Posted on 09/03/2007 9:46:58 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES
Lawyers behind a California ballot proposal that could benefit the 2008 Republican presidential nominee have ties to a Texas homebuilder who financed attacks on Democrat John Kerry's Vietnam War record in the 2004 presidential campaign.
Charles H. Bell and Thomas Hiltachk's law firm banked nearly $65,000 in fees from a California-based political committee funded almost solely by Bob J. Perry that targeted Democrats in 2006. Perry, a major Republican donor, contributed nearly $4.5 million to the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth that made unsubstantiated but damaging attacks on Kerry three years ago.
The Perry-financed committee in California, the Economic Freedom Fund, continued to spend money this year, mostly on legal expenses tied to an ongoing legal dispute in Indiana over phone calls made to voters in 2006. It lists the Sacramento law office's address as its home and its Web site directs contributions to the firm, Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk. In addition, Bell serves as the committee's treasurer.
Hiltachk has been pushing a proposal to revamp the way California awards its electoral votes, a change Democrats claim would rig the 2008 race. He and Bell are the sole officers of a new political committee, Californians for Equal Representation, that is raising money to place the plan on the ballot in June.
Their success could hinge on whether they get the financial backing to collect more than 400,000 petition signatures needed to qualify the proposal for the ballot. And while Perry has not donated to their cause, his wealth and connections make him a potential financier for a drive that could cost more than $1 million. Running a statewide campaign would cost millions more.
Democrats are working to defeat the effort and already have lined up supporters such as Hollywood producer Stephen Bing, whose credits include the 2000 "Get Carter" remake with Sylvester Stallone.
Supporters say the vote-change plan could open a new era of fairness in presidential contests. But the law firm's link to Perry and other Republican candidates and causes will make it difficult to separate the proposal from partisan politics.
Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk is one of the most politically involved law firms in the state. According to a news story on its Web site, Bell keeps a life-sized cardboard image of President Bush in his office. Federal records show the firm does legal work for a host of political committees, most with Republican or business ties.
"It comes across as a power grab," said Republican analyst Allan Hoffenblum, who predicted the proposal would likely fail in the Democratic-leaning state. Even Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger offered a lukewarm assessment of the idea.
But without money, from Perry or other sources, the proposal will never take off. To get on the ballot "it needs money," Hoffenblum said. "I'll be very surprised if they are able to raise the funds."
Perry spokesman Anthony Holm said it was unlikely the Texan would get involved or donate to the effort, but he didn't rule it out.
Kevin Eckery, a spokesman for Californians for Equal Representation, said Perry has no connection to the group and "as far as I know, Perry has not been solicited for any donations."
He said the law firm which represents the state Republican Party and has worked for Schwarzenegger provides legal services for numerous political groups and their office is usually listed as the official address for legal purposes.
"Cherry picking one ... is kind of a cheap shot," Eckery said.
A spokesman for the state Democratic Party said the firm's link to Perry was troubling, given his involvement with the Swift Boat group.
The push to alter the division of electoral votes in California a change with national implications "is nothing more than an attempt by right-wing Republicans to change the rules in ways that benefits them," said the spokesman, Roger Salazar.
Perry, who is close with former White House adviser Karl Rove, donated $5 million to the Economic Freedom Fund in 2006. His contribution provided virtually all of the group's budget for advertising, automated telephone calls and other expenses for races around the country.
Most of the fund's political work was handled by another Sacramento firm, Meridian Pacific, records show.
The fight over California's electoral votes is shaping up as an important subplot in the national campaign.
Like most states, California awards all its electoral votes to the statewide winner in presidential elections. But in the most populous state that amounts to 55 votes the largest single prize in the nation.
Under the ballot proposal, the statewide winner would get only two electoral votes. The rest would be distributed to the winning candidate in each of the state's congressional districts.
In effect that would create 53 races, each with one electoral vote up for grabs. President Bush carried 22 of those districts in 2004, while losing the statewide vote by double digits.
The so-called Presidential Election Reform Act, if it qualifies for the ballot and is approved by voters, could shift those votes into the GOP column in 2008 and potentially alter the outcome of the race.
Only Maine and Nebraska allocate electoral votes by congressional district.
I wonder what they have to say about similar efforts by dems in the Red states to do the same thing.
Tit for tat
Don't go ruining my viscous buildup of hatred for the liberal media with facts! :o)
I subscribe, even tho it gives less local stuff than the Desert Sun (Gannett Red)...it’s generally a little right of center; hardly a leftist rag.
Is someone suggesting that they are precluded from promoting an initiative because they are too political?
This “revelation” means exactly zero.
they are precluded from promoting an initiative because they are too political?
..
Novel idea, huh? nice try , no cigar.
Happily adding my load to your load. Unsubstantiated? Ha! Someone has a severe case of reality and recognition disease.
Good point! The DBM can find even the most obscure connections between someone they wish to villify and the GOP, or some conservative group, but they'll never even look into a bona fide connection between Bill and Hill, Inc., and a Hsu, a Tri or the PLA.
LOL.. Mon Apologie </Jean FRaud sKerry>
ping for later
.
No Joke.
.
JOHN KERRY =
Pictures of vietnamese Re-Education (SLAVE LABOR) Camp
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308949/posts
..”JOURNEY from the FALL”.. MoviePremieres = Fall of Saigon CLARITY..
http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1806248/posts
.
Which charges weren’t substantiated?
They don't have to print everything the AP sends out. They choose what they want to print.
Based on what I remember of the Press Enterprise...it hasn't changed it's stripes.
I hear ya on that too.. The PE is one of the sites I look to to find stuff other sites aren’t running.. otherwise this little gem may have gone by the wayside.
Bravo Hiltachk. Bravo Perry. Many thanks.
Do you subscribe?
Have you ever read it?
I knew what and why you were asking me..in your first post.
I lived there..from 83 to 97. It was, what it was then.
Maybe they've changed editorially..some. But it doesn't appear like it to me...with this current piece. Does it to you?
How's the O.C. Register these days?
” Perry, a major Republican donor, contributed nearly $4.5 million to the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth”
Well may the Lord Bless him... I did not see how the little I was able to send did so much good and got so much done.
W
No idea...I’m in the Coachella Valley
So, the law firm representing the group pushing the initiative has as a client another group which was funded in part by the guy who helped fund the Swift Boat campaign? And this is news, why?
Strangely enough, while the PE is willing to find a connection across four degrees of separation, they’re unwilling to notice the direct connection between many of California’s Democratic legislators and groups promoting Aztlan, wonder why?
Well... no... actually... I don’t.
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