Month: November 2012

Update – ‘dark money’ Americans for Responsible Leadership discloses donors: more non-profits

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The United State Supreme Court did not grant any new orders this morning, so the lawyers for the "dark money" Americans for Responsible Leadership were forced to comply with the California Supreme Court's order. As you might expect, the disclosure only reveals additional layers of anonymity behind more non-profit organizations. Controversial Arizona nonprofit releases name of contributors — more nonprofits – latimes.com:

In a stunning reversal, an obscure Arizona nonprofit at the center of a legal battle over secret political contributions released on Monday morning the identity of its contributors, which it had been fighting tooth and nail to keep secret.

But the disclosure did little to shed light on who was behind the $11-million donation to a California campaign fund. The Arizona group, Americans for Responsible Leadership, identified its contributors only as other nonprofits.

The money was passed from Americans for Job Security to the Center to Protect Patient Rights to Americans for Responsible Leadership, according to state authorities. From there, the money was sent to a California campaign committee fighting Gov. Jerry Brown's tax-hike plan, Proposition 30, and pushing a separate ballot measure to curb unions' political influence, Proposition 32.

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Americans for Responsible Leadership reached an agreement with the commission to reveal its contributors on Monday morning, allowing state authorities to skip the audit process. However, the disclosure of more nonprofits did little to satisfy activists who were seeking contributors' true identities.

Derek Cressman of Common Cause, which originally filed the complaint against the Arizona nonprofit, called the group "irresponsible, cowardly money launderers."

Still, Ann Ravel, chairwoman of the Fair Political Practices Commission, said in a statement that the disclosure was "a significant and lasting victory for transparency in the political process.”

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In a statement on Monday morning, the Arizona nonprofit's legal team did not explain why they stopped fighting the court order, saying only that a settlement was reached after "late-night discussions."

I previously posted about a Yellow Sheet Report that identified Sean Noble of Center to Protect Patient Rights, a front group that launders campaign funds for the Koch brothers, in Americans for Responsible Leadership – a Koch brothers 'dark money' front group (excerpt):

Going on the Buckmaster show election day

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by David Safier I have a slot on Bill Buckmaster's show Tuesday, noon-1pm, KVOI, 1030 AM. If there are any late breaking election day stories from the trail or from the polls, I'll talk about them. Otherwise, I'll get to reveal how good or bad I am at election predictions.

Chris Rock urges white voters to vote for a ‘white guy you can trust’– Barack Obama (video)

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by Pamela Powers Hannley

These days, there is a poll for every statistic you want to promote. Some polls have shown that undecided white men– unlike women, blacks, gays, Latinos, and those elite smart people– are leaning toward Mitt Romney for president.

Comedian Chris Rock has recorded a special message for those undecided white folks. See the video after the jump.

Jeff Flake campaigns with GOP voter suppression group Verify The Vote

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Michael Bryan reported on the misleading robo calls from The Flake campaign to Democratic voters in an attempt to suppress their vote, but over the weekend The Flake campaigned with the GOP voter suppression group Verify The Vote, the Arizona offshoot of True the Vote.

Press release from the Dr. Richard Carmona for U.S. Senate campaign:

Flake Visits Group with History of Latino Voter Suppression 
 Verify the Vote’s training video encourages voter challenges on illegal grounds

Congressman Jeff Flake campaigned in Tempe [Saturday] with "Verify the Vote," a group with a history of utilizing voter suppression and intimidation tactics against Latino voters in Arizona. The visit was reported by the Huffington Post after one of Verify the Vote's poll watchers tweeted a picture with Flake.

Verify the Vote is a local offshoot of "True the Vote," a right-wing group the non-partisan group Common Cause has called “a threat to the fundamental right to vote.”

The group's online training video includes several pieces of misinformation about the role of a poll observer. The video falsely tells poll watchers that:

  • They can challenge a voter just for being on the inactive voting file.  
  • Voters on an inactive list must be given provisional ballots rather than a regular ballot. 
  • A voter on the inactive list must "satisfy the inspector" of their address rather than just "affirm" it to poll workers.

Each of those statements are false. 

“Jeff Flake visiting a group known for voter suppression only three days from Election Day is troubling,” said Carmona for Arizona communications director Andy Barr. “Verify the Vote has a history of intimidation and suppression of minority and low-income voters. Flake should be ashamed to associate with such a group."

Founding Fathers campaign for democracy in Tucson

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by Pamela Powers Hannley Who knew that Thomas Jefferson and his cross-dressing pal would be at the All Souls Procession in Tucson night last ? Where were these big thinkers from the 18th century spotted? At The Congress, of course.  They fought for our right to vote… so do it!