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‘Another Job’: In New Ads, Gillespie Completely Glosses Over Lobbying Career

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No Mention of Decades Buying and Selling Favors on Behalf of Large Corporations

 

Where was this guy???

 
In his first general election ad, Virginia Republican Ed Gillespie pitches his personal story with a set of incredibly thick rose-colored glasses. In the video, Ed summarizes his career arch like this:
You know all the way through in a lot of different jobs, but one of them was parking cars for the staff that work in the big office buildings on Capitol Hill. Then that led to a job and then another job and another job. And you know, eventually, I got to serve as Counselor to the President of the United States of America.””
What were those unmentioned “another job and another job?” Making millions of dollars greasing palms and trading favors as a high-powered D.C. lobbyist.
Gillespie actually spent most of career making a fortune lobbying in Washington D.C. on behalf of large companies. He lobbied on for universally beloved organizations such as Enron, Tyson Food, and Viacom, ultimately cashing out on his portfolio for $40 million dollars.
In another one of his new ads, Ed once again tries to portray himself as a rags-to-riches, “aw-shucks”, humble small business owner:
“You see, I worked my way through college and started three small businesses.”
That line loses its luster after reading his book Winning Right, in which Gillespie sums up his career slightly differently. At his businesses, the only thing being bought and sold was political influence:
“It dawned on me that I could make more money knowing Ed Gillespie than I was making being Ed Gillespie.”
It’s not hard to see why the decades of D.C. insider-trading was left on the cutting room floor.
“Ed Gillespie built his career swimming in the swamp of Washington, D.C., by hawking  influence to the highest bidder,” said DGA Communications Director Jared Leopold. “Ed Gillespie should stop trying to swindle Virginia voters – and come clean about his real record. The fact is that Ed Gillespie spent the majority of his career standing with special interests and against everyday Virginians.”

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Background:
Richmond Times Dispatch: Gillespie “Made His Fortune” At Lobbying Firm That He Sold For $40 Million. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, “Gillespie made his fortune as a partner with Democrat Jack Quinn in a lobbying firm that they reportedly sold for $40 million in 2004. Among the company’s clients were Enron, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Microsoft, Tyson Foods, Viacom, PricewaterhouseCoopers and DaimlerChrysler, according to the watchdog group Public Citizen.” [Richmond Times Dispatch, 1/17/14]
Sabato: Gillespie Had ‘Been A D.C. Lobbyist And Establishment Figure For A Long Time.” According to the Daily Progress, “Whether Gillespie will get the support of the tea party faction of the GOP remains to be seen, Sabato said. ‘In a perfect world for the tea party, Gillespie wouldn’t be their first pick, or their second or third. He’s been a D.C. lobbyist and establishment figure for a long time. My guess is they’ll be split. (But) as long as Gillespie is seen as the only credible general-election challenger, he’ll make it through the convention.’” [Daily Progress, 4/14/14]
Gillespie Rose From “Congressional Aide To Millionaire Republican Lobbyist.” According to a column by Robert Novak, “Republican insiders say that the Miers confirmation poses a big test for Gillespie, who within a few years rose from congressional aide to millionaire Republican lobbyist.” [Robert Novak column, 10/8/05]
Gillespie Wrote that “I Could Make More Money Knowing Ed Gillespie Than I was Making Being Ed Gillespie.” According to Gillespie’s book, “Winning Right,” “After one meeting it occurred to me that the person urging me to look favorably on a certain bill probably made twice what I was making. It dawned on me that I could make more money knowing Ed Gillespie than I was making being Ed Gillespie.” [“Winning Right,” page 176, 9/11/07]