Logic and reasoning aren't strong suits in my mental deck of cards, but let me get this straight.
Chuck Fleischmann loans, not gives, but loans, himself $255,000 for his congressional campaign and then declares himself the ace boon coon of the fundraising sweepstakes? Holy moley, it had to be tough raising that $255,000. After all, he did have to reach into his back pocket and write those three big checks. It's enough to make a feller break a sweat from all that exertion.
Mr. Fleischmann's claim just doesn't make sense, with my limited mental faculties. If anything it would seem Mr. Fleischmann's campaign is the victor in the race to see who can "borrow" the most cash. Isn't it nice to have an unlimited bank account one may reach into? It appears that he'll fit right in with those folks in Washington with their propensity for reaching into our back pockets and writing checks with our money. At least Mr. Fleischmann is practicing with his own money, for now.
I pulled up Mr. Fleischmann's campaign finance report online. It shows that his campaign is $266,000 in debt. So, in addition to his $255K loan, he has another 11,000 smackers in other debt.
But the kicker is he can repay himself the $255,000, any time he wants. So what's the real cash on hand that's been raised by asking others to 'give' their hard-earned money as a donation to his campaign?
Mr. Fleischmann claims to have raised $335,000 in total over two calendar quarters. If we subtract the $255K he's loaned the campaign, he's actually raised $117K, and some of this, according to reports on the Chattanoogan.com, was contingent upon him matching supporters' donations. He's spent about 36 grand and owes about another 11 grand in other debt. So his real cash on hand, after subtracting his personal "loans," is 71 grand.
And Mr. Fleischmann has raised only $56,966.29 since July 1, but is the winner of the fundraising sweepstakes? Who's trying to snow whom on this point?
I also don't know too many "small businessmen," as Mr. Fleischmann claims to be, who can reach into their pockets and grab 500 grand to pledge to their congressional bid as he has done. But then, I never understood how someone born and raised in New York can even imagine being able to represent the needs and desires of someone raised here in East Tennessee either.
And the beat goes on. Could we please have a little more honesty and a lot fewer attempts at electioneering snow jobs?
Raspberry coffee. Maybe that will make this mental fog go away. And a cigarette ...
Royce E. Burrage Jr.
Royce@Officially Chapped.org
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I read with curiosity Royce E. Burrage Jr's. letter to the Chattanoogan yesterday. It amazes me that anyone could be obsessed with a financial disclosure report nearly a year before the election.
It is beyond my expertise to fully understand the importance or impact of a financial report on all opposing candidates. The advantage of raising nearly three times more than his competitors has gained Chuck Fleischmann a lot of attention over the past two days.
I have worked with disabled adults for more than a decade and I know a little about commitment and compassion. Earlier this month I spoke with Chuck Fleischmann in Oak Ridge about the struggles and needs of disabled citizens. Mr. Fleischmann listened carefully to my point of view and never lost eye contact with me relating his own life experiences. This is rare in any of the politicians that I have met over the past 10 years. Mr. Fleischmann expressed a concern and understanding of the issue that we discussed.
If Mr. Fleischmann is willing to invest his own hard-earned family savings into his efforts to serve the citizens of the Third Congressional District, even the more impressive.
I strongly encourage all of the voters of the Third district to evaluate all of the candidates in both primaries and make an informed choice.
Sabra Beauchamp