Reply #64: Lewis last Dec. even gave us fore knowledge of the GOP groups. [View All]

[madfloridian]

Some on here keep saying that those 3 ads did not hurt Dean or bring him down....they are ignoring the fact that our Democrats set up a 527 whose goal was to bring down the frontrunner. Then these same folks never ever attacked Bush that strongly...never. It is the fact that they formed the 527 and did it, not how much it affected. Of course it affected.

SNIP..."The strutting and braggadocio of ostensibly independent organizations with impeccably and indubitably dependent pedigrees give the impression of a wild, wild west town with no sheriff and no jail. For example, according to National Journal, we have the Republican 501(c)(4) organization, Progress for America, which expects to raise $40 million to $60 million for television ads, direct mail and other "outreach" and "issue truth squads" on behalf of President Bush during 2004. Unlike 527s, this group is not required by law to publicly disclose its donors. The counsel for the group is Ben Ginsberg, also the chief outside counsel to the Bush campaign. Ken Mehlman, manager of the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign, and Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican National Committee, were among 150 party poobahs at a Willard Hotel bash for the organization last October...."

We were forewarned about the groups like the Swift boat vets.