Don Young Turns to Lobbyist “Wolfpack” for Financial AidRep. Don Young (R-AK) and his staff were quick to issue a denial last month of anything more than “friendly” ties between the Alaskan Representative and the group of nine federal lobbyists who, according to the “Intern Survival Guide,” were given preferential treatment when calling the office. But now his fiscal relationship to the “A Team,” as they were called, has become less tenuous.
Mike Anderson, Young’s Chief of Staff, solicited campaign donations in June 2007 from 27 individuals — 23 of whom were lobbyists — and which included all of the “A Team,” the Anchorage Daily News reported. Raising the specter of a Young defeat, Anderson wrote: “[Y]ou and your clients will be impacted by these elections.”
The group, dubbed the “AK Wolfpack” by Anderson in the email, includes Rick Alcalde of the Coconut Road earmark and Randy Delay, brother of former House majority leader Tom Delay.
The email, who’s subject is “How Can I Help?,” was sent on June 8, 2007 from Anderson’s personal Yahoo address. Citing the case of defeated Rep. Richard Pombo, a close Republican ally of Young’s in the House, Anderson outlined the Democratic threat as a “call to action”. . . check-writing action:
For those of you who volunteered and served and watched November’s elections, many of you observed or even worked former Congressman Richard Pombo’s race. While each of you may have different opinions as to what may have
contributed to to the election results, at the strategic level, we will all agree it is a textbook case in how Outsiders can reach into a district with money, volunteers, and a well coordinated attack defeat an incumbent not necessarily on his/her record, but on innuendo and perception.If you think that Young’s article in the NY Times being released the same day as Steven’s article in the Wash Post was a coincidence, then I have a beluga whale in the Potomac to show you. If you think that the DNC or DCCC is not interested in turning Alaska blue, then you must have an unlisted phone number to your telephone booth.
You must believe that these forces, when combined, will have a major play and impact on Senator Ted Stevens or Congressman Don Young’s election! And if that is the case, then much, much closer to home — you probably understand that you and your clients will be impacted by these elections.
To some, this may be a scary proposition — an opportunity to wring our hands and speculate. To others, it becomes a call to action — to develop and execute a plan. I know into which of these two groups I fall into — and where you AK Wolfpack members fall into, too.
Since the email was sent, over $90,000 has been contributed to Young’s campaign either from the individuals on the list, their firms, or their firm’s clients.
Besides those previously known to have ties to Young, through the “A Team,” the remaining members of the “Wolfpack” are comprised of many former staffers for Young and Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK). For all those named to the “AK Wolfack,” see the ADN.
