Ads for Private Group, Santorum Alike

[Newsjock]

Edit to supply new link; earlier link to WP stopped working
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5453328,00.html

By KIMBERLY HEFLING
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- If the grandfather and grandson walking together in Sen. Rick Santorum's Internet re-election ad look familiar, it could be because the same two actors are in a TV ad that a group called Americans for Job Security is running in support of him.

A spokeswoman for Santorum, R-Pa., has repeatedly denied any connection between Santorum and the group. But the campaign for Bob Casey Jr. -- the leading Democratic challenger in the Senate race -- said Friday the coincidence was too much to be ignored.

"I think it raises a lot of questions," said Larry Smar, a spokesman for Casey, the Pennsylvania treasurer who is leading in polls. "Someone isn't shooting straight."

more

[Robb]

1. BWAH HA HA HA!!!

Oy! Busted! :D

See, first you go nuts, then you get sloppy. Somewhere in there you get too cheap for your own good, too!

[ewagner]

2. I hope the group

is a 527....

why?

because this kind of coordination of efforts is illegal as hell and Santorum and the 527 could get dinged badly for this.....

Other-wise, it's just one more example of the incestuous relationship between the republican party and their phoney "public interest groups".

[tanyev]

9. If the the actors were the same,

the two ads were probably shot at the same time, the writer, director and crew probably were the same, they were probably all hired by the same communications group, and the bills were probably all paid by one agency. But other than that, I'm sure there is absolutely no connection whatsoever to Santorum.

Riiiiiight.

[hopein08]

18. I think I read it's a 501(k)...

and that's why they don't have to tell who their donors are and where they get their money.

But I'm not good at the money thing...so I may be wrong...but that's what I remember reading.

[tabasco]

3. Santorum is as sleazy as they come.

Claiming that he is a Christian !

Only the truly stupid and gullible think this evil man is trying to live by the words of Christ.

[corporatemedia]

19. Read what a Pittsburgh Catholic Nun had to say about him...

http://santorumcybergate.blogspot.com/2005/07/you-got-that-right-sister.html

[bettyellen]

4. and did the photog get his pic stolen by either/ both of these groups?

these guys always fuck over artists, too. who remembers the NJ Repug mayor's campaign picture (which was actually a crowd of deaniacs withtheir posters and hat photoshopped) how many times have they used ripped off images, campaign songs etc and gotten busted for it? they think anyone creative is too much of a sucker to actually get paid for their work. assholes.

[Ian David]

5. Has Rick's openly gay communications director been trying to sabotage him?

Some people say "Gay Bobby" has been trying to convince Santorum to say dumber and dumber and crazier and crazier things every year... and it's working.

And then, once Santorum's career is over...

Will Bobby and Ricky spend some "Quality Time" together?

Folks are saying.



Report: Santorum's Communications Director is "Openly Gay"

RtPageOneQ is reporting that Robert Traynham, communications director for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, has told them he is "an out gay man who completely supports the Senator."

From PageOneQ:

"When asked how a gay man could speak for one of the nation's most notorious homophobes, Traynham, left, protested that has 'been with the Senator for eight years.' Traynham went on to say 'Senator Santorum is a man of principle, he is a man who sticks up for what he believes in, I strongly do support Senator Santorum.'"

Santorum equated homosexuality with bestiality in an April 2003 interview: "Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the society. And that's what? Children. Monogamous relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be."

Santorum has been a strong supporter of the Federal Marriage Amendment and believes that gays and lesbians should not be able to express physical love towards one another: "I have no problem with homosexuality. I have a problem with homosexual acts."

More:
http://towleroad.typepad.com/towleroad/2005/07/report_santorum.html

[brentspeak]

6. The link is not working

[central scrutinizer]

7. email on this same topic

Dear Friend,

Rick Santorum's Special Interest Friends

Remember how Rick Santorum was leading the effort to privatize Social Security? Well, according to a new TV ad now on the Pennsylvania airwaves, Santorum is actually a champion for seniors "protecting Social Security."

That's the thrust of the new ad sponsored by Americans for Job Security, a shadowy right-wing "stealth PAC" with strong ties to Karl Rove, the infamous Swift Boat Veterans, and the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. This front group has already spent nearly $1 million dollars on this ad buy, yet the organization refuses to identify which of its special interest backers actually made contributions to run the ads. This level of secrecy prompted one Pennsylvania newspaper to ask "Who owns Rick Santorum?"

Leave it to good ol' Slick Rick to let his special interest friends sugar coat his out-of-the-mainstream record in the first television ads to appear in his already uphill race against Democratic challenger Bob Casey in Pennsylvania.

This ad campaign only underscores the fact that Rick Santorum and the special interests he supports won't go down without a fight. You know that they'll do whatever it takes to hang on to the Senate seat in Pennsylvania. That's why your support for the DSCC and our work to defeat Santorum is so important.

(from)

http://www.dscc.org/priorities

Sincerely,

Anne Lewis

[mzteris]

10. Americans for Job Security

Americans for Job Security is a tax-exempt conservative organization formed in October 1997 to lobby for tax reform, regulatory reform, tort reform, free trade, education initiatives, and downsizing government. The American Insurance Association contributed $1 million to begin the group. In April 1998, the group claimed to have pledges from various organizations totaling $8.5 million. AJS is an offshoot of The Coalition, a pro-business group that spent roughly $5 million during the 1996 election cycle. . . .

Principal: David Carney, former presidential campaign consultant to Bob Dole.

http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/issueads/profiles/ajs.htm

******

Americans for Job Security, 2004 Election Cycle
Formed: October 1997 |

A pro-Republican, pro-business organization, Virginia-based AJS was established to directly counter labor's influence. It has run issue ads in key states for four cycles, and projected expanded activity in 2004. Its ads support "pro-market, pro-paycheck issues" and candidates.

Affiliated Personnel:

David Carney, executive director (former political director for Pres. George H.W. Bush)
Michael Dubke, president (former head of the Ripon Society)
Robert Vagley, founder (president of the American Insurance Association)
Donors:

Claims to have 500 members
American Insurance Association & American Forest and Paper Association each have given more than $1 million
AJS has been closely linked with the insurance and health care industries

http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527events.asp?orgid=24

*******

CREW Files IRS Complaint Against Americans For Job Security, Americans For Jobs And Growth, Citizens United and Let Freedom Ring
Organizations have failed to file as 527s in violation of IRS law
Washington, DC, -- Earlier today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service regarding four conservative political organizations, Americans for Job Security ("AJS"), Americans for Jobs and Growth ("AJG"), Citizens United ("CU") and Let Freedom Ring ("LFR"), claiming that they illegally file as tax exempt organizations when, in fact, they are political organizations whose primary purpose is the reelection of President Bush.

http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/newsrelease.php?view=8

******

(10/23/02) - Americans for Job Security, a Virginia-based interest group that opposes the reelection of Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, has made an unprecedented $1 million ad buy that will fill the airwaves in the last two weeks before the election, according to Wellstone campaign officials. . . . Dubke is unapologetic about the group's refusal to disclose its donors, saying the decision is legal and is common among issue advocacy groups. . . Little is known about Americans for Job Security, which is based in Alexandria, Va., just outside Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1997 with a $1 million contribution from the American Insurance Association, which Dubke says is no longer associated with Americans for Job Security.

The Annenberg Public Policy Center Web site, which analyzes issue ads, describes the group as a "tax-exempt, conservative, business-backed, pro-Republican organization" that was an offshoot of a coalition of business leaders who came together in 1996 to advocate against issues promoted by the AFL-CIO.

http://www.dukeemployees.com/washington27.shtml

******

Did Senate Majority Leader Lott Use "Heavy-Handed Tactics" to Pressure Lobbyists for Contributions to Americans for Job Security in Exchange for Official Action?
On May 16th, The Washington Post reported that Senate Majority Leader Lott may have pressured high-tech lobbyists for contributions to a non-profit organization, Americans for Job Security, to assist the re-election efforts of Senator Spencer Abraham (R-MI), in exchange for legislative action on an immigration bill that the high-tech firms want desperately. The immigration bill would help alleviate job shortages in high-tech firms by increasing the number of immigration visas available for skilled foreign workers. The Post article reports that:
Senate Republicans have pressured high-technology companies to raise money for advertisements supporting Michigan Sen. Spencer Abraham, one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents this fall and the chief sponsor of a measure that is a top priority for the companies.
An exchange of e-mails obtained by The Washington Post details how the companies scrambled to come up with money for television and radio advertising campaigns after encouragement from Abraham and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) -- at least in part because the companies feared that failing to do so would stall their legislation.
"I have heard that regardless of our 'limitations,' we need to do something for Abraham if we want to see something moved in the Senate," Jenifer Verdery, a lobbyist for computer chip manufacturer Intel Corp., wrote on March 21. "It must be visible and soon. (from Senate leadership)."

http://www.congressproject.org/ethics/lottcom.html

*****

Meet the Attack Dogs

Americans for Job Security loves to get involved in Texas politics

BY JAKE BERNSTEIN

or some it might be considered a badge of honor, but for state Rep. Tommy Merritt (R-Longview), it probably feels more like tire tracks. The affable East Texas Republican was run over this year by one of the nation’s most vicious campaign hit teams, a secret outfit whose reach spreads all over the American political system. It specializes in attempted assassination of political careers under the guise of issue education. Apparently, one sure way to escape the torrent of negative attacks it can bankroll is to avoid crossing George W. Bush and a select group of Texas Republicans.

http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=1590

[mzteris]

11. David Carney

David Carney: http://www.stealthpacs.org/agent.cfm?agent_id=238

Appointment of David M. Carney as Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Affairs
March 5, 1991
The President today announced the appointment of David M. Carney as Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Affairs at the White House in Washington, DC.

Mr. Carney has been the Acting Director of Political Affairs since June 1, 1990.

http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/papers/1991/91030503.html

[mzteris]

13. Robert Vagley

". . . Fourteen months after the attacks on New York and Washington, Congress agreed Tuesday to shield the insurance industry from catastrophic costs of future terror onslaughts.

The Senate voted 86-11 to have the government cover up to $90 billion in the first year of the measure's three-year lifetime to back up insurers in any future attacks. The House already approved the bill.

"This was a vote in favor of providing a comprehensive safety net for our national economy," said Robert Vagley, president of the American Insurance Association. "We believe this mechanism can significantly improve the marketplace for insuring against nearly infinite losses resulting from terrorism." "

http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,70432,00.html

[blue neen]

8. That TV ad has been running constantly for over a week.

They actually say to call Sen. Santorum and thank him. THANK HIM?
That's ludicrous. We can't wait to be rid of him in PA.

[corporatemedia]

12. His Pittsburgh office PHONE # mentioned on local ads is...

412-562-0533

He said he wants to hear from YOU!

Give him a call!

[IronLionZion]

14. He never actually sets foot in the state of Pennsylvania

except to campaign. He's never in his Pittsburgh office and his 1 bedroom house in Penn Hills is completely empty.

Calling him a scumbag is an insult to bags filled with scum.

[corporatemedia]

16. Even his spokesperson is named VIRGINIA!!! Check it out - >

"Virginia Davis, Santorum's campaign spokeswoman, said the campaign was not aware..."

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/13226925.htm


LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL


http://santorumcybergate.blogspot.com/

[spinbaby]

20. Tax breaks and guaranteed social security!

Those ads get my gag reflex going every time I see them. They're incredibly deceptive. If the local TV stations had any spine, they'd be examining the claims the ads made and comparing them to actual facts.

[corporatemedia]

15. For a GREAT PITTSBURGH blog with background on AJS and...

the whole dirty deal, visit "2 Political Junkies."

http://2politicaljunkies.blogspot.com/

posts dealing with AJS:

http://2politicaljunkies.blogspot.com/2005/11/rick-santorums-first-campaign-ad.html

and:

http://2politicaljunkies.blogspot.com/2005/11/rick-santorum-campaign-ad-git-er-done.html

[blue neen]

17. AJS, another corporate attack dog. Are we surprised that they

are involved in Santorum's campaign? No, not at all.

Of course they are supporting candidates who want to abolish the estate tax.

BTW, that's a great blog.

[spinbaby]

21. A bump to the top

...

[SamuelAlito]

22. You should see the Ads they run for Me

Particularly during the Christmas Season. I talk all about it on my blog

The Right Honorable Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
The A Stands for Awesome