Soft money flows via states Reform loophole allows parties to conceal donations (What a surprise!)

SF Chronicle ^ | 6/26/2002 | Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

[randita]

Washington -- In the frantic final days before the 2000 presidential election, a wealthy Bay Area Internet executive not known for making big political contributions poured more than $1.2 million into Democratic party committees in key battleground states.

Steve T. Kirsch, a founder of Infoseek and CEO of San Jose-based Propel, sent a total of $150,000 to New Mexico and Nevada on Oct. 26. The next day he spent $1.1 million to help Democrats in Arkansas, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri and Pennsylvania.

[randita]

A registered Republican who only switched parties after the 2000 election, he said he had become angry at then-candidate George W. Bush after reading an Oct. 24, 2000, Rand report suggesting that the Texas governor had exaggerated his accomplishments in improving education for Texas children, a central campaign theme.

This sounds like baloney to me. I wonder what special favors Kirsch and his company, Infoseek were promised.

[randita]

Related article from LA Times:

Top 'Soft-Money' Donor Does It 'Under the Radar'

[Free the USA]

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