When A Tree Falls... Run For Cover?

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Oct 23 2014 11:06 AM

When a tree falls in the woods, does it make a noise?

If that tree is one of the most powerful politicians in the state, it sure does.

The news of Republican Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard’s recent indictment and arrest on 23 felony accounts has been like one of those horribly scripted, but fascinating soap operas. The Speaker’s proclomations of innocence have been predictable and, quite frankly, hard to believe. However, the intriguing thing has been digging through the public documents and tracing the all the names of other influence peddlers who are being called out for their allegedly illegal activities alongside kingpin Hubbard.

According to the indictment, Hubbard’s coattails are tied to some of the most prominent and influential Republican politicians and business leaders in the state – people like former Governor Bob Riley, Riley’s daughter and business associate Minda Riley Campbell, Billy Canary of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), and my local favorite, Jimmy Rane. Perhaps it goes without saying, but each of these influence peddlers have strong financial ties to Alabama’s Republican party establishment.

While we’re on the subject of local favorites, it’s interesting that Mike Hubbard, Bob Riley and Jimmy Rane are among the list of people who accused Harri Anne Smith of illegal and unethical activities several years ago – accusations that a jury of her peers found to be untrue.

 

It’s funny how times change.

Staying close to home, it is also fascinating to see that many of the people named in the Hubbard indictment have strong ties to Commissioner Melinda McClendon.

Whether the not-so-secret rumors about Bob Riley, Mike Hubbard and Del Marsh recruiting McClendon to run against Sen. Harri Anne Smith are to be believed, public records available through the Secretary of State’s website show that this trio has been financing her campaign since August of 2013.

Other Hubbard cronies who have contributed to McClendon include Business Council of Alabama CEO Billy Canary, and Jimmy Rane. It is my understanding the Rane family hosted Commissioner McClendon’s only Dothan fundraiser. Rane is also known to have strong ties to the Forestry Association and the Alabama Trucking Association, organizations that have contributed a combined $55,000 to Commissioner McClendon through Forest PAC and Truk PAC, respectively.

In total, Commissioner Melinda McClendon has received over $160,000.00 in direct campaign donations from the Political Action committees (PACs) controlled by the people named in Speaker Hubbard’s indictment. Following is a detailed list of donations from PACs controlled by former Governor Bob Riley and BCA Chairman Billy Canary.

 

Alabama 2014 PAC Donations (In-kind)

Chair:  Robert “Bob” Riley, Sr.

 

08/23/2103      $27.13            

09/27/2013      $30.97            

10/18/2013      $2,500.00       

10/29/2013      $34.31

11/28/2013      $2,500.00

11/29/2013      $33.02

12/16/2013      $2,500.00

12/30/2013      $32.25

01/13/2014      $2,500.00

01/30/2014      $33.02

02/24/2014      $2,500.00

02/26/2014      $62.50

03/11/2014      $10,800.00

03/24/2014      $2,500.00

03/28/2014      $120.68

04/29/2014      $120.68

05/29/2014      $120.68

06/23/2014      $2,500.00

08/28/2014      $2,694.75

09/15/2014      $300.00

10/14/2014      $731.25

10/14/2014      $24.27

10/17/2014      $534.75

 

Progress PAC

Purpose: Associated with the Business Council of Alabama, Billy Canary, CEO (BCA) 

 

04/06/2014      $1,000.00

04/30/2014      $25,000.00

08/15/2014      $15,000.00

09/05/2014      $30,000.00     

 

The tructh always finds its way to the surface, especially when it’s public record.

As shocking as this is, what makes it even more disturbing is that Commissioner McClendon has been running a negative campaign and intentionally deceiving voters from the very beginning. I have written about the Commissioner’s negative campaign tactics, and wondered why she would be doing what she does. With this new information it has become clear to me: McClendon has been lying to voters because it is what Hubbard and her other sugar daddies have been telling her to do!

Not one to let the truth get in the way of a little political embellishment, McClendon responded to the news of Hubbard’s indictment by taking to Facebook and using it as a reason why people should vote for her, “The latest news confirms the utter and disgraceful mess that is Alabama politics…”

Really?

The main question we need to be asking ourselves is: Can we really trust someone like Negative McClendon who was recruited and has been accepting money (for over a year!) from the very people she is now trying to distance herself from?

 

 

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