Posted on 10/26/2006 8:09:11 AM PDT by apackof2
Strykers Dump $5.1M In Coalition For Progress
Kalamazoo-area philanthropist Jon STRYKER and his sister, Pat STRYKER, have dumped a combined $5.1 million into the new anti-Republican political action committee (PAC) known as "Coalition for Progress (CFP)." It's money that has almost exclusively gone into cable and radio commercials that bang on Republican candidates across the state.
Campaign finance documents filed today show CFP has spent $4 million this campaign cycle on advertising, robo-calls and other out-reach efforts to dissuade voters from picking Republican gubernatorial nominee Dick DeVOS and other GOP legislative candidates.
An exasperated Matt RESCH, spokesman for House Speaker Craig DeROCHE (R-Novi), questioned what agenda Stryker wants to move forward and questioned whether this type of spending, which is nearly twice what the House Republican Campaign Committee itself has raised this year, is putting the Legislature for sale.
"So, what's a Legislature go for these days? $5.15 million," Resch said. "What do you get for $5.1 million? What kind of policies do you want passed in the Legislature for $5.1 million? What kind of voter approved laws do you want reversed for $5.1 million?"
Resch suggested Stryker, a gay activist, wants to overturn the voter-approved Proposal 2 of 2004 that constitutionally defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. He also said Stryker may want to "bust" open state spending.
CFP Executive Director Kerry EBERSOLE said the Republicans' complaints are the "ultimate hypocrisy" considering they've been taking special interest money for years that has driven Michigan in the wrong direction. The Coalition, she said, is "leveling the playing field." She also thought it was interesting that the Republicans' answer to CFP is a 501c4 not a state-registered PAC. As a result, it doesn't report to the state regularly and isn't required to follow the same disclosure laws.
"We're talking about one thing. That's moving Michigan forward and the Legislature is standing in the way of that," Ebersole said.
Asked if the Coalition supports gay marriage and increased state spending, Ebersole said the CFP's agenda is posted on its Web site, which is to end policies that give tax breaks to companies that outsource jobs and allow out-of-state trash to come into the state.
"We're talking about their record and they keep talking about us," she said. "I wish they would start talking about some issues."
Throughout the state today, Republican legislative candidates have challenged the Stryker-paid ads and asked their Democratic opponents to denounce them (See related stories).
Asked to comment on the situation, Sen. Mark SCHAUER (D-Battle Creek), chair of the Senate Democratic Fund, said, "It's about time the Democrats had somebody on their side," and noted that this election cycle Dems everywhere are getting an unprecedented number of new donors.
"We're going to win a majority this year because individuals have identified the failed Republican leadership and want to do something about it," he said. "What Republicans are trying to do is avoid talking about issues. It's a diversionary tactic and we don't expect the electorate to be fooled."
In total, CFP reported having 74 contributions with 70 coming from someone other than Stryker. However, non-Stryker contributions accounted for less than a half of a percent of all the money CFP raised.
Homosexual Agenda and Moral Absolutes Ping!
Gays anti Republican...
That should help our side.
Finally --- the NEW third party --- the QUEEROCRATS...
"Progress"? If they have more progress like they did in the 1980's there won't be any.
Great, a badge of honor!
Michigan has been liberal to a fault for years.....John Conyers ownes the state.
Wouldn't one think that the gay activists would be on the side of the Republican party? If the dimocrats take power, one more huge door is opened to the muzzie invasion, and they will kill the gays!!
What am I missing here? Militant
YOU are missing NOTHING.....the DEMS are missing BRAINS.
I'm going to form an anti-fudgefinding PAC.
He must have missed the Dems reaction to Mark Foley exercising his civil rights.
"Asked to comment on the situation, Sen. Mark SCHAUER (D-Battle Creek), chair of the Senate Democratic Fund, said, "It's about time the Democrats had somebody(Queer) on their side," and noted that this election cycle Dems everywhere are getting an unprecedented number of new(Queer) donors."
There, Fixed it.
Why should we adopt the program of the sodomites? Sodom Gomorrah got vaporized for the same thing.
NJ's Court imposes homosexual marriage on the United States and now another Homosexual goes anti-republican.
This is toooo much.
I have maxed out my name and can't submit anymore
They are HOMOSEXUALS and there is nothing GAY about that!
They won't be happy until all us heterosexuals admit that we are the ones who are preverted!
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