The TVC (Tradtional Values Coalition) was one of the hot topics on the antrax investigation, but to my knowledge there was never any indication that anyone was actually pinpointed (TVC or otherwise) as being responsible for the democrats antrax letters and nothing definitive ever publicized to my knowledge. It did appear that any investigations on the antrax letters to democrats were either dropped, covered up, or not pursued at all. Who knows?
One that I had been following closely at the time was the controversy involving Andrea Lafferty (Executive Director of TVC -- some link references and snips on the subject below) who along with her father Rev. Lou Sheldon (Chairman/Founder of TVC) had close ties to Tom DeLay. TVC is a right-wing extremist organization who is anti-everything to do with "freedom" that our constitution stands for from "freedom of speech", "freedom of choice", etc. who are anti-abortion, anti-stem cell, anti-gay rights, etc. and constantly make attacks on anything to do with freedom and are proactively trying to destroy our constitutional rights (much like the Falwell tribe). They attack any freedom of speech that does not cater to right-wing loonies (such as radio (NPR, Nickelodeon for kids cable tv, etc.)); they think that no funding should be allowed for HIV and AIDs (the cure is to stop having risky sex v throwing tax payer dollars down the toilet!);, etc., etc. etc. Purely right-wing lunatics from hell! (IHMO anyway). TVC had been extremely critical of political figures who had received the antrax in that timeframe. So, it was a natural thing for me to follow, especially being a native Texan who is totally disgusted with the political corruption that often leads back to Texas connections in the end.
Andrea Lafferty is married to Jim Lafferty, political consultant from Washington who used to work for Tom DeLay before he moved on to work for Mass. Citizens for marriage in 2002 and again in 2003. Jim is a catholic and Andrea is a Protestant evangelical (both attacking liberals in Washington for undue cause constantly). Andrea and her father Rev. Lou Sheldon are extreme right-wing loonies (IHMO). My interest was perked on this mostly due to the TVC connections with the DeLay mob here in Texas (my home state), so I followed the situation and accusations fairly closely.
In any case, I personally suspected the antrax may have had a Texas root source -- why? just a deep gut feeling... because of the obvious corruption in Texas in the entire political process. From Halliburton (Cheney gang) and Tom DeLay, for instance (who has been one of the leaders of corruption his entire 20+ years so he has many puppets working his agenda, adversely affecting not only Texas, but entire world). Houston area (especially) seems to be attracting many of these corrupt political figures and attack groups -- even "Bush I" holing up here now, SBV, Bob Perry Home Builders (one of the primary funders of the SBV), DeLay, etc.... abundant corruption of right-wing lunatics established in Texas. Merciless right-wing agendas.
Whoever was responsible could have likely been connected to some right-wing organization and I can fully understand why any investigative reporter for NPR might have made contact with any such organization (such as TVC) to see if they had been contacted by the FBI for questioning about the antrax distribution to democrat politicians that they had been highly criticizing at that time.
Will we ever know about the source of the antrax? probably not (especially if there are any close ties to the WH and any of their designated puppets). I'm not accusing TVC (just using this as a known example of discussion on the antrax situation at the time that I followed rather closely)... but I do feel there is a high probability that some right-wing extremist individual or organization with tight political ties could have been involved (therefore, terminating any "real" investigation).
1) Right wing organizations (such as TVC): ( Re: below "People for American Way" website describes the TVC agenda)
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=8992&print=yes(excerpt... snip)
Quotes from Andrea Sheldon Lafferty: Andrea Sheldon Lafferty says supporters of hate crimes laws that include sexual orientation as a protected category "are trying to take a handful of hideous, horrible crimes and use that to force acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle."
(Re URL:
http://www.gfn.com/archives/story.phtml?sid=7524%22 )
In reference to fetal tissue research, Lafferty says "I think we're going to have to apologize to the Nazis for this."
(Re URL:
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=3292 )
Quotes from Louis Sheldon: “As Homosexuals continue to make inroads into public schools, more children will be molested and indoctrinated into the world of homosexuality. Many of them will die in that world.” (“Homosexuals Recruit Public School Children,” by Louis Sheldon, special report, Vol. 18, No. 11)
“Americans should understand that their attitudes about homosexuality have been deliberately and deceitfully changed by a masterful propaganda/marketing campaign that rivals that of Adolph Hitler. In fact, many of the strategies used by homosexuals to bring about cultural change in America are taken from Hitler’s writings and propaganda welfare manuals.” (“Homosexual Propaganda Campaign Based on Hitler’s ‘Big Lie’ Technique,” by Louis Sheldon, special report, Vol. 18, No. 10)
"Give us a few more years under the belt and we will learn how to replace many of the school board members. Give us more time to understand how the system works, and we'll work the system even better than one could ever imagine." (CNN News, 9/2/90)
"There is a war waging in America. The battle is over values, beliefs and the cultural basis of western civilization.... the elitist avant-garde arts community uses the NEA to advertise and disseminate their political beliefs. The NEA then uses our scarce tax dollars to fund works which are intended to shock Americans into an acceptance of dysfunctional behavioral lifestyles and to destroy the family." (Hearing on the NEA, 4/91)
(end of excerpt... snip)
2) Are smears a traditional value?http://conwebwatch.tripod.com/stories/2002/tvcnpr.html(excerpt... snip)
"The Traditional Values Coalition demonstrates just how this preemptive media strike works. In early January, TVC executive director Andrea Lafferty was contacted by David Kestenbaum, a reporter for National Public Radio. According to Lafferty, Kestenbaum asked if her organization had been contacted by the FBI regarding the investigation of anthrax spores sent to senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy, among others.
TVC in the past has been specificially critical of Daschle and Leahy for allegedly perpetrating an "undercurrent of anti-God bigotry" by dropping "so help me God" from oaths administered to nominees who come before Senate committees for confirmation. "Why are Daschle and Leahy so fearful that nominees might swear before God to tell the truth?" Lafferty is quoted as saying in one TVC press release.
It's a perfectly logical assumption that a group with a history of criticism of senators who later receive deadly spores in the mail would get a visit or phone call at some point from investigators looking to find out who did it. Hey, investigators are supposed to follow every possible lead, aren't they? NPR's Kestenbaum, who was apparently to contact groups and individuals who the FBI may have talked to in order to find out the gist of the investigation, seems to have thought so. And thus, Kestenbaum contacted Lafferty."
(end of excerpt... snip)
3) Is Intimidation a Traditional Value?http://conwebwatch.tripod.com/stories/2002/tvcnpr.html4) Committee Hearing (read Andrea Lafferty's and others testimony)
http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/hearings/07102002Hearing622/hearing.htm#Hearing%20Transcript: Andrea Lafferty's testimony from above hearing: http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/hearings/07102002Hearing622/Lafferty1055.htm (excerpt snip....)
"Thursday, February 28th turned into “Expose NPR Day” in the U.S. House of Representatives. A number of Members of Congress took to the floor to denounce NPR.
Congressmen DeLay, Blunt, Foley, Calvert and Tiahrt all spoke eloquently on the floor about the irresponsible behavior of NPR.
Majority Whip Tom DeLay called NPR’s conduct “outrageous” and said NPR had ignored “their basic responsibilities as journalists.” Chief Deputy Majority Whip Roy
Blunt stated, “NPR broke their contract with the American people by reporting hearsay as fact,” that “this report was completely inaccurate and irresponsible” and that
“Congress should look long and hard at the recipients of taxpayer dollars.” "
(end of excerpt... snip)
5) A Family Business (A Washington Post article on Rev. Sheldon & daughter Andrea Lafferty... May 2004)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41187-2004May19.htmlThanks for asking this question, as it is an important one! Just what did happen to the Democrat's antrax letter investigation? Maybe with all the digging in Texas corruptiveness lately, something will crop up (my personal gut feel theory that there could well have been some Texas connection... gut feel anyway).
SHUFFNEW "A Texan who is proud to be a Democrat!":kick: