On Monday, the National Journal reported that “documents filed by other groups show that two labor organizations, the International Union of Operating Engineers and the Laborers’ International Union of North America, directed a combined $400,000 to the Republican group [the Defending Main Street super PAC] in September and October.”
The Defending Main Street super PAC was organized at the end of 2012 by former Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-OH), and has very publicly declared war on the Tea Party. It is affiliated with and has offices at the same location as the Republican Main Street Project, which LaTourette currently heads and which former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) led from 2009 to 2012.
The group will not be required to file its first financial report with the Federal Election Commission until January 15, 2014, but earlier press reports indicate that it claims to have already raised $4 million of a planned $8 million to defeat Tea Party candidates in Republican primaries.
In October, LaTourette told the National Journal that “we’ll go into eight to ten races and beat the snot out of them [Tea Party candidates] . . . We’re going to be very aggressive and we’re going to get in their faces.”
Tea Party activists around the country were not surprised that the Republican establishment has enlisted the financial support of unions in their efforts to defeat limited government policies. Ben Cunningham, founder of the Nashville Tea Party, told Breitbart News on Monday “this confirms our belief that Washington, D.C. is about one thing and that is power. Whatever method will allow those in D.C. to keep power will be used.”
Image source: Buildingoneamerica.org
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