Today's Plain Dealer featured a story about two prominent Bush campaign fundraisers: Tom Noe and W.R. "Tim" Timken Jr. The Plain Dealer explains:
"Bush's fund-raising strategy was simple: recruit well-connected supporters who could not only give the $2,000 maximum individual contribution but who could also tap Rolodexes of other wealthy donors.
And the campaign made supporting the president a competition. Those who raised at least $100,000 were named "Pioneers"; those who raised at least $200,000 were crowned "Rangers."
Tom Noe reached the status of Pioneer, helping Bush raise $100,000. Noe is the Toledo-area coin dealer at the center of the Republican Coingate scandal. His donations to prominent Ohio Republicans such as Governor Bob Taft helped him land a $50 million investment of state money from the Bureau of Worker's Compensation. Of this $50 million, he lost $13 million. This includes at least $4 million that he stole.
The Coingate scandal is emblematic of the pay-to-play system that has developed under Ohio's Republican Leadership. Under the pay-to-play system, those who donate to prominent Ohio Republicans gain access to state contracts and appointments. Noe, through his donations, not only gained access to the coin investment, but he also gained appointment to the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents is the prestigious board that oversees Ohio's public colleges and universities. Noe's appointment came in spite of the fact that he had never attended college.
This culture of corruption does not stop with Governor Taft and his Republican cronies at the state level. The culture of corruption extends all the way to President Bush. According to the Plain Dealer, the fundraising co-chair of President Bush's 2004 Ohio campaign was Tim Timken Jr, chairman of the Canton-based Timken Co. During the 2004 campaign, he achieved the rank of Ranger, helping Bush raise over $200,000. Some may remember that Bush visited Timken Co. in April 2003 to urge support for his economic plan. Bush claimed his economic plan would help workers like those at the Timken Co. Ironically, a year after President Bush's visit, Timken laid off 1,300 workers.
While President Bush might have forgotten about the laid off workers, President Bush hasn't forgotten about his mega-millionaire friend Tim Timken Jr. The Plain Dealer reports that Tim Jr. "was named ambassador to Germany last month. He has no diplomatic experience and does not speak German." Timken isn't alone. The Plain Dealer explains:
"At least 23 percent of known 2000 and 2004 Pioneers and Rangers - or their spouses - were appointed to at least one federal post or to Bush's 2000 transition team, according to a report released last year by Texans for Public Justice.
At least 24 of these fund-raisers have been named ambassadors."
The message to citizens is clear: To be heard by Republicans at the top levels of government, you need to pay. The only problem is that most of us are not well-connected millionaires.
