Caesar Rodney Institute an Honest Broker? We Report–You Decide
PART ONE:
The Caesar Rodney Institute, aided and abetted by the usual suspects like David Burris, has been working overtime to portray itself as some sort of non-partisan good government honest broker. Kinda like Common Cause or the League of Women Voters. Do the facts warrant this narrative? Let’s take a closer look.
In its mission statement, CRI describes itself as:
…a 501(c)(3) research and education organization dedicated to the measured improvement in the quality of life, the degree of individual liberty, and opportunity for personal fulfillment for all Delawareans.
CRI seeks to become Delaware’s preeminent non-partisan, free-market oriented think tank. The Caesar Rodney Institute’s vision is to be the catalyst for improved performance, accountability, and efficiency in Delaware government. Being the catalyst means providing quality information, solutions, and critiques to Delaware government spending and policy decisions in an effort to improve the lives and liberty of Delawareans.
The mission of the Caesar Rodney Institute (CRI) is to influence public policy in Delaware by helping every Delawarean understand and put into practice the fundamentals of a free society: individual initiative, personal responsibility, private property, voluntary agreements, informed choice, the rule of law, and strong local communities.
It appears that CR is dedicated to eliminating those pesky regulations as well, presumably because deregulation couldn’t have worked better in, say, ensuring the integrity of the financial markets and in protecting our fragile environment:
It is clear that Delaware needs a strong voice to research and propose new roles for a constitutionally limited government that is less intrusive, less costly, more enabling of individual initiative, more open, and more responsive to the needs of the individual.
“It is clear”. Who can argue with that airtight logic? Well OK, CR’s a fierce advocate for free markets and deregulation. Still, they probably come at it from a non-partisan perspective. ‘Bulo is sure that a careful perusal of CR’s key players will demonstrate strong non-partisan qualities. Let’s go to the record.
According to its own press releases, one Garrett Wozniak is the Policy Director for CRI. Here are his ‘non-partisan bona fides’ , in his own words, and direct from his University of Delaware Institute of Public Administration bio:
“After graduating from the University of Delaware’s MPA program in May 2006, I began working as the Campaign Coordinator for the Delaware Republican Party. Following the 2006 election, I became the Executive Director of the Delaware GOP, a position I held until June, 2007 when I became the policy director for the House Republican Caucus. In this position I implemented an extensive district operations plan for incumbent legislators and advised on numerous policies. In May 2008, I left the House to take on the role of Campaign Manager for State Senator Charlie Copeland in his campaign to become Delaware’s Lieutenant Governor.”
Hard to imagine a more textbook definition of non-partisanship than that.
Still, the Beast Who Was Born at Night But Not Last Night is positive that CRI’s Board of Directors will prove to be fair and balanced:
Barrett E. Kidner, Chairman & CEO: Here’s the official CRI Bio. Hmm, either current or former ‘Chairman, Republican Comm. 23rd Rep. District; Various Delaware Election Campaigns’.
BTW, ‘bulo is certain that it’s purely coincidental, but the Barrett Group contributed to Charles Copeland’s 2008 campaign for Lieutenant Governor, and Kidner himself once contributed $$’s to the Republican National Committee.
His bio also describes Kidner as President of the Barrett Group, Inc., a provider of administrative services to trade associations and other government affairs organizations headquartered in Dover, Delaware. In other words, a guy who helps the lobbyists lobby.
But surely someone chairing the beyond-reproach CRI is just doing it in his capacity as good government watchdog. Oops. Turns out Kidner is a lobbyist himself:
Region 1: Delaware
Delaware Apartment Association
Barrett Kidner, Association Executive
9 E. Loockerman Street, Suite 309
Dover, DE 19901
El Somnambulo found it interesting that the Association has a Resource Center for Landlords, but not for renters. He’s sure this must be an inadvertent oversight.
He’s having a more difficult time overlooking the following coincidence, however. It is not by accident that the Beast Who Boldfaces to Excess boldfaced Kidner’s Loockerman Street business address. It’s b/c that exact same address just happens to be the home of one of Delaware’s highest-powered and most notorious lobbying firms. And, get this, check out the last name here:
C.S. Kidner Associates Capitol Strategies
C. Scott Kidner
President
9 E. Loockerman St.,
Suite 309
Dover, DE 19901
But surely, C. Scott Kidner, like his namesake, is merely a forceful advocate for good government. Let’s just check out who he and his wife (Becky Batson Kidner) lobby for. From the oxymoronically-named Delaware Public Integrity Commission:
| Cristofer Scott Kidner 3 Shinnecock Road Dover , DE 19904 |
CARL M. FREEMAN COMMUNITIES RR2 Box 577J Ocean View , DE 19970 |
Cigar Association of America 1707 H. Street, N. W. Suite 800 Washington , DC 20006 |
Comcast of Delmarva, Inc. 5729 West Dennys Road Dover , DE 19904 |
| Commercial Industrial Realty Council P. O. Box 1789 Wilmington , DE 19899 |
DELAWARE APARTMENT ASSN. c/o Naaman’s Associates 799 Montclair Drive Claymont , DE 19703 |
DELAWARE ASSN. OF REALTORS 134 East Water Street Dover , DE 19901 |
|
| Delaware Charter School Network 100 West 10th Street Suite 403 Wilmington , DE 19801 |
Delaware Film Company, LLC 408 Victoria Ave Wilmington , DE 19804 |
DELAWARE HOTEL & LODGING ASSN. PMB 115 251 N. Dupont Highway Dover , DE 19901 |
|
| DELAWARE OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, INC 207 Golding Court Hockessin , DE 19707 |
DELAWARE PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION 120 Church Lane Wilmington , DE 19808 |
DELAWARE Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association 777 Delaware Park Blvd. Wilmington , DE 19804 |
|
| DELAWARE TOURISM ALLIANCE %Roy Klien – Kline Development P. O. Box 619 Dover , DE 19903 |
Delmarva Power & Light Co. 401 Eagle Run Rd. Newark , DE 19702 |
Dewey Beach Enterprises P.O. Box 649 Dickinson St. Dewey Beach , DE 19971 |
|
| FIRST STATE MANUFACTURED HOUSING ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 1829 2 North State Street Dover , DE 19903 |
HOME BUILDERS ASSN. OF DE 5151 W. Woodmill Dr. Suite 19 Wilmington , DE 198084067 |
Scientific Games Corp. 750 Lexington Avenue, 25th Fl New York , NY 10022 |
|
| The Coalition of Natural Health, Inc. 1220 L Street, N.W. PMB 100-408 Washington , DC 20005 |
TIDEWATER UTILITIES 1100 S. Little Creek Rd. Dover , DE 19901 |
U. S. English, Inc. 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue Suite 1050 Washington , DC 20006 |
|
| Unison Administrative Services, LLC Unison Plaza 1001 Brinton Road Pittsburg , PA 15221 |
| Rebecca Batson Kidner Rebecca Batson Kidner, PA 9 E. Loockerman Street, Suite 309 Dover , DE 19901 |
American Express Company 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 650 Washington , DC 20004 |
AMERIHEALTH INSURANCE CO.OF DE/AMERIHEALTH HMO, INC. Legislative Policy Office 500 N. 3rd Street Suite 500 Harrisburg , PA 17101 |
DELAWARE ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETIST 9 Suffolk Road Rehoboth Beach , DE 19971 |
| DELAWARE STANDARDBRED OWNERS ASSN., INC. 830 Walker Rd. Dover , DE 19904 |
PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURERS ASSOC. 28 West State. St., Ste. 719 Trenton , NJ 08608 |
REBECCA BATSON KIDNER, P.A. 9 E. Lockerman Street, Suite 309 Dover , DE 19901
|
Lessee…the insurance giants, credit card industry, horsemen, utilities, manufactured housing and hospitality industries, cable TV, nothing says good government more profoundly than those stalwarts.
Evidence to the contrary notwithstanding, El Somnambulo is absolutely convinced that this snippet provides an unfair portrayal of the wannabe quote machine known as the Caesar Rodney Institute. He encourages anyone with information to write the Delaware Liberal Tipline. All tips will be thoroughly investigated by ‘bulo’s fact-checkers.
Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 as the Beast Who Slumbers, in the interests of investigative journalism, demonstrates the honorable and above-board nature of CRI’s efforts. Or at least tries.
Tags: The Delaware Way
Why not start your own Institute?
Why complain about someone else’s effort?
Possibly, you could call your organization “Citizens Lose and Government Wins, Send Us Your Paycheck”
My guess is a free thinking organization scares the daylights out of class warfare, tax more, spend more and take freedom lovers like liberals.
Mike Protack
my guess is you aren’t part of this and are pissed that as De’s leading Republican aren’t cashing in on it.
Mikey, Mike Mike, you misunderestimate the sincerity of the Beast Who Slumbers. He, like you, is deTERmined to demonstrate that this is a free-thinking organization in the purest nonpartisan sense. Unencumbered from distasteful ideology. Why do you so doubt ‘bulo? He is hurt. He’s thinking of bringing the lawnmower inside so that he can cut off the mustache he grew in your (well, you and Ron Jeremy’s) honor.
Dumbass Protack,
The point is that this organization is trying to pass itself off as an objective, non-partisan operation and not an organization dedicated to electing Republicans to office. Which is what it is.
Sheesus you are stupid. Awesome blogging ES.
BTW Protack, when I say “an organization dedicated to electing Republicans to office” I don’t include you and neither do they.
Great reporting Bulo – very interesting indeed.
Mike — Why not post where people care?
Why don’t you spend your time on conservative blogs, Mike? They’re your audience. Nobody here will ever vote for you. Why are you wasting your time? Doesn’t say much for your ability to prioritize.
I sincerely suggest that all commenters use the above form as the spam-tastic response to anything Protack writes on DL.
Just reading the supposed mission sounds very Republican. Non-partisan apparently does not equal non-ideological. They’ll be happy to take any Democrats who believe in the Republican platform to their cause.
Can’t stand even a little dissent comrade Geezer?
I will kill myself before I ever vote for Mike Protack. And I may just do it if he ever gets elected to something of consequence.
Republican David…
Defending Protack? WOW. You and others offer plenty of dissent.
The CR Institute will be judged on its work. Are you trying to tell me the League of Women voters has no bias? Many of the chapters do, but it doesn’t stop them from doing good work that most people respect.
Common Cause is often more liberal, but some of its issues are broader. I respect them because I know where they are coming from and they will work with anyone on a project. The CR Institute seems to be emerging as the same type of organization from a more conservative viewpoint not a partisan viewpoint. You accept that mostly Democrats can do public policy work, why not Republicans?
The CR Institute does not need some investigative journalism. They tell you straight out this is who we are and what we believe and why. It is at best some sort of joke to act as if they are masquerading as something different. At worse the innuendo is aimed at trying to discredit what ever they find without discussing the actual merits. I hope that you see the error in that.
Yes, women are automatically biased because they don’t tend to vote for Republicans. That’s not Republicans’ fault because everyone knows that only Republicans are perfect. It’s the non-Republican voters that are flawed.
So David is admitting to his involvement in CRI?
Amigos, no need to jump to conclusions. El Somnambulo is hopeful that his ongoing research will demonstrate that CRI applies scrupulous fact-based methodologies to its work. He is near-certain that a look at the background of the remaining board members will show that CRI deserves to have their work considered in a fawning and non-critical manner (think Rick Jensen) by the media sources who would quote them as being honest brokers. He will be mucho depressivo should that not be the case.
You guys are like I am, you enjoy a little challenge. There are some people who seemed annoyed that anyone would expose them to another perspective. It is they that I tease.
The League of Women’s Voters and Common Cause are not even equivalent to what CRI portrays itself as. Or perhaps Delusional David has just let the cat slip. Both CC and LWV are clearly advocacy groups and they tell you that. CRI is trying to be seen as a non-partisan “think tank” when they clearly have a partisan agenda to push.
Some more information about their nonpartisan Board of Directors: Ursomarso was the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor in 2004. Donna Stone is a former GOP state representative, Ken Grant is a former state GOP spokesman, and John Stapleford was a speaker at the Wilmington Riverfront Tea Party.
Yeah, non partisan. For our Republican commenters were are currently experiencing brain failures, the point of this is not the CRI’s work, it is the CRI’s lies. When you pass yourself off as nonpartisan when you clearly are, you are lying.
UI Makes a great catch here:
So who is this we? Certainly if Delusional David includes himself, we are definitely well out of the “non-partisan” range.
I’m looking forward to seeing it. I’m sure it’ll be as good as the “Republican Road to Recovery.” Perhaps it will be similar to the non-existent Republican healthcare package.
No, I am not directly involved in the institute, nor was I asked to be. I have been asked to be supportive and get the word out by Garrett who is a personal friend and a person that I respect for his integrity. That is my only involvement, I am Joe Citizen seeking the truth.
I am tasked in two other efforts and choose not to share their identity at this time, but you will hear of them next year.
Women are not biased as a group,if fact, women are a very diverse group. I referred to some chapters of the League of Women Voters as being biased not even the entire organization. Some chapters make being bipartisan a point of order. I then said that even in areas where it was partisan, it did good work. That is hardly an attack on the League, let alone on women.
Republican David: You will recall that El Somnambulo recently posted this piece about the so-called non-partisan polling firm that turns out to be a sudsidiary of a huge health insurance company, and which provided ‘statistics’ allegedly demonstrating the public’s opposition to a public option:
http://delawareliberal.net//2009/07/23/non-partisan-health-care-research-group-owned-by-health-insurance-company/
This is how Rethuglicans characterized the work of this ‘non-partisan’ firm:
“To Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House Republican whip, it is “the nonpartisan Lewin Group.” To Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, it is an “independent research firm.” To Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the second-ranking Republican on the pivotal Finance Committee, it is “well known as one of the most nonpartisan groups in the country.”
To which, noted analyst ‘Delaware Republican’ replied:
“The Lewin Group used proper methodology and publishes stats which are accurate.”
In light of such sheer genius, El Somnambulo is diligently striving to prove that the ‘non-partisan’ Caesar Rodney Institute not be similarly besmirched. Why do you doubt his motives?
BTW, a question for Delaware Republican: You wrote that you’ve been ‘asked to be supportive and get the word out by Garrett’. Was that before or after this piece ran?
Either way, why would he contact a partisan figure such as yourself whose handle is “Republican David” if he’s working for a non-partisan organization?
The institute is forbidden to involve itself in campaigns by its charter, which makes it 501 (c) 3. It is an educational organization. That makes it non partisan. They are there to educate people not run political campaigns. The hope is like any organization to lay a ground work of information which will allow people who hold those view in any party to build upon them.
Being non-partisan does not mean that you don’t have an agenda. It just is not an R v. D agenda. It is a pro-market v. pro-collectivism agenda. (my words not theirs)
They are about as non partisan as the Delaware Public (Private) Policy Institute, or the CATO Institute as the neo con freak Jenson refers everyone to. Just do a little google on CATO, and you will see the reasons they hate any health care reform, or tobacco reform~~its those corporations who pay those boneheads to print the garbage, lies and deceptions all working against the citizens and for corporate Amerikkka.
Wonder how closely related these crazies are the C Street, FAMILY! Grover Norquist here in Delaware now these nut jobs? They are here to protect the interests of the corporate state.
Hi. (I know you bitches miss me.)
I was the first board member of the CRI. I resigned my seat on the board because the organization did not want to have a high-profile partisan in that role, and my presence did not help that. This was before they added most of the others you cite. So, they’re doing a piss poor job of achieving that public relations goal.
The CRI is a conservative think tank. They are non-partisan, but they are not without ideological leanings. To say that they are nonpartisan is correct. To say they have policy goals is correct. To say that they are there to elect Republicans is 100% incorrect.
So far, they’ve spent considerable resources to put the state’s checkbook online. How is that partisan? They are working on the same for school districts. How is that partisan? They requested the information from the Administration on the audits with the goal of making it public. How is that partisan?
I understand that the Governor and his team have become quite annoyed with the CRI’s commitment to sharing information with the public. I don’t know if El Som got marching orders or not to try and discredit them, but trying to take away from what they’re doing by pointing out that, gosh, they’re a conservative organization, is disingenuous at best.
When they DO something partisan, let me know.
By the way, John Stapleford is the go-to economist for information about the Delaware economy, cited in nearly every News-Journal article on the state’s economy in the last two years. Trying to discredit him by pointing out that he spoke at one of those stupid tea parties is just plain wrong.
Nice to see nothing has changed here. I’ll sleep well tonight with that comfort.
The institute is forbidden to involve itself in campaigns by its charter, which makes it 501 (c) 3. It is an educational organization. That makes it non partisan.
Criminey, it would be nice if you would remember who you are talking to for a change. Just because it is not involved in direct political activity doesn’t make it non-partisan. But I’ll stipulate that perhaps your readers would buy that explanation.
Who said anything about discrediting? If everything is on the up-an-up why should he be worried?
I don’t understand why having Burris on the board would make it look partisan, but having those other people, including former Republican officeholders, doesn’t. I’m not seeing the logic there.
The CRI is a conservative think tank. They are non-partisan, but they are not without ideological leanings. To say that they are nonpartisan is correct. To say they have policy goals is correct.
Conservative, non-partisan, but they do have ideological leanings. Which makes them partisan, if they are organized to support the ideas if the Conservative –sorry, Republican — Party.
El Burrito Junior: Stapleford and his supply-side sidekick Eleanor Craig have made themselves the ‘go-to’ guys. Whether it was by their non-partisan expertise or by relentless self-promotion is a question that should be answered. Similarly, the CRI is trying to make itself a ‘go-to guy’ as well.
El Somnambulo just wants to make sure that they are honest brokers, a near-certainty that he believes Part 2 will confirm.
The Beast Who Slumbers has a real beef with lazy media-types when they either fail, or don’t even try, to discern and subsequently publicly identify the bias of groups with bland-sounding names that are not subjective. Which all too easily morphs into these self-promoters becoming ‘go-to guys’ with no context provided.
He’s just doing due diligence on CRI. Why the outcry?
“He’s just doing due diligence on CRI. Why the outcry?”
Fascinating that you don’t see the hypocrisy of accusing someone of being biased and claiming that you, El Somnambulo, are simply having an ‘objective’ look.
“Which makes them partisan, if they are organized to support the ideas if the Conservative –sorry, Republican — Party.”
Not at all. The organization was created to support the ideas and specifically to take the partisan politics out of it. I know, because I was there. There was too much of a battle inside the party for the ideas to make it out.
“I don’t understand why having Burris on the board would make it look partisan, but having those other people, including former Republican officeholders, doesn’t. I’m not seeing the logic there.”
Me neither. I suspect there were other reasons for wanting me out, but that’s for another day.
“Who said anything about discrediting?”
You do realize where we are, right?
You are a founding member?
It sounds like they’re trying to hide something. Why else would they try to hide their origins.
Republican David: You have not yet answered ‘bulo’s questions.
You wrote:
“I have been asked to be supportive and get the word out by Garrett who is a personal friend and a person that I respect for his integrity.”
‘Bulo asked:
“You wrote that you’ve been ‘asked to be supportive and get the word out by Garrett’. Was that before or after this piece ran?
‘Bulo also asked:
“Either way, why would he contact a partisan figure such as yourself whose handle is “Republican David” if he’s working for a non-partisan organization?”
In the interest of fair and balanced reporting, would you please be so kind as to answer?
El Burrito Junior: Those quotes suggesting some kind of partisan or liberal slant on ‘bulo’s part were not written by ‘bulo. Please demonstrate in this thread where ‘bulo has accused CRI of bias. He cannot find them.
So, an organization led by Republicans can be considered non-partisan? In what freaking world?
“Please demonstrate in this thread where ‘bulo has accused CRI of bias.”
You did write the post, didn’t you?
“‘Please demonstrate in this thread where ‘bulo has accused CRI of bias.’
You did write the post, didn’t you?”
Do google searches constitute writing now a days?
Dave Burris is busted yet again. Just fess up Dave.
So looking into CRI is a biased act?
This has “post series of the year” written all over it.
…but they are not without ideological leanings. To say that they are nonpartisan is correct.
That makes sense. Are you taking logic lessons from Protack?
“Which makes them partisan, if they are organized to support the ideas if the Conservative –sorry, Republican — Party.”
Not at all. The organization was created to support the ideas and specifically to take the partisan politics out of it. I know, because I was there. There was too much of a battle inside the party for the ideas to make it out.
So this was meant to bypass the partisanship within your own party, which is fine, but still finds this organization supporting Republican — conservative — policy initiatives. Which by any definition of partisan you want to go by, makes CRI a partisan group. Or in other words, Democratic policy initiatives need not apply.
There’s a difference between facts and opinion, El Burrito Junior. While ‘bulo HATES quoting himself (OK, THAT’s a demonstrable lie), El Somnambulo has bent over backwards to be fair. To wit:
“Still, they probably come at it from a non-partisan perspective. ‘Bulo is sure that a careful perusal of CR’s key players will demonstrate strong non-partisan qualities. Let’s go to the record.”
“Hard to imagine a more textbook definition of non-partisanship than that.”
“Still, the Beast Who Was Born at Night But Not Last Night is positive that CRI’s Board of Directors will prove to be fair and balanced:”
“But surely someone chairing the beyond-reproach CRI is just doing it in his capacity as good government watchdog.”
“He’s sure this must be an inadvertent oversight.”
“But surely, C. Scott Kidner, like his namesake, is merely a forceful advocate for good government.”
“Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 as the Beast Who Slumbers, in the interests of investigative journalism, demonstrates the honorable and above-board nature of CRI’s efforts.”
The Beast Who Venerates Walter Cronkite intends to apply this same standard to Part 2. He is near-certain that tomorrow’s segment will demonstrate the integrity of those affiliated with CRI. Presumably just like El Burrito Junior.
If the “Democratic policy initiatives” start with “Tax cuts Work!” then they can be included.
“Can’t stand even a little dissent comrade Geezer?”
Intelligent dissent, yes. But when a person’s stated purpose is to win elected office AS A REPUBLICAN, and has failed repeatedly at that mission, it would behoove that person to do something to further that goal if he wishes to be taken seriously, would it not?
Never mind. You’re cut from the same cloth. Again, shouldn’t you be looking for followers among your own kind rather than vomiting up your pitifully reasoned comments here? Again, shows an inability to prioritize.
@geezer
ad ho-mi-nem: adj. 1: appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than inttelect. 2: marked by or being an attack on an opponent’s character rather than by an answer to the contentions made. (www.m-w.com in case you were wondering)
congratulations geezer, you are textbook. l2logic plz.
CRI = thinly veiled party organ.
And if anyone needs an organ transplant, it’s the Delaware GOP.
Hey cass, by that statement, 99.9% of all think tanks and other political groups would be considered partisan then.
Besides, we all know that limited government is neither a D or R quality so that should make them nonpartisan right there. 😉
So Dave are you saying that non-partisan means that their policies would apply to all citizens regardless of party affiliation? What is their status as a political group? Do you have democrats, greens, independents among your membership…or all repukes.
“2: marked by or being an attack on an opponent’s character rather than by an answer to the contentions made.”
A) Nobody asked you. B) Mike Protack’s character should embarrass him into silence. If you don’t know about him, look him up. C) There is no point in “debating” anything with Mike Protack, or any other Republican, in this forum. Nobody is going to make up his mind about anything based on troll comments from conservatives on a liberal blog, and your very presence here is unwelcome.
Besides, everything I said to him is good advice: For a conservative dickhead trying to get elected as a Republican, he sure wastes a lot of time in pointless bickering with liberals and progressives. Remember, we’re not talking about a regular masturbatory troll here — this bozo really thinks he’s elected-official material.
If you’re looking for who “won” the “debate,” go with Protack. He needs all the help I can get. I don’t give a remote fraction of a shit what you believe, and I’m not out to convince you of anything. So, uh, I believe the short version is “fuck off.” And no, I don’t care that it’s not something you can debate. It’s exactly what I mean, and I think I speak for a lot of other progressives here: Fuck. Off.
weird how Dave Burris popped up all of a sudden….