By Joel Thurtell
The pixels were hardly dry on my recent post assigning kudos to The Detroit News for publicizing billionaire Matty Moroun’s largesse to key political and judicial people when reality arrived in the form of a corrective note from frequent JOTR commenter Alan Stamm.
Alan wanted me to know that while The News deserves credit for exposing Matty’s attempts to buy friends in high places, the newspaper seriously underestimated the extent of Matty’s attempts to influence public figures with bucks.
According to The News, Matty slid a hundred grand to various political figures over the last 10 years.
A hundred k?
No way.
Not according to Alan Stamm. Here’s what the former News editor tole me:
Joel:
[Detroit News reporter] Tom [Greenwood] and my ex-shop definitely deserve the kudos in your post today . . . though his piece, based on 49 Mich Campaign Finance Contribution listings, tells just 38% of the influence-seeking/access-buying story.
A PDF link alongside Tom’s report shows his results comes from searches only on ‘Moroun, M.J.’ [47 hits] and ‘Moroun, Manuel’ [2]. But the state’s database is as narrow-minded, literal and unforgiving as . . . well, as some of your past editors.
His results don’t reflect 18 donations attributed to M._J. Moroun or three by ‘Mr. M.J. Moroun.’ (Totals below.)
But wait, there’s more: A Moroun search without any first name shows a few dozen contributions — most to the same candidates/PACs, often on same dates — by wife Nora (7), son Matthew (21), daughter Lindsay (4) and sister Agnes (6).
Why stop there? Let’s toss in 7 gifts from Dan Stamper and 5 by Mickey Blashfield — all listing their corporate affiliation for this more complete Empire Moroun picture:
*
Added Matty gifts: $82,600
*
Nora Moroun: $21,100
*
Matthew Moroun: $38,500
*
Lindsay Moroun: $15,800
*
Agnes Moroun: $ 7,600 .
*
* Dan Stamper, bridge pres.: $19,900
* Mickey Blashfield, VP: $ 1,550 .
* T O T A L: $187,050
That means Tom’s “more than $100,000” figure was at least 35% shy.
That more than doubles The News tally: “In the last decade, he has donated more than $100,000.”
Alan
Thank you Alan for setting me and Matty straight!
Drop me a line at joelthurtell@gmail.com
And thank YOU, Joel, for the gracious post.
Just goes to show: Once an editor, always . . .
Hey, I want to know what they gave to WHOM and for WHAT! That to me is as important or more important. How about that info forthcoming?