Surprise: NFLPA Union Chief Opposing Limbaugh Bid a Democrat Donor

Is NFL Players Association Chief DeMaurice Smith being forthright when he contends he wants to protect the sport from "discrimination and hatred" as he has claims, or is he engaging in partisan hackery, with the benefit of having the ear of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell? If you look at Smith's past, you might come to that conclusion.

As NewsBusters Noel Sheppard pointed out Sunday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen shared Smith's concerns on the network's Web site Oct. 11 based on an e-mail Smith had sent which said the following:

"I've spoken to the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] and I understand that this ownership consideration is in the early stages," Smith wrote. "But sport in America is at its best when it unifies, gives all of us reason to cheer, and when it transcends. Our sport does exactly that when it overcomes division and rejects discrimination and hatred."

But, one look at Smith's political contributions suggests another motive. According to data compiled by OpenSecrets.org, since 2004 Smith has contributed nearly $7,000 - all to Democratic candidates.

Smith is also connected to President Barack Obama. According to his bio, Smith served in the Clinton administration as Counsel to then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, now Obama's attorney general, in the Justice Department.

A look at Smith's media appearances through Nexis also shows Smith appeared regularly on the left-of-center network MSNBC, mostly on the now-defunct shows hosted by NBC News and MSNBC chief legal correspondent Dan Abrams.