Vierra

The man wears a military uniform with the nametag "Vierra," police said.

KITV.com - Local New 2010

The Post revealed yesterday on its Spot blog that on Jan. 13, more than two months before Markey voted for the health-care law on March 21, Vierra had already given Cory Gardner $2,000, making him among Gardner's top individual donors and bringing him close to the maximum an individual is allowed to give ($2,400 per election).

Jason Salzman: Post Exposes Hidden History of GOP Donor 2010

Unfortunately, this story of incomplete information gets even worse, but this time The Post should be congratulated for providing context, not omitting it, and for publishing the information that was absent previously, namely that Vierra was "regular contributor to Republicans," even if the size and scope of his donations was still absent.

Jason Salzman: Post Exposes Hidden History of GOP Donor 2010

In fact, Vierra gave $2,000 to Marilyn Musgrave, whom Markey beat in the last election cycle, in 2005 and again in 2006.

Jason Salzman: Misleading Denver Post Story Spreads to Washington Post 2010

But you need to spend five minutes on the Federal Election Commission website to discover that Vierra is a well-known Colorado GOP donor, who regularly gives to candidates outside of his district of residence and outside of our state.

Jason Salzman: Misleading Denver Post Story Spreads to Washington Post 2010

Or even something like, "Vierra, a well-known Republican donor in Colorado ...."

Jason Salzman: Misleading Denver Post Story Spreads to Washington Post 2010

Type "Fred Vierra" on this page of the FEC website.

Jason Salzman: Misleading Denver Post Story Spreads to Washington Post 2010

The Spot reported that neither the Gardner campaign nor Vierra mentioned the previous $2,000 donation, when interviewed about it in March: "What Vierra didn't say - and neither did Gardner's campaign - was that the retired Cherry Hills Village resident had already donated $2,000 to Gardner."

Jason Salzman: Post Exposes Hidden History of GOP Donor 2010

Westmeyer's note stated that she also lived "outside the district," according to The Spot, which repeated its mistake and quoted its own story about Vierra's $1,000 check, again omitting the information that Vierra is a major Republican donor statewide and nationally.

Jason Salzman: Misleading Denver Post Story Spreads to Washington Post 2010

Of course, it's possible that Vierra wouldn't have coughed up $1,000 for Gardner if Markey had opposed the health care bill.

Jason Salzman: Misleading Denver Post Story Spreads to Washington Post 2010