MoveOn's financials show big donor support

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 4/24/04 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - Although the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org touts itself as a grassroots political group, records show that a sizable lump of money comes from just two donors.

A review of the Berkeley-based group's first quarter fund raising showed nearly half its $6.98 million came from Peter Lewis, chairman of Progressive Corporation, a Cleveland insurance company, and billionaire philanthropist George Soros. Lewis has donated $2 million to the group and Soros has given more than $1 million, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday.

The directors of MoveOn, which has pledged to "bring ordinary people back into politics," say the group still fits the description of a grassroots organization. The average donation from its 160,000 supporters is about $60, they said.

"We think it's appropriate, because it levels the playing field," said the group's founder, Wes Boyd, who says the large donations have helped the group raise twice as much in small donations. "We are dogged opponents of the Bush administration, because of the issues, because of the policy."

MoveOn and other groups hope to make up for the imbalance between the $108 million remaining in Bush's re-election campaign and the $32.2 million fueling that of his likely Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

The organization's MoveOn Voter Fund and other groups have spent tens of millions on television campaign ads critical of Bush's record and have supported flyer distribution and voter registration drives.

Bush has raised much of his money through a nationwide network of campaign volunteers who specialize in acquiring large individual donations. More than 400 financial supporters - those who contribute at least $200,000 are called "rangers," at least $100,000 are "pioneers" and more than $50,000 are "mavericks" - have raised at least $50 million. Critics have said that such contributors buy access, special treatment and influence from those in power.

Last month, the Bush campaign and the Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit against MoveOn.org and two other groups - America Coming Together and the Media Fund - alleging that they were violating campaign laws.

"John Kerry has become the largest beneficiary of illegal soft money from wealthy special interests since the campaign reforms of the Watergate era," said Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Bush campaign. "These groups are defiantly breaking the law and doing so with the intent of influencing a federal election only months away."

MoveOn officials say their donations are legal and aren't being used to buy access or influence, unlike contributions to the Bush campaign.

"Access was the core of those transactions," Boyd said. "We don't offer that. We can't offer that."

[T'wit]

Whooo -- I have a Progressive policy. But it's about to expire, and given this news, I will find a different insurer. Peter Lewis's sick politics just lost one customer.

[South40]

I>/The directors of MoveOn, which has pledged to "bring ordinary people back into politics...

That makes sense as there are no ordinary people at MoveOn.org.

[TUX]

Dims comment....law? What law? Oh yeah that McCain stuff. Who cares...we cant go to the chinee anymore so what are we to do. Cant sell our tech for big bucks. Where is Ron Brown when you need him.

[Lawgvr1955]

I wonder how many conservative Progressive customers know this information?

[LisaMalia]

Let's face it. Moveon.org and their "sister orgs" are getting away with political murder, so to speak. The liberal press will continue to look the other way, and since they virtually rule our country, it will continue to be "dirty" business as usual.

[Savage Beast]

"We are dogged opponents of the Bush administration, because of the issues, because of the policy"...because you are bonkers.

[YaYa123]

The much maligned and demonized Richard Mellon Scaife comes to mind.

[MindBender26]

Lewis and Soros are also the two biggest supporters of all the pro-drug initiaves in the various states

[kittymyrib]

No conservative should fund Lewis and the rabid Dems by buying car insurance from Progressive. I noticed their stock has also been going down. I made sure my fund does not have Progressive in it.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Maybe FReeping of the office of Mr. Peter Lewis is a future job for Ohio citizens?

Progressive Corp
6300 Wilson Mills Rd
Cleveland, OH 44143
440-461-5000

[T'wit]

I had no idea that Progressive was leftist. Now that I know, I won't do any more business with them.

[Brandon]

Bush has raised much of his money through a nationwide network of campaign volunteers who specialize in acquiring large individual donations. More than 400 financial supporters - those who contribute at least $200,000 are called "rangers," at least $100,000 are "pioneers" and more than $50,000 are "mavericks" - have raised at least $50 million. Critics have said that such contributors buy access, special treatment and influence from those in power.

This is misleading. The Rangers, Pioneers and Mavericks have raise $200K, $100K and $50K, respectively. They have not personally contributed those amounts.

[atomicpossum]

MorOn.Org

[YoungKentuckyConservative]

Ditto! I'm canceling my Progressive Police this month as well before it renews. Bye bye, Mr. Lewis. Thanks for making your intentions clear.

[cincy29]

Let's face it. Moveon.org and their "sister orgs" are getting away with political murder, so to speak. The liberal press will continue to look the other way, and since they virtually rule our country, it will continue to be "dirty" business as usual. These 527 groups are going to win the election for Kerry. That, and the Bush/RNC lame response. While we pretend that the court will find them illegal, the Dims will continue to raise money this way and will eventually outspend the Bush team and the RNC. The Bush team is burying their heads in the sand. Instead of complaining about their legality, there has to be some Republican out there with a donor database that can start one of these. I don't think the Bush $2000 donors are all tapped to the point where they can't give anymore. Besides, there has to be a few people with some deepp pockets who support the President.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Seems I saw a story where George Soros (Dr. Evil) has positioned himself on the Euro, where he will rake in tons of money if President Bush loses.

Perhaps Lewis also gains an unjust enrichment though socialized medicine, or some other insurance windfall of John F'n Kerry's waffles?

[weegee]

But they'll only claim that they aren't liberal, they are progressive...

[T'wit]

Anybody giving money to a Marxist cause is going backward to the 19th Century. They should call themselves "Regressive."