Tommy Hopper

Tommy Hopper founded the Republican front group Free Enterprise Coalition (FEC) in 1998.

He served as FEC Chairman until resigning in September 1999 to "help lead" the Tennessee Republican Victory Committee, a political action committee, "to campaign against tax reform and target pro-tax legislators for defeat." Hopper said that "The best way to stop higher taxes is to defeat those legislators who vote for them." [1][2]

Hopper also founded GOP Marketplace, which was involved with the 2002 election "phone jamming" case in NH.

In 2001, Hopper was described as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Vice President of GOPmarketplace.com. [3]

Hopper currently serves as President and CEO of The Hopper Company and President of Margin of Victory Partners LLC, a Tennessee-based political campaign services firm.

Republican Party operative

Hopper's pedigree is straight-line Republican Party. [4]

The Hopper Company

In 1993, Hopper founded The Hopper Company, which "provides general consulting services, direct mail, government affairs and is engaged in three e-commerce ventures" and "has served political and corporate clients in 17 states." [5]

"The Hopper Company’s clients have included Phillip Morris, Microsoft, Direct Impact, Century Strategies, the Health Benefits Coalition, the Century Council, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and dozens of Republican candidates and state parties." [6]

To this client list, The Hopper Company, with offices in Jackson, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; and Richmond, Virginia, adds Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, The Business Roundtable, and the Sikorsky Corporation. [7]

Other Republican affiliations

Hopper has also served as: [8]

• Political Director, Republican National Committee during 1997
• Southern Director, Republican National Committee under then RNC Chairman Haley Barbour
• Chair of the Tennessee Republican Party during the 1992 election cycle and Executive Director of the Tennessee Republican Party for six years prior to becoming chair.

Hopper served as Chairman 1991-92 and Executive Director 1987-91. [9]

Note: Hopper's "tenure was described by veteran Capitol Hill reporter Tom Humphrey, 'Hopper has had more influence on state politics the last few years than anyone outside state government, and more than most inside.'" [10]

• Served as "an advisor to the campaigns and committees" of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Haley Barbour, Senator Fred Thompson, Senator Bill Frist, Senator George Allen, the late Senator Paul Coverdell, former [Virginia] Governor Jim Gilmore and dozens of local and legislative candidates."
• Co-directed the Republican National Committee Campaign Management College

Hopper was also president of Campaign Systems of America, an "internet incubator for the business of politics". [11]

Thomas B. Edsall wrote January 13, 1999, in the Washington Post that Hopper, at "the urgings" of Claire Bawcom, "a vice president of the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women", addressed the Council of Conservative Citizens, which "promotes the views of its leaders and prominent members – a number of whom are strong believers in the preservation of the 'white race'."

Anti-tax activist

Hopper "successfully defeated attempts by three governors to pass tax increases, while being outspent ten-to-one." [12]

Contact Information

Web: http://www.hoppercompany.com/
Web: http://hoppersretort.com/ (blocked access)
Web: http://www.marginofvictory.com/

Related SourceWatch Resources

• Republican 'culture of corruption'

External links

• Profile: Tommy Hopper, Margin of Victory.
• Profile: Tommy Hopper, The Hopper Company.
• "Who is Tommy Hopper?" Senate Majority Project, undated.
• Thomas B. Edsall, "Controversial Group Has Ties to Both Parties in South," Washington Post, January 13, 1999.
• Profile: Tommy Hopper, CampaignUniversity.com (archived), April 10, 2001.
• Stephen Majors, "Buchanan hires key RNC strategist," The Bradenton Herald (Public Opinion Strategies), July 30, 2005.
• Jeremy Wallace, "True believer leaves Harris campaign," The Herald Tribune, March 18, 2006.
• Todd Gitlin, "All the News that's Fit...for the Editorial Page," TPM Cafe, April 17, 2006. See Mrs. Panstreppon's comments.
• "Mississippi governor helped implicated firm. GOP Marketplace allegedly involved in political dirty tricks," Associated Press (MSNBC), April 28, 2006.
• Mike Kopp, "Former Tennessee GOP Chair Tommy Hopper Linked To Illegal GOP Phone Scam?" Tennessee Political Pulse Blogspot, May 21, 2006.
• Mike Kopp, "Now You See It, Now You Don't," Tennessee Political Pulse Blogspot, June 17, 2006.