American Association for Justice (AJJ) edges out Progress Energy, the Teamsters Union, the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as Rep. Bob Etheridge's top five all-time campaign bankrollers.
Rep. Bob Etheridge, Who Manhandled Self-Described Student Journalist, a Favorite of Legal Community
If Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.) ultimately finds himself crosswise with the law after last week roughing up a self-described student journalist on a Washington, D.C., street, he'll also face this political curiosity: the American Association for Justice is his single greatest career campaign donor, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis indicates.
The AAJ, formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, describes its mission as ensuring "that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America's courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful of interests."
Last week, a short, boyish "student" attempted to take on the powerful interest that is the seven-term Etheridge as he walked down the street.
"Do you fully support the Obama agenda?" the person, who does not specifically identify himself in the video, asked Etheridge as another man videotaped the encounter.
"Who are you? Who are you?" Etheridge replied. He then struck at his questioner and grabbed his arm and neck. "Tell me who you are," Etheridge insisted.
"I'm just a student, sir," the person responded. More tussling, scuffling and questioning ensued, and then, the congressman appeared to walk away in the direction he was originally headed.
Etheridge on Monday apologized during a press conference, calling his behavior "unacceptable." He declined to comment on whether he thought his inquisitors were legitimate student journalists, or, perhaps, Republican operatives.
Talking Points Memo reports that the questioner was an activist associated with conservative Web publisher Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com project -- speculation that other media outlets have run with.
As it is, the AAJ's political action committee has donated $76,500 to Etheridge during his career, edging out Progress Energy, the Teamsters Union, the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as his top five all-time campaign bankrollers. (Update, 5:48 p.m.: The AAJ did not return messages requesting comment.)
Among the more than 120 industries tracked by the Center for Responsive Politics, lawyers and law firms rank No. 2 on Etheridge's list of career top donors, with nearly $328,000 contributed. It's a similar story this election cycle, with lawyers and law firms ($31,550) ranking third behind health professionals and crop producers among Etheridge's top industrial donors.
Etheridge, who has easily won his recent re-election bids, enjoys a massive cash advantage over his rivals has he seeks an eighth term: As of April, he reported more than $1.11 million cash on hand compared to the less than $5,500 of his closest Republican opponent.
And if you haven't seen the video yet, decide for yourself what you think:
