Our favorite local hyper-politically active plutocrat, Art Pope, works up a nice head of steam trying to convince us that the millions he funnels into conservatives' campaigns and right-wing activist groups scarcely count for a hill of beans.
In a lengthy letter that we ran Thursday, Pope's argument boiled down to this: Contributions like those from him and his "liberal" counterparts help candidates get their messages out and thus make for better-informed voters. But Republican candidates whom he has supported have done well not because he's been such a sugar-daddy, but because their views are inherently better and more popular.
Anyway, he says, more money has been plowed into recent Democratic campaigns in North Carolina than Republican - and that hasn't guaranteed Democratic success.
Referring to last year's General Assembly contests, Pope wrote: "In short, after spending millions of dollars more than their political and policy opponents, the Democratic Party, unions and progressive nonprofits simply could not admit that the voters actually preferred the Republican candidates and conservative policies." Hence the disgruntled liberals' lament, no doubt muttered more than a few times as they nursed their beers, that he's been buying elections.
Essentially, that was the lament examined by Jane Mayer in her recent article about Pope for The New Yorker. There's no iron-clad link between campaign spending and outcomes. But what makes Pope worthy of attention in a national magazine is the scope of his efforts to influence political decision-making combined with the depth of his pockets.
As a director and funder of Americans for Prosperity, the ostensibly grass-roots organization closely identified with the billionaires Charles and David Koch, Pope helps spread the small-government, low-taxes, libertarian/conservative gospel throughout the land.
AFP has an active North Carolina chapter that has worked to rustle up opposition to Democratic candidates and that is pleased to showcase Republican Pat McCrory, who's itching for a rematch with Gov. Beverly Perdue next year. If McCrory wins, let's just say Pope shouldn't have any trouble scoring inauguration tickets. Well and good - but that's just one little example of how Pope, either personally or through the stable of groups that he supports, tries to put his stamp on North Carolina's public life.
Mayer, citing research by the watchdog group Democracy North Carolina, pegs Pope's total political and charitable outlays at around $40 million. The money derives from the family assets he oversees as CEO of Variety Wholesalers, Inc. - owners of Roses, Maxway and other discount retail chains - and as head of the John William Pope Foundation, named for his father. The bulk of it, some $35 million, has financed organizations such as the John Locke Foundation and Civitas Institute, which aggressively promote Pope's brand of conservatism.
Democracy N.C. scoured a decade's worth of campaign finance reports to come up with figures showing how much Pope and family members had contributed to favored state candidates and Republican Party groups.
The total from 2001 to 2010 was $1,356,710 - an annual average in the range of $135,000. Perhaps that doesn't amount to a fortune, but it's enough to get candidates' (and officeholders') attention. And who else, on either the right or the left, is consistently spending at such a level on state races? If he or she is out there, someone clue us in.
Pope and his family also were recorded as giving $261,290 during that 10-year period in federal races. And Variety Wholesalers channeled $1,505,000 to so-called electioneering committees, which operate independently of candidates. The overall picture conjures up a football metaphor. It's as though Pope were a highly mobile 300-pound offensive lineman blasting holes for running backs to cruise through.
Yes, the backs still have to churn their legs. But that lineman makes it a whole lot easier to move the ball.
Pope has spent at levels that dwarf what most people could spend even if they wanted to. He apparently can spin off money from Variety Wholesalers and the family foundation pretty much as it suits him.
These are his rights, but it's fair to wonder if he has thereby acquired a degree of influence reflective not so much of the persuasiveness of his beliefs but of the size of his bank account. And surely he would not be such a free spender if he didn't think his investments were getting good results of some kind, even if what he wants is plainly and simply power.
With statewide campaigns to be waged next year, expect Pope to be pulling all the power levers he can grab. And expect him as well to continue trying to keep the Wake County school board under Republican control. Their majority could fall, following a GOP belly flop last week and pending a crucial runoff.
Neither side will be pinching pennies. But if Kevin Hill wins on Nov. 8, Pope won't have much room to complain that Democratic money told the tale. He's the one arguing that voters can be trusted to pick the better candidate. In this case, he'd be right.
