The Truth About Jerry Jones' Presidential Support
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
SAN JOSE, Calif. – It's true: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will use his $17-million mansion in Highland Park to host a fundraiser for presidential candidate Chris Christie.
What's less certain: The idea that Jones is throwing 100 percent of his considerable financial weight behind the considerable weight of the hefty, Cowboys-loving New Jersey governor.
A reception is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23, with what the Dallas Morning News reports is a $1000 ticket price. And this has some ready to characterize Jones as a Republican, as political writers did in 2012 when he made campaign contributions to that side of the aisle.
But note the specifics of his 2013 donations: Jerry gave $5,000 to the presidential campaign of Rick Perry … and $2,500 to the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney.
If that strikes you as a "support-whomever-wins'' approach, you are very astute. Note that just this month, Jones voiced support as a friend of candidate Donald Trump. Note that George W. Bush — who assuredly supports brother Jeb's campaign — is a neighbor and buddy of Jerry's. Note that in April at the Final Four at AT&T Stadium, Jerry's box was occupied by both Bush and Bill Clinton … and note that Jerry and Bill (husband of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton) were Arkansas buddies before most of the world every heard of either one of them.
Jerry Jones picking one side exclusively over the other? I learned all the way back in 1990 that this concept is not quite how then then-aspiring-billionaire businessman worked. I asked him who he supported, Democrat Ann Richards (who'd just attended training camp in Austin to exchange hugs with the owner) or Republican Clayton Williams.
"Well, I support both of 'em!'' Jerry told me coyly, and indeed, he'd contributed money to the campaigns of each side … a "support-whomever-wins'' approach, to be sure.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
