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Swift Boat donors explain their aid to Polis

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 29, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.
Updated November 29, 2007 at 9:33 a.m.

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Polis is under attack by rivals over campaign contributions.

Polis is under attack by rivals over campaign contributions.

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A Nashville, Tenn., auto dealer who has donated thousands of dollars to Republican causes - including the Swift Boat attack group - said he contributed to Jared Polis' congressional campaign because he considers the Boulder resident "a good conservative."

Told that Polis is a Democrat critical of the war in Iraq, the donor said it didn't matter.

"If he's a good man and believes in the right principles, I don't care whether he's Republican or Democrat," Lee Beaman said.

"I wish we were not . . . in Iraq," he added. "I think we ought to get out of there as soon as we can, but we need to do so in a way in which we leave in place a good solid government there."

Another donor, Arthur Gray Jr., of New Hampshire, said his friend Arthur Laffer, economist and former adviser to President Reagan, asked him to donate to Polis.

Gray said Laffer knows Polis and described the Internet entrepreneur as a "very good guy" who believes in "supply side economics."

Asked about the donations, Polis said, "If conservatives want to support me in stopping the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars to the war in Iraq, then so be it."

"I'm not surprised that people of all walks of life and across the political spectrum are supporting my efforts," he added.

But Polis' two Democratic rivals in the 2nd Congressional District, Joan Fitz-Gerald and Will Shafroth, attacked the donations because Beaman and Gray also contributed in 2004 to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The group paid for ads attacking Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's Vietnam War record.

Polis has accepted at least four out-of-state contributions and one in-state contribution from donors who also gave to Swift Boat. Polis' opponents questioned why he would tout his opposition to the war, while taking money from donors who they believe helped prolong the war by re-electing George Bush.

"It's hypocritical to justify taking money from people who are polar opposites on the key issue of the day: Iraq," said Mary Alice Mandarich, Fitz-Gerald's campaign manager.

Neither Beaman nor Gray has met Polis. Beaman, who gave $1,000, said he couldn't remember who asked him to contribute. Gray said he gave $250 to Polis after Laffer's request.

Laffer sits on the board of Polis' company, Jovian Holdings Inc.

Polis said he welcomes Laffer's help, and he noted that Laffer has assisted other Democrats, including presidential candidates Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown.

The other out-of-state donors who contributed to both Polis and Swift Boat declined to say who asked them to give to Polis. The donors are Alex Meruelo, of California, who gave $2,300, and William Fickling Jr., of Georgia, who gave $500.

The fifth Swift Boat/Polis donor was Denver oilman Alex Cranberg, a force in the school voucher movement. He gave Polis $2,300.

Polis once served on the state Board of Education, and supported a pilot program for vouchers.

Polis, Fitz-Gerald and Shafroth are running for the Democratic nomination to replace Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

The 2nd District is comprised of most of Boulder County, all of Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit, Grand, Eagle and Broomfield counties and portions of Jefferson, Weld and Adams counties.