From the “Geez, No Irony Here” File…

This is too rich to ignore.

Freshman Assemblyman Allan Mansoor, a Republican, is hosting a breakfast in his district at the Costa Mesa Country Club on Friday August 5 to benefit his 2012 re-election campaign.

For a contribution of $3,900, the maximum allowed under state campaign law, two people can attend eight such breakfasts over two years and any other district events Mansoor choses to throw. The $3,900 constitutes membership in Mansoor’s “Platinum Club.”

Visa, Mastercard and American Express are welcome.

A $3,900 contribution is not what the average Orange County constituent of Mansoor would be likely to give.

Examining the contributions Mansoor received in his 2010 election campaign supports that. Contributions from most individuals within his Costa Mesa centered district were in the $100 to $500 range.

Perhaps in recognition of that, Mansoor offers membership in his “Silver Club” for $500, which allows one person to attend four breakfasts.

Most commonly, writers of $3,900 checks are businesses, associations and unions keenly interested in what the Legislature does or does not do to them.

The media often refers to such groups as “special interests.”

So who is the speaker for Mansoor’s kick-off fundraising breakfast?

It’s Ed Ring who is listed in the invitation as the executive director of Californians Against Special Interests.

Ring will discuss an initiative titled “Stop the Special Interest Money Now.”

The Californians Against Special Interests website notes that 79 percent of campaign contributions are raised outside state lawmakers’ districts. That would likely be where a check for $3,900 comes from.

A cursory count shows that 11 of the at least 19 $3,900 contributions Mansoor received in 2010 come from outside his district. The number could be higher.

It’s not clear whether Los Alamitos Race Track is in Mansoor’s district or Fieldstead & Co. and the Orange County BizPac in Irvine. But since the three are in Orange County they’re not inculded as part of the 11. Close enough for government work.

Among the $3,900 givers to Mansoor located in Sacramento were Philip Morris, Pacific Gas & Electric, Chevron, the California New Car Dealers Association, the California American Council of Engineering Companies and Farmers (Insurance) Employees and Agents.

The New Majority California PAC is headquartered in San Rafael. The California Real Estate Political Action Committee is located in Los Angeles. The San Manuel Band of Indians is in Highland.

All contributors fit the definition of “special interests” on the Californians Against Special Interests website.

“Special interests have too much power in Sacramento,” the website says. “The result: failed government and a state in crisis.”

Elsewhere, the website contends that “special interest money is bad but what’s worse, a lot of people are being forced to contribute to political campaigns whether they want to or not.”

Perhaps this might be a good time for those being solicited by Assemblyman Mansoor to break the cycle and just say “no.”