Heinz Foundation Bankrolled Group Protesting Bush 9/11 Ads [FR Mentioned]

NewsMax ^ | 3/6/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The group Peaceful Tomorrows, which bills itself as an independent group of 9/11 victim families and whose members have led the charge to force the Bush reelection campaign to yank ads citing the Twin Tower attacks, has direct financial ties to the Heinz Foundation, the charitable trust administered by the wife of likely Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.

On its Web site, Peaceful Tomorrows identifies itself as "a project of the Tides Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization."

A Dec. 2003 report in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review detailed the financial relationship between the Tides Center and the charitable foundation controlled by Mrs. Heinz Kerry:

"Known as the Tides Center for Pennsylvania, formerly the Tides Center for Western Pennsylvania, it is a creation of the Tides Foundation and Center, headquartered in San Francisco, and two Pennsylvania-based foundations -- the Vira Heinz Endowment and the Howard Heinz Endowment-- chaired by Teresa Heinz Kerry."

According to the Tribune-Review, Mrs. Heinz Kerry funneled millions of dollars into the parent group of Peaceful Tomorrows:

"Between 1995 and 2001, $4.3 million of that money came from the Howard Heinz Endowment. In 2002, it and the Vira Heinz Endowment blessed The Tides Center, a San Francisco spin-off of the Tides Foundation, with another $190,000 while the two endowments gave $1.6 million to the new Tides Center for Western Pennsylvania," the paper revealed.

Though the Tribune-Review report was first unearthed by researchers on FreeRepublic.com within 36 hours of the inception of the Bush ad controversy, the mainstream press has been slow to pick up on Peaceful Tomorrows' anti-Bush pedigree. The group, for instance, has long been active in opposing U.S. involvement in Iraq.

Still, PT's political portfolio escaped the notice of the Washington Post, which described the group as "nonpartisan" on Thursday.

Other mainstream outlets repeatedly quoted PT members without revealing their anti-Bush agenda.

Comments by PT's leader, Colleen Kelly, have been prominently covered by the Associated Press, the Boston Globe and in dozens of other press reports complaining about the Bush ads. None of the reports mentioned PT's money ties to Heinz Kerry.

Andrew Rice, another prominent member of PT, has been quoted in the New York Times and has appeared on MSNBC, again without a single reference to his group's Heinz Foundation funding.

Besides Peaceful Tomorrows, other Tides grant recipients include the Iraq Peace Fund, which has helped bankroll anti-war marches, and MoveOn.org, which featured a campaign ad in November comparing President Bush to Hitler.

[raptor29]

Oh, there's no surrender in me, Wolverine. But I won't be fooled into thinking that the current program is working.

[metesky]

The author used to be a Freeper, probably still lurks.

[CyberAnt]

How about this thread and all the threads which we have created regarding this issue and the activist role people can play. I mean, NewsMax is acknowledging our research is way ahead of everyone on this issue and we did it within the first 36 hours of the "outrage".

And .. what are you doing besides whining about republicans?

Like I said - this issue is way over your head!

[MEG33]

The file backhoe has compiled is terrific.Hope he sees it,too.

[Hon]

Clinton Worker Behind Trashing Of Bush 9/11 Ad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1091629/posts

Teresa Heinz Kerry Funded Group Calls For Censure Of Bush
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1079318/posts

The Heinz Endowments have teamed up with a secretive left-wing group [Mrs. Kerry Is A Commie]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1077429/posts

[freeangel]

keeper

[raptor29]

Sure, we are always 'way ahead of everyone' on most issues. But our representatives rarely lower the boom on anyone. There is always a sellout like Orrin Hatch who will soft-pedal a lukewarm response and sell us down the river. By the way, any word lately about the Democrats blatant politicizing of the judge confirmations as exposed by the memos? Any movement on those judges after this revelation? So whoop dee do, we were all over this and "way ahead of everyone" else, and what's the end result. The Republican staffer is the one in hot water. Great. But at least we feel good about ourselves. Sorry that I can't keep up with your lofty discussion.

[FairOpinion]

Excellent!

Here is the FR thread with the original expose.

The 'Offended' 911 Group “Peaceful Tomorrows” is funded largely by Teresa Heinz

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1091579/posts

[longtermmemmory]

"researchers on FreeRepublic.com"

They can run but they can't hide!

The eyes of the internet are upon them!

[YOMO]

We need to get this info out to the public!...........
##########################################################

Excellent observation. Would it be possible for FR to create three broadcast lists, one for the TV/ Cable group, one for the radio broadcasters, and one for the print media?
If so it should be under control of the Moderators and generated only when they verify a newsworthy story neglected by the Media. If those ignoring the story see that others have the info and may report it first they may consider using the info as a lead.
Just wishfull thinking.

[FairOpinion]

I am glad Newsmax picked it up.

Too bad they didn't also add this info:

Rita Lazar, who claims to be the founder of Peaceful Tomorrows is a Clinton volunteer!

"She then was a volunteer and then paid worker in the first Clinton campaign. After that she ran the office of a candidate for a seat for the New York City Council. Recently she was a volunteer in the New York City Schools program where she taught 1st and 2nd graders to read on a one to one basis. Rita's brother Abe Zelmanowitz was killed in the World Trade Center attack."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1091629/posts?page=35

[freedom1st]

I just emailed MSNBC the following:

Dear MSNBC, Why don’t you folks mention that the small yet vocal critics of President Bush’s reelection ads are members of a group that receives funding from a 503(c )Organization administered by Theresa Heinz Kerry. Oh I see, this would expose NBC’s and MSNBC political agenda. You guys are just an extension of the DNC. Very truly yours,

[alwaysconservative]

How about "Paging the FEC" and John McCain and Russ Feingold? Let them know how the Dims do cartwheels to avoid compliance with laws they don't like.

[Mo1]

We need to get this info out to the public!

Earlier I was in the shower and listening to my local talk radio (Philly) and a women (Terri) called in mentioning this story and the Big Talker guy (Dom G) said he would look into it

Upon hearing that .. I quick jumped out of the shower (Shampoo still in my hair *L*) and emailed him all the links from Free Republic

I'm not sure if he read my email .. but later in the show he started talking more about the Tide Foundation and the links to Terri Kerry

[Mo1]

I was just on our local talk station informing the Philadelphia audience about this.

LOL .. was that you??

See my post on #74

[abner]

LOL! Yes, that was me. Did I sound like a schmuck? We were on our way back from the airport and sitting in Jimmy John's parking lot while I waited to get on the show.

[Mo1]

Nope .. you did really good!!!

[abner]

Sorry I wrecked your shower... :-)

[abner]

I sent him a follow-up email when I got back to the office. He had lots of information at that point. It sounds like he is going to continue with the discussion on his show on Monday.

[Mo1]

I sure hope he does .. he said he was going to write a letter to President Bush and encourage him to air that video over and over.