Republican Trey Gowdy has lots to say about Washington politics in his campaign for a congressional seat in South Carolina — and much of it isn't too flattering.
As he sympathizes with voters weary with "business as usual" in Washington, Mr. Gowdy pledges to help reverse the country's path toward a "socialistic, Washington-centric agenda."
"I may not be able to totally change Washington by myself, but Washington will never change me," Mr. Gowdy has said on the campaign stump.
Still, there's one long-standing Washington tradition that this outsider and other congressional candidates continue to embrace. This week, Mr. Gowdy is scheduled to trod the well-worn Washington fundraiser circuit, where lobbyists and political insiders trade campaign contributions for a chance to schmooze lawmakers and candidates whom they'll later try to lobby.
"We've seen many examples," said Nancy Watzman, a consultant with the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation, which tracks fundraisers. "Candidates who love to bash on Washington, yet they're still coming to Washington to raise cash. They make at least a couple of stops; it's like they're making a pilgrimage."
According to the foundation, Mr. Gowdy has three political fundraising events planned in the nation's capital this week. And he's hardly alone. Even with Congress out of session and many lawmakers out of town, dozens of fundraisers are scheduled at Capitol Hill town homes and restaurants throughout the city.
Mr. Gowdy's spokesman said that of the three fundraising events scheduled this week, only one is a true fundraiser, and that's being sponsored by the National Rifle Association.
"In our congressional district, the NRA is pretty much as conservative a group as you can get," said Gowdy spokesman George Ramsey, noting that the group's backing is important for voters in the South Carolina district. "The others are more meet and greets, and coffees."
When asked about raising money in Washington at the same time he's campaigning against business as usual in Washington, Mr. Ramsey said, "They've bought into his ideas and philosophies, not the other way around."
Sunlight Foundation data show two other fundraisers were scheduled for Mr. Gowdy, the first hosted by the Rhoads Group, a Washington-based lobbying organization whose recent clients include Deloitte LLP, the state of New Jersey and defense contractor EADS North America, according to Senate lobbying records.
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