Americans for Prosperity

From the McClatchy news service:

Among the existing 501 (c) 4 organizations are giant election-influencing political entities such as Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity on the right, and the pro-Obama Organizing for America and Priorities USA on the left.

“There are two IRS scandals. The other is the IRS allowing big shadowy forces to meddle in elections anonymously through front groups that file false statements with the IRS,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

Anyone keeping an eye on Art Pope's upcoming schedule or the schedule of some of his representatives?

The Koch brothers are holding their upcoming big retreat on April 28 and 29th. Pope, if you'll recall is the second biggest donor to the Koch's Americans for Prosperity. He's showed up at the strategy meeting in previous years.

Mother Jones has a leaked email containing an outline of the topics they'll be looking at.

Koch Industries, the Kansas-based oil and chemical conglomerate whose owners Charles and David Koch have played a leading role in financing the fight against government regulation, is stepping up its investment in North Carolina politics at a critical moment for the state's energy future.

And leave Duke University's doctors holding the tab:

A Florida-based company that lent its CEO more than $5 million for an Angus cattle ranch and a biography and screenplay about himself has gone into receivership, leaving Duke University Health System and area doctors’ offices owed more than $8 million for treating patients from Butner federal prison, according to court records and officials of the state medical society.

See, this is how you become "prosperous": take money from the Federal government for a specific purpose, and then spend that money to enrich yourself. It's no wonder the Florida AFP held him in such high regard:

An effort by Republicans to register voters with paid workers is underway in North Carolina and across the nation. In the past month various ads have appeared on Craigslist, Facebook and other online job listings offering amounts from $11 to $13 per hour (and in some cases internship credit) to help Republicans and Mitt Romney win in North Carolina in November by identifying conservatives and registering them as voters. The operation is linked to an Arizona company with a history of fraud allegations including the destruction of Democratic registration cards.

While still keeping their donors secret:

"Over the past eight years, Americans for Prosperity has never advocated the election or defeat of any candidate choosing instead to focus on issue efforts," said Dallas Woodhouse, who heads the North Carolina chapter of AFP. He added, "In an unprecedented action for Americans for Prosperity, our organization will be purchasing paid media time to expressly advocate the defeat of President Barack Obama with a television, radio and social media effort launching on Wednesday, Aug. 8.

It's a testimony to how screwed up our election laws are that not-the-bus-driver could spout this drivel without being called out for it by the mainstream media. AFP has been running attack ads like this one against the President for quite some time:

In case you thought North Carolina had a corner on Tea Party ignorance, think again.

Across the country, activists with ties to the Tea Party are railing against all sorts of local and state efforts to control sprawl and conserve energy. They brand government action for things like expanding public transportation routes and preserving open space as part of a United Nations-led conspiracy to deny property rights and herd citizens toward cities.

A United Nations-led conspiracy? Are they talking about the same United Nations that can't even get the votes to combat state-sponsored terrorism in Russia or starvation in Africa?

Freaking morons.

Dallas Woodhouse seems to think that if he uses the word "grassroots" often enough, he can magically mask the stench of Art Pope's corporate largesse.

The text below received via email from the Bus Driver himself.

When Brave New Films released a recent video about the Koch brothers, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), and the Wake County School Board there was an immediate and indignant response from Dallas Woodhouse of Americans for Prosperity. One sentence did not ring true in the response:

Americans for Prosperity is a nonpartisan, issue-based policy organization and does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

AFP campaign finance reports submitted to the North Carolina State Board of Elections reveal that in 2010 AFP spent $189,894.00 on Electioneering Communications in support of 19 North Carolina candidates, comprised of 7 State Senate candidates and 12 State House candidates. A report compiled by the NC Free Enterprise Foundation from various sources puts the total spent by AFP in supporting the 19 candidates at $287,195.22. This is starkly in contrast with Woodhouse's assertion that "Americans for Prosperity ... does not support or oppose candidates for public office."

Just found a new video from Brave New Foundation on Wake County schools, Koch Brothers and Americans for Prosperity-and the fight of 2009. Look here.
It is entitled, "Why do the Koch Brothers want to end public education". Send the link to all your friends and family.

As usual, it is well done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mbJhjCbwo8