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The_Dude · 08-08-2003, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Billionaire Commits $10M to Defeat Bush
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WASHINGTON - Making a major foray into partisan politics, multibillionaire George Soros is committing $10 million to a new Democratic-leaning group aimed at defeating President Bush (news - web sites) next year.

Soros, who in the past has donated on a smaller scale to Democratic candidates and the party, pledged the money to a political action committee called America Coming Together, spokesman Michael Vachon said Friday.

The group plans a $75 million effort to defeat Bush and "elect progressive officials at every level in 2004," targeting 17 key states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

"The fate of the world depends on the United States, and President Bush is leading us in the wrong direction," Soros said in a written statement. "ACT is an effective way to mobilize civil society, to convince people to go to the polls and vote for candidates who will reassert the values of the greatest open society in the world."

Soros has been better known for his philanthropy and a $1 billion effort to try to prevent the proliferation of Russian nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union's collapse. He announced earlier this summer that he was scaling back his Russian spending after finding it was subsidizing programs such as education reforms better paid for by the government.

Soros helped finance an ad in The New York Times two Sundays ago accusing Bush of using intelligence "exposed as exaggerated or even false" to justify the U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites).

ACT said it plans a large-scale effort to register voters and mobilize them to go to the polls. It has $30 million in commitments so far and plans a national fund-raising drive starting next month.

The group is headed by Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, a group dedicated to winning the election of Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights, such as New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (news - web sites).

The new PAC's co-founders include Steve Rosenthal, head of the Partnership for America's Families and former political director for the AFL-CIO; Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union; Carl Pope, the Sierra Club (news - web sites)'s executive director; and Cecile Richards, president of America Votes, a new Democratic-leaning group that includes many of the same members as America Coming Together.

Under the nation's new campaign finance law, the group must remain separate from the Democratic Party to accept contributions on the scale of what Soros has pledged. The law bans national party committees from accepting contributions of that size from any source.

Nonetheless, the effort will help Democrats counter the Republican Party's fund-raising advantage. GOP committees routinely raise millions more than their Democratic counterparts, and Bush is widely expected to collect $200 million or more for next year's primaries — exponentially more than the Democratic hopefuls — with no Republican challenger.

In addition to Soros' pledge of $10 million, the PAC has raised $8 million from labor groups and a total of $12 million from several individuals, Malcolm said. The donors include Louis and Dorothy Cullman, who helped finance the newspaper ad with Soros; Anne Bartley, former president of the Rockefeller Family Fund; Peter Lewis, founder of Progressive Insurance; Patricia Bauman, head of the Bauman Family Foundation; and Rob McKay, head of the McKay Family Foundation. Malcolm declined to say how much each committed.

looks like the dem party and their PAC's are raising some serious money to put the idiot out of business. it's not as much as gwb will raise, but it's a good start.

hobo · 08-09-2003, 12:40 AM

It's sad how politicians with the most money have the best chance of winning. There should be a limit on how much one can spend on a campaign. Capped at like 50-100 million or so and increasing based on inflation. It is insane how much they spend on campaigning. That money could go to doing a lot of good things.

Memalvada · 08-09-2003, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hobo
It's sad how politicians with the most money have the best chance of winning. There should be a limit on how much one can spend on a campaign. Capped at like 50-100 million or so and increasing based on inflation. It is insane how much they spend on campaigning. That money could go to doing a lot of good things.

Totally agree with you.

Politicians make me sick

rogue49 · 08-09-2003, 08:32 PM

That's why he gave it to a political action commitee,
instead of to the party or canidates themselves.

It surpasses whatever campaign financial laws out there.

I think GW might be the catalyst that brings the Dems out of their wishy-washy state.

I believe the GOP might be in for more of a run for their money than they think.

Whatever, I don't care, it makes for good politics
and good debate.
The harder they have to work for it, the more they'll appreciate it.
And we'll get better for it from that.

MSD · 08-10-2003, 10:00 PM

It's important to get voters from both sides out and voting. Now let's hope that 50,000 minority (mostly Democrat) voters don't get "mistakenly" put on a list of felons whose voting right has been revoked when the majority is people who have have no prior criminal records.

Phaenx · 08-10-2003, 10:37 PM

<img src="http://www.awa.tohoku.ac.jp/computer/image/sesame/count.gif">

Ah, ah, ah. 1. 1 huge waste of money.

Sparhawk · 08-11-2003, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phaenx

Ah, ah, ah. 1. 1 huge waste of money.

As much as I don't agree with you, this made me laugh!!

Conclamo Ludus · 08-11-2003, 07:33 AM

I am definitely expecting this to be one of the ugliest elections in US history. I'd imagine its going to be very very close, and almost as disputed as the 2000 election. Its going to be a mess, but a fun one to watch if you can see the comedy of such an event. I have no idea yet who's going to get my vote.

onetime2 · 08-11-2003, 07:47 AM

Will definitely be an ugly campaign. But it certainly amazes me that people hail George Soros as a hero when he thinks capitalism is the enemy of society.

"I now fear that the untrammeled intensification of laissez-faire capitalism and the spread of market values into all areas of life is endangering our open and democratic society. The main enemy of the open society, I believe, is no longer the communist but the capitalist threat." --George Soros

Be careful what you wish for as you may just get it.

Conclamo Ludus · 08-11-2003, 07:57 AM

How the hell did George Soros get rich if he hates capitalism?

onetime2 · 08-11-2003, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Conclamo Ludus
How the hell did George Soros get rich if he hates capitalism?

Apparently now it is a great evil that will lead our society to destruction. But hey, everyone is allowed their beliefs. I just wish people would look into the motives behind what all politicians and financial supporters rather than just jump on their wagon.

Stare At The Sun · 08-11-2003, 10:47 PM

They really should cap the money for campains, they could actually put that cash to good use *sigh*

HeadyIncognito · 08-11-2003, 10:54 PM

That'll never get changed, because people depend on big bucks to get them in office. They're not gonna want to change the system that gave them the presidency.

08-09-2003, 08:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
rogue49 Loser	That's why he gave it to a political action commitee, instead of to the party or canidates themselves. It surpasses whatever campaign financial laws out there. I think GW might be the catalyst that brings the Dems out of their wishy-washy state. I believe the GOP might be in for more of a run for their money than they think. Whatever, I don't care, it makes for good politics and good debate. The harder they have to work for it, the more they'll appreciate it. And we'll get better for it from that. Last edited by rogue49; 08-09-2003 at 08:35 PM..

08-10-2003, 10:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	<img src="http://www.awa.tohoku.ac.jp/computer/image/sesame/count.gif"> Ah, ah, ah. 1. 1 huge waste of money. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

08-11-2003, 07:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	I am definitely expecting this to be one of the ugliest elections in US history. I'd imagine its going to be very very close, and almost as disputed as the 2000 election. Its going to be a mess, but a fun one to watch if you can see the comedy of such an event. I have no idea yet who's going to get my vote. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

08-11-2003, 07:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
onetime2 Junkie Location: NJ	Will definitely be an ugly campaign. But it certainly amazes me that people hail George Soros as a hero when he thinks capitalism is the enemy of society. "I now fear that the untrammeled intensification of laissez-faire capitalism and the spread of market values into all areas of life is endangering our open and democratic society. The main enemy of the open society, I believe, is no longer the communist but the capitalist threat." --George Soros Be careful what you wish for as you may just get it. __________________ Strive to be more curious than ignorant.

08-11-2003, 07:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	How the hell did George Soros get rich if he hates capitalism? __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

08-09-2003, 12:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
hobo Archangel of Change	It's sad how politicians with the most money have the best chance of winning. There should be a limit on how much one can spend on a campaign. Capped at like 50-100 million or so and increasing based on inflation. It is insane how much they spend on campaigning. That money could go to doing a lot of good things.

08-10-2003, 10:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	It's important to get voters from both sides out and voting. Now let's hope that 50,000 minority (mostly Democrat) voters don't get "mistakenly" put on a list of felons whose voting right has been revoked when the majority is people who have have no prior criminal records.

08-11-2003, 10:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
Stare At The Sun Eh? Location: Somewhere over the rainbow	They really should cap the money for campains, they could actually put that cash to good use sigh

08-11-2003, 10:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
HeadyIncognito Crazy Location: PDX	That'll never get changed, because people depend on big bucks to get them in office. They're not gonna want to change the system that gave them the presidency. __________________ Even Hitler had a girlfriend...