Republicans plan new soft-money group to rival Democratic organizations
SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer Tuesday, November 18, 2003
(11-18) 14:56 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --
One of President Bush's lawyers during the 2000 Florida recount is creating a group to spend millions advocating Bush's re-election, hoping to counter efforts by billionaire George Soros and others to help Democrats capture the White House.
Attorney George Terwilliger and Republican political consultants Frank Donatelli and Craig Shirley are asking the Federal Election Commission for advice on whether their plan is legal under the new campaign finance law, according to a copy of the letter.
The law bars the use of so-called soft money -- corporate, union and unlimited contributions -- in connection with federal elections. National party committees and federal candidates are banned from collecting soft money for any purpose. (snip)
(snip) Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie has complained repeatedly about the anti-Bush groups, saying he doesn't understand how they can be allowed under the new law. He has so far declined to file a complaint with the FEC and has left open the possibility that pro-Bush groups may form if opposition organizations face no punishment for their activities. (snip/...)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/11/18/national1756EST0726.DTL