Posted on 11/19/2003 10:28:08 AM PST by kattracks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Billionaire George Soros has opened his wallet to try to elect a Democratic president. Liberal activist Norman Lear is trying to register new voters. And one of President Bush's recount lawyers is forming a group to spend big checks to help Bush win a new term.A year from the election, people both for and against Bush are raising millions of dollars to try to affect the race's outcome, despite a ban on the use of corporate, union and unlimited contributions to influence federal elections.
"We were never for the soft money limits in the first place," Republican consultant Frank Donatelli said. "But, if the other side is going to continue to avail themselves of incredibly large soft money checks, we're not going to practice unilateral disarmament. We're going to respond in kind."
Donatelli, Bush recount lawyer George Terwilliger, who was a candidate for Bush's FBI director, and Republican consultant Craig Shirley are establishing Americans for a Better Country to spend millions advocating Bush's re-election and to counter efforts by Soros and others pushing for Democrats to take back the White House.
The three Republicans are asking the Federal Election Commission for advice on whether their plans are legal under the new campaign finance law.
The law bans national party committees and federal candidates from collecting soft money for any purpose. Outside groups can still take the big checks but are not supposed to use them on federal election activity or to coordinate with national parties or federal candidates.
Democratic-leaning groups have sprung up since the law took effect last November, including many who say they plan to raise tens of millions of dollars for voter registration and other activities aimed at defeating Bush next year.
Their leaders, including former AFL-CIO political director Steve Rosenthal, have said the groups are needed to counter record-breaking fund raising by the GOP and Bush. The president is expected to raise more than $170 million for next year's primaries.
Depending on how they register with the Internal Revenue Service, such groups may not have to disclose details of their donations or spending.
Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie has complained about the anti-Bush groups, saying he doesn't understand how they can be allowed under the new law. But so far he has declined to file a complaint with the FEC, leaving open the possibility that pro-Bush groups may form if opposition organizations face no punishment.
Terwilliger, Donatelli and Shirley have decided not to wait. They plan to raise soft money and limited "hard money" contributions for activities, hoping to match the Democratic-leaning groups dollar for dollar.
Rosenthal said his efforts are meant to bring more people into politics. He is head of the Partnership for America's Families, focused on voter outreach in presidential swing states, and a founder of America Coming Together, which has collected millions for efforts to defeat Bush.
"This administration has spent the last three years writing and rewriting laws and regulations to benefit their contributors," Rosenthal said. "There's no news in Republicans setting up fly-by-night groups to raise unlimited funds from undisclosed sources."
In addition, "All in the Family" TV producer Lear has started a new get-out-the-vote project, Declare Yourself. Another group, punkvoter.com, plans concerts around the country next year to try to get the vote against Bush and register thousands of young voters.
On the GOP side, The Leadership Forum recently sent its first fund-raising letter, months after the FEC cleared it of impropriety following a complaint by campaign watchdog groups that it was too closely tied to House Republicans. The group, run by Susan Hirschmann, former chief of staff to then-Republican Majority Whip Tom DeLay of Texas, plans to raise only soft money. It will decide early next year how to spend it.
Progress for America was formed to promote Bush's policies. Tony Feather, a strategist with Bush's 2000 campaign, recently separated himself from the group, feeling his current ties to the Bush campaign as a consultant might lead to complaints the Bush campaign was tied to the group.
Donatelli said his group has many prospective donors lined up and is waiting for FEC guidance before it pursues its plans fully, including possible coordination with other Republican-leaning groups. It will register with the IRS and FEC as a political organization and disclose its donors and spending.
House Administration Committee Chairman Bob Ney, R-Ohio, plans a hearing Thursday on new soft money groups. Those asked to testify include the founders of anti-Bush groups. As of Tuesday none were expected to appear. Ney could seek subpoenas to compel them to testify, if the committee approves.
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