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Biggest Funder of the Left
Frontpagemag.com ^ | 7/23/03 | William Hawkins

Posted on 07/23/2003 3:41:46 AM PDT by DPB101

The Ford Foundation was quick to claim credit for helping win the recent Supreme Court rulings on "affirmative action" (upholding the University of Michigan Law School's race-based admissions system) and "gay rights" (striking down a Texas law criminalizing homosexual activity).

On its website, the multibillion organization proclaimed, "These landmark decisions reaffirm the Ford Foundation's values of social justice and bolster continuing work for racial, sexual and economic equality....foundation grantees played significant roles, from litigation to research to educating policy makers and the public."

The Ford supported litigants included the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in the racial diversity admissions case, and Lambda Legal Defense Fund, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the American Civil Liberties Union's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project in the sodomy case.

Though specifics were not given in the press release, a quick look at the Ford Foundation's 2002 Annual Report reveals the extent and purpose of its funding to these groups.

The Ford Foundation in 2002 gave the NAACP-LDEF $500,000 "for litigation and advocacy to combat racial discrimination in employment, education and economic access" and MALDEF $200,000 "for advocacy and litigation to advance the rights of immigrants in the United States." Ford had midwifed the creation of MALDEF with $2.2 million in startup money in 1968, seeking to create a more radical Hispanic movement to displace the more socially conservative and integration-minded groups that then represented the Mexican-American community.

The Lambda Legal Defense Fund was granted $300,000 by Ford in 2002 as "general support for human rights advocacy on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people." Another $300,000 went to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force "for advocacy on behalf of underserved gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender populations on issues of poverty, aging and racial justice."

The ACLU received $925,000 "for capacity building and leadership transition designed to respond to a changing policy environment and new challenges to civil liberties in the United States."

The relationship between the ACLU and the Ford Foundation has always been close, with Ford giving $7 million to the ACLU endowment fund in 1999. When Anthony D. Romero became ACLU Executive Director in 2001, it was after a decade of work at Ford. When he left Ford, he was director of Human Rights and International Cooperation, which was the foundation's largest program, giving away some $90 million that year.

High among the new challenges of concern to Ford is the American reaction to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In a speech to the Federation for Community Planning's Human Services Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, April 5, 2002, Ford Foundation President Susan V. Berresford took pride in providing $12 million in funding to relief and non-profit organizations after the attacks, but

"we soon turned our attention to the 9/11-related national and international problems best suited to Ford's grantmaking operations....Immediately after the events, Ford and its grantees felt it was important for multiple perspectives to be heard through the media.

This meant, for example, voices of people from moderate Islamic communities. It included people speaking about earlier periods when the U.S. felt at risk from foreigners and its reaction to the foreigners within our borders, some of which our country now regrets, such as the internment of Japanese individuals and families.

It was important to help experts explore the issues behind the headlines and broaden understanding about the countries from which the attacks came."

According to Berresford "with other large foundations, notably MacArthur and Hewlett, Ford began to ask how we could help improve public understanding in the U.S. about foreign affairs."

The resulting programs were, of course, in accord with the standard left-wing response to the attacks, which was that Americans shouldn't overreact, as they had only themselves to blame.

The Center for Constitutional Rights was given $150,000 in 2002 "for racial justice litigation, advocacy, and educational outreach activities related to the detention and racial profiling of Arab Americans and Muslims following the World Trade Center attack."

The CCR has filed seven suits against various anti-terrorist measures, including the detention of captured terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The CCR also opposed the invasion of Iraq, arguing "Blood for Oil is not a reasonable or equitable equation for the majority of Americans. Nor is Bush's quest for world domination an acceptable ambition."

Another $100,000 was given to the notorious National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers' Guild as "core support for activities to ensure the human rights of noncitizens detained in the United States in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001." The National Lawyers' Guild has been at the center of left-wing activism for decades, and played a leading role in reviving the boisterous antiwar movement after September 11.

An even larger grant of $300,000 was made to Fenton Communications "for strategic communications activities to promote informed voices in response to the September 11th attacks, with an emphasis on the protection of civil liberties and prevention of discrimination."

These disbursements were all under the Ford Foundation's programmatic heading of "Peace and Social Justice." Smaller groups and even individual authors were given money to advance the leftist interpretation of events and to contest increased domestic security measures.

As the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was coming up, the radical Wisconsin teachers group Rethinking Schools put out a special report, "War, Terrorism, and America's Classroom," which offered the views of scholars, journalists, poets, and activists opposed to American actions. It also offered teaching suggestions, writing topics and role-playing exercises to promote the leftist interpretation of events.

The Ford Foundation paid to have 30,000 copies of the Rethinking Schools report sent to middle school and high school teachers across the country. The report was favorably reviewed in a Fall 2002 "Ford Foundation Report" by Neil F. Carlson, editor for the National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy which seeks to set the agenda for funding political causes. Carlson found the Rethinking Schools report important because of its "disposition to question the official story, to view with skepticism the stark us-against-them (or us good, them bad) portrait of the world."

The Rethinking Schools collection opened with an essay by arch-radical Howard Zinn, a historian specializing in deconstructing so-called American imperialism, and ended with a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. denouncing the Vietnam War. In between were puff pieces on Islam and a supposedly "evenhanded" primer on the  Palestinian uprising provided by the Middle East Research and Information Project. The MERIP is an openly pro-Palestinian, anti-American group. Prior to the invasion of Iraq, the MERIP praised street demonstrations as "the most vital and representative antiwar movement the country has seen in a very long time."

As Berresford said in Cleveland, "For many living and working near ground zero, the 9/11 attacks had the same effect as any terrible shock. They forced us to think more deeply about what we do, how we live our lives, and whether we can do better." For the Ford Foundation, that means intensifying their own attacks on American society from every angle, backed by $11 billion in assets.

Fifty years ago Congress began to look into the Ford Foundation's use of taxpayer funds to underwrite the partisan political agendas of the left. It's time to look again.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aclu; affirmativeaction; ccr; discrimination; diversity; fenton; fentoncommunications; fordfoundation; homosexualagenda; howardzinn; immigration; maldef; merip; naacp; nlg; socialjustice; theleft
Fifty years ago Congress began to look into the Ford Foundation's use of taxpayer funds . . .

The much maligned Reece Committee

1 posted on 07/23/2003 3:41:46 AM PDT by DPB101
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To: DPB101
his is one reason, among many, why I have never owned a Ford product.
2 posted on 07/23/2003 3:44:44 AM PDT by chainsaw
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To: DPB101
Interesting use of the phrase "sexual equality." On the surface most would think that refers to gender (i.e. male/female issues), but now it has become "sexuality" equality.
3 posted on 07/23/2003 4:04:54 AM PDT by aardvark1
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To: chainsaw
Stinking Henry Nazi Ford was Hitlers best buddy. I'll never buy a ford agin. "too many white faces" was the quote that did it for me.
4 posted on 07/23/2003 4:08:22 AM PDT by Evil Inc
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To: Evil Inc
I wonder who should buy FORD products.

When I was young, Jews would not buy any FORD (Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Continental) because Henry Ford was a nortorious anti-semite. (Hence, in the days when Jews also did not buy German cars, the popular stereotype of GM's Cadillac as a "jewish" car).

Now, anyone who is not a leftist should not buy FORD products.

I suppose that leaves Nazis and their fellow travelers and gentile leftists. I guess Arabs love FORD. It's curious that the largest concetration of ARABs in the US is in the Detroit area.

5 posted on 07/23/2003 4:23:41 AM PDT by CatoRenasci (Ceterum Censeo [Gallia][Germania][Arabia] Esse Delendam --- Select One or More as needed)
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To: DPB101
The radical left would not exist without support from corporate America. How is this? Why would the likes of the Ford Foundation and Ted Turner and any number of other capitalist entities finance those who avowedly oppose the capitalist system? The answer lies in understanding the origin, nature, and crucial importance of modern advertising. I believe that The Conquest of Cool by Thomas M. Frank is the single most important work of cultural history produced in the last 20 years. It documents the growth of cultural radicalism and; by extension, political radicalism; as a standard advertising device in American business.
6 posted on 07/23/2003 4:29:58 AM PDT by atomic conspiracy ( Anti-war movement: road-kill on the highway to freedom.)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: DPB101
bump for later
8 posted on 07/23/2003 5:51:47 AM PDT by Fearless Flyers (Proud to be of The Brave and the Free, http://fearless-flyers.com)
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To: DPB101; All
Just for everyone's information "The Ford Foundation" is in no way tied to Ford Motor Company any more. It was originally started by Ford and his Family as a charitable organization, however at the current time they are not linked at all. The foundation is just using the name and it is hurting Ford Motor Company.

The auto company is a huge supporter of it's employees that are members of the military. During this conflict the company is extending paid leave from the normal 2 weeks per year for military service to up to a year. If a Reservist is serving for this time period the difference in pay between military pay and their normal Ford pay is made up by Ford Motor Company.

Of course as a company they do things that are questionable, but driven by society and potential negative press. They do things like support Diversity (without clear definitions), they don't play hardball with the UAW and basically cave to any claim by a "minority" or "minority company". They are very scared of negative press regarding social issues.

They are still evil because they produce the satanic use vehicle (SUV).

From the Ford Foundation Website FAQ's:

Is the Ford Foundation connected to the Ford Motor Company?

The Ford Foundation and the Ford Motor Company are separate and independent organizations, with distinct managements and boards of trustees. There is, however, an historical connection. Henry Ford and his son, Edsel, founded the Ford Foundation in 1936 with a broad charter to promote human welfare. When the Foundation became a national and international organization in 1950, its assets consisted almost entirely of non-voting Ford Motor Company stock bequeathed from the estates of Henry and Edsel Ford. In order to diversify its endowment, between the years 1956 and 1974, the Foundation sold and otherwise disposed of its Ford Motor Company stock and invested the proceeds in other securities. The Foundation no longer owns Ford Motor Company stock and no affiliation exists between the two organizations, except for the historical connection.




9 posted on 07/23/2003 5:57:24 AM PDT by CSM (To be anti smoking is to be anti life! Ayn Rand, provided to me by Beckett)
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To: CatoRenasci
Cato,

The reason for the Arabs in Deaborn has nothing to do with Ford and everything to due with Danny Thomas. Danny THomas? Yes people of middle eastern extraction were drawn to Dearborn because Danny Thomas (Lebanese Decent)made it big. They felt if he could make it big from Michigan they could as well. And I forgot to mention Kasee Kasum (top 40 fame) was also from the Dearborn area I believe.

A great deal of Muslims now in Toledo as well, you guessed it Jammie Farr, alias "Clinger" is of Lebanese decent.

As to the Ford Foundation, It has no connection with Ford Motor and Ford Motor here in Michigan in advertisements ALWAYS lets it be known that the Ford Foundation is no part of the Ford Motor Corp.

10 posted on 07/23/2003 6:05:26 AM PDT by taildragger
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To: taildragger
The Ford Foundation and the Ford Foundation share origins: the Foundation was started by the Ford family. Whether it was Henry or his children, I don't recall, but the money for the foundation came from the Ford automobile business. That's plenty of connection for me.

I knew there were also a lot of Molems in the Toledo area, I once had a (quite blond WASP) girlfriend whose stepfather was a very successful Paki in Toledo. I was more or less kidding about the Ford/Detroit arab connection, finding it more curious than anything else. I mean Italians in the California wine country makes sense, Basques in the sheep country in the Central Valley foothills makes sense, etc., but why Detroit/Dearborn? for the arabs. The Danny Thomas connection makes as much sense as anything I've heard, although I thought he was a Christian Lebanese like one my college classmates. And who the ???? is kasee kasum????

11 posted on 07/23/2003 6:58:13 AM PDT by CatoRenasci (Ceterum Censeo [Gallia][Germania][Arabia] Esse Delendam --- Select One or More as needed)
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To: atomic conspiracy
Frank neglects to mention the New Left was funded by the Kremlin. The KGB produced TV shows, sponsored thousands of books, tens of thousands of magazine articles, ran hundreds of thousands seminars, created popular fronts, invited Americans to Moscow to plan student protests and on and on. This went on from 1920 when John Reed was given over $1 million to fund the CPUSA until the end of the Cold War.

Yes, many in business went along for the profit. But they were not the primary movers.

12 posted on 07/23/2003 9:41:33 AM PDT by DPB101
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To: DPB101
bttt
13 posted on 07/23/2003 9:48:57 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: CatoRenasci
Cate,

Kasee Kasum, is a top 40 D.J. now probably in his 60's that does a nationally sindicated "Top 40" Coutdown. I probably spelled his name wrong, but you get the picture. In regards to D. Thomas being a Christian that is quite possible.

One of the largest percentages of the 300,000 Middle Eastern Imigrants in the S.E. Michigan area are Kaldikians (spelled correct?) they are IRANIAN Christians, some Catholic I believe. I believe they are around 60,000 to 80,000 of that number, but I would have to check to be sure they are not seperate from the 300,000 number.

14 posted on 07/23/2003 10:32:59 AM PDT by taildragger
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To: Thud
fyi
15 posted on 07/23/2003 10:48:10 AM PDT by Dark Wing
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To: All

Maldef is the premier lawyer illegal alien advocacy group, reponsible for destroying Calif. prop 187 and trying to take down Az. prop. 200. 2 of their head attorneys were law clerks for one of the ninth circuit judges who will decide this case.

Taken from pages 15 and 16 of MALDEF's annual report
[OUR CORPORATE AND
FOUNDATION PARTNERS
PLATINUM PARTNERS: $100,000+
Anheuser-Busch Companies
The Ford Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation
The Sandler Family Supporting
Foundation
Soros Foundation
Washington Mutual

GOLD PARTNERS: $50,000 ú $99,999
America's Charities
California Community Foundation
Center for Law in the Public Interest
The Gerber Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
Levi Strauss Foundation
Marguerite Casey Foundation
The Rosenberg Foundation
The State Bar of California
The State Bar of California
snip......SILVER PARTNERS: $10,000 ú $49,000
AT&T
Bank of America
BELO Corporation
BP
Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P
The Bravo Foundation
The California Endowment
The Coca-Cola Company
Fannie Mae Foundation
Ford Motor Company
snip.....

BRONZE PARTNERS: $1,000 ú $9,999
AARP
Abbott Laboratories Fund
The Abernathy/McGregor Group
AFL-CIO
The Ahmanson Foundation
AIG Invesment LLC
American Federation of Teachers
Amigas de MALDEF
AOL Time Warner, Inc
Walgreens Company
Wal-Mart Foundation
snip.......

http://ccir.net/REFERENCE/MALDEF-2002-2003.html


16 posted on 01/07/2005 8:25:12 AM PST by JustAnotherSavage (Government spends what government receives plus as much as it can get away with-Milton Friedman)
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