Minuteman committee aids GOP

Washington Times ^ | 16 October 2006 | Jerry Seper

[Aussie Dasher]

A political action committee created by the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, whose financial accountability has been challenged by MCDC members, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to support Republican candidates -- much of it through private companies with ties to conservative activist Alan Keyes.

Claiming access to 500,000 households nationwide, the Minuteman PAC has pledged to do what it can financially to help elect "committed and principled conservative leaders" -- citing as examples MCDC President Chris Simcox and Mr. Keyes.

"Our intent is to secure our borders, and we are hoping to influence the elections to get that done," said Rick Shafton, a political consultant in Sparta, N.J., who recently signed on as spokesman for the Minuteman PAC. "The Minuteman movement has proven to be very popular across the country, and it is raising a lot of money."

According to the most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, the Minuteman PAC spent $240,000 through the first week of September on eight congressional campaigns, although just $5,000 was direct candidate contributions.

The FEC records also show that about 60 percent of the Minuteman PAC's expenditures through early September went to private companies -- several with ties to a labyrinth of Virginia-based tax-exempt charities and fundraising groups founded or headed by Mr. Keyes. The money was used for direct-mail fundraisers, telemarketing programs, advertising campaigns and disbursement fees for four candidates.

The Minuteman PAC spent nearly $88,000 through early September on its own operations, including fees to many of the Keyes-aligned private firms to collect and disburse donations and do direct-mail fundraising, the FEC records show. Other PAC money went to Web site construction, bank charges, salaries and advertising.

[zot]

Whether they're profiteering or not, if they don't have open books and transparent accountability, they thereby provide a significant set of targets for our domestic enemies. And if they are found to be profiteering, their downfall will bring into disrepute the cause they say they support.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[listenhillary]

Interesting read.

[EternalVigilance]

People like him deserve pity, because they have become what they espouse to hate.

Actually, that would be you. You're spending your time attacking conservatives, while I'm spending my time electing them.

[EternalVigilance]

Tom, you're a nice guy but you are also a tool.

The Minutemen have succeeded at pushing border security to the front of the political line. So much so that even Democrats voted for the fence. Whether it will get built, especially with folks like you attacking the people who are actually doing something, is another question.

What exactly are "your" organizations getting done?

[Blue Collar Republican]

I wouldn't worry about MCDC hurting the cause as long as Minuteman Project makes a side show of the whole movement. In case you missed it: http://www.godlikeproductions.com/bbs/message.php?messageid=285956&mpage=1&showdate=9/2/06

I know and admire Chris Simcox, Jim Gilchrist, Marvin Stewart, Barbara Coe, Mary Parker Lewis and Ted Hayes.

The inside dope?

MCDC's people work 12+ hours a day trying to protect American jobs and the rule of law. Phil Sheldon's operation is cheaper than comparable services, so they use him.

Chris Simcox and Phil Sheldon aren't the same type of people. Chris is an honest man (a common, salt of the earth man) in an extraordinary position. Sheldon is the son of a traditional values preacher. Is Sheldon crooked? Could be (I don't know). Is Simcox crooked? H*ll NO!

I only met Sheldon twice, but in my opinion the stick up his butt has a stick up its butt. This is not the man to invite to a bachelor party.

As for Mary Lewis, If she is getting rich from MCDC, she hides it well. I have had long conversations with her about politics; her advice to me has always been to be honest, fair and true to myself. I think gold dust of her. Is it an elaborate scheme to gain my confidence in case I become powerful enough to be useful? Could be, but it would be a suckers bet.

However, Jim Gilchrist, Marvin Stewart and Barbara Coe need to find a competent Media Director and Political Director, or MMP will remain ineffective. Examples:

Endorsement of a Libertarian Candidate at a Republican Event (putting their Republican supporters in a difficult position).
The Failure of Operation Sovereignty (never got more than 60 volunteers at a time)
Launching Jim Gilchrist's book at ground zero (using 3000 of our honored dead to hawk a book)
Failure to inform supporters about rallies and events (causing Embarrassedly low turnouts).
Taking credit for other groups work (like the Campo Minutemen, mountain Minutemen, SOS and sometimes even MCDC)
I could go on...

I have spent a lot of time traveling with Jim Gilchrist and know him to be a kind, funny, warm and grateful person. His biggest fault is his trusting nature that people often exploit for personal gain. In hindsight, I was one of them. I really liked being a part of something big and important.

Barbara Coe has been labeled a racist because she was once duped into speaking at a CCofC convention a few years ago. She is not a racist, but she is a fierce Nationalist and a proud Conservative. Barb was the coauthor of prop 187 and has been fighting illegal immigration before most of us knew there was a problem.

Marvin Stewart is one of those non-annoying born again Christians. He lives the path that others claim to believe. Marvin doesn't lie, he may be wrong at times or he may move on bad information, but he doesn't lie.

Ted Hayes is a bleeding heart Republican. He resigned from MMP after one of his people got in trouble. He took full responsibility and resigned because of the actions of someone else! He now attends MMP, SOS, CCIR and MCDC events and rallies with his group (Crispis Attuks). Ted has dedicated his life to help others and is one of the best people I have ever met.

As for EV, I don't think I know him. If he makes a statement I don't agree with or if he posts something I know to be a lie, I'll hammer him.

It boils down to the fact that we don't know what MCDC's books look like. If the IRS or any other government agency find anything fishy, they won't go easy on MCDC. I'm just saying we should give MCDC the benefit of the doubt until we know something concrete. For the record, I am not in the employ of MCDC, but I would be proud to work for them. However, I would not work for MMP again until they fire the deadwood and hire experienced and competant people.

[Registered]

I'm sorry, I forgot, you are SuperConservative Man.

Would you be so kind as to post your scorecard showing wins and losses of the candidates you have been helping to elect. Then we can discuss whether your time is being well spent.

[EternalVigilance]

I don't discuss which candidates I'm working with on FR any more. The place is too infested with liberal trolls, stalkers and sellouts.

[Registered]

I find it interesting that a "professional" campaign consultant such as yourself finds it so difficult to disclose who you have worked for. I suppose you won't be on Fox news anytime soon as the "former consultant to the winning ______ campaign"?

As far as sellouts,do you mean people that are concerned about how conservative donations are gathered and spent?

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

I know and admire Chris Simcox, Jim Gilchrist, Marvin Stewart, Barbara Coe, Mary Parker Lewis and Ted Hayes.

MCDC's people work 12+ hours a day trying to protect American jobs and the rule of law. Phil Sheldon's operation is cheaper than comparable services, so they use him. Chris Simcox and Phil Sheldon aren't the same type of people.

A man is known by the company he keeps.

[EternalVigilance]

As far as sellouts,do you mean people that are concerned about how conservative donations are gathered and spent?

No, I mean hypocrites who claim to care how conservative donations are gathered, but are only focusing their fire (three weeks out from a general election, by the way) on those for whom they bear a personal grudge.

[EternalVigilance]

I find it interesting...

Oh, for the days when your "interests" were in going after liberals instead of conservatives.

[Registered]

..but are only focusing their fire (three weeks out from a general election, by the way) on those for whom they bear a personal grudge.

Name names. I know I'm not one of them.

[Registered]

Oh, for the days when your "interests" were in going after liberals instead of conservatives.

"Conservatives" don't bilk donations from good, honest, hardworking people.

[EternalVigilance]

I suppose you won't be on Fox news anytime soon as the "former consultant to the winning ______ campaign"?

Is that your idea of "success"?

[Registered]

Is that your idea of "success"?

Post your scorecard, then we'll talk about my idea of failure.

[EternalVigilance]

"Conservatives" don't bilk donations from good, honest, hardworking people.

I haven't heard MCDC's donors complaining. I guess you haven't heard about their smashing success at making border security one of the central issues of this election cycle across America. You should try to follow the news closer.

And their PACs seem to have been the only substantial counterweight to the congressional campaign committee's support for a stonecold liberal in the AZ-8 GOP primary and elsewhere.

If I was a donor, I'd consider my money to have been well-spent.

[EternalVigilance]

Post your scorecard, then we'll talk about my idea of failure.

Nah. I'll wait til after the election when the enemies of conservatives can't use the information to attack good people.

[Registered]

Nah. I'll wait til after the election when the enemies of conservatives can't use the information to attack good people.

I will hold you to that.

[EternalVigilance]

I will hold you to that.

Of course you will, now that your personal grievances have made you into a useful tool for the clowns and the open borders lobby.