Soros Buys Off Watchdogs, GOP Says

[Khephra]

Soros Buys Off Watchdogs, GOP Says

By Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 18, 2003; Page A05


Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie yesterday accused campaign finance watchdog groups of failing to protest multimillion-dollar contributions by financier George Soros to pro-Democratic organizations because Soros's foundation also had given large sums to the watchdog groups.

Citing reports that Soros's Open Society Institute has given as much as $18 million to groups that advocate changing campaign financing, Gillespie said in a conference call with reporters: "I'm wondering if that is why there has been such hesitancy to raise concerns" about Soros's contributions of $10 million to America Coming Together, which seeks the defeat of President Bush, and $5 million to other organizations.

The Democratic National Committee quickly issued a report on Gillespie's charges, titled "Crocodile Tears." It listed many of the groups that have spent large sums in support of Republican legislation and policies but do not disclose their donors or their ties to such industries as pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Fred Wertheimer, head of Democracy 21, who was singled out by Gillespie, said: "The newfound interest of the RNC and Mr. Gillespie in the enforcement of campaign finance laws is quite refreshing."

more...................

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54451-2003Nov17.html

[leetrisck]

1. Has Gillespie ever heard of Richard

Mellon Scaife? And the Scaife Foundation? That's just one of many that tried to overthrow our government.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. The GOP can depend on 'Pooty-Poot'

The man whose soul our Jesus-simple pResident looked into has very graciously seized all his Russian assets.

--bkl

[schultzee]

4. What did Putin sieze that bush owned?

[cthrumatrix]

3. Let's have Ed detail pharmaceutical contributions for the Drug Bill....

Feel free to come forward with those details .... and then tell seniors about how you screwed them with the drug bill.

[dArKeR]

5. Arroyo's Children's Prostitution Fund paid off Bush

to have him say 'the Philippines was the model for all Asia to follow'. Therefore Bush is supporting the expansion of child prostitution throughout all of Asia. Ok I get. I'm clear on this now. I can accept the child prostitution support from Bush but what I don't get is why Scary Falwell, Rat Robertson, and Silly Gramham don't have Jesus enter their bodies and the Lord guide them to stop the hand of Satan molesting children in the PI and Thailand?

[gristy]

6. That's funny

Fred Wertheimer, head of Democracy 21, who was singled out by Gillespie, said: "The newfound interest of the RNC and Mr. Gillespie in the enforcement of campaign finance laws is quite refreshing."

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. Yep. A good line. nt

[Media_Lies_Daily]

7. Three words: Richard Mellon Scaife.

[bleedingheart]

8. Bingo! We have a winner!

Mellon Scaife...living off the legacy of hard working coal miners and steel workers that his ancestors screwed over ...

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. Watch out, widdle Eddie's gonna cwy

:nopity: (How do you say "Eat me" in GooperSpeak?)

[9215]

10. Well Eddie you fascist

bastards own the government, do you mind if a few NGO watchdog groups get properly funded to fight them?

Hypocritical sleaseball!

[Classical_Liberal]

11. Awe poor thing!

.

[Ramsey]

12. ACT

America Coming Together is a coordinated get out the vote effort by a number of progressive organizations (Emily's List, Sierra Club, union groups, etc). ACT does not endorse any particular candidate or give money to any campaigns. It was formed simply and solely to get out the vote in swing states and districts, and to convey the advantages of a progressive agenda in those communities. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but ACT would therefore not be subject to the McCain-Feingold restrictions.