UPDATE: My interview with Jim Gilchrist, where I expose his vote being for sale is here.
This statement by Minutemen founder Jim Gilchrist really struck me as odd as he endorsed Parker Griffith for Congress…
Listening to the discussion about past votes, Gilchrist seemed puzzled. He said his endorsement is based on the current voting record. “What would it matter if a congressman felt one way two years ago and now feels another way?” Gilchrist asked.
It is especially odd considering I can’t find an immigration vote in the last two years.
So I started to dig and I found some pretty interesting information.
This is what I learned…
Jim Gilchrist and his Minutemen organization is a sham front group that is clearly selling endorsements to whoever will buy them.
Follow the money as I trace it from multiple candidates to a Jim Gilchrist bagman and his “consulting group” who delivers the Minuteman “endorsement” to it’s clients.
The Group is called “Election Impact Group” and it is ran by one Howie Morgan.
Howie Morgan was Jim Gilchrist’s campaign manager in his failed bid for Congress.
“Upon further consultation with our attorneys, we shall decide what action to take next. Jim Gilchrist has no intentions of being rolled over by the Sacramento establishment,” says Gilchrist Campaign Manager, Howie Morgan.
On 5/5/10. Griffith campaign pays EIG/Howie Morgan $6,500 and on 5/21/10 The Minutemen endorse Parker Griffith.
Seemed odd to me.
So I started looking into Impact Election Groups clients and thankfully they provided me with a road map of this year’s clients to follow.
2010 clients.
Rick Perry (Republican)
Governor of TexasTim Bridgewater (Republican)
Utah, US SenateDanny Tarkanian (Republican)
Nevada, US SenateGunner DeLay (Republican)
Arkansas, US Congress District 3Kay Granger (Republican)
Texas, US Congress District 12Parker Griffith (Republican)
Alabama, US Congress District 5
These are all the campaigns that hired “Election Impact Group” this cycle.
I wonder what they have in common?
Rick Perry (Republican) – Governor of Texas: Endorsed by Jim Gilchrist
Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist on Wednesday endorsed Rick Perry for re-election as governor.
Tim Bridgewater (Republican)- Utah, US Senate: Endorsed by Jim Gilchrist
Jim Gilchrist traveled to Utah two weeks ago to openly endorse Tim Bridgewater
Danny Tarkanian (Republican) – Nevada, US Senate: Endorsed by Jim Gilchrist
Jim Gilchrist, the co-founder of the Minuteman Project, announced his support of Danny Tarkanian in a joint appearance at the candiidate’s Reno headquarters Monday.
Gunner DeLay (Republican) – Arkansas, US Congress District 3: Endorsed by Jim Gilchrist
We have another major endorsement coming today. Jim Gilchrest, founder and president of The Minuteman Project will be in NWA through Saturday. Please join us on Friday in Rogers at the Rogers Public Library between 3:00 and 5:00pm for a press conference and townhall meeting with Jim.
Kay Granger (Republican) – Texas, US Congress District 12: Endorsed by Jim Gilchrist
After the meeting, Gilchrist announced his endorsement of Granger in her bid for a seventh term representing U.S. House District 12.
“There is only one candidate that has a proven record of working on behalf of taxpayers to work toward solving the problems of border security and illegal immigration,” Gilchrist said. “And that is why I offer my full endorsement of Kay Granger.”
Parker Griffith (Republican) – Alabama, US Congress District 5: Endorsed by Jim Gilchrist
They all have Jim Gilchrist and Election Impact group in common.
All of them.
THEY ALL BOUGHT THE ENDORSEMENT.
This is another scam that Parker Griffith has attempted to pull on the people of North Alabama.
I will say it again…
No Honor (for Parker Griffith)
No Integrity (for his supporters)
No Parker Griffith (for Congress)
UPDATE: I asked Gilchrist if i could prove they shopped his endorsement (I can and he knows it) would he rescind it?
Answer: No.
That tells you everything you need to know about Jim Gilchrist, his endorsement and his organization.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | 2010, AL-05, Dale Jackson, Jim Gilchrist, LIAR, Parker Griffith
Wow. Good job!!
The obvious question here Dale is :
Did Jim Gilchrist endorse anyone outside of this paid endorsement group?
I thought it might be interesting to see if he ONLY endorsed people that pay.
The point is they shop the endorsement.
Amazing… Do you think the local media would pick this up? Not a chance.
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=45079
I feel completely sick to my stomach whenever I hear something like this. Thanks for sharing this with us Dale. Now could you hold my hair back as I hurl into the toilet?
Anti-Illegal Immigration Groups & Activists SDMM & SoCal Patriot Coalition Won’t work With
Beware of these rogue and potentially dangerous activists.
http://sandiegominutemen.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=118
Unfortunately, pay to play is all too common in the world of political endorsements. It isn’t that hard to track — just follow the money as Dale did — but the mainstream media simply doesn’t care. They duly write the story that candidate X was endorsed by group Y, neglecting to mention that he also gave group Y several thousand dollars.
Regular folks who give money to these groups ought to be aware that it’s mostly just a cash cow and a cushy job for the leadership.
To me, an endorsement is meaningless anyway. It makes good theater, but how many people actually sit and wait for other people, or the local newspaper, to tell them how to vote? Many of these same local groups and newspapers endorsed Parker Griffith for Congress in 2008. Maybe if more of them had endorsed Wayne Parker, we wouldn’t all be trying to correct our mistake in 2010.
It’s not about the endorsement it’s about the reasoning for the endorsement. More info = good.
Dale, you are a reporter!
No…
I’m an entertainer, son!
Too funny!
Welcome to 2010 Dale.
If you want to play you have to pay.
I’m just wondering why Mo Brooks has zero endorsements? He must not have the campaign cash to pony up for people to notice him.
So you are OK with the paying of endorsers?
Mo Brooks does have local endorsements…
Wayne Parker – 2008 Candidate for Congress
Paul Sanford – State Senator
Phil Williams – State Representative
Dale Strong – Madison County Commissioner
Jim Burden – Limestone County GOP Chair
Christie Carden (HSV Tea Party Founder)
Chad Capps (Current HSV TP Leader)
Deborah King (Current Athens-Limestone TP Leader)
Dale Jackson – me
Brian LeCompte – flashpointblog.com
So the media let Griffith get away with the lie that some of these were IOUs without challenging him.
Will they ask him about what I laid out?
Where have you been? Mo Brooks has many endorsements, as Dale outlined above.
Of the 3 republican candidates in the race, it appears we have only one candidate (Mo Brooks) that hasn’t bought an endorsement. Mo can save his cash, Mo has the respect of local leaders that personally endorse and support him without charging fees.
Les Phillip paid thousands for Huckabee to come to HSV to speak and “endorse”, even paid Huckabee for photo shoots, and paid for lunch with Huckabee. Huckabee mopped up on Les.
Nice work Dale.
Dale, you da’ man!!!!
I’m impressed Dale. Really impressed. You really uncovered some “stank” on Gilchrist – and all the politicians who have to pay people money for endorsements. Really disappointed in Gilchrist. He’s nothing more than a political whore and his shameful behavior have disgraced the Minutemen (and I’m sure there are many honorable and patriotic people in that organization). Also a bit shocked and disappointed to see Texas Governor Rick Perry on that list of shame. I am of course NOT shocked that Parker Griffith is on the list. It just confirms how low the unscrupulous bastard will sink to get a vote. It’s a real shame Griffith is too much of a coward to show up at the Candidate Get Together at Masons this Friday. I’d love to see how much he’s paying for endorsements these days.
Dale is alot like the reporters in the mainstream media…leaving out important details. Parker Griffith paid for the minute man endoresment…OK. The problem here is…so did Wayne Parker, Mo Brooks endorser. Dale didn’t mention that, did he. Why? Because Dale is a Mo Brooks “homer”, as Dale likes to say.
What did I say to Jim Gilchrist yesterday. None of this would be an issue of he only endorsed candidates that agree with his purported message.
Parker Griffith’s record does not line up with The Minuteman’s message which is why it got some attention.
Are you arguing that purchasing this endorsement was a good move by Griffith.
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First time I’ve really read your blog, after watchdog reporting like this I’ll be reading more often.
This makes me want to vomit. I’m not sure why; it is to be expected from Griffith.
It’s one thing to disagree with your representative. If you can’t trust them however, it’s time to get the boot!
He’s trying to win off the uneducated vote now..
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When it’s all said and done, a politician is a politician, and they only care about an issue when they’re the party in power, who’ll be credited with passing reform. As much as the GOP talks about immigration reform, they’re willing to do everything in their power to kill it, as long as the Democrats are the ones who take the fall for it’s failure to get passed.
Arizona Senator Jon Kyl: “First of all, our strategy on health care included taking as long as we possibly could so the American people could clearly understand (it).. and it took a year for it to get done,” Kyl said, adding they will do their best to slow up any other bills, like immigration reform, in the same manner.
“My guess is (immigration reform) won’t have the votes to pass, but political promises have been made to key constituency of the party that is in power. Republicans will use the opportunity to filibuster…”
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