Unsavory enough that an incumbent congressman with a safe seat would send a letter dripping in nasty to a Senate candidate struggling for cash and polling in last place.
"... I did nothing to 'effectively' or otherwise 'block' you from (Congressional Black Caucus) contributions," Miami Congressman Alcee Hastings wrote to Pam Keith on Oct. 9. "I have no intention of doing anything to or about you in your Senate race. ... Please stop using my name. I have not and will not use yours."
A bully tactic, this letter. But Hastings was responding to an interview Keith gave to Mitch Perry for a story on the Florida Politics website: "Pam Keith Says Patrick Murphy 'Bought' Endorsements from Alcee Hastings and Frederica Wilson."
OK, I get it. Both Hastings and Keith are black. Both are Democrats. Perry's story, which said the Congressional Black Caucus wasn't giving campaign money to Keith because Hastings and Wilson are supporting Murphy, embarrassed Hastings in the South Florida African-American community. He was fighting back.
What I don't get is a claim Hastings made in his letter I'd like to see him prove:
"I supported Patrick Murphy before I knew your name," Hastings wrote. "Furthermore, Patrick's family has participated in my fundraising efforts for 18 years. ..."
Really? Eighteen years?
What did the Murphys do, attend Hastings' annual Christmas parties?
Except for this year -- when the Miami congressman received financial contributions indirectly from Patrick Murphy, through either his political action committee or donations from Patrick's parents, Thomas and Leslie Murphy, or the family business, Coastal Construction Group -- I can't find 18 years of Murphy family support for Hastings.
I can't even find more than two of the remaining 17.
What I found is this: Thomas P. Murphy donated $5,000 to Hastings in 2011 and $5,400 to him in 2015. Leslie Murphy also donated $1,000 to Hastings in 2011 and $5,400 to him in 2015. Total from Patrick’s parents to his endorser, Alcee Hastings, is $16,800.
Maybe I didn't look hard enough. I went through OpenSecrets.org's campaign contributions for Hastings. I went through the Federal Elections Commission's. Nothing in either one of them before 2011.
Perhaps in 2012, when Tom Murphy gave $550,000 to the left-leaning Super PACs that bashed Allen West, his son's opponent ... maybe Hastings counts that as a connection to Murphy money, because he got money from at least one of those Super PACs. Could that be it?
Maybe he counts money the Murphys gave to the Democratic Party. Probably a few dollars from that trickled down to Hastings.
Tell me where I'm going wrong. I certainly don't want to call a congressman an out-and-out liar if I'm the doofus who doesn't understand campaign finance language. Certainly I know the Murphys give to political parties, PACs and candidates under their own name, their PAC's name and the name of their business.
Anything to help their son.
Coastal Construction Group was the single largest donor to Murphy’s campaigns in both 2012 ($76,750) and 2014 ($50,300), according to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics.
In March 2015 alone, Murphy’s father and other members of his family contributed $34,900 to his Senate campaign.
Maybe Hastings is counting in those 18 years in-kind donations, or donations of the $5-$25 variety. But I doubt it. First, in-kind donations have to be reported like any other. If they went unreported, he's in trouble. Second, it's hard to imagine millionaires like the Murphys giving less to a congressman than they give the kid who valet-parks their car.
I called Hastings' campaign office to ask him where I should look to find the Murphys' 18 years of donations. I left a voicemail explaining exactly what I was looking for. I never got a call-back.
Pam Keith, meanwhile, said she has no interest in picking a fight with Alcee Hastings. She told me she isn't making it up, the CBC informed her that “their PAC has effectively blocked me from getting any financial assistance or getting any kind of connection to their donors, or even getting access to their donor email list because Alcee Hastings and Frederica Wilson are supporting Murphy." She said CBC PAC Executive Director Benjamin Branch told her earlier in the year she needed to be “sponsored” by the CBC Florida delegation in order to get any access to the PAC’s resources.
"I have no beef with Alcee," Keith said. "I understand where he's coming from. He has chosen personal relationships over the constituent commuity. He's committed to seeing Patrick succeed, therefore I must fail.
"My platform hasn't changed. I'm concerned about poverty, about the absence of opportunity, about the racial disparity that persists. I was hoping the CBC would share my commitment to changing the dynamic ..."
No wonder Hastings is embarrassed. But did he have to say he's had18 years of Murphy support?
If it's hiding in plain sight, and I'm too blind to see those years upon years of Murphy support, just show me the proof and I'll be duly humbled.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. @NancyLBSmith
