Posted on 09/10/2004 7:41:22 PM PDT by Oeconomicus
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 - Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, an advocacy group that jolted the presidential race with commercials questioning Senator John Kerry's military service, said it had raised $6.7 million in a windfall brought about by the group's high profile in recent weeks.
Several of the largest donors are longtime supporters of President Bush, according to a financial disclosure report filed on Friday with the Federal Election Commission.
The largest contributor was T. Boone Pickens, a famous Texas oilman and longtime Republican supporter who was a major political backer of Mr. Bush's father, who gave $500,000 to the Swift boat group. Aubrey McClendon, chief executive of Chesapeake Energy in Oklahoma, gave $250,000; Bob Perry, another Bush supporter from Texas, gave $200,000 to seed the group; and Albert Huddleston, a Texas energy executive who has raised money for Mr. Bush, gave $100,000, records show.
Sam Wyly, the wealthy Texas entrepreneur who financed commercials attacking Senator John McCain in the 2000 Republican primary against Mr. Bush, also made the list at $10,000 , as did his brother Charles, records show. At least two Swift boat donors are also listed as Bush Pioneers, meaning they raised at least $100,000 for Mr. Bush.
"The words 'tidal wave' come to mind,'' said Mike Russell, a spokesman for the group, who added that "you don't often see that type of grassroots reaction."
The group's impact is one of the most visible examples of the effect that so-called 527 committees are having on the presidential race. The groups, named for the section of the tax code that created them, can collect unlimited soft money' contributions not allowed for political parties and candidates.
Democrats made heavy use of these groups early in the race, raising tens of millions through organizations like the Media Fund, America Coming Together and the MoveOn.org Voter Fund, drawing complaints from Republicans who said they were illegal. Mr. Bush's campaign filed a complaint with the election commission in March alleging that the Kerry campaign and the Democratic groups were violating campaign finance laws by coordinating illegally.
Indeed, a procession of top strategists have moved back and forth between Mr. Kerry's campaign and the advocacy groups, drawing fresh rounds of Republican protests.
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has spent more than $4.2 million since April, Mr. Russell said, with most of it spent on radio and television advertisements. It had about $2.5 million left in the bank this week, he said, leaving the group in a strong position to continue its barrage of attack ads.
The Swift boat group's disclosure listed only part of its contributions - donors who gave $1,000 or more - and was required because the group ran advertisements covered under new campaign finance laws. The group released additional information in a statement and in interviews, saying that much of its money had come in after its provocative advertisements captured media attention in recent weeks.
Among the donors from President Bush's home state was Lawrence Gelman, a doctor in McAllen, who made six contributions of $1,000 each beginning in late August. Mr. Gelman said he first heard about the group's campaign amid last month's burst of media reports and decided he wanted to support it.
"This thing about Kerry and his medal to me sounded very odd," Mr. Gelman said. "As a physician, I understand that for someone to be wounded that many times and not have to be hospitalized sounded very strange. It made me feel better to help people who had what I thought was a legitimate point of view."
Dr. Gelman, 52, described himself as conservative politically and said that while he had donated to Mr. Bush, he was not a big fan: "To me, he's the lesser of two evils. I'm not thrilled with President Bush, but I think he would be better than Kerry."
He added that the counterattacks on the Swift boat group and its veracity have spurred him to make more contributions.
"When someone comes out against them, I get riled up and give another contribution," he said. The group began attacking Mr. Kerry's record in Vietnam months ago and started its commercials in recent weeks which, though their claims have been called into question, have monopolized the presidential race at times.
The group has used only three television ads attacking Mr. Kerry, but it has received reams of national publicity in the media. A new book, "Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry'' by John E. O'Neill, a fellow Vietnam veteran who has been criticizing Mr. Kerry for
30 years, and Jerome R. Corsi, hit No. 1 on the best-seller list.
Mr. O'Neill, who has been the group's most visible spokesman, donated more than $35,000 to the group, records show.
The Bush-Cheney campaign has denied involvement in the attacks and Mr. Bush has called for such advocacy groups to stop spending money in the race, saying they are "bad for the system.''
Friday's disclosure drew jeers from Mr. Kerry's campaign, which has filed a complaint against the group before the election commission last month, accusing the organization of violating campaign laws by coordinating its activities with the Bush campaign.
Chad Clanton, a campaign spokesman, called Swift Boat Veterans a "discredited group.''
"No matter how much money they spend," Mr. Clanton said, "two facts remain: their charges have been completely discredited, and they're clearly doing the dirty work of the Bush-Cheney campaign."
A spokesman for the Bush campaign, Scott Stanzel, declined comment on the financial disclosure.
Mr. Russell said that the group's money was proof that its commercials were resonating.
"We've been successful at getting our message out,'' he said. "More important, we've been successful at raising questions about Mr. Kerry's character and his fitness as commander in chief.''
After the commission declined to regulate 527 committees before this year's election, Republicans entered the fray with groups of their own, which have themselves begun to raise tens of millions of dollars.
OK, NYT... where is the companion article on who donated to Kerry and MoveOn.org?
Who did they think they would be getting donations from, Kerry backers?
you mean no Kerry supporters donated to the swiftboat vets? I am surprised by this.
It's all legal.
When's the last time the Slimes put out a piece on Moveon's donors?
CAUTION: UNRELIABLE SOURCE PUBLICATION!
No--I'd call it a tsunami.
Heh heh heh, is this the first article in the Times about the SBVs? LOL, I thought they were forbidden to mention it.
The NY Times has finally gone on the record. They think it is wrong for citizens in good standing to support those who wish to reveal to the American public what John Kerry did. Even a rag bird-cage liner like the Times should be able to understand the concept of freedom of speach. That's their bread and butter.
No, but they think it disloyal to their totalitarian, central command rule for individuals to be able to use their own funds to disagree with the mighty NYT.
Chad Clanton, a campaign spokesman, called Swift Boat Veterans a "discredited group.''
"No matter how much money they spend," Mr. Clanton said, "two facts remain: their charges have been completely discredited"...
I have not yet heard how the Swifties have been discredited. Please elaborate...
why is the article all about, who funds them and that they are discredited NOT, NY Slimes does it again lol
What a surprise - Kerry supporters did not give $$$$ to Swiftees.
Breaking news.
Pulitzer Prize to the NYTimes
Not only that, they have dared to commit the heresy of not bowing down and worshipping John Kerry!
I read his bio - great read, BTW. Amazon link: Boone.
I see he has another book out. I'll have to get that.
Man, that news made this FReeper's day!
Let me guess: you are 100% sure of the memos concerning W.
TV writer (and Kerry fundraiser) gives $100G to Texans for Truth (anti-Bush group)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1211508/posts
Well, I am glad the Swifties are getting contribution.
It's money well spent!
And FURTHERMORE, DON'T MUCH like it now...mad as HELL....ain't something them lefties can do about it now....it's payback time...
circa 20h0h4...We Know What We Are Fighting For.
Hey, leftie whining scum and terrorist pig sty vermin....you ain't gonna win this one...
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