David Alameel
Just like his first run for office in 2012, David Alameel’s second bid for public office is drawing questions about his past campaign donations.
Alameel, the owner of a multimillion-dollar chain of dental clinics that caters to Hispanics, is one of five Democrats vying for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican John Cornyn. In recent years, Alameel has emerged as one of the top donors to Democratic groups and candidates in the country. However, before 2010, his donations were more bipartisan. Over several years, he donated more than $750,000 to Republican candidates and groups, including $8,000 to Cornyn in 2004.
In a phone interview Monday, Alameel said he would not make the same donations to Republicans again.
“I want a refund right now because I believe John Cornyn and his Republican friends in Washington work for Wall Street and not Texans,” Alameel said. When asked if he regretted those earlier donations to Republicans, he reiterated that he wanted “a refund.”
Alameel said that his view of the Republican Party has changed in recent years.
“I used to think that Democrats and Republicans work together, but you know, it’s becoming more and more crystal clear that today’s Republican Party is far too extreme,” Alameel said. “John Cornyn is part of that extreme problem.”
Not clear from this story if he’s just asking for his $8K back from Cornyn or if he’s seeking to recover the whole enchilada. I kind of doubt it’s the latter, but if it is I don’t see how it happens. For that matter, Cornyn isn’t playing ball, either, and he does a nice bit of knife-twisting for good measure. Let this be a lesson about being careful to whom one makes political donations, kids.
There’s been a lot written about Alameel’s past history of political giving, with the Lone Star Project – a recipient of his largesse as well – highlighting his Dem-only track record since 2008, and the Maxer Scherr campaign understandably pushing his GOP donor history. Here’s a Google spreadhseet I’ve put together, based on a query of Alameel as a contributor, from January 1, 2000 forward, sorted chronologically. I’ve helpfully highlighted the Republican recipients, as best as I recognize them, for your convenience. As you can see, there are none after February of 2008, which is consistent with what the Lone Star Project has highlighted, but doesn’t explain the reasons behind the change.
I still haven’t gotten a date from Alameel’s campaign for an interview and at this point I’m not holding out much hope for one, so we’ll all have to decide for ourselves how sincere his apparent conversion is. At least by going from R to D no one can claim he’s doing it for the easier path to victory. Alameel has some other questions to answer as well, and I’m sorry I won’t get the chance to ask them, or to hear his answers for myself. I have no problem believing that Wendy Davis sees something worthwhile in Alameel, but I’m reserving my own judgment on that.
UPDATE: Sen. Leticia Van de Putte has endorsed Alameel, so she sees something in him as well.
Don’t forget that he’s upped the ante on his pro-choice lying, too, it seems: http://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2014/01/alameel-flat-out-lies-on-abortion.html
I know exactly what Davis and van de Putte see in Alameel: deep pockets.
I believe his conversion can be sourced to his bout of cancer.
David Alameel was on the giving end of Texas pay-to-play, but I think he decided that there are no pockets in a shroud and started to trying to carry forward his good works in a more direct fashion.
QRS – Sorry, but I still don’t believe his conversion is real. If it were, then why wasn’t he honest enough to leave the advisory council of the Catholic Foundation? In other words, he’s lying, or lying by omission, to somebody.
I mean, Alameel’s cancer was detected 2010, and he was on the CF’s advisory as late as last year, at least.
Wendy Davis was once a Republican and Mike Collier voted for Mitt Romney in the 2012 primary, so I don’t see Alameel’s case as being particularly more egregious. Only Democratic donations since 2008 is a pretty long track record. There is also something to be said for the practicality of having enough money for a statewide campaign. Maxey Scherr will not have that and would just need donations that are better spent on local races or on Davis or Van De Putte. I don’t see the tradeoff as one that is unacceptable to be made — Scherr may be slightly more progressive, but Alameel is progressive enough. I take him at his word, and trust Davis and Van De Putte.