Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Gave Extensively To Republicans
Posted on February 23, 2009 at 8:09 am
It would appear that the Tennessee Democratic Party’s new treasurer is not the only Democrat of note with a history of contributing money to both Democratic and Republican causes.
Post Politics has learned that Ward Cammack, one of two Democrats actively campaigning to succeed Governor Phil Bredesen in 2010, has given to a myriad of Tennessee Republican candidates starting in 1979 with a donation to Senator Howard Baker’s 1980 Presidential run.
While Cammack has supported Congressman Jim Cooper with financial donations steadily throughout his career, a large majority of his donations have gone to Tennessee Republican candidates for federal office. In 1994, the year of the Republican Revolution, Cammack gave extensively to both Bill Frist and Fred Thompson who were victorious in grabbing both of Tennessee’s U.S. Senate seats that year.
Cammack also gave heavily to Lamar Alexander contributing to both his Presidential run in 1996 as well as his initial 2002 Senate run. In 2008, Cammack gave heavily to Alexander’s opponent Bob Tuke.
Cammack’s most recent Republican donation was in late 2005 when he contributed $500 to Bob Corker’s 2006 Senate primary campaign though Cammack tells Post Politics he ultimately voted for Corker’s opponent Harold Ford, Jr.
In discussing his party shift, Cammack cannot point to any “Road to Damacus” moment but admits that he is “clearly a convert” to the Democratic cause and credits the Bush years for his shift in worldview.
“Everything has changed. A lot of things people thought they had to protect, be it money or a set of so-called moral beliefs, have proved illusory,” Cammack explains. “All we really have is each other.”
Cammack, whose first Democratic vote for President was cast last fall for Barack Obama, said it was the exclusionary tactics of the GOP which led him to begin to question the staunch Republicanism he had learned as a child.
“Eventually you just have to ask: What is this all about? Why are we marginalizing people like this?” Cammack explains.
When asked whether he could pinpoint whether it was Republican policies on social issues, economic issues or foreign policy that ultimate let to his conversion, Cammack was unequivocal.
“All of the above,” replied Cammack.
Cammack does expect that some may be skeptical of his political past but insists that the Democratic Party is a “very comfortable skin for him.”
“Yes, I have given [money] to Republicans in the past and I have voted for Republicans in the past. I have never tried to hide that,” Cammack says. “But if you ask me if I believe in the Democratic Party, the answer is yes. Yes, I do.”
SEE ALSO: The Rotunda asks: “[I]s there a prominent Democrat expanding the tent of the party to reach the affluent white guys like Ward Cammack and Bill Freeman?”
Comments
30 Responses to “Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Gave Extensively To Republicans”
You can pile on just about any leader in Tennessee for being some shade of red. Our Governor is being endorsed for HHS Sec’y on the right-wing WSJ editorial page. That practically makes him a Republican (as if his DINO status weren’t already clear from his governance).
“Ask me if I believe in the Democratic Party” makes it sound like “ask me if I believe in the Tooth Fairy.”
What’s the big deal? Reagan was a pro-union liberal before his conversion, and nobody’s of the delusion that some sort of leftist purge is in order, just party officials and elected candidates who support the party that supports them. It seems like the internet GOP stooges are the ones who are trying to make this into some sort of catastrophe, probably because they’re in the middle of a Stalinist purge of anyone not on the extreme right and think that extremism is a great electoral strategy.
I think it’s fine if somebody has contributed across the aisle. It shows they’re independent minded, or at least want to be a “playa.” Where I’ve got a problem is putting that person in charge of the party checkbook. Is it too much to ask that the treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party not have given to the Republican National Committee and other groups whose sole purpose is to beat Democrats? I think not …
[...] 23, 2009 After this morning report from Kleinheider, I’m left wondering, “who converted Ward Cammack?” While he [...]
Life and events converted Mr. Cammack - I
appreciate his journey and appreciate his
offer to help us. I’ve not seen anyone
better qualified or more honest.
As a Dem, I’m pretty motivated about this guy. An anti-income tax businessman that has crossover appeal? I really don’t feel like losing another statewide race in 2010…
But I like winning…
Cammack’s most recent Republican donation was in late 2005 when he contributed $500 to Bob Corker’s 2006 Senate primary campaign though Cammack tells Post Politics he ultimately voted for Corker’s opponent Harold Ford, Jr.
I’m so glad I busted my hump on that campaign, opening my home to house parties, and knocking on doors every weekend to have all of that undermined by a “Democrat” WHO NOW WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR!!!
And that goes double for Bill Freeman. Thanks for the slap in the face. It’s a good wake-up call.
How can any Democrat in good conscience, vote for a man for Governor, that voted for George W. Bush twice??? That’s all the judgement and wisdom I need to see to make a decision when it comes to Mr. Cammack’s ability to lead the TNDP…It’s convenient to switch sides when the party you have supported with your financial resources and votes has left the nation in shambles. I don’t want a Johnny Come Lately or a Fairweather Johnson. There are certain Democratic Ideals that I will always adhere to: Sound Investment in public education, universal access to health care, protecting our environment, a tax code that rewards hard work and not just wealth, a smart, strong, diplomatically robust foreign policy, and a belief that all Americans should have the ability to pursue the American Dream. These ideals don’t waver in the face of political opportunism. If it took George W. Bush’s massive failure of a presidency for you to see the light on these issues…then I’m sorry you’re candidacy does not need to see the light of day!
Harrison, I am now convinced that you are one of the party hacks who were supposed to try and strongarm the TNDP Executive Committee members into voting for Charles Bone.
I can tell because you’ve singlemindedly focused your attention on attacking Chip Forrester since his election. You post a lot of comments giving detailed knowledge (a lot of it factually wrong, btw) about how the party machinery supposedly works, and you have been an unapolegetic defender of all the anti-Forrester electeds. Even while they themselves have obviously decided to move on, you still attack Chip with as much ferocity as right-wing fucktards like Heatseeker.
Now, when the big story here is that Ward Cammack is a born-again Democrat and has opened fire on the bankrupted values of the Republicans, you’re only concern is to attack Chip Forrester’s new Treasurer?
Come on. The TNDP Treasurer is actually a problem for you? Because it isn’t for anyone else.
Why do you give a damn about Chip Forrester? And don’t say some stupid bullshit about him not being able to unite the party or not being able to raise money because you know better. This is a personal grudge for you and I for one would like to know why.
Who do you work for?
I don’t understand what the problem is. This is not Freeman we’re talking about here, this is Cammack. If he voted for Bush but later came to realize that he identifies more as a Democrat, that should be encouraged, not derided. We certainly didn’t have a problem with “Obamacans” during the election.
There are very few people who stay with one party or only support one party their whole lives. The Republicans don’t have a problem with Democrats who cross over, they prop up and celebrate the Zell Millers and Joe Liebermans. There’s no reason to demand constant purity.
And Turd, Harold’s not running. Sorry.
Okay, I’m with GoldnI. I don’t see the problem. Cammack gave to Howard Baker in 1979????? Do we have the time to count the Democrats that did the same? Actually, the same hold true for Alexander. And I don’t see large contributions here. $500??? Thanks, but that ain’t gonna get you a call from the senator.
This guy is running for office. Hell, the fact that he has voted for Republicans might actually make me give him a look.
Sorry, spazhole, Harrison is right. Freeman gave tens of thousands of dollars to the other side. That’s real aid and comfort to your enemy. And now he wants to handle your party’s books. I’m not a Democrat, and it makes me say, “Hold on now!” You Democrats might want to do the same.
Goldeneye: Glad you finally decided to join the conversation. You run your mouth incessantly on just about everything else, but have been noticably absent on this Freeman situation. What gives? Been sitting at home polishing your nails and rooting for Anne Hathaway to win the Oscar?
Spaz: I give you credit for throwing out words like fucktard. You are a credit to your blog handle. But I hate to disappoint you. I am a private citizen who’s self-employed. I’ve got no connections to the Bone crowd, nor do a I hold any personal grudge against Chip. But I have been around Democratic politics in this state for 20 years, and I know the guy’s reputation. And it ain’t good. I’ve said this before, but for those of you just tuning in, let me recap:
Chip Forrester has spent the better part of the last two decades pissing off every prominent Democrat in Tennessee. McWherter got elected in ‘86, and promptly shed himself of Chip, who had been working on the campaign. Ever wonder why Chip never worked in the McWherter governor’s office? They didn’t hire him because they couldn’t stand him. Later, Al Gore fired Chip because he went out and ran against Bob Clement in the ‘92 Democratic primary. Which Clement won by a 3-to-1 margin. If anyone’s counting, we’re now up to three well-known Democrats who don’t like Chip. So let’s fast-forward to the present. Chip runs for chair against the wishes of the members of Congress including Cooper, Davis, Gordon and Tanner. And oh yeah, Bredesen, too. How many angry Dems is that now?I’m almost running out of fingers.
Look Spaz, you spaz: It doesn’t take a genius or insider to figure out: A. The party elders don’t like Chip; and B. That’s not a good place for the party to be, for a whole host of reasons, financial and otherwise. And then the Executive Committee elects this fucktard (thanks for the assist, Spaz!) as chairman. And he promptly brings on a major Republican donor as treasurer. Here’s a tip, Spaz: Spend less time worrying about who I am and more time tending to your party. Because your spiritual leader Chip is tearing it asunder.
Well, I’m sorry I didn’t spend all weekend commenting on Post Politics like you guys apparently did. It’s unfortunate, I had to write a 2300-word legal brief, prepare to give an oral argument on said brief for tomorrow, do quite a bit of reading for my other classes, go out for my friend’s birthday on Saturday, and yes, watch the Oscars. Some of us do in fact have a life outside of politics and blogging. It’s kind of sad that some of you had nothing better to do on a Saturday night than obsessing over Chip Forrester.
What we have here are a bunch of folks who want to get into politics who realize the Republican brand is ruined in Tennessee, what with the TNGOP catering to its wackadoodle wing and coming off like a bunch of racist hillbillies. They’re turning to the Democrats because they think that will get them elected or take them further, not because they have any affinity for the Democratic Party or Democratic ideals. This is how we end up with DINOs.
Cammack needs to explain his donations, I don’t care how much it is or when it was. No one thinks $500 is going to get you a call from Lamar Alexander, that’s not the point. The point is that he had $500 and he gave it to Lamar, not the Democrats. Hey, how about next time I have $500 burning a hole in my pocket I give it to the Greens? Let’s see how the party likes that.
As for Freeman, I’ve worked my butt off for the party since the 2004 election, going door to door and raising money at house parties and registering voters and phone banking. The state party asked me to do this. They sent out requests for volunteers. They gave us scripts, door hangers, walk lists, phone lists. I did it because things like a Democratic majority in Washington and here in Nashville are important to me. And now I find out that work was being undermined by fellow “Democrats” who gave thousands of dollars to the other side?
And they now positions of authority in the party? As I said elsewhere, that’s a slap in the face to everyone who volunteered their time and gave money to the party.
Chip should know better and so should Bill Freeman.
Some of us do in fact have a life outside of politics and blogging.
Multi-tasking, dear!!!!
Come on, the Oscars were looooong. What else was I supposed to do during the lame musical numbers?
Goldeneye: When I asked where you’ve been, it was rhetorical question. I actually don’t give a shit. But thanks for updating me on every excruciating detail of your weekend. The only thing you left out was the hair washing and pajama party.
Harrison,
So you’ve “been around Democratic politics in this state for 20 years”, you know the full inside skinny on who hates Chip Forrester and why he was supposedly “fired”, and you stick up for the electeds - even when they don’t deserve it. Meanwhile, you thumb your nose at any type of party unity by adding fuel to the fire of the chairman’s race. I see that you’ve carefully worded your response by saying that you’re a “private citizen who is self-employed” who has “no connections to the Bone crowd”.
I call bullshit. I would say that you definitely have a vested FINANCIAL or PROFESSIONAL interest in this whole flap to be taking it so personally. My guess is you are a staffer who was in charge of sinking Chip - either Beecher Frasier, Mike Terry, Will Pinkston, or one of Tanner’s cronies. Or you’re one of the Democratic media consultants in the state who believe that they will lose money or influence under Forrester. Perhaps Mike Kopp, Krissa Barclay, Keith Talley, or Bill Fletcher?
Did I guess right? Was I close? Because you ain’t no civilian, Harrison.
You can blog if you want to, I was spending the musical numbers reading about Civil Procedure.
I knew it was rhetorical, Harrison. Just pointing out that some of us have a life outside of blogging while you and Heatseeker and all your buddies apparently don’t. It’s sad really, the way you obsess over it.
I know Harold’s not running GoldnI, and even if he was, he’s not my preferred candidate, but I’m glad that you’re so tapped into all things HFJ that you can comment on his political aspirations.
Cammack didn’t just vote for Republicans.. he financially supported them. Big difference. So then what is the difference between Cammack and Freeman? If anything Cammack’s more of a republican than Freeman. Not only has he given money to republicans he has voted for them as well. You’re right I have no problem with Obamacans, they’re fine and dandy like Halloween candy…but I don’t want a recent political convert being the TNDP Standard -Bearer.
You are correct…there are few people that stay with one party their entire life, that is very true…but these political converts usually aren’t the ones running for Governor! I don’t care if republicans want to take Lieberman or Zell Miller…by all means they can have them, they were worthless DINOs in first place. But just because republicans will welcome some lame ass DINOs doesn’t mean that we should anoint this republican to run for Governor as a Democrat. And furthermore comparing Cammack’s situation to Zell Miller is comparing apples and oranges. Zell Miller never ran for office as a republican. Granted, he gave a scathing speech against our nominee John Kerry in ‘04, but that was long after he had decided against running again.
Wake Up People! Republican values and policies did not just become bankrupt in ‘08. They’ve been bankrupting this country for decades. So while many of us have given blood, sweat, tears, time, and resources to advocate and work for a progressive agenda even here in red Tennessee, Ward Cammack was working against that! I mean for pete’s sake… he gave money to Forrest Shoaf, the man that was trying to out-conservative Marsha Blackburn in her ‘02 GOP Primary.
We know almost nothing about this man…He’s an investment banker and former republican. In today’s political environment both of those are about as cool as herpes! I prefer to support someone that has had a consistent set of principles and values, someone whose political philosophy wasn’t developed as a reaction to politically unpopular president. I prefer to support someone that has been fighting the good fight even when it was unpopular.
Some of us do in fact have a life outside of politics and blogging.
What’s that like?
It’s fun, ACK. We do things in the real world like go out to bars and clubs and talk about things that have nothing to do with politics. And when we talk, we don’t do it via IM or email but by actually talking with a live person which requires eye contact. It can be daunting for someone who spends their day staring at a computer screen, but it’s ultimately more fulfilling.
Yeah, well this blog is addicting. I try to turn away…I swear the next post I read will be the last…but alas I’m back for more again and again…
Spaz: You forgot to list the 30 or so members of the Executive Committee who opposed Chip for chair. And the dozens (if not hundreds of people) who have worked over the years for Gore, McWherter and Clement. And the scores of longtime party activists who learned a long time ago that Chip is poison. If you broaden the loop far enough out to include those groups, then by gosh, you nailed me. But you keep playing the name game. Heatseeker, TennRod and the rest of us truth tellers will keep keeping it real.
As for Freeman, I’ve worked my butt off for the party since the 2004 election, going door to door and raising money at house parties and registering voters and phone banking. The state party asked me to do this. They sent out requests for volunteers. They gave us scripts, door hangers, walk lists, phone lists. I did it because things like a Democratic majority in Washington and here in Nashville are important to me. And now I find out that work was being undermined by fellow “Democrats” who gave thousands of dollars to the other side?
And they now positions of authority in the party? As I said elsewhere, that’s a slap in the face to everyone who volunteered their time and gave money to the party.
Chip should know better and so should Bill Freeman.
If I were a Democrat activist, this is exactly how I would feel. Hell, as a Republican voter, this pisses me off.
While a whole lot of activists were giving their sweat equity to Ford or Bredesen or whoever, Freeman was writing fat checks to the other side. Now he wants to be a party leader - but wait! It gets better. He wants to be fucking TREASURER.
I have a better idea. How about multi-millionaire real estate developer Bill Freeman start by getting out of his FONCE-funded West Nashville mansion and knock on a few doors for Democrat candidates first? How about he make a few phone calls for Democrat candidates first? Maybe then you guys could consider him for a leadership position.
Again, I’m not even a Democrat and this offends me to no end. I can’t imagine how some Democrats - other than the Chipinista apologists - are feeling.
We do things in the real world like go out to bars and clubs and talk about things that have nothing to do with politics. And when we talk, we don’t do it via IM or email but by actually talking with a live person which requires eye contact.
That sounds pretty awesome. I am going to look into this “life” you speak of forthwith!
Talking with live people is overrated.
Are we getting these converts because they miraculously saw the light, or because the are unelectable in their own party due to not being a total whack job?
Let’s let them bide their time, pay their dues, and demonstrate over some time that they actually subscribe to our ideals before we hand Them the keys to the car.
[...] put dems that have supported regressive republicans in positions of authority (which failed) or as candidates. And quite honestly, that is not working. It may work in counties that are largely conservative [...]