Selleck Sends Brown $1,000, Candidate Says No Thanks

Actor Tom Selleck, known for his conservative politics, is nevertheless spreading $1,000 donations around to several presidential candidates in both parties. Democrat Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. said no, thank you.

The former California governor, who has pledged his presidential campaign will only accept donations of $100 or less, returned a $1,000 donation from Selleck this week.

“Tom had sent us a very nice letter saying he understood Jerry’s position but he thought it was his right to give $1,000 since that is what is legal,” said Kevin McDermott, a Brown campaign treasurer.

“And Jerry sent him a letter back explaining his position that you as an individual are not the problem. It’s the (political action committee) money. That’s where the problems exist . . . but here’s your check back anyway,” McDermott said.

Selleck, who starred in the TV series “Magnum P.I.” and box office hit “Three Men and a Baby,” said he doesn’t agree with Brown’s decision to limit donations.

“I think his refusal to accept the maximum donation from private citizens is a mistake,” Selleck said Wednesday.

Selleck said he also has donated to Democrat Paul E. Tsongas and Republican challenger Patrick J. Buchanan, even though “I don’t completely agree with any of these candidates. If I had to vote for President right now I would vote for President Bush.”