Minutemen skeptical of ties with Keyes project (Funding Questions)

The Washington Times ^ | 7-20-06 | Jerry Seper

[Anti-Bubba182]

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps calls itself a "project of the Declaration Alliance," although few MCDC volunteers know what the alliance does or why Minuteman donations are routed through the charity founded and headed by conservative activist Alan Keyes.

Several Minuteman leaders and members questioned the wisdom of ceding control over fundraising to the Herndon-based Declaration Alliance, part of an intricate weave of conservative organizations founded and chaired by Mr. Keyes or tied to longtime Keyes associates working with MCDC.

MCDC President Chris Simcox told The Washington Times that the alliance offers "an experienced organization for mass mailings, advertising and public relations" and the ability to conduct a "fully accredited and independent audit" of MCDC finances.

Mr. Simcox said he "checked these people out very carefully before agreeing to work with them" and that he made the "correct decision" in hiring "clean professional consultants, accountants and media professionals." He did not, however, disclose during an interview last week or in a 3,961-word follow-up statement how much Declaration Alliance and its affiliated organizations have been paid for their services

During the interview, he said, "Not one cent of MCDC money has been spent on alliance projects." The statement, released on the MCDC Web page, www.minutemanhq.com/hq/, does not mention Declaration Alliance or Mr. Keyes. ...."

"..Diener Consultants first contacted the Minuteman organization in early 2005, said Ms. Hair, the MCDC spokeswoman who also was a top adviser to Mr. Keyes in his presidential and senatorial races. She said she called Mr. Simcox after the Minuteman group was created to ask whether he had a media plan. After being told no, she said, she met with Mr. Simcox and Minuteman co-founder James Gilchrist in Washington and signed an agreement...."

[Amelia]

Finally, the FEC website allows one to search by treasurers, etc.

In searching William Leo Constantine, I found 2 organizations he was listed as treasurer for: the Keyes2000 campaign, and the MCDC PAC.

I hope he has learned a little bit in the past few years; the FEC was not impressed with his efforts on behalf of Keyes2000.

Among other things, they seemed to have a problem accounting for petty cash disbursements.

[Amelia]

Thanks, deport! It wasn't showing up for some reason on the IRS search!

[Amelia]

Hey, Luis, take a look down here...I forgot to ping you.

[Amelia]

Guidestar says that contributions to the Declaration Alliance are NOT tax deductible.....

[Amelia]

Looks like last year Declaration Alliance filed for an extension of time to report until Aug 15, 2005, and then filed for another 3 month extension until Nov. 15, 2005. Reason given was that information needed was not yet available.

They do seem to have a hard time keeping up with their money.

[catholicfreeper]

Ohh good stuff. Also organizations use his office as a base. William Leo Constantine might not be the offical name on the papers but his office still is. I think this Alexander guy listed the famous 2400 Earlsgate address as his address. They key is, and I am not sure how to do this. IS to see who is paying Mr Constantine for his services. He strikes me more than just a typical accountant.
I suspect that his "accountanting services" are being paid for by the usual suspects that own all these companies that are probally getting 60 to 70 cents out of every dollar that goes to this fence.

One other thinga bout the FEC site. Is it possible to enter a name and see how many excpenditures have been given to organizations that would classifyed as expenditures? For instance I would love to get a better idea of how much American caging is bring in and from whom. Ditto for William Constaine.

[catholicfreeper]

That does seem strange doesnt it. Perhaps it is legal because they are not running ads directly against that federal canidiate. There might be a loophole.

[deport]

Guidestar says that contributions to the Declaration Alliance are NOT tax deductible.....

---

I haven't been following the discussion but has someone said they were tax deductible?

DA is a 501(c)4 which by law contributions to it aren't tax deductible.

[catholicfreeper]

THese are other things that have Mr Constaintine name on it.
Coalition for a Fair Judiciary
Look at their page his name is a big as Texas on there at the bottom.
https://www.donationreport.com/init/controller/ProcessEntryCmd?key=R3N6H4Q0V8

This appears to be another Green organization that is for all basic purposes owns the fences along witht Declaration Alliance/Foundation

Who alook at this site
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:nSq_ntHt1WkJ:www.rightmarch.com/media/supremecourt.pdf+2400+Earlsgate&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3

RightMarch has a PAC I had no idea. This registered also at 2400 Earls gate. Well we know who owns Rightmarch

This is the first two I just happen to enter

[catholicfreeper]

I think there are orgainzations both keyes groups. Decalaration allance and Decalaration foundation. I think one is tax deductable and one is not. I will have to go back and check

[Amelia]

I haven't been following the discussion but has someone said they were tax deductible?

Not *positive* about that but I believe there was the implication that donations to the MCDC, at least for the fence, are or would be tax deductible. I could be wrong.

[ExGeeEye]

ping

see why?

[HairOfTheDog]

I am no relation to ~that~ Miss Hair :~)

[deport]

Maybe but DA isn't by law tax deductible.

[catholicfreeper]

This is even more interesting. I think that it has been established that Mr Greene is really the financial force behind the Keyes organization. Keyes in my view is just there to do thing slike talk for hours about the Federalist papers for hours on end in front of audiences

I am looking againt at the Rightmarch Pac. On their intial papers they include a bank down in Houston called , Horizon. Well we have run into that before.

But looking at their 2006 end of the year report we see the following disbursments(this is for just a two month period)
http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00386482
House Conservative fund $ 100 ( I dont know what this is)

SCIM in Buford Georgia $325 This is Greene's company down there

Two disbursements totally nearly 200 dollars for Response Enterprises (well we know who owns that)

$117 for Politecs which of course is owned by Mrs Lewis. I am getting more interested in this organization as time goes on

$319 dollars for the famous Driener group(well we know who owns that also)

Constatine Financial Servicse received 1300 dollars. ( I am curious if Mr Constatine owns the company that in his name lock stock and barrel or id he has partners)

American Caging well our dear ole friends received 500 dollars for their services

So we have in this one report one expeniture that actually went to something political. And the rest go to assorted business's owned by the same people. This pattern is repeating itself all over the place and I have reason to think that how they are running the fence sham is any different. In fact from the information that has become publically known we know this to eb exactly the case

[catholicfreeper]

I get confused on the tax deductible part of all this also and which ones are and which aren't.

[Amelia]

$117 for Politecs which of course is owned by Mrs Lewis. I am getting more interested in this organization as time goes on

Mary Parker Lewis is the wife of Marlo Lewis, Jr..

I am trying to remember the relationship between Marlo Lewis and Alan Keyes, but IIRC they have worked together in several non-profit type organizations over a period of perhaps 20 years.

It could be that they were college roommates, but I just don't remember.

Again IIRC, Bill Kristol was a college roommate of Keyes, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have had more than one. Kristol and Keyes have taken somewhat similar paths, but Kristol of course is a neo-con and Keyes targets the far-right.

[Amelia]

Glad you are here to look for a while! I'm *supposed* to be doing Useful Things Around the House. ;-)

[catholicfreeper]

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strid=C00386482&cycle=2006
Looking at open secrets for the 2006 cycle RightMarch PAC gave less than 3000 dollars to to actual people running for office. In many cases they just gave a 100 bucks to a guy. That barely enough to by the donuts for the letter stuffing crew , I mean why bother.
Anyway. So They basically spent 48,ooo doollars for this period. 3000 Dollars wet to people running for office. The vast majority of the 45,000 dollars went to business that are owned by the smae people basically or to American caging.(Full Ownership much like Constatine Financial I am not sure of yet)

I need one of these PAC things. I could run this thing off my PC and retire in a few years. What is bad is this is just one of many countless organization/pacs/charitable groups in this empire that is foing this. One can see why the Fence was a goldmine.

[catholicfreeper]

You know I need to look at those Keyes FEC reports again. I seemed that Politechs gave alot of money to the Keyes campaign to help them with their 'FEC" problem. I wonder is this payback. IF it is is it legal.