right at all about this.

One of the groups funding Walking for Washington, United for Washington, sees itself as the new business centered political party.

________________
I blog here.

by emmettoconnell on Fri Jul 14, 2006 at 12:54:47 PM PST

* 3 none 0 *

Supreme Court Doorbeller Sighting in Kent | 3 comments (3 topical)

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