Is politics really about ideology? Is political advocacy really about promoting an agenda that conforms with a strongly held set of beliefs? Apparently not:

The American Conservative Union asked FedEx for a check for $2 million to $3 million in return for the group’s support in a bitter legislative dispute, the the group’s chairman flipped and sided with UPS after FedEx refused to pay.

In exchange for the payment, the conservative group promised to write op-eds and contact conservatives to drum up support for FedEx’s position. The excecutive vice president said this:

“Our position hasn’t changed. It won’t change. I am fundamentally, philosophically opposed to doing what the Obama administration wants to do, and so is our organization.”

So their position hasn’t changed but if you want them to forcefully advocate that position, you’ll have to pay up.

This happens to be a conservative organization but don’t think that the liberal organizations don’t do the same thing. These organizations have to raise money to continue their existence and prevent the leadership from having to get real jobs. Apparently, that is more important than their principles.

I’m also not suprised that Fred Smith at FedEx told them to pound sand. The man is a decorated Vietnam war veteran and built FedEx from the ground up. Not a man to be intimidated.