Wealthy Liberals Give Heavily in Bid to Oust Bush

Los Angeles Times ^ | February 3, 2004 | Lisa Getter

[Mo1]

WASHINGTON — Faced with a new ban on unlimited donations to political parties, some of America's wealthiest liberals have given large sums to help finance independent organizations that want to defeat President Bush in November, according to records released by the IRS on Monday.

Major contributors to the groups include philanthropist George Soros, who gave $5 million, and Cleveland-based insurance billionaire Peter Lewis, who donated $3 million. Hollywood producer Steven Bing gave $2 million, and Rob Glaser, chief executive of RealNetworks, a software maker, gave $745,000.

But the groups, known as 527s for the section of the tax code that applies to them, have raised nowhere near the hundreds of millions their organizers predicted, the reports show. Such predictions had led to speculation that the groups would take advantage of loopholes in campaign finance law to become a shadow Democratic money machine.

"There have been a lot of exaggerated numbers floating around about how much … groups related to Democrats would raise and spend in the 2004 election," said Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, a campaign-finance watchdog group in Washington. "The two biggest groups … announced plans to spend a total of $190 million to defeat President Bush. What these reports show is that to date, they have raised just 8% of that $190 million."

[Howie66]

Thank you for the heads up.

I've already contacted my member of Congress (Tom DeLay Rep., Tx.) about this.

I will follow up with an e-mail, however.

[Mo1]

BUMP to that

[OPS4]

George Soros,
The funding behind Move On.org

Who is George Soros?
Occupation: International currency speculator
Net worth: $11,000,000,000 ( Billion )
Mr. Soros has contributed over $5 million dollars to Move On. org
..................................
Brief background:
Convicted of insider trading in 2002. In 1992, he broke the English Pound. In 1997, he destroyed the Asian Markets by wrecking Thailand and Malaysia’s currencies.

[Howie66]

Nice guy. If he's a convict, then why the hell isn't he behind bars? I know, I know, I know.....dumb question.......

[arasina]

Democrats on FEC block action on partisan groups' spending

SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, February 5, 2004

(02-05) 09:29 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

The three Democrats on a federal panel have blocked any action on a proposal that would impose new limits on partisan groups raising money to benefit candidates in this year's election.

The three members of the Federal Election Commission told Chairman Bradley Smith they needed more time to review comments the FEC had received on the proposal from political groups and campaign finance watchdogs in recent days. Smith is one of three Republicans on the six-member commission.

The FEC now plans to consider the proposal later this month.

At the heart of the issue is whether independent groups can raise and spend tens of millions of dollars to help Republicans -- but mostly Democrats -- outside the limits imposed by the campaign finance law.

Two Democratic groups that want to defeat President Bush -- America Coming Together and the Media Fund -- have raised $60 million to $70 million in donations and pledges so far. Others are also raising millions.

Under debate is how the 2002 law broadly barring the use of "soft money" -- corporate, union and unlimited contributions -- for federal election activity affects the plans of partisan groups that oppose or support Bush's re-election.

Several Democratic activists believe that though national party committees and federal candidates cannot spend soft money, special tax-exempt political groups can.

Looking to stop the Democratic groups or to match them in money, three Republicans formed Americans for a Better Country and asked the FEC whether the group can spend soft money promoting Bush's re-election or only limited "hard money" contributions.

The FEC was to consider a proposal from its attorneys Thursday that the independent groups:

* Would have to use limited hard money for ads that support or oppose presidential or congressional candidates if such federal candidates are the only ones mentioned.

* Would have to use hard money for get-out-the-vote ads, mailings or phone banks that promote or oppose a federal candidate's election.

* Could use a mix of soft and hard money for get-out-the-vote messages that support or oppose a federal candidate and also mention state or local candidates, or that do not mention a particular federal candidate.

[mystery-ak]

Hannity said today that MoveOn.org has plans next week to be in DC and to put pressure of the House to censure Bush....

[OPS4]

Well now we can ask the sec for their take.
We must lobby congress and the senate to overule
these idiots, by taking this to the voters in their
respective states.
Ops4 God Bless America!

[OldFriend]

The owners of COSTCO have donated millions to defeat President Bush.

[altura]

I saw that parade of fools walking smugly into that gathering. Hated to see old Paul Newman making a fool of himself.

Surprised to see Glenn Close--guess I shouldn't have been.

It's one thing to have political opinions; another to associate with riff raff like Michael Moore.

As for Soros, he's obviously round the bend, unfortunately with money accompanying him.

[OPS4]

Well send them emails and tell them they have lost your business.They have surely lost mine.
Ops4 God BLess America!

[yankeedame]

why dont they just go ahead and pay the extra taxes they want imposed on themselves...?

What a great idea! After all these folks are "the rich" in pretty much anybody's book.

[yankeedame]

Suppose that IF enough good citizens call their elected representitives and call for an SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission) investigation ("anal exam") of Mr. Soros and his "business dealings", he might just tone down his antics?

That, or he and his "concerned friends" (you don't for one minute think he's acting alone?) would rally the Democratic troops (NAACP, useful idiots, the media, et. al.) and scream like h---.

[Russ]

These are the people for which many on FR are willing to throw Bush to the wolves because he isn't conservative enough. I would absolutely vote for ANY Republican to keep those leftist morons out of power.

[Stallone]

Well Freepers, the gauntlet has been thrown to the ground.

Are you up for the challenge?

[Mo1]

Hannity said today that MoveOn.org has plans next week to be in DC and to put pressure of the House to censure Bush

Thanks for that info .. I guess I should go check my emails to see what Moveon. org is saying

[Mo1]

Are you up for the challenge?

Yep!

[Integrityrocks]

COSTCO owners are anti Bush? Could you tell me where I could find more on that?

[PattonReincarnated]

>> But the groups, known as 527s for the section of the tax code that applies to them, have raised nowhere near the hundreds of millions their organizers predicted, the reports show.

The DNC better beat up on these boys. I'll help out a little. Please Soros, spend more of your money. Spend, Spend, Spend! Spread you lies and pay with your money. I couldn't be happier with the idea of running George Soros broke and the same time killing the democratic party.

[Sam Cree]

Peter Lewis is Progressive Insurance, FWIW.
The name kind of gives it away.

[Recovering_Democrat]

But the groups, known as 527s for the section of the tax code that applies to them, have raised nowhere near the hundreds of millions their organizers predicted, the reports show.

Look, those are just the "official" reports. Money under the table and the blatant left bias of the mass media aren't counted as "contributions" but they are highly influential in the public perception of the elections.

Now is the time to work, give and above all pray for the future of this nation. The governance thereof must be taken away from activist liberal judges and the operatives of the Democrat Party.