By James Wigderson for Media Trackers
In her re-election bid, Senator Tammy Baldwin has made a point of attacking outside special interests spending money in her campaign.
“Shady outside groups have spent nearly $10 MILLION to defeat Tammy,” Baldwin’s campaign website complains. It turns out Baldwin is not shy about getting some shady outside money for herself.
Big time Washington D.C. lobbyists Bill and Cindy Broydrick are hosting a fundraiser at the Broydrick home in Arlington, VA on Wednesday for Baldwin’s re-election campaign. The suggested donation is $1000 each to attend, $2500 to be listed as a co-host for the event.
Broydrick, who has raised money for both Republicans and Democrats, is such a Washington D.C. insider he even ended up in the phone records of the late Deborah Jeane Palfrey, a.k.a. the “D.C. Madam,” who operated an infamous prostitution ring in the nation’s capital.
No wonder the fundraiser is being held in the “penthouse.”
Broydrick is also a former Wisconsin Democratic legislator and as recently as the 2011-12 legislative session was a lobbyist in Madison. In 1989, Broydrick pleaded guilty to providing an illegal gift to former state Sen. Gary George (D-Milwaukee).
A message left for Baldwin campaign spokesman Bill Neidhardt asking about the fundraiser was not returned.
The location of the Broydrick fundraiser was criticized by Republicans on Tuesday.
“Money from coastal liberals is pouring into Wisconsin to try and prop up Senator Tammy Baldwin’s failed record,” said Alec Zimmerman, spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin. “No amount of money from D.C. can erase the nearly 20 years Baldwin has spent picking Washington over Wisconsin.”
One of Baldwin’s Republican opponents, state Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) said the fundraiser showed that the incumbent was out of touch.
“Senator Baldwin has proven time and time again during her decades in government that she can barely find Wisconsin on a map, unless of course she is here to raise money for her campaign or to cut ads that desperately try to portray her as someone who cares about Wisconsin citizens,” said Vukmir in a statement Tuesday. “Instead of parachuting in for money from time-to-time from DC, New York, or California, I would encourage Senator Baldwin to visit even a handful of the 72 counties I’ve been to so she can hear from her constituents about what really matters here at home.”
The campaign for Republican Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson did not respond to a request for comment.
