Can any of you "Web Detectives" find out who sponsors this smear site?

[VolcanoJen]

www.edwardswatch.org

It's been up since 2003, and doesn't look as though it's been updated recently, but its clear, and only, purpose is to smear the candidacy of John Edwards.

I'm not good at this kind of stuff... is there anyone out there who could discover who this site belongs to? I think we should arm ourselves with this information, because I have a feeling some Republicans are going to start pointing folks to this website.

ON EDIT: In looking at the "contact" page, it would seem the site is sponsored by The American Tort Reform Association (also confirmed in a reverse phone look-up). Who exactly are these guys? :eyes:

Thanks!
:-)
Jennifer

[graham67]

1. Whois Info

Registrant:
ATRA


Address:
1101 Connecticut Ave.
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
US


First Registered:
January 06, 2003


Last Updated:
July 10, 2004


Administrative Contact:
ATRA (JRYVCPCNHO) [e-mail]
1101 Connecticut Ave.
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
US
202-682-1163


Technical Contact:
Network Solutions, LLC. (HOST-ORG) [e-mail]
13200 Woodland Park Drive
Herndon, VA 20171-3025
US
1-888-642-9675 fax: [phone]


Name Servers:
NS1.LNHI.NET 209.41.184.100
NS2.LNHI.NET 209.41.170.99



Information Source:
Network Solutions

[dsewell]

2. ATRA = Big Business lobbying front

http://www.atra.org/about/members.php

(Google is your friend)

[jdsmith]

3. Mike Hotra, Director of Legislation & Communications, [e-mail]

Now a v-p at APCO Worldwide

[TexasSissy]

4. The site says it's an initiative by the American Tort Reform Association.

Under "contacts."

The ATRA has been gunning for Edwards for some time.

Who comprises the membership? The site says:

"Founded in 1986, ATRA is a broad based, bipartisan coalition of more than 300 businesses, corporations, municipalities, associations, and professional firms who support civil justice reform. Click here for sample list of organizations that support liability reforms."

Sample list of organizations under the link referenced in that quote:

"American Tort Reform Foundation

Citizens for a Sound Economy

Health Care Liability Alliance (HCLA)

Manhattan Institute Center for Legal Policy

Overlawyered.com
The Site of Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Walter Olson.

Texans For Lawsuit Reform

The Federalist Society
Conservative/Libertarian Organization of Attorneys Concerned About the Legal System.

The Rand Institute for Civil Justice

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform
Institute Fighting for Legal Reform, Affiliated With Nation’s Largest Business Organization.

Washington Legal Foundation"


Then, you can click on the link for each of the above groups and be routed to their websites. I would think the membership consists mainly of large businesses, defense attorneys, and people connected with insurance companies.

[jdsmith]

5. article here

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/5787491.htm?1c

little quotation: "The American Tort Reform Association, co-founded by the American Medical Association and partly funded by corporate contributions. . . ."

[VolcanoJen]

6. You guys are amazing.

Thanks for the research about ATRA, especially!!