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JPZenger

(6,819 posts)
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 03:44 PM Apr 2013

Was $4.9 Million Given to Phila African-American Gov Candidate in PA because he was easiest to beat?

Last edited Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:29 PM - Edit history (4)

Sometimes I'm a little slow. For the last 2 years, I've been trying to figure out the reason for the largest campaign contributions in PA. history. (there are no limits on the amounts of campaign contributions for PA. state races).

Right before the Democratic primary for Governor in 2010, a group of businessmen gave $5 million to a Democratic candidate for Governor, Anthony Hardy Williams, of Phila. Senator Williams is a nice guy, whose heart I believe is in the right place. However, he didn't seem to be the typical recipient of that kind of quick cash.

Then today I finally realized what happened. These guys flooded Williams with money in the hope he would run a strong campaign inside Phila., overwhelm the airwaves with last minute TV commercials, and win the Democratic nomination. It wouldn't have taken a miracle for Williams to have won a plurality in a low turnout primary race with four major Democratic candidates. After all, two candidates (Onorato and Wagner) were splitting up the western PA. votes, and none of the candidates were running strong campaigns.

Then, Corbett would be running against HIS DREAM OPPONENT IN A STATEWIDE PENNSYLVANIA RACE - a Black man from Philadelphia.

http://articles.philly.com/2010-05-18/news/25218062_1_pac-donations-school-choice

Most of the money came from executives of Susquehanna International Group of Bala Cynwyd (on the Main Line). It was funneled through a new PAC that supports school choice that was founded TWO MONTHS before the primary.

Here's one example of these people who suddenly felt generous towards an inner city Democrat. Anthony Dantchik is a founder of Susquehanna International and one of the sources of the largess. Dantchick's other recent donations went to Eric Cantor, the Republican Congressional Committee, the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County (in 2012, in an area of Ohio that had a big influence in previous George Bush elections), teabagger Congressman Scott Perry, and the "Every Republican is Crucial PAC".

The following source describes how Dantchik and the other founders of Susquehanna International based the strategies of their investment firm upon lessons they learned playing poker.

http://powerplayers-pa.herokuapp.com/donors/joel-greenberg-i/?q=powerplayers/donors/joel-greenberg-i/


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Was $4.9 Million Given to Phila African-American Gov Candidate in PA because he was easiest to beat? (Original Post) JPZenger Apr 2013 OP
Williams is a charter school stooge. MrSlayer Apr 2013 #1
The public explanation was that these businessmen really cared about vouchers, but JPZenger Apr 2013 #2
 

MrSlayer

(22,143 posts)
1. Williams is a charter school stooge.
Mon Apr 22, 2013, 10:53 PM
Apr 2013

They were just hedging their bets. Hoping to get both candidates in the general to be for the destruction of public education. Those fucking pigs will be back again next year.

So, to answer your question, not necessarily. That group would have been just fine with Williams winning.

JPZenger

(6,819 posts)
2. The public explanation was that these businessmen really cared about vouchers, but
Tue Apr 23, 2013, 08:58 AM
Apr 2013

The public rationale was that these partners in one business happened to care so so much about vouchers that they supported Williams. I never believed that story.

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