In April of this year Karl Rove and former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie launched American Crossroads, billed as "an independent, national grassroots political organization whose mission is to speak out in support of conservative issues and candidates across America."
"Independent?" Besides Rove and Gillespie:
"Grassroots?"
From the "Values" page at the American Crossroads web site:
Yes, it starts with YOU, Mr. Texas Billionaire. Not clever political ads (said the group who has already spent $600,000 attacking Harry Reid in Nevada) or political consultants (see above list of team members).
Back to the Values:
That much is true, sort of. Because they are a 527 group the IRS requires monthly disclosure of contributions and expenditures. However, in June American Crossroads launched a spin-off group called American Crossroads GPS, which stands for Grassroots (there's that word again) Political Strategies. GPS is a 501(c)4, which means it doesn't have to disclose the names of donors, and raised more money in its first month, $5.1 million, than the original Crossroads has since it began, $4.7 million.
The two groups combined intend to raise over $50 million between now and Novemberfor attack ads to inform voters in seven states--Colorado, Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio and Washington.
One more little tidbit from their Values:
"Facts?" One of the above-mentioned billionaires is Harold Simmons, who helped fund the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004, and was the sole source of funding for the effort to connect Barack Obama and Bill Ayers during the 2008 campaign.
For some reason I don't expect to see too many "facts" coming from a group headed by Rove and funded by Simmons. Just a hunch.
"Independent?" Besides Rove and Gillespie:
"American Crossroads...is the brainchild of a team of veteran GOP consultants, including former RNC chairman Mike Duncan, Republican operative Jim Dyke and Steven J. Law, who is leaving his perch as chief legal officer and general counsel at the powerful U.S. Chamber of Commerce."
"Grassroots?"
"Virtually all of the $4.7 million raised by Karl Rove's new conservative outfit was contributed by just four billionaires, three of whom are based in Dallas, Texas...IRS filings show that four billionaires have contributed 97 percent of the $4.7 million it has raised to date."
From the "Values" page at the American Crossroads web site:
"...we believe that setting a new direction for America starts with you--not with clever political ads, consultants and slick fundraising pitches. If America's citizens take back control of their government, that's what will renew our nation's strength and character, not some charismatic political leader."
Yes, it starts with YOU, Mr. Texas Billionaire. Not clever political ads (said the group who has already spent $600,000 attacking Harry Reid in Nevada) or political consultants (see above list of team members).
Back to the Values:
"...setting a new direction for America means a new paradigm of transparency...At American Crossroads, our commitment to transparency is expressed in the fact that we disclose our financial support each month."
That much is true, sort of. Because they are a 527 group the IRS requires monthly disclosure of contributions and expenditures. However, in June American Crossroads launched a spin-off group called American Crossroads GPS, which stands for Grassroots (there's that word again) Political Strategies. GPS is a 501(c)4, which means it doesn't have to disclose the names of donors, and raised more money in its first month, $5.1 million, than the original Crossroads has since it began, $4.7 million.
The two groups combined intend to raise over $50 million between now and November
One more little tidbit from their Values:
"So our paramount value is to equip and inform citizens like you and your neighbors to be effective advocates for a new direction in Washington...We want you to have the facts and tools you need to be a champion for the vision of America that most of us share, but which the Democrat monopoly in Washington seems to have forgotten."
"Facts?" One of the above-mentioned billionaires is Harold Simmons, who helped fund the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004, and was the sole source of funding for the effort to connect Barack Obama and Bill Ayers during the 2008 campaign.
For some reason I don't expect to see too many "facts" coming from a group headed by Rove and funded by Simmons. Just a hunch.
Oddly enough these people you call Billionares are not listed in any business journals as being billionares, multi-millionares yes, billionares, no, however that being said, everyone knows most Billionares are Liberals, like Soro's, Gates, Buffett, and Bloomberg.
For every one conservative billionare, there is 6 liberal billionares, so this truely goes to show who really want to control people.
It's funny...that's exactly what my brother always said.
How sad that so many people choose to vote against their own interests.
I don't understand it.
The reason for the GOP's success is their ability to manipulate the truth and make people vote against their own best interests.
If I were fund raising for the GOP and wanted BIG BUCKS, I would advertise the fact that instead of "transparency", I would take an obtuse stance in terms of reporting the who, where, how much, and when of things! The word transparency makes Republicans think that liberals are sneaking up on them somehow, eh?
The rank-and-file right secretly hope that when the Republicans take over America that they will be left off the menu. What silly jackasses!
"our commitment to transparency is expressed in the fact that we disclose our financial support each month"
And they wouldn't lie about it or only disclose what they choose to.
Transparency in the words of GOP people that were associated with the Bush Admministration is an oxymoron...