Posted on 05/11/2004 8:56:01 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK -
Former President Clinton (news - web sites) lent his support Tuesday to two interest groups that have sharply criticized President Bush (news - web sites) while raising money to help Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites)'s White House bid.
Clinton, along with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, spoke at an Apollo Theater event held by the MoveOn.org voter fund and Voices for Working Families.
Clinton criticized Bush on his economic policies, particularly his tax cuts, and said the president had reduced after-school programs and the number of police on streets.
"You have to believe that your children and grandchildren will live in an America that will be shaped by whether we ratify the course for wrong, or go back to the one that's worked for eight years."
MoveOn.org is a San Francisco-based advocacy group started in 1998 that claims about 2 million online members. It's been accused by Republicans of violating campaign finance laws while raising unlimited amounts of "soft money" — corporate, union or unlimited donations — to run ads critical of Bush.
Voices for Working Families, a Washington, D.C.-based group, has undertaken a nationwide campaign to increase voter registration in targeted states, especially among minorities and women.
Richardson, who has been mentioned as a possible Kerry running-mate, sits on the group's board.
MoveOn officials have said their donations are legal and aren't being used to buy access or influence. Groups like MoveOn, the Media Fund and America Coming Together have raised more than $25 million. Republicans contend the groups are "shadow parties" created by Democratic supporters to raise soft money.
Federal Election Commission (news - web sites) lawyers on Tuesday recommended that the agency delay a decision on new donation and spending limits for tax-exempt groups like these.
A spokeswoman for the RNC, Heather Layman, called support for Kerry through such groups "ironic."
"Kerry supported the Campaign Reform Act, but now he's the biggest beneficiary of fund-raising from these groups," she said.
I wonder who would play Clinton in a television movie? He always reminded me of one of those characters that Al Capp would create. I don't know about that weasely little guy from MoveOn though. Who should play Zach Exley? Inquiring minds...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.