tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12317392.post116102886993629218..comments2023-10-24T03:40:11.527-05:00Comments on VETSPEAK.org: WHO'S WHO? THE ART OF CYBER-CAMOUFLAGE by Willie HagerWindbenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11678765699760989446noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12317392.post-1163642180475161592006-11-15T20:56:00.000-05:002006-11-15T20:56:00.000-05:00This is just a portion of what is on this URL at "...This is just a portion of what is on this URL at "SourceWatch" Re Vets For Freedom<BR/><BR/>http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Vets_for_Freedom<BR/><BR/>Vets for Freedom<BR/>From SourceWatch<BR/><BR/>Vets for Freedom Action Fund (VFF-AF)-formerly known as Vets for Freedom-is a 527 committee national lobby managed by Republican public relations, <BR/>media, legal, and political consultants, including former White House spokesman Taylor Gross, to defeat candidates who advocate an end to the US <BR/>occupation of Iraq.<BR/><BR/>On October 10, 2006, Wade Zirkle, VFF-AF's executive director, appeared on the CBS Evening News. His freeSpeech commentary "About Staying the Course in Iraq" was posted on CBS's website. CBS described VFF-AF as "a bipartisan <BR/>political action group supporting pro-military, pro-mission policymakers in the war on terror" and reported that Zirkle "appears regularly on CNN and Fox news to offer commentary on the war on terror."<BR/><BR/>"There is a problem with this," Dave Johnson wrote October 10, 2006, for The Patriot Project. "Vets for Freedom Action Fund is a '527' group-a campaign <BR/>organization that appears to exist soley to support one candidate-Joe <BR/>Lieberman's Connecticut campaign for the Senate. So Zirkle's presentation was not 'commentary,' by definition it was a campaign speech supporting a partisan cause, delivered to a national audience a few weeks before an election."<BR/><BR/>Johnson points out additional issues regarding Zirkle's appearance on CBS <BR/>News:<BR/><BR/>"Because Vets for Freedom is a political, Party-affiliated election-campaign '527' organization supporting Joe Lieberman's Senate Connecticut bid, CBS' contribution of several minutes of airtime may be an improper corporate campaign contribution."<BR/><BR/>The "appearance of Vets for Freedom Action Fund on a national nightly-news program bestows unwarranted credibility on Vets for Freedom. In the minds of <BR/>voters, this elevated their party- and candidate-supporting advertisements to a different level."<BR/><BR/>"However, beyond the impropriety of CBS making this contribution, there may also be a question whether this contribution violated Federal election law."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12317392.post-1161100170391554142006-10-17T10:49:00.000-05:002006-10-17T10:49:00.000-05:00Hi Bill, vets for freedom have been around for aw...Hi Bill, <BR/> <BR/>vets for freedom have been around for awile. I saw their site awhile back. I think it was a year or so ago. If my feeble brain is correct, they had made an announcement or something on Military.com. It was obvisious from the get go who they were, they same assholes as they were before. I don't think I've heard of Zirkle, with a name like that I think I would remember, and I haven't heard of him. Their type will never quit, they are evil people, just as the people they support are. <BR/><BR/>Always Watch Your 6,<BR/>SgtWayneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12317392.post-1161099762366103832006-10-17T10:42:00.000-05:002006-10-17T10:42:00.000-05:00Notice that this group is called "Americans for Ho...Notice that this group is called "Americans for Honesty." That and "Vets for <BR/>Freedom" are just plain ridiculous names for these groups. I guess we can <BR/>call them "Americans for Spin" and "Vets for Lies."<BR/><BR/>Betty<BR/>-----------<BR/>Nation's eyes on N.M. campaigns<BR/><BR/>Money pours in for Madrid, Wilson<BR/><BR/>James W. Brosnan, Tribune Reporter<BR/><BR/>Originally published 09:26 a.m., October 16, 2006<BR/>Updated 01:31 p.m., October 16, 2006<BR/><BR/>WASHINGTON — The campaigns of Rep. Heather Wilson, Albuquerque Republican, <BR/>and her Democratic challenger, Attorney General Patricia Madrid, have spent <BR/>more than $2 million to win your vote on Nov. 7, but political parties' <BR/>special interest groups are pouring even more money into the 1st <BR/>Congressional District Race.<BR/>The latest intervention is by a group with ties to former House Minority <BR/>Leader Tom DeLay and the Swift Boat group of veterans who attacked the war <BR/>record of Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, in the 2004 presidential <BR/>campaign.<BR/><BR/>Reports filed last week with the Federal Election Commission show that <BR/>Americans for Honesty on Issues has spent $165,000 on a television ad <BR/>accusing Madrid of wanting "your taxes super-sized."<BR/>The group received $2 million from Houston developer Bob Perry, who also <BR/>funded the Swift Boat group. The group is led by Sue Walden, a Houston <BR/>political consultant with close ties to DeLay according to the New York <BR/>Times.<BR/><BR/>The independent expenditures - so called because they are not supposed to be <BR/>coordinated with the campaigns - show how much the Wilson-Madrid race is <BR/>viewed nationally as a crucial battle for control of the House of <BR/>Representatives.<BR/><BR/>In the last month alone, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and <BR/>the National Republican Congressional Committee have spent more than $1 <BR/>million on the Wilson-Madrid race, mostly for advertising, with some GOP <BR/>money paying for phone banks.<BR/><BR/>Alex Burgos, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, <BR/>said it doesn't spend money on phone banks in every district but it is in <BR/>Wilson's case.<BR/><BR/>"We are committed to holding onto the seat and are investing the resources <BR/>necessary to do the same," Burgos said.<BR/><BR/>Kate Beddingfield, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign <BR/>Committee, said it doesn't comment on its media strategy or spending.<BR/><BR/>Special interest groups also have joined the fray.<BR/><BR/>The National Association of Realtors political action committee has spent <BR/>$761,000 in the last month on television ads supporting Wilson.<BR/><BR/>Mary Trupo, spokeswoman for the committee, said the Wilson race is one of <BR/>about five campaigns where they have made independent expenditures.<BR/><BR/>"She was a very easy one for us," Trupo said, because of her support for the <BR/>real estate industry, especially for legislation that would let associations <BR/>like the Realtors offer small a small business health plan for their <BR/>members.<BR/><BR/>The National Education Association PAC has spent $101,000 against Wilson and <BR/>$58,000 in support of Madrid. The League of Conservation Voters reported <BR/>$81,000 in expenditures for Madrid and $2,200 against Wilson.<BR/><BR/>Emily's List, which supports Democratic candidates, spent $148,000 to <BR/>support Madrid.<BR/><BR/>Emily's List is targeting campaigns in about 15 states where pro-choice <BR/>Democratic women are running, said Karen White, national political director <BR/>for the group. The group's Web site features a photo of Madrid and asks for <BR/>contributions.<BR/><BR/>"The people in this district deserve a change," White said. "Heather Wilson <BR/>I would not consider a moderate at all. She has been in lockstep with the <BR/>Bush administration."<BR/><BR/>The group is using paid mail to target "dropout women," those voters who <BR/>only go to the polls for a presidential election, White said.<BR/><BR/>And the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed <BR/>notice that it intends to spend $48,000 in support of Madrid.<BR/><BR/>As for the campaigns themselves, reports filed Sunday with the FEC show that <BR/>Wilson entered the last five weeks of the campaign starting Oct. 1 with a <BR/>better than two-to-one advantage in funds: $1.3 million to $539,000.<BR/><BR/>Wilson also raised more money in July, August and September - a little more <BR/>than $1 million to $687,000.<BR/>For the entire campaign, Wilson has raised about $3.8 million and spent more <BR/>than $2.8 million. Madrid has raised more than $2.5 million and spent about <BR/>$2 million.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com