Ashooh PAC Supports Lynch, Hassan
February 5, 2010According to a news story at NowHampshire.com two political action committees led by uber lobbyist Rich Ashooh have donated significant sums to New Hampshire Democrats. According to the story:
BAE Systems NH PAC donated $1,000 to Democrat Gov. John Lynch’s reelection effort. Ashooh is the chairman of the PAC. Lynch signed and has defended the state’s controversial LLC Tax, which has enraged the Granite State’s small business community.
New Hampshire Business PAC donated to Democrat State Senators Lou D’Allesandro ($250), Maggie Hassan ($300) and Sylvia Larsen ($250). Ashooh is the chairman of this PAC, as well. Hassan has become the face of the anti-business LLC Tax.
While many NH Republicans have been fighting in the trenches the last few cycles Rich Ashooh led pacs have been contributing to the very Democrats who have bankrupted our state.Despite the denial from his press person I wonder if Ashooh had to sign the checks himself in the role as chair person for the pacs.
New Hampshire
Feb 5, 2010
This is not news. This was ‘broken’ a long time ago by some others who have done their homework. Hynes just picked it up now. If Ashooh is a Republican, no one has ever heard of him, and he’s not been involved in Republican groups that these other researchers can find.
NH.Steve
Feb 5, 2010
Last December I drew some curious connections between Ashooh and ONE Campaign through ONE vote 07/08 in NH which he co-chaired with Joe Keefe of Pax World management. (Joe Gave $5,900 to Obama for President)
http://www.nhinsider.com/steve-mac-donald/2009/12/2/richard-ashooh-one-campaign.html
ONE campaign is linked to social and environmental justice programs with a broader goal of diverting (redistributing) wealth from western countries through legislative action. Plenty of republicans don’t know that so maybe we could forgive them for that.
But Ashooh is a Lobbyist (which does not do him any favors) so it is curious that he was unfamilar with ONE campaign’s unerlying agenda and the inside DC support for it.
He also, as “New Hampshire” points out above, does not have any local campaign cred. In fact I can’t find anyone in Bedford who has ever seen him at a GOP meeting or function.
And if his check book cred is limited ONE campaign and Lobbying for a PAC that donates to democrats, he’s got an awfully large hill to climb to impress enough Tea Party, libretarian, and grass roots conservatives to get past the primary. Moderate Republican’s might even have to close more than one eye to overlook the possible risks to the party of sending an Ashooh to DC.
So he seems to be basing his “encouragement to run” on opportunity and the fact that he has money and DC lobbyist conntections. I’m not sure that’s the candidate NH republicans would like to send to DC. But then, that’s why we have primaries.
teaparty22
Feb 6, 2010
Clearly you don’t understand how PACs work. BAE is a corporate PAC for the second largest employer in the state of New Hampshire. That PAC, and Rich’s work with BAE, creates jobs in the state. It shouldn’t come as a huge shock that they need to work with both Republicans and Democrats. Are we corporate bashing now? I dare you to find another major corporation that strictly gives to Republicans.
You can read BAE’s NH PAC registration here http://www.sos.nh.gov/2010%20PAC%20REGISTRATIONS/bae.pdf and the NH Business PAC’s here http://www.sos.nh.gov/2010%20PAC%20REGISTRATIONS/business.pdf to learn more about the purpose of each.
Choosing to nitpick a couple of donations out of many and then placing the responsibility for those on one person’s shoulders is completely dishonest.
On the other hand, anyone who is interested in seeing how Rich uses his own funds to help out Republican candidates simply has to looking him up on Open Secrets, something Samuel and the folks at Now Hampshire couldn’t be bothered to do.
As you will see, Rich and his wife Lori have given about $22,000 over the last ten years – all to Republican candidates or to the Party.
I would challenge you to find any candidate running for office this year, with the exception of Charlie Bass, who has given more, or more consistently, to Republican candidates.
Samuel, it is obvious from this and your post on the One Campaign, which thankfully someone else already addressed, that you are nothing but a shill for Frank Guinta – grasping at straws in an effort to discredit a real challenger to his floundering campaign.
Samuel Johnson
Feb 7, 2010
I am not disputing that companies or chamber of commerce pacs donate based upon their best interest- or that they should. What I am pointing out is that Rich Ashooh was in charge of deciding who to donate to. So what does it say that Rich Ashooh decided it was in the best interest of both BAE and the BIA representing hundreds of businesses across the state to donate to Democrats?
teaparty22
Feb 8, 2010
Samuel, I guess I don’t understand your position. Yes, large corporations and business organizations give to both republicans and democrats. PAC money is distributed by a bipartisan committee—not just Rich. He’s just one guy in the room, so I think it’s irresponsible for you to make the assumption that because BAE/BIA gives to a democrat that’s a direct contribution from Rich. I guess you need to do your homework before you throw darts like that?
Again, Rich has been a business leader in this state for decades. He’s not just another career politician trying to make the “next step”. Let me guess, you’re going to call him a war profiteer next because he works for a defense contractor?
Samuel Johnson
Feb 8, 2010
I think it is you that is confused. Rich is a lobbyist. For better or worse. He is not a businessman. His job is to secure federal funds for BAE. Those are the facts.
teaparty22
Feb 8, 2010
I don’t think anyone is saying Rich isn’t a lobbyist. He is. Lobbying Washington and Concord is one part of his job at BAE, but he is a businessman. BAE is a defense contractor and so it doesn’t come as a huge shock that the federal government is their biggest client. In 2007, BAE had a $630 million economic impact in New Hampshire and had a $429 million payroll. Globally, BAE employs 100,000 people and does roughly $27 billion in sales. Rich is a Vice President with BAE. A senior member of the Nashua based leadership team. I’m not sure how you get off saying he’s not a businessman? Come on Samuel, you’re better than this.