WASHINGTON — Something truly fascinating escaped notice amid bickering between 2nd District House candidates Tim Bridgewater and John Swallow before the recent state GOP convention.
What was it? Some new evidence that political donations do indeed buy influence — or, at least, donors think they do.
That isn't exactly big news to most people, who long have assumed that. But politicians have long been in official denial.
Most of them say donations do not sway their votes; that people who like the way they vote simply donate to keep (or put) them in office; and that money really doesn't buy access to them because their door is open to all interested parties equally.
Much of that is true. But as in George Orwell's "Animal Farm," where some powerful animals were "more equal than others," donors really do have more access than common folk — and therefore more influence. At least they think they do.
Bridgewater happened to make that clear amid his squabbles with Swallow.
That came as the two fought about whether Bridgewater claimed that President Bush endorsed him. Bridgewater said he never claimed that but did list close ties he has with Bush in ads. The National Republican Committee complained the ads implied a nonexistent endorsement. Bridgewater blamed NRC attacks on prodding by Swallow.
What is key here is a statement that Bridgewater made about the $800,000 he raised in recent years for Bush and his brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
He said, "It shows I have built up capital with the White House and, if elected, I will use that on behalf of Utah." He obviously believes his money and work for Bush have led to some extra influence, which he says he can translate into action for Utah.
Bridgewater qualified as a fund-raising "pioneer" for Bush, or someone who raised at least $100,000 for him in 2000. The Washington Post this week said it identified 246 such pioneers. It found that 104 of them, or 40 percent, ended up with a top job in the administration.
Of course, that is another sign that the pioneers' money brought more than just helping to elect someone whose track record they adore.
One of Bridgewater's fellow pioneers who landed an administration post is Salt Lake businessman John Price — known for developing shopping centers, including the Cottonwood Mall — who is now ambassador to the African island nations of Mauritania, Seychelles and the Comoros Islands.
Price, refreshingly, has never been shy about saying his donations bring influence.
As he said in a 1996 interview, "How would you know about me without those donations? You wouldn't. Others may have a lot of knowledge. But if they don't donate, too, no one's going to counsel with them, and no one cares."
When he called Cabinet members with ideas, he said they talked to him — and would visit him whenever they passed through Utah. Cabinet members tend not to return my calls (nor yours), nor do they drop by for chats. I doubt anyone would have thought to make Price an ambassador without his money doing some talking.
Bridgewater ballyhooed in a press release a meeting that he and other pioneers had with Bush near Atlanta last month. He said they talked political strategy. The Washington Post also noted the pioneers shot skeet with Vice President Dick Cheney, heard jokes from comedian Dennis Miller and shot golf with pros Ben Crenshaw and Fuzzy Zoeller — another sign their money bought some perks.
All that doesn't mean political donations are evil. Politicians need them to be elected. Spending some money yourself or with like-minded people is a way to amplify your voice. And looking at who is giving money can be a shorthand way to cut through rhetoric to see how politicians really stand on issues.
For example, labor unions will not give money to someone who is not pro-labor. Abortion rights groups won't waste money on anyone who is not pro-choice. The next step, of course, is to look at who is getting money from where.
Still, Bridgewater may have helped take a step toward ending the long charade politicians play about whether their donors buy extra access and influence. If they don't, a lot of big donors are wasting a lot of money.
Deseret Morning News Washington correspondent Lee Davidson can be reached by e-mail at lee@desnews.com