Will the National Association of Manufacturers continue to honor Randy Cunningham?

For those of you who don't know, tort reform is one of the biggest legislative goals for the National Association of Manufacturers.  The President of that organization is currently former Michigan Governor John Engler.

I had occasion to write Mr. Engler when I visited two NAM web sites, and saw the following:

Here's the text of the email I sent to Mr. Engler:

Dear Mr. Engler,

My name is Justinian Lane, and I’m a resident of Lansing, Michigan.  I am writing to you today because I am concerned that the National Association of Manufacturers hasn’t stripped former California Representative Randy Cunningham’s Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence.  As you know, Representative Cunningham pleaded guilty to charges of fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy.  He also admitted in court that he accepted bribes in exchange for his work to pass legislation.

I’m sure you agree that Mr. Cunningham’s actions prove that he is not an individual who deserves any award for legislative excellence, let alone such an award from an organization as prestigious as yours.  Therefore, the National Association of Manufacturers must revoke Mr. Cunningham’s award so the public knows that NAM neither condones nor tolerates the despicable actions of Mr. Cunningham. 

As I write this email to you, two separate web sites praise Mr. Cunningham:  http://www.bipac.net/incumbent_detail.asp?g=NAM&leg_id_num=504 and http://www.nam.org/s_nam/doc1.asp?TrackID=&SID=1&DID=232401&CID=81&VID=2&RTID=0&CIDQS=&Taxonomy=False&specialSearch=False.  I look forward to seeing those web pages removed, and a statement from NAM that condemns Mr. Cunningham’s actions and revokes his award for legislative excellence.

Sincerely,

Justinian Lane

It will certainly be interesting to see if NAM continues to stand by Cunningham.