Republican presidential hopefuls rushed to denounce a quip by current GOP front-runner Donald Trump over the weekend, in which the billionaire real estate mogul mocked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as “not a war hero” because he was captured. But a ThinkProgress review of campaign finance data finds many of the same candidates accepted large campaign contributions from the man who bankrolled similar attacks against then-Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in 2004.
Bob Perry, who died in 2013, was one of the Republican Party’s most generous donors. With the money he made from Perry Homes, one of the biggest homebuilding companies in Texas, he gave millions to Republican candidates and allied outside political groups.
In 2004, Perry spent some $4.4 million to fund a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (later Swift Vets and POWs for Truth). The group ran a series of ads that called into question Kerry’s military service in Vietnam. Kerry received a Bronze Star, a Silver Star and three Purple Hearts, but was accused in the ads of lying about his record — claims that were definitively proven false.
Jeb Bush
Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL), who in a 2005 letter praised the Swift Boat attacks that helped re-elect his brother to the presidency, tweeted on Saturday: “Enough with the slanderous attacks. @SenJohnMcCain and all our veterans — particularly POWs have earned our respect and admiration.”
Perry contributed at least $1,000 to Bush’s gubernatorial campaigns.
Rick Santorum
Former Sen. Rick Santorum’s (R-PA) tweeted Saturday that McCain “is an American hero, period.
Perry contributed at least $4,200 to Santorum’s senate campaign account.
Lindsey Graham
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) said Saturday: “I can understand being frustrated about immigration, but there’s no justification to slander a bunch of people that are hardworking folks … This is a line that is crossed. I think the American people, the caucusgoers, the primary voters are going to fix this. To the other candidates, this is your chance to do the right thing and disassociate yourself from somebody who has basically shown a lack of judgment to be commander in chief and to be president of us all.”
Perry contributed at least $6,500 to Graham’s campaign account and leadership PAC.
Bobby Jindal
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R-LA) tweeted Saturday, “After Donald Trump spends six years in a POW camp, he can weigh in on John McCain’s service.”
Perry contributed at least $15,000 to Jindal’s gubernatorial campaigns.
Scott Walker
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) said Sunday, “At a minimum, [Trump] needs to apologize,” adding, that “when it came to personal attack like this against the military, an American hero, I’m gonna call it like I see it.”
Perry contributed at least $490,000 to Walker in support of his 2012 recall election effort.
Rick Perry
Former Gov. Rick Perry’s (R-TX) said Saturday that’s Trump’s “attack on veterans make him unfit to be Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces, and he should immediately withdraw from the race for President.”
Bob Perry contributed more than $2.8 million to Rick Perry’s state and federal campaigns. The two Perrys are not related.
Ted Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) praised McCain on Saturday but declined to criticize Trump.
Bob Perry also gave at least $37,000 to his campaigns.