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Story Archives: Democrats need Blanco's cash
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Democrats need Blanco's cash
 Former Gov. Kathleen Blanco apparently doesn't see eye to eye with President Obama on all of his tough talk about sharing the wealth.
That much is evident according to Blanco's 2010 year-end campaign finance report, which showed she had more than $2.1 million in cash on hand. Most of the money represents campaign contributions Blanco received prior to the 2007 election cycle, or when it was anticipated Blanco would stand for re-election for a second term in office.
Though Blanco opted not to seek re-election four years ago, her campaign account remains active, and she continues to file the appropriate reports to abide by state law. According to the 2010 report, Blanco posted some $36,000 in receipts and spent roughly $208,000. The $36,000 and some change represented interest income on deposits at two banks. The expenditures represented outlays for salaries, consulting fees, cellular telephone bills, web site hosting fees and other expenses.
After it was all said and done, Blanco closed out 2010 with $2,121,500.11 in cash on hand.
And that raises a question or two.
What are Blanco's plans for the more than $2 million in campaign funds she has?
Blanco isn't saying. Furthermore, she isn't required to file another campaign finance report until after the first of the year since she's not an active candidate in the 2011 election cycle. However, if she's made any contributions to any candidates in Louisiana in the not-too-distant past, we'll know about it when the next campaign finance reports are filed by active candidates on Sept. 22. That's the next reporting deadline for candidates who will appear on the Oct. 22 ballot.
If Blanco agreed with Obama that we should take from the rich and give to the poor, she would dip into her still-active campaign account and peel off some cold hard cash to help one of the Democrats who qualified to oppose Gov. Bobby Jindal in the Oct. 22 primary election. After all, Blanco is a diehard Democrat from way back. One would think she would feel obligated to assist any Democrat who is trying to unseat an incumbent Republican governor. Especially Jindal, who has made a disparaging remark or two over the past few years that could be interpreted as a slap at Blanco and the state Democratic Party in general.
Speaking of the state Democratic Party, Blanco could certainly come to the party's rescue with a $1 million contribution. Or more. Lord knows the party needs it. Its leadership shows few signs of fully understanding the modern-day political landscape in Louisiana, and we certainly haven't read many news reports lately of the party hosting any full-blown fundraisers to fill its coffer for the 2011 elections.
As long as the state Democratic Party isn't actively engaged in trying to slow down Jindal, the governor is free to roam the country to raise more money for his political activities as he did Monday in Philadelphia, Penn.
And as long as the state party sits on its hind side doing literally nothing, Jindal can dart off to locales such as Tampa, Fla. to endorse Texas Gov. Rick Perry for the Republican nomination for president, kicking Obama and his failed presidency along the way. Jindal did that Monday after he left his own fundraiser in Philadelphia.
Yet, where does that leave the Democrats who qualified to oppose Jindal in the October primary election? Better yet, where is the state Democratic Party in this picture?
They're sitting on the sidelines wasting their time, and Jindal is easily coasting into office for a second term, cultivating a following nationwide for a yet-to-be-determined future in national Republican Party politics.
Meanwhile, Blanco is the only Democrat in Louisiana with any real campaign money, and she's not running for anything.
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