NY-26: The Jon Powers Example: Sleazy Money
by Matt at Jun 1st, 2008
The Buffalo News reports that Jon Powers is taking heat for contributions he received from Richard Snowden a well-known strip club owner in Buffalo.
Congressional hopeful Jon Powers is drawing fire from a prominent Democrat for taking campaign contributions from Richard A. Snowden of Buffalo, whom she describes as a “notorious strip club owner.”
Not only has Powers accepted $7,000 from Snowden and his Rick’s Tally-Ho “gentleman’s cabaret” in Cheektowaga, but Snowden co-hosted a fundraising event for him Tuesday at the Saturn Club in Buffalo, according to former Wyoming County Democratic Chairwoman Anne Weidman.
“I am frankly disgusted to learn you have taken campaign contributions from Rick Snowden, a notorious strip club owner with establishments in both Erie and Monroe counties,” Weidman told Powers. “Mr. Snowden’s profits come directly from the exploitation of women, mostly young women, and his ‘sweat money’ has no place in progressive politics or the Democratic Party.”
Weidman, a supporter of Powers opponent Jack Davis in the Democratic primary for the 26th Congressional District who is co-chairwoman of Women for Davis, said in her letter that Davis would not accept such contributions. Davis, a successful businessman from Clarence, has pledged to finance his campaign this year with $3 million of his own money.
Let’s face it, these days, endorsements and contributions are heavily scrutinized these days. In 2006, congressional Democrats play the guilt-by-association card heavily against Republicans who had received donations from (or connected to) embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Of course, it should be noted that Democrats who had received Abramoff-connected cash largely refused to return such donations.
In the presidential campaign this year, endorsements and contributions have been so heavily scrutinized that John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama all have had to return money in order to protect their campaigns from criticisms. That precedent certainly makes this criticism of Powers’ contributions from Snowden fair game, and thus Powers’ decision on what to do with the contributions made or raised by Snowden will be important - especially given this point by Weidman:
“You are the candidate running on a slogan of ‘leadership by example,’ ” Weidman continued. “If you truly wish to lead by example, you should return Mr. Snowden’s three contributions and pledge to never accept campaign funds from those who profit from cultural misogyny and the exploitation of vulnerable young women.
“I hope you will do the right thing,” she added.
A memo obtained by The Buffalo News and distributed by the Davis campaign to supporters outlines the situation, calling it “hardly the kind of leadership we need for Western New York or in the House of Representatives.”
I couldn’t have said it better. Jon Powers certainly has made “leadership by example” his campaign theme. So, just what kind of leadership by example will Powers set? Considering the example set by Democrats in congress in past years, I am not counting on Powers to give up any of those contributions.
UPDATE: Snowden does get around.
Hillary Clinton, Richard Snowden, and Rep. Brian Higgins back in 2004.
It is also worth noting that Snowden was previously involved in Republican politics until November 2006, when he switched parties and quickly became a big Democratic fundraiser.
