Abramoff/DeLay Group implicated in Russian Funding & Dem Attack Ads/....

The article states that this group funded radio ads negative to Democratic Lawmakers in 1999. I wonder what else they were funding against Democrats during the the November, 1999 Election. Since this article comes from the WaPo we know that they aren't reporting the half of the evil that Abramoff/DeLay were into with "Selection 2000." I wonder if the DNC can start an investigation into using foreign money to run attack ads against Democrats in an election year. :shrug:


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An extensive web of financial ties
Group linked to DeLay largely funded by clients of embattled lobbyist

WASHINGTON POST
By R. Jeffrey Smith
Updated: 2:22 a.m. ET Dec. 31, 2005

The U.S. Family Network, a public advocacy group that operated in the 1990s with close ties to Rep. Tom DeLay and claimed to be a nationwide grass-roots organization, was funded almost entirely by corporations linked to embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to tax records and former associates of the group.

-snip-
Two former associates of Edwin A. Buckham, the congressman's former chief of staff and the organizer of the U.S. Family Network, said Buckham told them the funds came from Russian oil and gas executives. Abramoff had been working closely with two such Russian energy executives on their Washington agenda, and the lobbyist and Buckham had helped organize a 1997 Moscow visit by DeLay.

The former president of the U.S. Family Network said Buckham told him that Russians contributed $1 million to the group in 1998 specifically to influence DeLay's vote on legislation the International Monetary Fund needed to finance a bailout of the collapsing Russian economy.


Group bought attack ads

Some of the U.S. Family Network's revenue was used to pay for radio ads attacking vulnerable Democratic lawmakers in 1999; other funds were used to finance the cash purchase of a townhouse three blocks from DeLay's congressional office. DeLay's associates at the time called it "the Safe House."

DeLay made his own fundraising telephone pitches from the townhouse's second-floor master suite every few weeks, according to two former associates. Other rooms in the townhouse were used by Alexander Strategy Group, Buckham's newly formed lobbying firm, and Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), DeLay's leadership committee.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10657504

I posted on the thread, but felt that it was important to pull the quotes about the negative Dem ads, out and focus our attention on it.

Abramoff was down in Florida helping organize the Repugs protests to stop the vote count. Using money that was partly donated by a foreign government to interfere with Democrats in an Election Year, is too important to get lost in the rest of what they were up to.

I have to hope that the fraud of Selection 2000 will somehow tie into this investigation as an important "side thread" when all of it finally comes out. :shrug:

and the Democrat's alleged ties to money from China. So, you think it might be a problem if the Republican International Crime Family, Inc. was having Russians pay for attack ads against Democrats?

You don't suppose that this supposedly-legal astroturf organization would be violating FEC regulations?

...the Saipan sweatshops? He and his family have made contributions to Republicans, including Chimpy, according to this article.

campaign contributions:

In the run-up to last year's US federal election, Tan Siu-lin, his five sons and Josie Tan donated a total of US$13,000 to Bush. Son Jerry has also contributed US$4,000 to individual congressional campaigns. Meanwhile, former employee Fitial is gearing up to run for commonwealth governor in the fall with Tan support.

Sometimes Tan family members recorded a Hong Kong address on their donations, sometimes one in Saipan. Federal campaign regulations mandate that only US citizens or permanent residents can legally donate. Luen Thai's IPO prospectus says that Henry and brother Raymond are Chinese nationals living in Hong Kong.

To sell out to American Corporations is still something the public doesn't find as frightening as selling out to a foreign country. This could give more of the general public cause to worry.

I hate it in a way. I think the sellout to US corporations should be enough to cause concern, because if only those with money enough to buy infulence get any support from the government then no body's vote REALLY counts.

Whether it was good old US or USSR that bought the vote, it was still bought.

However, what is plain to see is the extent with which they hid their activities, clearly showing intent to deceive, meaning they KNEW it was wrong and are GUILTY, GUILTY.

Thank God for Fitzgerald. And everyone else who is opening up and speaking truth to power. It's been a rough year.

be a hoot?

Would it be out of context to call the Republicans Russian collaborators?

:evilgrin:

Now that's a freaking surprise.:rofl: