Where does "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" Get Its Money?

[Eric J in MN]

Is it soft-money, hard-money? Do we know anyone who gave them money?

[Gman]

1. They're a 527

[Eric J in MN]

2. Can we get a list of people who gave them over $200 then? nt

nt

[fishface]

3. Busholes from Texas...(link corrected)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/072304dnpolswift.9ac05.html


Texan funds anti-Kerry vets
Houston Republican gave $100,000 to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

07:30 PM CDT on Friday, July 23, 2004

By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News


AUSTIN – Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, a major supporter of President Bush and the Republican Party, is the biggest financial backer of a veterans group seeking to discredit Democrat John Kerry's military service, according to federal records.

DNC Online
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Mr. Perry gave $100,000 to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group that has been critical of Mr. Kerry's anti-war activities after he returned from Vietnam. That accounted for two-thirds of the organization's receipts to date.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth also has hired a Dallas-area private investigator to gather information about Mr. Kerry's three Purple Hearts. Group members, including some who served with Mr. Kerry, argue he did not deserve the medals and is not fit to be president.

The Kerry campaign has accused Swift Boat Veterans of being a politically motivated group with ties to the Republican Party and the Bush administration. The Bush campaign says it is not associated with the group.

Bill Miller, a spokesman for Mr. Perry, said the Houston businessman is "a self-proclaimed Republican" who has supported many candidates and causes.

"He gives money where he believes it's needed and serves a good interest," Mr. Miller said.

Federal law restricts individual contributions to candidates, but independent groups such as Swift Boat Veterans can accept unrestricted donations. The groups are forbidden from coordinating their activities with candidates.

Mr. Perry is one of the most prolific contributors in Texas. He has donated more than $5 million to state candidates and causes since January 2000 and several hundred thousand dollars to national candidates and the GOP.

According to the organization's filing with the IRS, Swift Boat Veterans raised $158,750 from April through June 30. Other contributions included $25,000 each from Houston lawyer John O'Neill and Dallas developer Harlan Crow.

The report also shows that the group paid $3,179 to Rockwall private investigator Tom Rupprath. Veterans contacted by Mr. Rupprath, who has declined to comment, say he has sought to misrepresent them to damage Mr. Kerry.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/072304dnpolswift.9ac05.html

[Eric J in MN]

5. I was hoping it was an executive of a company I can boycott (nt)

nt

[Old and In the Way]

10. So 3 people have funded this un-American hitpiece?

They account for 95% of the money raised. ($150,000 of the $158,000)

Why do they hate America so much?

[Moderator]

11. fishface

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.

DU Moderator

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Still looking.....

but if it goes anything like this..... well... you know... they called Max Cleland "unpatriotic" too... so that shows the depth to which they will stoop to maintain the illusion.


http://www.billiardsdigest.com/ccboard/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=npr&Number=135441&page=13&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1
>>In 2000, Spaeth participated in the most subterranean episode of the Republican primary contest when a shadowy group billed as "Republicans for Clean Air" produced television ads falsely attacking the environmental record of Sen. John McCain in California, New York and Ohio. While the identity of those funding the supposedly "independent" ads was carefully hidden, reporters soon learned that Republicans for Clean Air was simply Sam Wyly -- a big Bush contributor and beneficiary of Bush administration decisions in Texas -- and his brother, Charles, another Bush "Pioneer" contributor. (One of the Wyly family's private capital funds, Maverick Capital of Dallas, had been awarded a state contract to invest $90 million for the University of Texas endowment.)<<

[right is wrong]

6. check dkos n/t

[SidDithers]

7. Center for Public Integrity...

http://www.publicintegrity.org/527/search.aspx?act=com&orgid=707

Here's the Swift Boat filings, including all donors and expenditures.

Google Bob Perry and Tom Delay, just for fun :)

Sid

[tridim]

8. This looks like the guy

http://www.horatioalger.com/members/member_info.cfm?memberid=cro88

"Appointed by President George Bush, Mr. Crow served on the National Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations"

He's directly connected to Bush and is financing the swift boat liars' 527.

Edit: He's also involved with Lay and Enron.. http://www.tpj.org/Lobby_Watch/enrontlr.html
The tangled web unweaves.

[Eric J in MN]

9. thanks (nt)

nt