posted on December 16, 2003 08:42:43 AM new
Liberal online political group MoveOn.org as well as two major Democrat candidates for president are in the midst of a brewing scandal over potentially improper online contributions received from European citizens who have been encouraged to send money to the group to help defeat President George W. Bush in next year's elections.
In an article posted last week in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the headline read, "Now you have the chance to leave your mark on Bush."
The story tells Europeans that they have "a chance to defeat [Bush] -- even if you are not an American."
"One dollar for every European citizen would raise more money than the entire official Bush campaign budget for his election in 2000," the website proclaims. "Compare this price to the cost of having Bush in the White House."
The article goes on to describe the alleged mistaken positions held by the Bush administration that now warrant the financial assistance of the world community. European citizens were solicited by the website to give money to what is described as the "politically independent" group MoveOn.org in an effort to help defeat Bush and bring about a regime change in the United States in 2004.
Criticizing his handling of foreign policy issues such as the war in Iraq and on terrorism since September 11, the newspaper concludes that Bush has been too aggressive as president. While they admit on the website that there are legitimate problems that Bush needed to address, they say that he has been unable to handle the pressure of going after the Taliban or capturing Saddam Hussein. The Swedish article was published several days before Hussein's subsequent capture by coalition forces on December 13.
Interestingly, the article discloses that one out of every three members belonging to MoveOn.org are non-Americans, or 680,000 of the estimated 2 million members.
The article ends by stating that since this is a "globalized world," what happens in America greatly affects the rest of the world. As a result, Europeans and other non-Americans should go about trying to make changes politically.
"For that reason, we urge financial support for MoveOn.org," the article concludes.
MoveOn.org responded to this Swedish push for contributions from Europeans by turning them down because some of them might be illegal contributions. Even the donations that would not be considered unlawful have supposedly been rejected because of the perception that may make MoveOn.org look like it is working with Europeans to change the political landscape of the United States.
"To avoid even the appearance of impropriety, we are not going to take contributions from overseas," stated MoveOn.org founder Wes Boyd to The Washington Post over the weekend.
As a result of this denial of funds, the Swedish website removed their appeal to Europeans to send money to MoveOn.org since the group "no longer accepts contributions from non-U.S. citizens/permanent resident aliens."
Nevertheless, the Drudge Report revealed on Monday that MoveOn.org is bending that policy and has "apparently been reaching beyond American borders to generate cash revenue over the Internet."
Drudge cites two Democrat presidential frontrunners who are listed by name on several international fundraising websites asking for donations to be made directly to MoveOn.org. Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean were the two candidates listed on the websites requesting funds from foreign citizens.
On the official campaign website for Clark, there is a link to a website entitled "Canada for Clark" urging Canadians to give money to MoveOn.org.
"Non-Americans can't by law, give money to any particular candidate's campaign," the website proclaims. "But we can support pro-democracy, progressive American organizations like MoveOn.org, which do their best to spread the ugly truth about Bush and publicize the Democratic message."
There is a link on the CanadaForClark.com website for contributions to be made to MoveOn.org. Drudge reports that the top referrer to that website is the Official Clark for President website.
(CanadaForClark.com: Supporting Wesley Clark for President of the United States...for the good of not only America, but Canada and the entire international community. Working for the ideals of a strong North America, through a great military, intelligent and internationalized foreign policy, and compassionate domestic and trade policy. The world encourages Americans: Vote Wes Clark! CanadaForClark.com!
As for the Dean connection, a London-based website called Dean04Worldwide.com is encouraging non-Americans to participate in the 2004 election and help Dean win the Democrat nomination and defeat Bush. The website name servers are owned by a Portugal-based website called PromoHosting.com.
The Dean04Worldwide.com website provides detailed information about how to donate money to MoveOn.org since the Dean campaign is not allowed to accept contributions outside of the United States.
Talon News recently reported that Dean decided to forgo federal matching funds so his campaign would not be limited by legal restrictions.
"It is not clear how much money has been raised -- to date -- from foreign sources, but political websites from London to Portugal to Montreal are directing their citizens to stop the American president George Bush by donating to MoveOn.org," Drudge reports on his website.
The MoveOn.org website asserts that contributions to its organization are forbidden from "foreign nationals who lack permanent resident status."
Despite this policy against foreign money, MoveOn.org has appointed an International Campaigns Director named Eli Pariser. This 20-something-political activist joined the MoveOn.org team after starting a petition website called 9-11Peace.org in reaction to the attacks on the United States in 2001.
Pariser's liberal leanings granted him favor with the founders of MoveOn.org. His primary role with MoveOn.org has been to develop ways to generate interest in American elections overseas, including developing innovative fundraising drives in other countries.
Yet, even former Vice President Al Gore, who has been the featured speaker at many MoveOn.org events over the past year, has expressed his concern about the group accepting international funds, Drudge reveals.
It is unknown how much money MoveOn.org has already raised from non-American contributors since the group's inception. However, a recent e-mail sent to supporters from MoveOn.org brags about their ability to raise $7.2 million in "small contributions from over 117,000 people" in the past six weeks.
posted on December 16, 2003 09:29:41 AM new
I never liked Clark and I've been borderline on Dean. I wonder how Dennis feels about all of this? He's very, very careful where his funds come from and how much anyone gives. I think it's fine to give the money to MoveOn, but not to Clark or Dean.
posted on December 16, 2003 10:17:40 AM new
We should all be concerned about donations coming from foreign countries/donators. No matter which party we support I'm sure we'd all like to see whoever gets elected be from the influence American's have ....not foreigner influence.
This isn't much different than what happened during the clinton administration though and they had to give back the illegal foreign donations.
This new campaign donation law is a farse, imo. I've heard it said that this can be beneficial to the incumbent party. Who knows...... but it doesn't sound good to me.....no matter the party.
posted on December 16, 2003 11:02:02 AM new
Cheryl
The Republicans are most worried about Dean or Clark as Bush opponents. Would you really prefer to have Bush in office rather than either Dean or Clark?
...assuming that Kucinich is not the winning candidate. of course
posted on December 16, 2003 11:33:58 AM new
I don't think they are worried about Clark.
If I HAD to pick one of the Dems... I think I would pick Lieberman. I don't know, out of all 9 he seems ok, EXCEPT his comment on how to treat Hussien, he said WE, as in the U.S. should have him executed. I don't think WE should do that. The Iraqis will take care of him.
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I don't know if I could vote for a former General who had had his heart set on working in the Bush administration and then when turned away decided to become a Democrat. He's a Republican in Democrat's clothing. He only wants revenge on the current administration. Not a good enough reason to become president, IMO.
Dean is okay. I'd vote for him. I like Kerry as well. Leiberman? Don't think so.
posted on December 16, 2003 12:40:35 PM new
That was if I was a Dem, and had to pick out of the 9 (not all Democrats vote for a Dem Candidate) but after hearing them all talk.. I'd have to go with Lieberman. And NOT because Gore took his support and gave it to Dean, it wouldn't be a revenge thing, he just makes a little more sense than the rest. Dean? I'm willing to bet he'll be the candidate, BUT he is way too liberal for me.
(just wondering now, who IS going to be Deans VP running mate.....)
Wanna Take a Ride? Art Bell is Back! Weekends on C2C-www.coasttocoastam.com
posted on December 16, 2003 02:01:35 PM new
I've said it before. Lieberman is a cultural reactionary, the Jewish equivalent of the christian religious right. It's no wonder he'd like the US to execute Hussein. A neocon in Democrat's clothing. Scary.I didn't especially like him as VP candidate and I surely don't like him for President. Having said that, he might get a lot of crossover votes from Repub's who are unhappy about Bush. When I see the grotesque amounts of money the President is able to soak out of his fat cat friends, it's hard to begrudge any other candidate his money, regardless of it's source. Campaign finance is indeed a big farce anyway...soft money, hard money....please.
___________________________________
The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then gets elected and proves it.
-- P. J. ORourke (Holidays in hell, 1989)
[ edited by profe51 on Dec 16, 2003 02:02 PM ]
posted on December 17, 2003 06:55:38 AM new"Dean will show his true colors. I've always been right about first impressions and I think Dean is a scary individual."
Just as I said yesterday...Republicans are afraid of a winner...Clark frightens them too.
As far, far left as Kucinich is, he is discussed here without any rancor or opposition whatsoever -- simply because he is nothing to worry about. The resident smear gals and guys didn't even pick up on his pathetic "find me a girlfriend" thing.
posted on December 17, 2003 08:40:38 AM new
Dean's loose lips
Linda Chavez
Howard Dean is increasingly looking like he's come unhinged. While the Democratic front-runner shows no sign of slowing his long march toward his party's nomination, he has begun saying things that are not only irresponsible, they sound downright wacky.
First there was Dean's accusation that the president might have been warned about the September 11, 2001, attacks. On the Diane Rehm show on National Public Radio, Dean said, "The most interesting theory that I have heard so far, which is nothing more than a theory, I can't think -- it can't be proved, is that he was warned ahead of time by the Saudis. Now who knows what the real situation is."
Dean tried to back away from the nutty accusation a week later when interviewed by Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." "Why would you say that," Wallace asked him, "Do you believe that?" To which Dean replied, "No, I don't believe that. I can't imagine the president of the United States doing that. But we don't know, and it'd be a nice thing to know."
A nice thing to know? I suppose it would be nice to know that the president is not really an alien from outer space sent to rule the world. But most of us who are sane creatures assume that is the case -- certainly no one has to prove it to us.
But Dean can't help himself from saying weird things. On Monday, in what was billed as his first major foreign policy address, Dean said that "The capture of Saddam has not made America safer."
No doubt Dean would be happier if Saddam were still on the loose, since he, and indeed many in the Democratic Party, had pointed to the inability to capture either Saddam or Osama bin Laden as one of President Bush's major failures in the war on terrorism. But to say that Americans are no safer with Saddam behind bars is just plain strange.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman accused Dean of "climbing into his own spider hole of denial." Lieberman sounded offended, as an American: "Saddam Hussein is a homicidal maniac, brutal dictator, supporter of terrorism and enemy of the United States, and there should be no doubt that America and the world are safer with him captured."
Howard Dean is an angry man, and he lashes out with such venom and hatred that he sometimes can't control his words -- or those of his most ardent followers. At a recent fundraiser, Dean stood off stage while comedian Judy Gold said of the president of the United States, "We have to get this piece of living, breathing s--- out of the office." Kate Lloyd, another comedian at the event, drew laughs when she referred to Michael Jackson's pending charges of child molestation. "Frankly, I'm far more frightened of Condoleezza Rice," she said, and then went on to refer to Vice President Dick Cheney's wife as Lon Chaney, an actor in horror movies. And trash-mouth comedian Janeane Garofalo, referred to the new Medicare prescription drug bill as the " 'you can go f--- yourself, Grandma' bill."
Dean chose to go onstage anyway, forfeiting an opportunity to pull a Bill Clinton "Sister Souljah" move. In 1992, candidate Bill Clinton chastised Jesse Jackson for inviting Sister Souljah to a Rainbow Coalition event because the rapper had suggested, in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, "If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people."
The most Howard Dean would say when he came onstage after the comedians had spewed their filth was a vague reference to some of the language that was used -- which was directed more at the "N" word liberally sprinkled throughout some of the routines. "I just don't have much tolerance for ethnic humor," Dean said. "We are all one community."
When a Washington Post reporter asked Dean about the role anger plays in his campaign, "Dean responds negatively -- in fact, angrily, to the suggestion that his campaign is driven by anger." But that anger is making the candidate behave as if he were slightly unbalanced. George W. Bush may drive some Democrats crazy, but they better hope their likely nominee gets a grip on himself soon, or he'll make the whole party look mad next November.
posted on December 17, 2003 08:49:14 AM new
There you go...Another Dean hater. Repugs can't deal with truth as Lies make their corrupt world go round...spinning and spinning an spinning around to an ultimate and unavoidable crash in 2004.
posted on December 17, 2003 12:02:06 PM newDEAN HATER
Now you have me crying in my milk, worrying about poor ole Dean.
Not She's just reporting the facts as stated by Dean himself.
"Another plague upon the land, as devastating as the locusts God loosed on the Egyptians, is "Political Correctness.'" --Charlton Heston
[ edited by BEAR1949 on Dec 17, 2003 12:03 PM ]
[ edited by Twelvepole on Dec 16, 2003 12:59 PM ]